1_10
Transcript of 1_10
QUESTION 1/47 by Gregory Carrubba, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
The Italian ironclads, Re d'Italia and Palestro were sunk during the
Battle of Lissa on 20 July 1866. Have the wrecks of either one or both
of these vessels ever been found, and if so at what depth(s) do they
lie?
QUESTION 2/47 by John Pauly, Eden, NY, USA.
During the US invasion of the Philippines, a Japanese motor torpedo
boat (MTB) reportedly sank a US transport on or about 10 May 1945
near Talomo Bay, Davao. Did such a sinking actually take place, and if
so can anyone provide information regarding the name and details of
the US transport and Japanese MTB?
QUESTION 3/47 by Davis Welsh, Highworth, Swindon,
Wiltshire, UK.
The deck coverings of RN destroyers just prior to the outbreak of WW
II is usually described as being "corticene" with a "milk chocolate"
color. Reportedly, the Tribal-class ships were the first RN destroyers -
NOT- to use corticene, and all following classes followed this practice.
a) What color was the deck covering of the Tribal, "J" and "K" class
destroyers just prior to the outbreak of WW II on 1 September 1939?
b) What color was the so-called "steel deck" on these later ships?
Was it painted or unpainted, and if the former what color was used?
QUESTION 4/47 by John Pauly, Blasdell, NY, USA.
In the weeks before Operation AGREEMENT, the Italian Navy landed
men behind the British lines from destroyers or torpedo boats to
destroy their water pipelines.
a) What Italian vessels were involved in this operation?
b) How many men were landed?
c) What damage was accomplished?
d) Did any of the Italian "commandos" escape?
e) What unit or units did these "commandos" come from?
QUESTION 5/47 by Rick Karmon, Kingsland, Holy Head, Isle of
Anglesey, UK.
I have been researching the final fates of the WW II German "R" boats,
motor minsweepers / escort vessels and came across the following?
a) According to German Warships, Vol. II by Groner, R96 was
launched 14 March 1942, served in the Gm/SA and was taken as a
prize by the US in November 1947. She was later sold to Peglow
Kreutzer A.G. of Hamburg as a experimental ship for "electric" fishing.
On 30 June 1953, she was sold to the Fish Products Co. of Lewes,
Delaware for the same purpose. What is involved with "electric"
fishing, what was the final fate of this vessel, and does she possibly
still exist?
b) During the 1960s, a former "R" boat was used in Anglesey as a
range safety boat at a now closed missile test range. Could this boat
have been the former R160 which was transferred from Denmark to
the UK in 1948, and did she later become the dive boat Blue Falcom in
the early 1970s?
c) In the first issue of the now defunct magazine Boats and Planes
for sale, there was an advertisement for a former "R" boat whic may
have been the former R91, which was sold by the German Navy in
1970. Can this be confirmed, and what was the fate of this vessel?
QUESTION 6/47 by Thomas Sileo, Bergenfield, NJ, USA.
There have been many attempts to close enemy harbors / rivers by
sinking blockships in them. Examples of this practice include the
following:
• The sinking of both the collier Merrimac and the cruiser Reina
Mercedes to block the entrance to Santiago, Cuba during the Spanish-
American War of 1898.
• The sinking of Japanese block ships at the entrance to Port
Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.
• The sinking of the collier Newbridge in a branch of the Rufiji
River in German East Africa to block in the cruiser Konigsberg during
WW I.
• The attempt to close up the German U-boat bases at Zeebrugge
and Ostend, Belgium during WW I.
None of the above attempts were successful. Can anyone provide a
definitive listing of both successful and unsuccessful attempts using
block ships between the years of 1880 and 1945?
QUESTION 7/47 by Miguel A. Cleries, Málaga, Spain.
On 16 July 2009, during a visit to Gibraltar, I observed from Europa
Point a new USN T-AKE crossing the strait to the Atlantic Ocean. Could
anybody inform me about the name of this T-AKE?
QUESTION 8/47 by Garry Heard, Mountainville, NJ, USA.
During the closing stages of WW II, the British Pacific Fleet (BPF)
carried out a number of shore bombardments against the Japanese
home islands. Can anyone provide a listing of these bombardments
and the damage that they inflicted?
QUESTION 9/47 by John Smith, via E-mail.
Various issues of Janes Fighting Ships list the Nationalist Chinese
(Taiwan) tanker Kuai Chi (AOG 306) as the former Soviet Tanker
Tuapse captured on either 20 October 1955 or in February 1956. What
were the details and correct date of this capture?
QUESTION 10/47 by Peter R. Virgadamo, Valencia, CA, USA.
There are conflicting accounts regarding the 21 November 1944,
sinking of the Japanese battleship Kongo. According to Morrison,
Sealion II (SS-315) sank her with one torpedo; while the website
www.combinedfleet.com says that she was hit by two torpedoes and
CDR Eli T. Reich, captain of Sealion II, claimed three hits in his war
patrol report.
a) Which of these accounts is correct" What does Senshi Sosho, the
Japanese naval history say about her sinking and what does the most
recent research indicate?
b) Where did the torpedo(es) strike her and how much damage did
they inflict?
c) What were the details of Kongo's final hours as she continued to
steam on after this attack?
d) How many of her crewmen were killed, how many survivors
were there and did her captain survive?
ANSWERS:
QUESTION 4/44 (W.I. no. 1 (2007): 15):
Projected Coast Defense Ships
by Harold Johnson, Deep River, CT, USA.
a) In 1898, Romania proposed an ambitious naval program calling
for the construction of both a coastal defense force and a Danube
River flotilla. The total cost of this program would have been on the
order of about £2,400,000 spread out over a period of five years
begining in 1899. The program called for six 3,500t armored coast
defense ships, four 300t destroyers and twelve 80t torpedo boats for
the Black Sea as well as eight 500t monitors, twelve 40t torpedo boats
and eight vedettes for the Danube River Flotilla.
None of these vessels were ever authorized and no concrete steps
were ever taken to build any of them. Accordingly, it would appear
unlikely that any detailed designs for any of these ships were ever
completed.
In 1906, a more realistic modified naval program was initiated with the
construction of eight small torpedo boats built by the Thames
Ironworks in England. The names and details of these ships were as
follows:
Capitan Nicolae Lascar Bogdan Capitan Romano Mihail
Capitan Vaslter Maracineau Lieutenant Demetre Calinescu
Major Constantine Ene Major Demetre Glurescu
Major Nicolae Ivan Major Glurge Sontzu
Displacement: 50 tons;
Dimensions: 100-ft x 13-ft x 2.75-ft;
Machinery: 600hp = 18-kts, coal =7 tons;
Armament: one x 3-pdr,
one x MG,
two x above water TT,
two x 14-in spar torpedoes
one x 20-in searchlight;
Complement: twenty men.
In 1907-1909, they were followed by four Danube river monitors built
by Stabilimento Tecnio. The names and details of these ships were as
follows:
Ion Bratianu Mihail Goclniceanu
Alexandru Lahovari Lascar Catargiu
Displacement: 110 tons;
Dimensions: 208.25-ft x 33.33-ft x 5.25-ft;
Machinery: 1,800hp = 13-kts, coal = 60 tons;
Armor: 3-in belt.
3-in deck,
2-in - 3-in turrets;
Armament: three x 4.7-in,
two x 3-pdr AA,
two x MG,
two x 14-in searchlights;
Complement: twenty men.
Sources: Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1860-1905 (Conway
Maritime Press, 1979), 378-379; Conway's All The World's Fighting
Ships 1906-1921 (Conway Maritime Press, 1985), 47, 349;W.I. no. 4
(1971): 426, 428, 442.
QUESTION 6/46 (W.I. no. 1 (2009): 23):
20mm AA Armament of North Carolina (BB-55) WW II
by Chuck Paty, Charlotte, NC, USA.
I served aboard North Carolina from January 1942 through October
1945. Following the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, all of our 0.50 cal
Machine Guns and quad 1.1-in/75 AA guns were replaced. The 0.50s
were replaced with single barreled 20mms and the1.1-in/75s by
40mms. The arrangements and numbers of each were modified
several times during the war.
On 30 June 1945, eight (8) 20mm Mk 24-1 twin mounts were installed
replacing eight (8) single mounts. These were the first and only 20mm
twin mounts ever installed aboard North Carolina.
Source: Custody and record cards stored aboard the Battleship North
Carolina Memorial in Wilmington, NC.
QUESTION 7/46 (W.I. no. 1 (2009): 24):
Japanese Type 93 24-in oxygen torpedoes
by David Dickson, Hernando, MS, USA.
a) Although Morison, and / or his staff, have been credited with
creating the name “Long Lance” for the Japanese Type 93 oxygen
torpedo, there is at least, one translated IJN document captured on
Kwajalein in which that specific term is used in describing the use of
the Type 93. The document is a Torpedo School Document entitled
Battle Lessons Learned in the Greater East Asia War (Torpedoes) vol.
6. The date of the original Japanese document is 5 November 1943. It
was translated and distributed in April 1944. The exact quote from the
document is as follows:
"Use of the type 93 torpedo. Under the present conditions we
are compelled to strike the initial blow with a long range torpedo
attack. . .It is extremely difficult to complete a mission
successfully without the 'long lance'. . ."
QUESTION 8/46 (W.I. no. 1 (2009): 24):
Japanese WW II Armed Merchant Cruisers
by Marcus A. Hannig, via E-mail; Vernon J. Miller, Creedmoor, NC, USA;
Thomas Sileo, Bergenfield, NJ, USA.
During both the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 and the Russo-
Japanese War of 1904-05, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)
commissioned large numbers of passenger and cargo ships as armed
merchant cruisers (AMCs). During WW I, German raiders sank over
300,000 tons of Allied shipping. These success was not unnoticed by
the IJN. At the start of WW II, it requisitioned fourteen merchant ships
which were equipped and operated as AMCs armed with 5.9-in, 5.5-in
or 4.7-in guns. In addition, some of these ships also carried mines and
one or two seaplanes.
Unlike the Kriegsmarine's raider Atlantis, that stayed at sea 622 days
and sank or captured twenty three ships of 145,697-tons, most of the
Japanese AMCs had short and undistinguished careers. Although two
of them initially enjoyed some successes, the early sinking of Hokoku
Maru and the urgent need for more transports to support their far-
flung Pacific empire resulted in the reconversion to transports of most
AMCs. By the end of 1943, five of them had been sunk and seven had
been reconverted to transports. The remaining two were lost in 1944.
A listing of Japanese WW II AMCs is as follows:
Aikoku Maru - Gokoku Maru - Hokoku Maru
Displacement: 10,439grt;
Dimensions: 492-ft loa x 490-ft 10-in lpp x 66-ft 5-in x 26-ft;
Machinery: two shaft, two x Mitsubishi-B&W two-cycle diesels,
13,000bhp = 21-kts;
Armament: four x single mount 152mm,
two x 76mm/40 AA,
two x Type 93 13.2mm MGs,
four x 533mm torpedo tubes.
two Type 94 Kawanishi E7K2 Alf
floatplanes.
Miscl: one 1,100mm and one 900mm search lights,
special heavy-duty booms for
handling floatplanes.
Aikoku Maru was laid down on 29 December 1938, by the Tama
Shipbuilding (Tama Zosensho K. K), Tama for the Osaka Shosen K.K.,
Osaka as a high-capacity passenger-cargo ship for their South America
and around-the-world service. Launched 25 April 1940 and completed
31 August 1941; she was requisitioned by the IJN on 1 September
1941. Rated as an AMC on 5 September 1941, her conversion to an
AMC was completed on15 October 1941.
On 14 February 1942, the four x 152mm guns were removed and
replaced by eight x 140mm/50 guns. In March 1942, she was
converted to carry a supply of submarine torpedoes in one of her
holds. On 10 August 1942, at Seletar Naval Base, Singapore the
torpedo supply was increased to seventy for the replenishment of
submarines and two Type 96 dual 25mm AA mounts were fitted.
In September 1942, the dazzle camouflage scheme previously painted
at Kure was replaced by a new experimental design devised by LTCDR
Fukui. The new dazzle camouflage was painted in in three colours:
black, dark grey and light grey.
Rerated as a special (misc) transport on 1 October 1943; she arrived
at the Fourth Fleet anchorage, on the E side of Dublon Island, Truk
lagoon late on 16 February 1944. On 17 February, USN Task Force 58
launched Operation HAILSTONE - The Attack on Truk. .At dawn, aircraft
from Intrepid (CV-11) attacked Aikoku Maru . The first bomb hit the
officers’ wardroom galley and started a fire that spread rapidly. She
took three more bombs hits. During the next attack, at about 0830, a
Mk 13 aerial torpedo hit her No. 1 hold and detonated ordnance that
sheared off the entire foreward part of the ship. She sanks in position
07o 22' N x 151o 54' E, along with the attacking Grumman TBF
Avenger torpedo bomber. Most of the crew as well as 945 sailors,
passengers and troops of the First Brigade were lost. On 30 March
1944: she was removed from the Navy List.
****
Gokoku Maru was laid down on 31 July 1939 by the Tama Shipbuilding
Co., Tama as a passenger-cargo vessel for the Osaka Merchant Ship
Co. (Osaka Shosen KK Line), Osaka. Launched on 2 April 1942, she was
requisitioned by the IJN on 27 July 1942 and began conversion to an
AMC by the Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding on 10 August
1942 .Commissioned on 25 September 1942; she was rerated as
transport on 1 October 1943.
At 0245 on 10 November 1944, Barb (SS-220),LTCDR Eugene B.
Fluckey, picked up Gokoku Maru on her SJ radar and at 0334 fired
three Mk-18 electric torpedoes. The first hit aft of the funnel and the
second forward of the bridge destroying Gokoku Maru 's port engine
room. Her engines stoped, she lost all power and took on a 30o list to
port. As she headed very slowly towards shore, Barb fired another MK-
18, but it circled and missed. Seven miles off Koshiki Jima, E Kyushu.
Barb submerged, closed to 1,400 yards and at 0410, fired a final
torpedo which scored another hit. Gokoku Maru sank by the stern in
position 33o 31' N x 129o 10' E. The number of survivors is unknown,
but 326 crewmen and passengers were lost. On 10 January
1945,Gokoku Maru was removed from the Navy List.
****
Hokoku Maru was laid down on18 August 1938 at the Tama Zosensho
K. K. shipyard as a high-capacity passenger-cargo ship for the Osaka
Shosen K. K. Line's South America and around-the-world service.
Launched 5 July 1939 and completed 22 June 1940, she was
requisitioned by the IJN on 29 August 1941.
On 12 February 1942, she began a refit and armament moderization
at Kure. Her four 152mm guns installed the previous autumn were
removed and replaced by eight 3rd Year Type 140 mm/50 cal guns.
In March 1942, she was modified to carry a supply of torpedoes, spare
partss and stores for submarines, including 1,300 tons of diesel fuel.
In September 1942, at Singapore, the dazzle camouflage applied at
Kure was replaced by a new experimental design devised by LTCDR
Fukui. The new camouflage was painted in light and dark grey. Her
sister ship, Aikoku Maru, was similarly camouflaged in three colours:
black, dark grey and light grey.
She was sunk on 11 November 1942 550-nm SSW of Cocos Islands,
position 20o 00' S x 93o 00' E, by gunfire from minesweeper HIMS
Bengal and Dutch motor tanker Ondina (6,341brt, one x 102mm gun).
On 15 December 1942 she was removed from the Navy List.
Akagi Maru
Displacement: 7,398grt;
Dimensions: 462-ft 9-in lpp x 62-ft 4-in x 34-ft 6-in;
Machinery: one shaft, one x Mitsubishi-Sulzer eight cylinder,
two cycle diesel, 8,000bhp = 19-
kts;
Armament: four (or five - sources differ) x 5.9-in/50,
one x 76mm/40 AA,
two x 7.7mm MG,
two observation floatplanes.
Laid down 2 December 1935 by Mitsubishi, Nagasaki for the Japan Mail
Steamship Co. (Nippon Yusen Kaisha - NYK), Tokyo. She was launched
6 June 1936 and completed on 10 September 1936. Requisitioned by
the IJN on 23 November 1941, her conversion to an AMC was
completed on 30 December 1941 and she was officially rated as an
AMC on 1 January 1942. In February 1943, at: Yokosuka, sonar was
fitted and an additional Type 96 25mm machine gun was installed.
On 1 January 1944, she became the last Japanese surface ship to
arrive at Wake Island during the war when she disembarked about
1,000 troops and six Type 38 75mm guns.
At 0630 on 17 February 1944, during Operation HAILSTONE, the USN
attack on Truck lagoon by TF 58, she was attacked by five TBF
Avenger torpedo bombers from Bunker Hill (CV-17). At 0730, she was
attacked by aircraft from Yorktown (CV-10), Essex
(CV-9) and Cabot (CVL-28). A 500-lb bomb hit her forward hold No. 2
causing heavy damage. At 0910, during the third attack, she took a
direct hit by another 500-lb bomb in her No. 5 starboard hold. The
bomb ignited fuel in nearby tanks and started a large fire. At 0955,
she took another bomb hit in her No. 5 port hold. She then lost power
and was unable to navigate. The fire reached the ammunition
magazine and caused several large explosions. At 1030, Abandon Ship
was ordered. Most of the survivors were taken aboard the training
cruiser Katori (1939; 5890t; 18-kts; four x 5.5-in, two x 5-in AA, four x
25mm AA, four x 31-in TT, one aircraft) and were later lost with her. At
1047, a nearby warship scuttled her in position 07o 54' N x 151o 25' E
in the vicinity of the North Pass. At least 512 passengers and 788
sailors were lost. On 31 March 1944, she was removed from the Navy
List.
Asaka Maru - Awata Maru
Displacement: 7,398grt;
Dimensions: 478-ft loa x462-ft 9-in x 62-ft 4-in x 34-ft 6-in;
Machinery: one shaft, one x Mitsubishi-Sulzer seven cylinder,
two cycle diesel, 8,000bhp = 19-
kts, 14,30 tons fuel;
Armament: four x 140mm single mount guns,
one x twin Type 96 25mm AA gun,
one quad, one twin and four single Type 93
13.2mm machine guns,
three single 7.7mm machine guns,
two x 553mm torpedo tubes.
Asaka Maru was laid down on 18 February 1937 by Mitsubishi,
Nagasaki as a refrigerated cargo ship for the Japan Mail Steamship
Co., (Nippon Yusen Kaisha = NYK Line), Tokyo. She was launched on 7
July 1937 and completed on 30 November 1937. On 10 April 1940, she
was requisitioned by the IJN as an AMC but was returned to her owners
on 6 July 1940. On 24 December 1940, she was again requisitioned by
the IJN for use as a “Special Service Ship” to transport a group of
naval observers to Europe and return with a special 3.000-ton cargo of
munitions and supplies from Germany and Switzerland. Rerated as an
AMC in August 1941, she underwent conversion at Osaka Tekkosho
from 8 September to 16 October 1941.
On 27 November 1943 she began conversion from an AMC to a
transport. During this conversion, two 80mm AA and ten Type 96
25mm AA guns were fitted.
On 12 October 1944, she was sunk in the vicinity of Makung
(Pescadores Islands), position 23o 33' N x 119o 34 E, by USN aircraft
from TF 38 and removed from the Navy List on 10 January 1945.
****
Awata Maru was laid down on 2 March 1937 by Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries, Nagasaki as a passenger-cargo ship for the Japan Mail
Steamship Co. (Nippon Yusen Kaisha = NYK Line) Tokyo. She was
launched on 5 August 1937 and completed 23 December 1937. On 16
August 1941 she was requisitioned by the IJN and on 23 August 1941
began conversion to an AMC at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries'
shipyard and was officially rated as an AMC on 5 September 1941. In
October 1942, she was painted with a zigzag dazzle camouflage.
On 1 October 1943, she was demilitarized, rerated as a specially
installed transport and attached directly to the Combined Fleet. On 21
October 1943, SubRon 2, CAPT Charles B. Momsen, composed of Cero
(SS-225), Shad (SS-235) and Grayback(SS-208) was on patrol the East
China Sea W of Okinawa when they received an ULTRA message
alerting them that a convoy would pass through their patrol area. At
1627, Grayback, LTCDR John A. Moore, spoted the convoy, but lost it
at 1800 in the darkness. On 22 October 1943, off Keelung, Formosa,
Grayback made a long "end run" around the convoy. At 0327, she
submerged ahead of the convoy and at 0347 fired six torpedoes. Four
of them hit Awata Maru and one of them set off a magazine explosion.
Awata Maru sank N of Miyako-jima in position 26o 32' N x 125o 05' E.
The destroyers Maikaze and Nowaki rescued about 1,000 survivors out
of a total of 1,310 troops and crewmen. On 5 January 1944, Awata
Maru was removed from the Navy List:
Bankok Maru - Saigon Maru
Displacement: 5,350grt;
Dimensions: 376-ft 4-in lpp x 55-ft 9-in x 32-ft 9-in;
Machinery: one shaft, two x Mitsubishi-Sulzer eight cylinder,
two cycle diesel engines, hydraulic
gearbox, 18-kts;
Armament: four x 4.7-in/50,
one x 7.7mm MG,
500 mines.
Bankok Maru was laid down on 11 November 1936 by Mitsubishi;
Kobe for the Osaka Merchant Ship Co. (Osaka Shosen Kaisha - OSK),
Osaka. Launched on 30 March 1937 and completed on 20 September
1937, she was requisitioned by the IJN on 29 August 1941 and
converted to an AMC at Ujina Zosen. She was rerated as transport
1943.
At about 1500 on 20 May 1943, 4-nm SE of Jaluit Atoll, Marshall
Islands, Pollack
(SS-180), LTCDR Bafford E. Lewellen, scored three torpedo hits that
blew off her stern. She sank in position 05o 47' N x 169o 42' E, with
the loss of 496 troops and six crewmen. The survivors were rescued
by the destroyer Ikazuchi and landed on Jaluit where they remained
for the rest of the war. On 15 July 1943, Bankok Maru was removed
from the Navy List.
****
Saigon Maru was laid down on 9 December 1936 by Mitsubishi, Kobe
as a 5,351-ton cargo ship for the Osaka Merchant Ship Co., (Osaka
Shosen K. K. = O.S.K Line), Osaka. Launched on 28 April 1937 and
completed on 30 September 1937; she was requisitioned by the IJN on
21 August 1941 and converted to an AMC at Harima Zosen from 23
September to 14 October 1941. On 20 January 1944, she was
redesignated an auxiliary gunboat.
At 1048 on 18 September 1944, off Manila Bay, Philippine Islands she
was torpedoed and sunk by Flasher (SS-249), CDR Rueben T.
Whitaker, in position 14o 20' N x 120o 05'E. The destroyers Yuzuki and
Uzuki then rescued the survivors. On 10 November 1944, Saigon Maru
was removed from the Navy List.
Kinjosan Maru
Displacement: 3,260grt;
Dimensions: 201.5-ft loa x 193-ft lpp x 22.25-ft x 10.5-ft;
Armament: four x 4.7-in,
one x 7.7mm MG
400 mines.
Kinryu Maru
Displacement: 9,310grt;
Dimensions: 482-ft x 475-ft 7-in lpp x 62-ft 9-in x 26-ft;
Machinery: one shaft, one x Kawasaki-MAN eight cylinder, two
cycle Diesel/Electric, 9,200bhp = 18-kts;
Armament: four x 5.9-in/50 LA,
+ light AA;
Laid down 18 November 1937 by Kawasaki Shipbuilding, Kobe for
Kokusai K. K. K., Tokyo. She was launched on 16 June 1938 and
completed on 31 August 1938. Requisitioned by the IJN on 1
September 1938 she was rated as a general transport. Rerated as an
AMC in August 1941, she was converted at the Kure Iron Works from 5
September to 20 October 1941. On 14 July 1942, she was rerated as
an auxiliary transport.
On 25 August 1942, Kinryu Maru was in a convoy bring troops and
supplies to Guadalcanal. At 0600, 150 miles N of Guadalcanal, she was
attacked by six USMC Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bombers. She was
hit amidships by a 1,000-lb bomb and began to sink. Her embarked
troops were evacuated by the destroyers Mutsuki and Yayoi and the
patrol boats PB-1 and PB-2. Mutsuki was still evacuating troops when
she herself was hit by USAAF B-17 bombers. As she was being
abandoned, Mutsuki scuttled the burning Kinryu Maru with a torpedo
at position 07o 47' S x 160o 13' E. On 1 October 1942, Kinryu Maru
was removed from the Navy List.
Kiyosumi Maru
Displacement: 8,613grt;
Dimensions: 453-ft 9-in lpp x 62-ft 4-in x 34-ft;
Machinery: one shaft, one x Mitsubishi-Sulzer seven cylinder,
two cycle Diesel,7,600bhp = 18-
kts, 1,430t oil;
Armament: eight x 150mm (5.9-in) single mount guns,
two x 13.5mm machine guns,
two x 533mm (21-in) torpedo tubes .
one x Kawanishi E7K2 Alf reconnaissance floatplane.
Laid down on 30 May 1933 by Kawasaki, Kobe as a 6,991-ton
freighter-passenger ship for Kokusai K. K. K., Tokyo, she was launched
on 30 June 1934 and completed on 5 October1934. Requisitioned by
the IJN on 1 November 1941, she was commissioned as an AMC on 1
December 1941. On 1 October 1943, she was rerated a transport and
her 140mm guns were removed.
She was heavily damaged 1 January 1944 near the Bismarck
Archipelago, position 04o 35' N x 147o 15' E, by Balao (SS-285),
LTCDR Cryrus C. Cole. On 8 January 1944, Kiyosumi Maru arrived at
Truk under tow by Naka and Tanikaze and began repairs.
On 17 February 1944: Kiyosumi Maru was in the Repair Anchorage at
Truk when TF58 launched Operation HAILSTONE - The Attack on Truk.
At 0900, Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive-bombers from Yorktown (CV-
10) scored a direct hit on hold No. 2. At about 1330, SDBs from
Enterprise (CV-6) hit both sides of her bridge with bombs. Forty-three
crewmen were killed and Kiyosumi Maru was sunk, coming to rest on
her port side in of 120-ft of water. On 31 March 1944, she was
removed from the Navy List.
Kongo Maru
Displacement: 7,043grt;
Dimensions: 450-ft lpp x 61-ft x 27-ft 11-in;
Machinery: one shaft, one x Kawasaki-MAN eight cyllinder, two
cycle diesel, 7,600bhp = 18-kts, 1,430t
oil fuel;
Armament: four x 5.5-in/50,
+ light AA.
or
four x 4.7-in.
Laid down on 22 February 1934 by the Harima Shipbuilding and
Engineering Co. at Harima as a freighter with accommodations for
twelve passengers for the Kokusai K. K. K., Tokyo. She was launched
on 7 December 1934 and completed on 4 March 1935, she was
requisitioned by the IJN on 6 August 1941 and rated as AMC.
On 10 March 1942, during Operation “SR” – The Japanese Invasion of
Lae and Salamuana, New Guinea, she was sunk at Salamaua, New
Guinea, position 06o 49'S x 147o 02' E, by aircraft from Lexington (CV-
2) and Yorktown (CV-5). On 20 March 1942, she was removed from the
Navy List.
Noshiro Maru
Displacement: 7,184grt;
Dimensions: 449-ft 6-in lpp x 62-ft 6-in x 34-ft;
Machinery: one shaft, one x Mitsubishi-Sulzer seven cylinder,
two cycle diesel,6,700bhp = 18.5-
kts. 1,500t oil;
Armament: four x 5.9-in (Watts)
or
four x 5.5-in/50 LA,
+ light AA (Jentschura)
or
Four x 152mm/50 cal. single mount (6 x 1) guns,
one x 80mm AA gun,
two x 7.7mm single mount machine guns
two x observation float planes.
Laid down on 8 December 1932 by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Nagasaki
for the Japan Mail Steamship Co., (Nippon Yusen Kaisen = NYK Line),
Tokyo; she was launched on 28 June 1934, and completed on 30
November 1934. Requisitioned by the IJN on 1 May 1941; she was
converted to aircraft tender from 25 June to10 July 1941. On 19
September 1941, she began reconversion to an auxiliary cruiser.
Rated as an AMC in April 1942, she was demilitarized and registered
as a specially installed transport ship on 5 August 1942.
She was slightly damaged 13 March 1943, 100 miles NW of the
Bismarck Archipelago (00o 10' S x 151o 06' E) by Grayback (SS-208),
LTCDR Edward C. Stephan and damaged again on 19 August 1944 NW
of Luzon, Philippine Islands, position 18o 10' N x 120o 00 E, by Rasher
(SS-269), LTCDR Henry G. Munson.
On 21 September 1944, TF 38 struck shipping in Manila and Subic
Bays. During the fourth attack that began at 1630, Noshiro Maru was
hit by bombs at three different times. The first bomb struck on her
starboard side near the bridge and caused major damage. The second
hit the starboard side of the bridge, passed through and exploded in
the radio room, wrecking it and starting a fire. A third bomb hit the
starboard side boat deck and passed through to the engine room
causing a fire. That night, the fire spread to her fuel bunkers and
reached her ammunition storage resulting in a large explosion. Three
soldiers and six crewmen were killed. By 1200 on 24 September 1944,
Noshiro Maru grounded 1.1 miles and 188o off the S Lighthouse,
Southern Breakwater, Manila Port, position 14o 35' N x 120o 55' E.
She was removed from the Navy List 10 November 1945.
Ukishima Maru
Displacement: 4,730grt;
Dimensions: 355-ft 4-in x 51-ft 6-in x 23-ft;
Machinery: one shaft, one x Mitsubishi-Burmeister &Wain eight
cylinder, two cycle diesel, 16.5-kts; 219t
oil fuel;
Armament: six x 4.7-in/45 LA,
one x 7.7mm MG.
Launched and completed in 1936 by Mitsui, Tama for the Osaka
Merchant Ship Co., Osaka, she was rated as AMC in April 1942 and was
severely damaged on 26 January 1943 at Palau, position 02o 37' N x
139o 42' E, by three torpedo hits from Wahoo
(SS-238). Repaired and employed as gunboat, she served as
repatriation transport in 1945. Her ultimate fate remains unknown.
Sources: Jentschura, Jung and Mickel, Warships of the Imperial
Japanese Navy 1869-1945, (Naval Institute Press, 1977), 234-236;
Watts, Japanese Warships of World War II, (Doubleday & Co., 1967),
318; Watts and Gordon, The Imperial Japanese Navy, (Doubleday &
Co., 1971), 495; www.combinedfleet.com; www.j-aircraft.org.
COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS:
QUESTION 38/94 (W.I. no. 1 (2007): 32):
USN Ammunition Dump Explosion
by Harold Johnson, Deep River, CT, USA.
During the interwar era, the British armed forces made a major effort
to relocate most of their ammunition storage magazines underground
in order to protect them from aerial bombing. The November 1944
explosion of 3,500 tons of high explosives in the Royal Air Force (RAF)
underground ammunition dump at Fauld, Derbyshire, killed eighty
people and left a crater which measured 900-ft x 600-ft x 100-ft deep.
An inquiry into the cause of the explosion, concluded that it might
have been caused by an attempt to remove the fuse from a 1,000-lb
bomb by using a hammer and cold chisel. It would appear that the
force of a hammer blow on the chisel could result in enough of a shock
to cause the fuse to detonate, which in turn would detonate the bomb
to which it was attached and then additional bombs in a chain
reaction. One is reminded of the adages that :
"High explosives are perfectly safe as long as one remembers
that they are dangerous"
and
"Familiarity breeds contempt".
Prior to this time, there had been remarkable few accidental
ammunition magazine explosions, and those which did occur were
generally quite small. In this case, the underground location may well
have magnified the effect of the explosion by confining it and
preventing it from venting into the atmosphere.
Sources: Warship 2007 (Anova Books, 2007), 201.
QUESTION 1/00 (W.I. no. 1 (2003): 10-11):
US Destroyers Sunk as Targets
by Fred Grulich, Virginia Beach, VA, USA.
The following destroyers should also be added to the list of those that
have been sunk as targets:
Ingersoll (DD-960) sunk as target 29 July 2003.
Spruance (DD-963) sunk as target 8 December 2006 by
aircraft launched "Harpoon" missiles 300 miles
off the Virginia coast.
David R. Ray (DD-971) sunk as target July / August 2008 in western
Pacific during SINKEX 2008
Merrill (DD-976) sunk as target 1 August 2003.
Leftwich (DD-984) sunk as target 1 August 2004.
John Young (DD-973) sunk as target 5 September 2003.
Hayler (DD-997) sunk as target 13 November 2004 by
gunfire off the North Carolina coast
along with Gosport (IX-517).
Briscoe (DD-977) sunk as target off Cherry Point, NC August
2005.
Comte de Grass (DD-974) sunk as target 7 June 2006.
Stump (DD-978) sunk as target 7 June 2006.
QUESTION 37/00 (W.I. No. 1, (2009): 38-41):
Effectiveness of Shipboard Anti-Aircraft Fire
by Anthony G Williams, via E-mail
I have a few comments:
• When first introduced, 0.50-in M2 Browning aircraft machine
guns had a rate of fire of 600 rounds per minute (RPM), however by
the beginning of WW II, they had been modified to achieve an average
rate of c.800 rpm.
• The 75mm M4 cannon fitted to the B-25G was not a field gun,
but rather a minor modification of the M3 tank gun which was the
standard armament of most versions of the M4 Sherman medium
tank. The lighter T13E1 fitted to the B-25H was taken into service as
the M5. It was later also adopted by the Army for fitting to light tanks.
Incidentally, the effect of the recoil from firing four rounds in a typical
attack run was to slow the B-25 aircraft by 10-15 mph.
• More powerful 75mm guns were fitted to German and Japanese
aircraft.
• The gun fitted in the Piaggio P.108A was actually of 101.6mm (4-
in) caliber, not 105mm. A 105mm gun is, of course, carried by the
present-day AC-130 gunships.
• Additional information on wartime aircraft guns is contained in:
Flying Guns – World War 2: Development of Aircraft Guns, Ammunition
and Installations 1933-45, which I co-authored with Emmanuel Gustin.
QUESTION 46/02 (W.I. No. 1, (2009): 41-43):
New York Navy Yard Annex
By C.C. Wright, Ellicott City, MD, USA.
1944
Dock empty as of 13 January; Mitchell to follow.
Gen. William Mitchell (AP-
114)
USN (Prior to 19
January)
28 January
1944:
Commenced
flooding dock
1005 on 27
January, keel
blocks
covered 1020.
Flood valves
secured 1045
on 27 January
at 17-ft. water
depth.
Resumed
flooding at
1000 on 28
January.
Afloat 1045,
cleared dock
1317.
Arrived at Bayonne 15 January 1944 and commissioned there at 1100
on 19 January while in dry dock. Moored at 1348 to south wall,
Bayonne. Shifted to deperming pier 2-3 February, anchored
Gravesend Bay at 0815 on 3 February. Departed at 1120 on 5
February for Norfolk.
Dobler (DE-48)
[x2=w/DE-6]USN 5 February
1944: 1320
moved from
south wall,
Annex to
dock; 1645
water
removed from
dock.
10 February
1944: 1145
commenced
flooding dock;
1330 flooding
complete.
Availability completed at 24:00 on 14 February. Underway at 0830 on
15 February from annex for Gravesend Bay to receive ammunition.
Assigned to refresher training, departed at 1743 on 15 February for
Casco Bay, ME, with three other DEs. Departed Lynnhaven Roads at
0400 on 23 February as unit of TF 61 escorting Convoy UGS-34 en
route to North Africa.Wyffels (DE-6)
[x2=w/DE-48] USN 5 February
1944: 1420
caisson
emplaced;
1703 on
blocks
10 February
1944: 1230
afloat; 1500
moved out of
dock
Operating as part of TF 61, escorting Convoy GUS-27, arrived at New
York on 4 February 1944. Moored at 2250 at Bayonne Annex outboard
of Bainbridge (DD-246) for upkeep and repair. Underway at 1255 on 5
February for docking. Following overhaul, underway at 0835 on 15
February for Gravesend Bay to load ammunition and then later that
day departing for training in Casco Bay, Maine.
Dock empty as of 17 February; Marblehead and Benson to follow.Marblehead (CL-12)
[x2=w/DD-421]USN 20 February
1944: 1234
crossed dry
dock sill.
24 February:
1944: 1647
underway
from dock
Departed Bayonne at 1252 on 26 February and joined TF69 on 27
February as flagship, escort group for Convoy UT-9 en route to the UK.
Formed convoy at 1300 on 27 February.Benson (DD-421)
[x2=w/CL-12] USN 20 February
1944:
14:00 moored
in dock; 1800
keel resting
on blocks
25 February
1944: 0700
commenced
flooding dock;
1220 dry dock
flooded.
1310 towed
from dock.
Moored starboard side to south wall, Bayonne Annex at 1825 on 15
February. Underway at 1320 on 20 February to move into dock. Upon
departure from dock, moored alongside south wall, Bayonne Annex,
Berth 4. Navy yard availability ended at 2400 on 13 March. Ship
underway at 0823 on 14 March 1944 to Gravesend Bay to take on
ammunition. Underway 17 March from New York for Casco Bay for
refresher training.Frament (DE-677)
[x3=w/DE-675 & 676]USN 3 March
1944: 1150
crossed sill of
dock; 1549
resting on
blocks, with
Schmitt
alongside and
Weber
astern.
7 March 1944:
1320
commenced
flooding dock;
1400
waterborne;
1550
underway
under tow by
tugs while tied
up with
Schmitt
alongside.
Arrived New York 27 February, moored at 1659 at Berth 3, south wall,
Bayonne Annex, starboard side to Schmitt (DE-676). Moored at 1632
starboard side to Schmitt and Weber in Berth #3, Bayonne, following
undocking. Underway at 0645 on 9 March for Gravesend Bay and later
the same day shifted to Fort Pond Bay, Long Island, to commence
refresher training.
Schmitt (DE-676)[x3=w/DE-675 & 677] USN 3 March 1944 7 March 1944
Operating as unit of TG 21.7 from UK to USA, arriving at New York on
27 February 1944. Underway on morning of 9 Mar for Gravesend Bay
to load ammunition. Departed that afternoon in company with Scott
(DE-214) and Burke (DE-215) for training in the New London operating
area.Weber (DE-675)
[x3=w/DE-676 & 677] USN 3 March 1944 7 March 1944
DE-675 arrived at New York following duty as escort for Convoy UC-13
bound from Lough Foyle area to USA. Moored at 1740 alongside
Benson (DD-421) in berth 1, Bayonne Annex. Following refit, underway
at 0720 from berth 4, Bayonne Annex, on 9 March for Gravesend Bay
to take on ammunition. Shifted to Navy Yard, Brooklyn, on 10 March
for emergency repairs to boiler. Repairs completed at 0922 on 11
March and departed for refresher training with CortDiv 17.
Dock empty as of 9 March; Fogg, Foss, Gantner, and George W.
Ingram to follow.George W. Ingram (DE-62)[x4=w/DE-57, 59 & 60] USN 10 March
1944: 1116
entered dock
16 March
1944: 1045
taken in tow
by tug to
depart dock.
DE-62 arrived at New York 9 March as unit of TF60, escorting Convoy
TU-8 from the UK. Anchored at 2341 on 9 March in Gravesend Bay.
Underway 1000 on 10 March for Bayonne. Underway from Bayonne at
1147 on 21 March for Tompkinsville. Departed Tompkinsville at 0508
on 23 March and joined escort for Convoy UT-10.
Gantner (DE-60)[x4=w/DE-57, 59 & 62] USN 10 March
1944
16 March
1944: 1002
towed from
dock.
DE-60 arrived at New York 9 March 1944 as a unit of TF60, escorting
Convoy TU-8 to New York. TF60 commander in Nevada (BB-36).
Screen Div 29 and CortDiv 12, totaling four DD and eight DE. Shifted
mooring from Gravesend Bay to Bayonne on 10 March. Underway from
Bayonne on 21 March for Tompkinsville and departed on 22 March as
unit of TF68 escorting Convoy UT-10 bound for the UK.Foss (DE-59)[x4=w/DE-57, 60 & 62] USN 10 March
1944: 1210
alongside
Gantner
(DE-60) in
drydock; 1230
taking
services from
dock
16 March
1944:
0645 dock
being filled;
1015
underway
from dock to
south wall,
annex.
DE-59 underway at 1150 from south wall, Bayonne Annex for Navy
Section Base, Staten Island. Joined escort (TF 68) for Convoy UT-10 at
0940 on 23 March, bound for UK.Fogg (DE-57)[x4=w/DE-59, 60 & 62] USN 10 March
1944
16 March
1944
DE-57 anchored in Gravesend Bay 10 March, proceeded same day to
Bayonne Annex. Departed 21 March for Section Base, Staten Is. Joined
escort for Convoy UT-10 on 23 March.
Edison (DD-439) USN 19 March
1944: 1025
entered dock;
1330 Hill and
Blakely
entered dock
and moored
astern of
Edison; 1430
commenced
pumping out
dock; 1700
resting on
blocks
25 March
1944: 1315
commenced
flooding dock;
1655
underway
from dock
DD-439 arrived at 0915 on 18 March 1944 moored starboard side to
Berth 4, Bayonne Annex. Underway at 1015 on 19 March from berth
for docking. Moored at 1730 on 25 March starboard side to Berth 4,
Bayonne, after docking. J.R.Y. Blakely (DE-140) and Hill (DE-141)
moored alongside soon afterward. Underway at 0953 on 8 April for
anchorage in lower New York bay. Took aboard ammunition and
moved to New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, arriving south side 33rd St.
pier at 14:57 on 9 April. Departed at 0815 on 10 April for refresher
training in Casco Bay, Maine.
Camp (DE-251)(x4=w/DE-252, 253 & 254)
USN 27 March
1944
1 April 1944
Howard D. Crow (DE-252)(x4=w/DE-251, 253 & 254)
USN 27 March
1944: 1420
first line
secured in
dry dock
1 April 1944:
0803
commenced
flooding dock
Pettit (DE-253)(x4=w/DE-251, 252 & 254)
USN 27 March
1944: 1431
moored in dry
dock; 1515
commenced
pumping out
dock; 1836
keel on
blocks
1 April 1944:
dock flooded
to 14-ft; 0925
dock
completely
flooded
Ricketts (DE-254)(x4=w/DE-251, 252 & 253)
USN 27 March
1944: 1520
crossed sill;
1605 caisson
closed; 1610
started
pumping out
dock; 1820
keel on
blocks
1 April 1944:
1010 towed
out from dock;
1011 passed
sill
Four DEs arrived at New York following escort duty with Convoy UC-15
from the UK to the USA. DE-252 anchored 22 March in Gravesend Bay
to unload ammunition, moored same date at 1628 starboard side to
Pettit in Berth S-2, Bayonne. DE-253 cast off at 1407, moored with DE-
252 to move into drydock together. After undocking, DE-252 moored
at 1052 on 1 April starboard side to DE-253 at Berth S-4, Bayonne. DE-
252 underway at 0656 on 2 April for Gravesend Bay. DE-253 moored
in dock at north end, port side to DE-252; DE-251 and DE-254 moored
together when docked. After undocking, DE-253 moored at 1052
starboard side to Berth 4 with DE-252 to port. DE-253 underway 2
April for Gravesend Bay. After undocking, DE-254 moored at 1050
starboard side to port side of Edison and DE-251 in Berth 2, Bayonne.
DE-254 underway at 0803 for Gravesend Bay to load ammunition;
again underway at 1956 to depart New York.
Dock vacant as of 6 and 13 April
General George M. Randall
(AP-115)
USN In dock as of
15 April 1944
22 April 1944:
1115
commenced
flooding dock;
1443
departing
dock.
Moored at 1600 on 22 April to south wall, Bayonne. Underway at 1647
on 24 April for deperming pier, Bayonne. Unmoored from deperming
pier at 1319 on 25 April and anchored at 1401 in harbor.
Dock vacant as of 27 April
Queen Mary (“Request
362”)
UK In dock as of 4
May 1944
Projected 7
May
as of 4 May
UK request of 19 February foresaw yard availability at New York of 8-
16 April 1944.
Queen Elizabeth
(“Request 363”)
UK In dock as of
11, 18, and 25
May 1944
Projected 27
May as of 11
May; 26 May
as of 25 May
1944
UK request of 19 February foresaw yard availability at New York of 7-
26 May 1944.
George Washington USA In dock as of 1
June
Projected 5
June
as of 1 June
General M. C. Meigs
(AP-116)
USN 6 June 1944 10 June
AP-116 commissioned at 1430 on 3 June 1944 at Bayonne Annex,
while moored at Berth #4 for outfitting. At deperming station,
Bayonne, 13-14 June. Departed Bayonne at 0520 on 14 June for
Gravesend Bay. Departed New York at 0650 for Norfolk, conducting
structural test firing and 4-hour full power run en route.
Ile de France
(“Request 372”)
UK In dock as of
15 and 22
June
Projected 26
June as of 22
June
Harveson (DE-316)(x3=w/DE-135 & 149) USA 28 June 1944:
0924 in
drydock
1 July 1944:
1245
commenced
flooding dock;
1351
waterborne;
1550 all lines
let go.
DE-316 arrived at New York 27 June following assignment to TG21.5 as
escort for Convoy UC-26 from Londonderry to the USA. Arrived
Bayonne at 1239 on 27 June. Berthed at 1625 alongside Joyce
(DE-317) at Bayonne. Departed Bayonne at 0838 on 6 July for Block
Island Sound for training. Joined TG21.5 as escort for Convoy CU-31 on
10 July, departing for Londonderry.Chatelain (DE-149)
(x3=w/DE-135 & 316) USN In dock as of
29 June 1944
1 July 1944:
1245
commenced
flooding dock;
1355
waterborne;
1626 cleared
dry dock with
aid of tug
William E.
Westervelt
Moored starboard side to Berth 4, Bayonne Annex, at 1645 on 1 July.
Departed Sandy Hook on 4 July with CortDiv 4 for refresher training in
Casco Bay.Flaherty (DE-135)
(x3=w/DE-149 & 316) USN 28 June 1944:
0820 bow
crossed sill;
1225 secured
in dock
1 July 1944:
1250
commenced
flooding dock;
1448 flooding
completed
DE-135 moored 2235 alongside Chatelain at Berth S3, Bayonne.
Underway at 08:12 on 28 June for docking. After undocking, moored at
1646 starboard side to Chatelain at Berth S-3, Bayonne. Underway 4
July with other units of CortDiv 4: Pillsbury (DE-133), Pope
(DE-134), Neunzer (DE-150), and Chatelain, for training in Casco Bay.
Dock vacant as of 6 July.
Missouri (BB-63) USN 13 July 1944:
0912 bow
crossed sill
(water depth
in dock 42-ft.
3-in), 0932
moored in
dock; 1600
commenced
pumping dock
out; 1745
empty
24 July 1944:
1140 off
blocks; 1330
began moving
astern;
underway at
1344
Commenced flooding dock for departure at 1018 on 18 July, completed
at 1128 that day with 31-ft 3-in water depth in dock. Resumed
pumping out dock at 1130 on 24 July. After docking, anchored at 1438
in Gravesend Bay.
Returned to Bayonne Annex 28 September 1944, tied up at 1235 at
south wall in Berths SS2/3/4 for post-shakedown availability.
Completed 4 November and underway at 1353 on 5 November to
anchor in Gravesend Bay to take on fuel, ammunitions, and supplies.
General William H. Gordon (AP-117) was placed in commission at
Bayonne Berth 2 on 29 July 1944. She departed Bayonne on 9 August
to load ammunition and stood out for Hampton Roads the following
day. Unlike some other class units, this ship was not commissioned in
dry dock.
Dock vacant as of 27 July and 3 August
Mervine (DD-489)[x2=w/DD-490] USN 5 August
1944: 1144
passed over
dock sill; 1520
on keel blocks
9 August
1944: 1252
commenced
flooding dock;
1350
waterborne;
1550
commenced
leaving dock.
DD-489 at Bayonne Annex for yard availability from1855 on 3 August
through 2000 on 14 August. Moored at 1636 on 9 August alongside
Quick. Mervine and Quick in collision at 0110 on 15 August Mervine
repaired at New York NY, Brooklyn, through 21 August.Quick (DD-490)
[x2=w/DD-489] USN 5 August
1944: 1200
moved to
dock by tug.
9 August
1944: 1527
underway
under tow by
tugs.
DD-490 arrived New York as unit of TF68 escorting Convoy GUF-12.
Moored starboard side to Ray in Berth A, Bayonne Annex, at 1818 on 3
August. Moored starboard side to sock, Berth #2, Bayonne Annex, at
1557 on 9 August. Mervine moored outboard. Underway at 0845 on 14
August. Narrow escape from collision with Mervine on 14 August;
collision with Mervine at 0112 on 15 August. Repaired in DD #3, New
York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, 16 to 20 August 1944. Departed New York
21 August for Hampton Roads.
Dock vacant as of 10 AugustHill (DE-141)
(x4=w/DE-154, 155 & 763)
USN 17 August
1944: 1019
entered dock;
1024 moored
in dock,
alongside
Cates to
starboard
20 August
1944: 1230
commenced
flooding dock;
1600
underway to
depart dock
with Cates
still alongside
to starboard.
Operating with TG 22.6 (including escort carrier Wake Island) until
unit dissolved at 0625 on 15 August. Arrived Bayonne at 2242
starboard side to port side of Cates (DE-763) on 15 August at Berth 4,
Bayonne Annex. Moored at 1615 on 20 August with Cates at Berth 4,
Bayonne. Seaman 1c J.W. Wood USNR drowned when he fell off a
wooden scaffold on a float just above the stern of the ship when the
starboard propeller was turned over for a dock trial at 1135 on 23
August.
Sims (DE-154)(x4=w/DE-141, 155 &
763)
USN 17 August
1944: 0933
bow passed
dry dock sill,
0958 moored
in dock; 1500
dock dry
20 August
1944: 1645
moving out of
dock
Unit of TG 21.6, escorting convoy UC-27 from Londonderry to USA.
Moored 1839 on 4 July at Berth 3, Bayonne. Underway at 0806 for
docking. Sims’ log states this ship was moored to Hopping in dock and
that Hill and Reeves were moored astern in dock. After undocking,
moored at 1707 on 20 August starboard side to Griffin, Berth 3,
Bayonne. Underway 0758 on 23 August with other CortDiv 6 units.Hopping (DE-155)
(x4=w/DE-141, 154 & 763)
USN 17 August
1944: 0940
crossed dock
sill; 1230 on
blocks
20 August
1944: 1658
bow crossed
sill
Unit of TG 21.6, escort for convoy. Moored at 1153 (War Diary) or
1150 (log) on 14 August 1944 starboard side to Berth 3, Bayonne
Annex, outboard of Sims. Underway at 1015 (log) or 1017 (war diary)
on 23 August for Leonardo Pier, Sandy Hook (Earle), N.J., to take on
ammunition. Departed pier at 1449 for exercises with CortDiv 6
outside the harbor. Reeves (DE-156)
(not docked) USN Not docked Not docked
Reeves ship’s log does not mention drydocking on this occasion. Log
reports arrival at Berth S4, Bayonne, at 1130 on 14 August with Cates
mooring alongside at 1311. Log records underway on 23 August to
depart Bayonne. On the basis of this log entry, it is believed that
Sims’s log, which reported the four-ship docking, erred in specifying
Reeves rather than Cates as ship number four. New York Navy Yard
work report of 17 August also reports the four ships DE-141, DE-154,
DE-155, and DE-763 in dock No.7.Cates (DE-763)
(x4=w/DE-141, 154 & 156)
USN 17 August
1944: 1010
moved into
dry dock
20 August
1944: 1531
returned to
Berth 4,
Bayonne
DE-763 departed Berth 4, Bayonne, at 1000 on 23 August for Sandy
Hook Bay, receiving and discharging ammunition. Departed South
Boston Annex, Boston NYd, at 0545 on 28 August to join Convoy CU-37
bound for the UK.
Dock vacant as of 24 and 31 August
Brough (DE-148) USN 1 September
1944: 0925
entered dock,
draught 9-ft
forward and
9-ft 10-in aft.
Resting on
blocks 1245.
3 September
1944: 0816
commenced
flooding dock;
0930
waterborne;
1117
commenced
moving.
Engaged in transatlantic convoy escort operations. Unit of TG 28.1
escorting Convoy UC-34 as of 28 August. Anchored in Sandy Hook Bay
1251 on 28 August. At 1758 tied up alongside Baker (DE-198) at Berth
B4, Bayonne. Sturtevant (DE-239) moored to port at 1240 on 29
August. After undocking, moored at 1153 outboard of Knight
(DD-633) in Berth 1, Bayonne. Ricketts (DE-254) tied up outboard of
Brough on 5 September. Brough underway 6 September for NAD
Earle, New Jersey.
O’Reilly (DE-330) USN 3 September
1944: 1300
passed sill;
1540 on
blocks
6 September
1944: 1211
commenced
flooding dock;
1306
waterborne;
1514
underway
DE-330 at Bayonne Annex from 0822 on 2 September through 1027
on 13 September, subsequent to an assignment screening Merak
(AF-21) en route from Bermuda to New York. Moored on 2 September
starboard side to Sturtevant (DE-239). Underway under tow at 1250
on 3 September for docking. After undocking, moored at 15:29 to
starboard side of Howard D. Crow (DE-252). Underway 13 September
and transit to 36th St. Pier, Brooklyn. Resumed convoy escort duty on
20 September with Convoy CU-40.
Bennington (CV-20) USN 12 September
1944: 1315
moored at
dock; 1542
dock emptied
21 September
1944: 1235
departed
dock
CV-20 moored starboard side to Berths 5 and 6, Bayonne Annex, until
1417 when underway for Gravesend Bay anchorage. Camp
(DE-251), berthed at Bayonne during 5 to 16 September 1944, was
shifted to Brooklyn for docking beginning on 16 September 1944 (DD
#1).
Dock vacant as of 5 and 12 October.
Foss (DE-59)(x2=w/DE-70) USN 19 October
1944: 1325
entered dock;
1335 moored
in dock; 1400
commenced
pumping out
dock
24 October
1944: 1005
commenced
flooding dock;
1255
departed
dock
DE-59 operated as convoy escort to Convoy CU-39A from UK to USA,
departing 27 September 1944. Norfolk and Philadelphia sections
separated on 7 October. DE-59 arrived Gravesend Bay, New York, and
anchored at 1836 on 8 October. Moored at Navy Yard, Brooklyn, 9 to
16 October then steamed to Earle, New Jersey. Developed “excessive
vibration on the starboard screw” and diverted to Bayonne. Moored at
1631 starboard side to Blair (DE-147), Berth 3, Bayonne. Underway at
1315 on 19 October to enter dry dock. After undocking, moored at
Berth E3 alongside DE-70 and then underway again at 1443 for transit
to Naval Research Lab, Washington, D.C. Shifted berth to Washington
Navy Yard, Pier 4, on 28 October, where the ship remained until 30
November 1944.
Joseph E. Campbell
(DE-70) (x2=w/DE-59)
USN Not known 24 October
1944
DE-70 operated as a unit of the Chesapeake section of Convoy GUS-
52, arriving at Va. Capes 7 October 1944. Subsequently arrived at
Navy Yard Brooklyn at 1200 on 8 October for availability, completed
14 October. Called at Leonardo Pier, Sandy Hook, for ammunition on
14 October, departing at 1327. Hit a submerged object at 1337
between Berth 10, Earle Docks, Leonardo, NJ, and the 2nd and 3rd
buoys from north, necessitating return to Navy Yard for emergency
repairs. Arrived Bayonne 1627 on 14 October. Repairs complete,
departed Bayonne at 0929 on 27 October for New London, Ct.
Operated from New London in local training until arriving at Naval
Frontier Base Tompkinsville on 24 November for conversion to APD
(became APD-49).
Dock vacant as of 26 October. General W.P. Richardson to follow.
General W.P. Richardson
(AP-118)
USN (prior to 2
November
1944)
7 November
1944: 0500
commenced
flooding dock;
0913
commenced
moving ship
from dock.
AP-118 commissioned at 1430 while in dry dock, Bayonne. After
undocking, moored starboard side to Berth #3. Underway at 1845 for
Gravesend Bay to load ammunition. Underway at 0643 on 14
November for Norfolk.
Queen Mary
(“Request 381”)
UK In dock as of
23 November
1944
Due to
undock 26
November
1944
Bennington (CV-20) moored starboard side (Berth S1-2) to South Jetty,
Bayonne Annex, during 1630 on 16 November 1944 to 0924 on 13
December 1944 undergoing Post-Shakedown Availability. War Diary
does not indicate any docking during this time.
Dock vacant as of 30 November
Aquitania
(“Request 384”)
UK In dock as of 7
December
1944
Projected 12
December as
of 7
December
1944
Merak (AF-21) USN 15 December
1944: 1040
commenced
pumping out
dock; 1229
resting on keel
blocks.
18 December
1944: 1020
began
flooding
dock; 1209
moving
astern in
dock; 1220
clear of dock.
Unlike most or all other vessels docked here, Merak had called many
times at Bayonne, but at the Supply Depot piers. Merak arrived at the
Supply Depot, Bldg.35, on 11 December 1944 and shifted berth to the
dock on the 15th. Upon undocking, proceeded directly to Bermuda and
San Juan, P.R., before returning to NSD Bayonne, Bldg.35, on 29
December 1944.
Dock vacant as of 21 December
Bon Homme Richard
(CV-31)
USN 22 December
1944: 0908
moored in DD
No.7
3 January
1945: 1345
underway to
shift berths
from dry
dock
CV-31 departed New York Navy Yard at 1436 on 21 December 1944 to
moor at Anchorage 20B2A Upper Bay, New York, pending transfer to
Bayonne. Moored at Berths 1 and 2, Bayonne Annex, during 3 to 8
January. Departed at 1119 for Gravesend Bay to load ammunition.
To be continued
QUESTION 7/04 (W.I. no. 1 (2005): 24-25).
Austro-Hungarian ships sunk by Allied submarines
by Viktor Frampton, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
The Russian Morzh class Black Sea submarines of the 1911
Programme were developed from the earlier Baltic Akula of 1908.
Designed by Bubnov, and built by the Baltic Yard at Nickolayev, they
were single hulled boats with a maximum diving depth of 150-ft and a
diving time of 3.5 minutes. Their characteristics were as follows:
Displacement: 630 tons surfaced (Nerpa 645 tons),
760 tons submerged;
Dimensions: 220-ft x 15-ft x 13-ft;
Machinery: two shaft, two x diesel engines, 705bhp = 10.8-kts ,
2,500nm surfaced,
two x electric motors, 800 hp = 8-kts, 120nm
submerged;
Armament: one x 75mm Tylen,
one x 57mm,
one x 47mm Morzh and Nerpa
four x 18-in TT (two bow, two stern),
eight x Drzewiecki torpedo dropping collars;
Complement: forty seven men.
Their diesel engines, which had been ordered from Krupp in Germany,
were never delivered due to the outbreak of WW I in August 1914, and
had to be replaced with diesel engines removed from the gunboats of
the Amur River Flotilla. These engines never acheived their designed
bhp with the result that their designed 16-kt surface speed was never
acheived; while their poorly shaped hulls prevented them from
reaching their designed submerged speed of 12-kts.
Commissioned in 1914-15, they were the most active of the Russian
Black Sea submarines and are credited with the sinking of sixteen
merchant ships
Morzh was launched on 28 September 1913. She was lost in mid May
1917 off the Bosphoros to either mines or Turkish aircraft.
Tyulen was launched 1 Nov 1913,. Captured by the Germans at
Sevastopol, she was surrendered to the British in 1918. Transferred to
Wrangel's fleet in September 1919, she arrived at Bizerta, Tunisia in
1920 and was sold in 1924.
Nerpa was launched on 28 September 1913 and remained
inoperational at Nikolayev at the end of WW I. Recommissioned by the
Soviets on 3 June 1922 she was renamed Politruk in January 1923 and
stricken in 1931.
Sources: Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906 - 1921
(Conway Maritime Press, 1985), 315.
QUESTION 1/05 (W.I. no. 1 (2008): 35-36).
WW I Anti-flash Devices
by Jay Gibbs, Kingston, NY, USA.
Beginning with the 11-in/40 guns mounted on their last pre-
dreadnoughts of the Brauschweig and Deutschland classes, the
German Kriegsmarine, adopted Krupp type sliding wedge
breechblocks for all of their heavy naval guns. Such breechblocks
required the use of a brass or steel cartridge case, similar to those
used by small arms, to seal the rear of the breech from escaping
propellant gasses. These cartridge cases were slightly tapered toward
the muzzle end and upon firing expanded slightly so as to seal the
breech. In order to firmly seat these cases, the face of the breechblock
was angled so that as it moved across the breech face it pushed the
case completely into the chamber. When the breechblock was opened,
it activated extractors, again similar to those in small arms, to unseat
the cartridge case and eject it from the chamber.
The dimensions of these cartridge cases were quite large. Other
navies, most of which used interrupted screw type breechblocks*,
tended to restrict their powder bags to a maximum weight of about
100-lb for ease of handling in magazines and used multiple bags to
make up the required weight of the propellant charge. In contrast, the
Kriegsmarine used only two charges for even their heaviest guns. The
rearmost portion of the charge was contained in a heavy brass
cartridge case; while the forward part was enclosed by a thin zinc
case, rather than a silk bag. This case was consumed when the gun
was fired.
Although the magazine hits on the German battle cruisers at the
Dogger Bank and Jutland ignited the propellant stored there, due o
their being in cartridge cases the propellant charges only burned one
at a time and thus never generated enough gas at any one time to
destroy the ship.
* The Austro-Hungarian navy also used sliding wedge breechblocks for
their main battery naval guns; while the USN only adopted such
breechblocks for the 8-in/55 Mk-16 guns used in the Des Moines (CA-
134, 139, 140, 148) class heavy cruisers and the 6-in/47 Mk 16 guns
used in the Brooklyn (CL-40/50), Cleveland-Fargo (CL-55/67, 76/94,
99/118) and Worcester (CL-144/147) class light cruisers.
Sources: Friedman, Naval Firepower: Battleship Guns and Gunnery in
the Dreadnought Era (Naval Institute Press, 2007), 159, 283; Hodges,
The Big Gun: Battleship Main Armament 1860-1945 (Naval Institute
Press, 1981), 36; Silverstone, U.S. Warships of World War II
(Doubleday), 82, 85-99.
QUESTION 5/05 (W.I. no. 1 (2006): 22-23).
Fate of Argentine Submarine Santa Fe
by Viktor Frampton, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
On 30 Nov 1977, the Argentine Navy signed a contract with Thyssen
Nordseewerk of Emden, West Germany for the construction of two
type TR 1700 submarines as well as parts and assistance in the
construction of four additional ships at the Astillerosn Domecq Garcia
shipyard in Buenos Aires.
The original Argentine plans called for the construction of two TR 1700
and two somewhat smaller TR 1400 boats in Argentina; but in 1982
this was changed to six x TR 1700 boats in Argentina.
The two boats built in West Germany, Santa Cruz and San Juan, were
laid down on 6 December 1980 and 18 March 1982, launched on 28
September 1982 and 20 June 1983 and commissioned on 18 October
1984 and 19 November 1985 respectively. In February 1996, problems
developed with the Argentine built boats, when the first pair, Sante Fe
and Santiago del Estero were 52 and 30 percent completed
respectively. At that time the dockyard where they were being built
was sold and the incomplete portions of the two boats were
cannibalized for parts to keep the two West German built units in
operation. Parts and equipment delivered for the last two units, which
were never laid down, were also diverted for the same purpose.
Details of the two West German built boats are as follows:
Displacement: 2,116 tons surfaced, 2,264 tons submerged;
Dimensions: 216-ft 6-in x 24-ft x 21-ft 4-in;
Machinery: single shaft, four x MTU 16V652 MB81 diesel
engines,
6,705shp = 15-kts , 13,825nm @ 8-kts surfaced,
one x Siemens Type 1HR4525 + 1HR4525 four
circuit DC motor, 8,850hp = 26-kts, 29nm @; 20-kts,
460nm @ 6-kts submerged;
Armament: six x 21-in TT (all bow),
twenty two x German SST-4 or US MK-37 wire-guided
torpedoes or thirty four mines;
Complement: twenty nine men;
Diving Depth: 270m.
Both Santa Cruz and San Juan are based at Mar del Plata, the home of
the Argentine submarine force. Between September 1999 and 2001,
Santa Cruz recieved a mid-life update at a Brazilian shipyard and a
similar update is planned for San Juan at Porto Belgrano, Argentina
whenever the state of the Argentine economy makes this possible.
Sources: Chant, Submarine Warfare Today: the world's deadliest
underwater weapons systems (Summertime Publishing, 2006), 112-
113.
QUESTION 9/43 (W.I. no. 1 (2008): 38):
Namesakes and Sponsors of USN Guided Missile Destroyers
by Fred Grulich, Virginia Beach, VA, USA.
Gravely (DDG-107)
VADM Samuel Lee Gravely (1922-2004) the first African-American USN
officer to command a US warship, the Theodore E. Chandler (DD-717),
to command a major warship, the Jouett (DLG-29) and to achieve flag
rank.
Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108)
RADM Wayne E. Meyer, USN (Rtd), regarded as the key driving force
behind the development and deployment of the "Aegis" anti-ballistic
missile (ABM) system, was given the rare honor for any living USN
officer of having a warship named after him. This was coupled with the
delivery of the 100th Aegis Weapon system to the USN by Lockheed
Martin at Moorestown, NJ.
Jason Dunham (DDG-109)
CPL Jason L. Dunham USMC, the first Marine to be awarded the Medal
of Honor for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
William P. Lawrence (DDG 110)
VADM William Lawrence, who died in December 2005 at the age of 75,
had a career that ranged from the early days of jet aviation and the
space program to imprisonment in North Vietnam, followed by a major
command.
DDG-110, the first USN ship of this name, will be built at Northrop
Grumman Ship Systems’ Ingalls yard at Pascagoula, MS, and is to be
delivered in 2009.
Spruance (DDG -111)
ADM Raymond Spruance commanded the cruiser-destroyer group that
escorted VADM Halsey’s aircraft carriers during the Doolittle raid on
Japan in April 1942. In mid-1943, he was given command of the Fifth
Fleet and in early 1945, led it during the invasions of Iwo Jima and
Okinawa. Spruance retired in 1948, and died in December 1969 at the
age of 83. Shortly after his death, the Navy assigned his name to
Spruance (DD-963) that served for nearly thirty years before being
decommissioned in 2005.
Michael Murphy (DDG -112)
On 7 May 2008, Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter announced
that the name of the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile
destroyer would be Michael Murphy. The name honors LT Michael
Murphy, a Navy SEAL, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of
Honor for his heroic actions during Operation RED WING, in
Afghanistan on 28 June 2005.
QUESTION 10/43 (W.I. no. 1 (2008): 38):
The White Squadron in New London Bay
by Harold Johnson, Deep River, CT, USA.
If the ship in the foreground is one of the Arkansas class monitors,
which it most certainly appears to be, then the photograph in question
must have been taken sometime after 28 October 1902 when the first
of these ships was commissioned.
Built as a result of "panic legislation" introduced during the Spanish-
American War, the characteristics of these ships were as follows:
Displacement: 3,225 tons;
Dimensions: 255-ft loa x 252-ft lwl x 50-ft x 12.5-ft;
Machinery: two shaft VTE, 2,400hp = 11.5-kts;
Armor: 11 - 5-in belt, 10-in turret, 7.5-in conning
tower;
Armament: two x 12-in/40,
four x 4-in/50 QF,
three x 6-pdr QF,
four x 1-pdr Maxim-Nordenfeldt QF,
two x 6.5mm Colt machine guns;
Complement: thirteen officers and 135 enlisted men.
Arkansas (BM-7) built by Newport News Ship Building and Dry
Dock Co, Newport News, VA,
laid down 14 November 1899,
launched 10 November 1900,
commissioned 28 October 1902,
renamed Ozark 2 March 1909,
stricken 27 Feb 1918,
sold for scrap 26 January 1922;
Nevada (BM-8) built by Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME,
laid down 17 April 1899 as Connecticut,
launched 24 November 1900,
name changed to Nevada January 1901,
commissioned 5 March 1903,
renamed Tonopah March 1909,
sold for scrap 26 January 1922;
Florida (BM-9) built by Lewis Nixon, Elizabethport, NJ,
laid down 23 January 1899,
launched 30 November 1901,
commissioned 18 June 1903,
renamed Tallahasse 20 June 1908,
reclassified as IX-16 on 1 July 1921,
sold 25 July 1922;
Wyoming (BM-10) built by Union Iron Works, San Francisco,
CA,
laid down 11 April 1899,
launched 8 September 1900,
commissioned 8 December 1903,
renamed Cheyenne 1 January 1909,
reclassified as IX-4 on 1 July 1921,
Naval Reserve Training ship 1920-1926,
stricken 25 January 1937,
sold 20 April 1939.
Sources: Musgrove, U.S. Naval Ships Data (Vol. I) (Nautical Books,
2004), 174; Allen. "Arkansas Class Monitors" in Warship #30, (April
1984): 113-123.
QUESTION 3/44 (W.I. no. 1 (2009): 44):
Strike dates of US Cruisers
by Vernon J. Miller, Creedmoor, NC, USA.
A Family Affair by LTCDR John Dickey II USN lists the sale date of Corry
(DD-334) as 18 October 1930 and her strike date as 22 October 1930.
LCDR Dickey believes that this sale date is in error and that it should
be 1931. He also mentions that no USN ship was ever sold before it
was stricken.
However, I believe that the submarine G-4 (SS-26) is the only instance
in which the sale date preceded the strike date and even that is a gray
area. G-4 was sold for scrapping on 15 April 1920, but her strike date
is listed as 13 August 1921. Possibly this was the result of an
administrative omission in posting an earlier date.
Question 4/45 (W. I. No. 1(2008): 15):
Spanish Merchant Ships Used by Germany During WW II
by Francesco De Domenico, Rome, Italy.
My previous answer included Spanish merchant ships over 500 tons
taken into German service. Further material however is to be found in
Gröner’s Vol 7, which lists all vessels under 500 tons.
All of these small vessels were purchased by the OKM/Adm.Qu.VI
(Oberkommando Marine) from Spanish shipowners through the
Sofindus (Sociedad Financiera Industrial, Madrid) for the previously
mentioned Transcomar shipping company (Commercial Maritima de
Transportes S.A., Madrid) to operate for the German military cargo
service under the Spanish flag and with Spanish crews. Starting in
May, 1941, ten smaller merchant vessels with coal-fired boilers sailed
from the Spanish Levante coast to Genoa and from there to the
Aegean Sea, there to be used mainly to transport supplies for the
German garrison in Crete. From 1 July 1943, as already mentioned,
the Spanish crews were released and the ships came under direct
German control, with German crews and new names.
All other efforts by the OKM to obtain Spanish tonnage only succeeded
to the extent of a temporary lease of a few ships used to carry
German non-military cargoes. To this end, in June 1942 shareholder
control was acquired over the CIA Naviera Bachi of Bilbao, owner of
the six medium- sized cargo ships (two of which were lost) mentioned
in my previous entry. In September 1942, shareholder control was also
obtained over the Pesquera Vizcaina S.A. of Bilbao, a fishing company
in the ownership of four small fishing vessels, namely the steam-
engine trawlers Trincher Alai (1932 / 119grt) and Trincher Eder (1932 /
119grt), and the diesel-engine trawlers Trincher Alde (1931 / 116grt)
and Trincherpe (1931 / 116grt).
The newly-formed fleet of the German-controlled Transcomar
Company was made up of the medium-sized cargo ship Sebastian,
mentioned in my previous answer; and ten smaller vessels in all,
among which four, Maria Amalia/Kertsch/Marguerite,
Rigel/Sewastopol/Reaumur, San Juan II/Feodosia/Suzanne and
Vicente/Taganrog/Violetta have been already described in my earlier
entry.
The six others were as follows:
• Adeje, 253grt, built in 1918 by Astilleros Ardanax F. de Beraza &
Co. at Bilbao as Aingeru Zar (1918 to 1925). Later name Pablo de
Azpitarte (1925 to 1941); in 1941 purchased by Transcomar as Adeje.
On 22 April 1941, came under the control of the Seetransportchef
Italien for the Crete resupply service. On 1 July1943 renamed
Nikolajew by the Germans, on 6 September 1943 again renamed
Alma. Sunk by a mine on 23 November 1943 near Naxos.
• Crespi, 338 or 344grt, completed on 15 February 1899 by R.
Thomson & Sons at Southwick/Sunderland as Fremington (Liverpool
and North Devon Line). Later names Faraman (1902 to 1929, Cie
Fraissinet), Caid Aziz (1929 to 1933, Union Marocaines), José Trujillo
(1933 to 1941, J. Trujillo Zafra, Spanish flag). In 1941 via Transcomar
she came under the Seetransportchef Italien. On 1 July1943 renamed
Simferopol under the German flag. Sunk on 25 July 1943 in Piraeus
Harbor after being hit by rockets on July 23 between Nikaria and
Mykonos. Raised on 31 July 1943 and later repaired. On 6 September
1944 renamed Celsius for the Seetransportstelle Samos. Scuttled on 9
October 1944 in Piraeus.
• Isis, 316grt, completed as Axpe by Mutiozabal & Fernandez at
Bilbao for the shipyard owner in September 1920. Later name Isora
(from 1922) for J. Pena Hernandez. During the Spanish Civil War she
was used as a prison ship in Tenerife. On 22 April 1941 via Transcomar
she came under the control of the Seetransportchef Italien for the
Crete service. On 1 July 1943 renamed Cherson under the German
flag, and on 6 September 1943 again as Isis. Sunk by torpedo or mine
near Navarino on 23 or 25.2.1944.
• Ellen, a yacht of 353 or 359grt, launched on 6 May 1905 by Day,
Summers & Co. at Northam/Southampton as Agatha. During WW I
served as a hired yacht with the Royal Navy (pennant no. 013) from
September 1914 to March 1919. Renamed Rover in the 1920’s and
later Elsie, later again Nere-a-Metza for the Marqués de Caviedes, San
Sebastian. Sunk by bombs at Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War,
later raised and repaired. In 1941 purchased by Transcomar as the
cargo ship Ellen. In April 1942 under the Seetransportchef Italien. On 5
June 1942 renamed Ostia under the German flag for the Unternehmen
Sonnenblume (Enterprise SUNFLOWER), the resupply of the Afrika
Korps, possibly as an escort vessel. Sunk by air attack on 1 November
1942, off Tobruk.
• San Isidro Labrador, 257 or 322grt, completed in February 1904
by R. Williamson & Son at Workington as Guanche under the Spanish
flag. Renamed Carmen in 1925 and San Sebastian in the late 1920’s.
Took the name San Isidro Labrador in the 1930’s. Served as prison
ship at Tenerife during the Spanish Civil War. To Transcomar in 1941
and on 22 April 1941 as a refrigerated cargo ship under the
Seetransportchef Italien. Sunk on 4 April 1943 by the submarine HMS
Parthian with torpedoes near Mericheas, Kythnos.
• San Eduardo, a very old cargo ship originally of 185grt, built in
1882 at El Ferrol (name unidentified). Rebuilt at 300grt in 1917 as
Hercules for the owner Tejero Perez & Gil. Renamed San Eduardo in
1931 for A.T. Vega. To Transcomar in 1941, under the
Seetransportchef Italien in April 1941. Sunk in an air attack on 9 May
1943 near Scrifos Island (four crewmen dead).
Therefore all the ten smaller Transcomar ships were war losses, either
under the Spanish (San Isidro Labrador, San Eduardo) or German flag
(all the others); as also a war loss was the Sebastian.
The OKM also undertook the construction in Spanish shipyards, on the
Transcomar account, of a number of small cargo ships.
Three steam vessels of 239grt and 300tdw were ordered, two of them
from the Ruiz de Velasco yard in Bilbao: Polar, a trawler launched on 8
July 1943, and Antares, a cargo ship launched on 20 August 1943 and
completed in 1944. The third vessel was named Rio Manzanares, built
1943, yard unidentified. There is no trace of these newly built vessels
operating with Transcomar, however, since they came into the scene
rather late into the war, after German control over the company had
lapsed.
Four more motor ships of 399grt and 490tdw were ordered for
Transcomar: Altair, built in 1942 by the Cantabrico Yard at Gjion for
Transcomar; Maribel (398grt), built in 1942 at the same yard for A.
Riva Suardiaz; Linette, built in 1942 at the same yard for Transcomar.
A fourth vessel, Canopus (392grt), was built in 1944 for Transcomar by
the Union Levante at Valencia. None of these Transcomar vessels
served under German military control or outside Spanish waters,
either.
Five other orders of 399-tonners were also earmarked, as were those
for twenty motor sailers. However none of these vessels is reported to
have ever sailed under German military control.
Sources: Gröner, Jung, Maass, Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945
Vol.7 (Bernard & Graefe Verlag, 1990); www.miramarshipindex.org.nz
QUESTION 6/45 (W.I. no. 1 (2009): 33-35):
Warships armed with Pneumatic Dynamite guns
by P.C. Jumonville, Chicago, IL, USA.
Holland V, John P. Holland's last speculative, privately funded venture
was finally accepted by the USN as the USS Holland at a financial loss
to his firm despite mandated modifications. Utilized primarily for
training and experimental duties, Holland was variously designated as
"SS-1" or "Torpedo Boat #1" even though the torpedo boat Cushing of
1890 also carried the latter designation and remained in service until
1910, the same year that Holland was stricken.
The designation "VI" reflects the sixth in a series of Holland's attempts
to develop a practical submarine, initially on behalf of the Irish Fenian
Brotherhood and later for the USN. As built, Holland VI carried two
pneumatic "dynamite" guns, one in the bow and one in the stern; but
the later was removed upon her alteration to the Holland configuration
which also included relocating the rudders aft of the propeller instead
of forward of it. Holland also carried a slightly down angled 18-in
torpedo tube for 836-lb Whitehead torpedoes. Three of these
torpedoes were carried, one in the tube plus two reloads. Produced
under license by the E. W. Bliss Co. of Brooklyn, NY, these torpedoes
carried a bursting charge of 118-lbs of wet "guncotton"
(nitrocellulose), and had a range of 800 to 1,000-yds at a speed of 26
to 26.5-kts. The simplicity of being able to use compressed air for
blowing her ballast tanks and for launching both her torpedo tube and
Zalinski gun(s) is worth noting. A single 45-50SHP Otto gasoline engine
had to serve as the prime mover for the propeller, dynamo and air
compressor.
Following much grief with the steam engine forced on him by the USN
for high surface speed in his Plunger / Holland V, Holland returned to
internal combustion engines. According to his associate Frank Cable,
Holland witnessed the demonstration of a static Otto gasoline-engine
driven dynamo set at a Philadelphia exposition and immediately
bought such a set for the Holland VI.
The pneumatic gun in Holland was positioned just above her single
torpedo tube at a fixed elevation of 15o. It had an 8.425-in diameter
bore and fired a 220-lb projectile armed with either a 50 or 80-lb
charge of guncotton to a range of 1,000-yds above water or 30-yds
underwater. As was the case with Vesuvius, the range could be
increased slightly by using her trim tanks to give her a slight bow up
orientation thus increasing the effective elevation of the gun. The
firing charge was 50-pounds in2 (psi) of air pressure following the
release of 10psi through the reducing valve to clear the tube for
loading. The contents of the compressed air reservoir were
pressurized at about 2,000psi thus allowing for a number of either
torpedo or gun shots before the air compressor would have to be run
to recharge the reservoir. In addition to the three Bliss-Whitehead
torpedoes, six Zalinski gun projectiles were also carried.
Holland's predecessor, the steam prime mover cursed Holland V which
also carried the name Plunger, was not built with pneumatic
"dynamite" guns and neither was her successor, Plunger (SS-2).
At least one significant technical problem remains unresolved. The
Scientific American plan of Holland VI shows a much longer missile in
her aft gun tube than in its forward counterpart, which also bears the
qualifier "aerial" on its label. Something lacking for that of its
"dynamite torpedo" at the vessel's stern that also seems to show a
possibly adjustable rudder-like device, not present on the "aerial
torpedo" in the forward tube. I believe that this item really represents
the breech mechanism for the after tube. Neither projectile appears to
be fitted with propellers, although these components ARE shown for
the Whitehead torpedoes. It is as if both projectiles were entirely
dependent on the initial compressed air impulse given to them at
launch for their propulsion. In addition, the stern tube is pitched at a
much lower angle of elevation than that of the forward tube. So what
exactly was the difference between "aerial" and "dynamite" torpedoes
or between "dynamite" and Whitehead torpedoes?
Sources: Morris, John P. Holland: Inventor of the Modern Submarine,
(Naval Institute Press, 1968), 181-182.