AMERICAN SUBS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 1, 2 January 1943, Page 5

AMERICAN SUBS

OPERATIONS AGAINST JAPANESE DARING RAIDS MADE New London (Conn.). Dec. 30. The crew of a weather-beaten American submarine told an adventurous story of how they sunk eight Japanese ships, including a destroyer, two transports, and four freighters, of which some were so close to Japan that they “could almost spit on the coast.” Relating the toll levied on the enemy, an officer commented: “Even if they get us before the war ends we are so far ahead of the Japs that they will never catch up.” On one occasion the submarine reconnoitred a Japanese island in preparation for an American raid. The crew was itching for action, and saw many small ships in the lagoon, but the skipper did not attack. He waited for five days until a big transport came out, which he immediately torpedoed and sank. “Whereupon considerable antl-sub activity set in.”

Questioned about what a depth charge feels like, the skipper replied: “It is very, very loud, but the crew does not get hysterical, and continued to smoke, drink, laugh, and joke—though in a strained sort of way.”

“Another submarine has arrived at a Pacific navaLbase after sinking 11 Japanese ships totalling 69,000 tons. The crew reports that one big transport, carrying 20 r soldiers and 200 passengers, almost .caped. They had to chase her for aree hours and fire over 100 shells before the ship was sunk.

The skipper gave their position and bearings to the survivors “all of whom played ’possum when the submarine emerged.” The biggest catch was an unusually large and heavily-loaded freighter, which was sunk at night with two topedoes.