DEPTH-CHARGE ATTACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23471, 7 October 1939, Page 11

DEPTH-CHARGE ATTACK

•disabled at bottom of sea gamble AGAINST death TECHNICIANS' SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT RESCUERS IN AIR BATTLE •> By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright' (Received October 6. 5.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct, 6 Lying fathoms deep in enemy waters in the North Sea, with ' the periscope' smashed, the lights gone, the engines out of action, the air system leaking and the thunder of depth charges booming jn their ears,'the crew of a British submarine prepared to blow up the ship rather than let her be captured. Their escape from their predicament by a forlorn chance provides one of the most gripping: under-sea dramas of all time, and writes a magnificent new •page in the nation's naval history. The story given by a naval eyewitness who was recently with the Fleet says: The submarine was on patrol duty in enemy waters. Shortly Ibefore breakfast the detonation of a depth charge was heard quite close, and as'the submarine was brought to periscope depth to investigate, another exploded even closer. Tense, Waiting for Explosion The lieutenant in command stopped the motors and the (crew lay down to conserve oxygen. Using sweep wires with electrically-operated bombs, as well as depth charges, the enemy groped about for hours in search of them. Six explosions were counted, and as the crew became more tense an able seaman 'moved through the submarine taking bets from the men against 'inext pay-day as to the time of the next explosion. About tea time the weary crew heard a wire scraping over ,Ithe stern jumping-stay, and a series of bumps thudded along the hull. Then came a shattering explosion. All the lights went out and there was everywhere the crash of broken glass. In the silence that followed came the sound of water spurting and the hiss of air escaping from the high-pressure air system. , Decision to Fight on the Surface . They contrived to restore the lighting and stopped the air leaks as best'they could. An inspection revealed that one of the electric motors and both the Diesel engines used for surface running were out of action, and the air system was leaking in six places. Then, the air gradually growing foul because they had been il long time submerged, the}' waited. The first-lieutenant thought of a bottle of boiled sweets, and passed them round as a solace. As soon as he knew by the clock that darkness had fallen on the face of the sea, the commanding officer mustered his little .-iband of officers and men and told them of his decision. To stay where they were meant to die like rats in a trap. If the ballast tanks were intact —and in his heart he doubted it—he could still rise to the surface, and once there, although the ship was helpless, he intended to fight. Anxious Moment for Commander The crew, half choking, enthusiastically agreed. They loaded . the torpedo tubes, Lewis guns and rifles, and stacked ammunition in readiness. As a final measure they prepared a demolition charge to blow up the submarine and so prevent her capture. When all was ready for what they believed would be their last fight, they blew the tanks and, like the achievement of a the submarine rose, floundering to the surface. The climbed out of the conning-tower hatch and looked anxiously about. It was a clear night, with a moderate swell. Nothing was in sight. , Engine-room Artificers' Miracle With her periscope gone, her wireless smashed, her communication pipes crushed as if squeezed by a fist, her engines disabled, and unable to dive again, the submarine crawled away on her remaining motor, while the warrant engineer below began a desperate attempt to put life into the distorted and damaged machinery. Three hours after they had surfaced, he reported the starboard engine" ready, and two hours later, the port engine. They had now, thanks to this officer and his devoted little staff, .a fighting chance of life. <y ' With water still pouring in through the leaks, the submarine moved on the surface all night. At dawn the radio operator ;modestly reported another magic feat—he had repaired the wireless transmitter. It was then possible to warn other British submarines patrolling in the vicinity of the danger area, and to flash & message to the base asking for help. German Bombers' Attack Driven Off During the afternoon the submarine twice sighted a flight of enemy bombers. The haggard crew instantly went to action stations, but the aeroplanes missed the crippled vessel. The call for help brought British destroyers racing across the North Sea to a midnight rendezvous, and as the third dawn came a cruiser and an aircraft-carrier appeared—followed by a fleet of German bombers, which attacked the ships. The bombers crumpled under the anti-aircraft fire and attacks by fighters sent up from the, carrier. In due course the submarine returned safely to her base, where the captain found aiwaiting him a letter from a country relative. J: The opening sentence was: "We hardly realise there is a war on." He pocketed it, smiling reflectively.