Page:An account of the action off Cape Lookout.djvu/2

SECRET The target turned away and a lead angle was applied at which time the movement of the target was ascertained. The ship swung back to an intercepting course, crossed over the target ahead of it and laid the first barrage. Structural firing charges were in the K-guns and did not explode. The three charges rolled exploded at their settings two for 100 feet one for fifty feet. The contact was lost at 100 yards indicating a target depth of 100 feet.

Attack I concluded (see chart and chemical recorder trace) the range was opened well out on standard procedure and closed again on the side toward which the target had been turning. The depth charge boil was easily ranged upon but up to 800 yards but difficulty was experienced in picking up the actual target. When screw noises and the metallic quality of the contact reestablished contact, the ship came up to attack speed and made a run. The target was found to be turning back toward the depth charge disturbance. Contact was lost at 200 yards indicating that the target had dived. A four charge pattern was laid, two from the racks set at 266 feet, two fron the K-guns set at 150 feet. The time of this attack was .

Using standard procedure a relocation of the target was accomplished and the target again developed for screws, target width doppler and change of bearing. The ship, sleepy and skeptical had cone to their guns swiftly and without error. No one, including the Commanding Officer could readily credit the existence of an enemy submarine here on the steamer track and all soundmen, new on the bridge, were attempting to argue the echo ranging equipment and chemical recorder out of such a fantastic idea. Testing and evaluating the contact the ship swept back and forth, keeping the contact in range on either bow and beam. Sound conditions were good and there was not any great interferences.

When the Conmanding Officer and the soundmen had finally completed investigation, a third attack was made. A run of 700 yards at attack speed was complicated by the failure of the chemical recorder. Stop watch range rates were being kept and it was found that the attack was a quarter attack with a rate of eight knots. Due to the rapid exhaustion of charges, only two were used with settings of 200 feet.

Standard procedure failed to regain contact. Circling