New Zealander Serving Is Submarine

Northern Advocate, 11 June 1942, Page 6

New Zealander Serving Is Submarine

(Special) LONDON, June 10. “Quite a number of successes” were scored in the Mediterranean by. a large British submarine in which Lieutenant C. P. Thode, R.N.V.R., of Mt. Eden, Auckland, is navigator. He is one of the few New Zealanders serving in submarines. The others include Lieutenant Colin Bell, of Christchurch, who is in the Middle East, and ratings B. Bennett and Legros, both of Hawke’s Bay. with whome Lieutenant Thode went to England. “Submarine life is a grand life,” said Lieutenant Tode. “I have never seen better morale. I am often asked whether I feel any claustrophobia, but it is no different from being in a ship—-a submarine is always a boat —where you are often under the waterline.

“The main difference is that you do not see the sunshine for longish periods. Our quarters are certainly confined, but there are many different messes. Everyone lives, works and specialises in his own part of the boat. There are no cabins, just bunks. “It is a great thrill going into action. You never know what you are going to find, epecially if the targets are escorted. Everything is quietest in the control-room, but with suppressed excitement. It is a most tense moment between the firing of the torpedo and hearing it hit the target. When Depth Charges Drop

“If the target is escorted we crashdive. After diving, if unescorted, we stay watching events. We have some excitement when depth charges are dropped a bit close. This happened when we were attacking a merchantman. The sea was too calm for our liking. We prefer it a bit choppy as it hides the periscope. “We sighted a destroyer escorting the merchantman and had to take an immediate shot or lose it. We hit the merchantman and then crash-dived in front of the oncoming destroyer, which loosed off several depth charges. The crew chalked up ‘Mary’ for every one, like a cricket score. It was not a very pleasant sensation. If you can imagine being inside a strong, heavy iron shell and someone with a terrific sledge-hammer starts hitting it, then you know what depth charges sound like inside a submarine.

There is a big ‘ dong ’ and then the boat shudders and vibrates. “Once we had two night attacks and had three or four depth charges fired at us at random. I prefer night attacks because one can escape coun-ter-attacks, but we need either moonlight or suitable conditions for surfacing so that we can pick out the target.”

“Like Yachting Trip”

“We had several brushes with aircraft. one bombing us the day after we had sunk a ship right at the entrance to a harbour. It should’nt have missed us, but dropped a bomb 100 yards away.

“We had a grand crew, the trips resembling yachting cruises except for no sunshine and no smoking. We wore shorts, sandals and sweaters and lived mostly on tinned food. The excellent cook made beautiful bread. We stocked up with fresh fruit and vegetables which lasted about two thirds of the trip.

We had the option of American tinned beer, but I preferred to be teetotal during cruises. We had a big party for Christmas during a cruise and celebrated with a submerged Christmas dinner. the Captain allowing everyone a single cigarette which were most rare.

“It certainly is a great life. We fly the Jolly Roger returning to port if we have sunk an enemy putting up a bar for each success. We now have several bars”.

The Admiralty has isssued several communiques regarding the submarine in which these men are serving. It is captained by Lieutenant Commander P. S. Francis, R.N. The Admiralty announced on June 1 that ’it had sutnk a large and medium supply ships in the Mediterranean and on another occasion a troop ship in the lonian Sea.