jn part, “The strain on crews who remained submerged as long as Seventy days was surprisingly 
light. 
The top of the Schnorchel stack contained an intake-exhaust valve which measured about 
11/2’ by 3’. This valve and the periscope is usually the only exposure above water while the 
U-boat operated at Schnorchel depth. The valve was covered with anti-radar material making 
it practically invisiblé to Radar. Visual detection range on the Schnorchel was only about a 
mile or two in daytime and practically nil at night. The U-boats literally maintained “radio si- 
lence” thereby depriving the Allies of radio direction finder detection. Effectively, the Schnorchel 
had neutralized our anti-submarine air offensive and defeated our surface detection. But, 
whether schnorchelling, submerged or bottomed - the Asdic Sonar teams detected and located the 
U-boats. Thus during 1944, the 202 U-boats and 51 Jap subs which were sunk averaged 21 per 
month, while the 134 ships they had sunk averaged only 11 per month. 
During the winter of 1944-45 an average of 40 of Admiral Doenitz’ continually submerged 
U-boats, plus scores of submersible midget U-boats had concentrated in the Channel areas 
against the bridge of ships carrying reenforcements to hard-pressed Allied land forces, fighting 
the battle of the Bulge. Their operations during the last four months of the European war re- 
sulted in Sinking only 56 ships while 88 U- boats plus about 100 midgets were sunk, The sub- 
merged Nazis had been swept out by the “Killer Group” escorts equipped with Asdic-Sonar which 
the Allies had developed to the stage where crevices and rocks of the ocean bottom no longer 
afforded safe hiding for U-boats., 
avis signalized the surrender of about 50 U-boats which were operating throughout the 
Atlantic and several score more were taken in ports. Thus, the Battle of the Atlantic had its 
finale with about 110 U-boats being taken out to sea and sunk in deep water. 
The Japs now had about 70 oceangoing submarines which were employed primarily to supply 
their hard-pressed bases. Their speed of 22 knots surfaced and 8 knots submerged compared 
favorably with current submarines of other nations. They were pursued relentlessly by Allied 
anti-submarine groups, and by our own Submarines. 
The killing of six Jap subs in eleven days by the USS ENGLAND will probably be considered 
the war classic in anti-submarine warfare. On 19 May the destroyer escorts, USS ENGLAND, 
USS GEORGE, and USS RABY were on an offensive submarine hunt east of the Solomons Islands. 
The ships were spaced apart according to the assured sound range as derived from Bathythermo- 
graph analysis. Sonar echoes were obtained by USS ENGLAND at 1325 hours, but the contact 
seemed “doubtful” , so ENGLAND made a run over the target for evaluation resulting in contact 
being classified as a Jap Sub. 
At 1340 a firing run was made but none of the Hedgehog projectiles scored. (No depth 
charges were used.) On the second attack at 1350 two Hedgehog projectiles detonated. The third 
and fourth attacks were unsuccessful. On the fifth salvo at 1433 hours, three or four projectiles 
detonated. ENGLAND’s fathometer indicated a submarine at a depth of 324 feet. Two minutes 
later a violent underwater explosion astern was so intense that several men on the fantail were 
knocked off their feet. At 1600 hours ENGLAND lowered a life boat near the center of the sub- 
marine’s oil slick which was 300 yards wide and 2 miles long and obtained a mattress, broken 
furniture, etc., as evidence. No human remains were found but “that is explained by the fact 
that numerous ‘large sharks were seen in the explosion area and the crews of the whaleboat had 
to actually fight them off while recovering wreckage. 
The second action began 3 days later, on 22 May at 0350 hours, when GEORGE and ENG- 
LAND made radar contact 7 miles ahead and maneuvered to “box” the target between them, but 
the enemy submerged before it was possible to engage with gunfire. GEORGE established sonar 
contact and attacked with Hedgehogs without results. At0425 ENGLAND gained sonar contact 
and quickly carried out two Hedgehog attacks. On the second attack three projectiles detonated 
at a depth of 240 feet to be followed a few minutes later by a violent underwater explosion. A 
board identified as submarine deck planking floated by, and by dawn diesel oil was rising in large 
quantities. A four hour sonar search verified the disintegration of the Jap Sub. 
A- 2405 
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