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Old 05-08-22, 04:44 PM   #5256
Bubblehead1980
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Default USS BARB SS-220 First War Patrol 19 October 1942-24 November 1942

USS BARB SS-220
WAR PATROL REPORT
WAR PATROL NUMBER ONE
19 OCTOBER-24 NOVEMBER 1942

PROLOGUE

Keel for SS-220 laid on 7 June 1941 Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.
Launched on 2 April 1942, sponsored by Mrs. Charles A. Dunn, wife of Rear Admiral Dunn. Commissioned 8 July 1942 with Lieutenant Commander
John R. Waterman in command. Sea trials and workups commenced through Summer of 1942 with assignment to Submarine Squadron FIFTY in October 1942.

Assigned to conduct operations in support of Operation TORCH and proceed to Rosneath, Scotland with rest of SUBRON 50.
Twenty four MK 14 torpedoes loaded along with provisions 17-18 October. Ready for sea 19 October 1942.


(A) NARRATIVE


Daily routine consisted of a trim dive at dawn and dusk. Numerous schools for Qualification and Advancement were also
held as part of daily routine.


October 19
__________


0900 Departed Submarine Base New London, Connecticut in company with escort DD BAGLEY for
Special Mission in support of TORCH.


0930 Reached New London Ledge Lighthouse, BAGLEY detached. Proceeded via designated lane in Block Island Sound.


1015 Passed Latimer Reef Lighthouse.


1229 Sighted PBY. Exchanged Recognition signals. (Aircraft Contact No.1)


1535 Dive


1557 Surface


October 20-
November 4
___________

En route to Safi, French Morocco to conduct special mission. Passage uneventful.


1900 Arrived off Safi, French Morocco, began reconnoiter of area. Sent reported to COMSUBLANT.


November 5
___________


0105 Submerged 10 miles West of Safi. Reconnoitered the area throughout the day.


November 6
___________

Patrol submerged along coast South of Safi.


0453 Spotted aircraft bearing 090. Single engine, possible JU-87 Stuka dive bomber.




November 7
___________

Submerged at dawn to reconnoiter the Point de la Tour area for landing operation after dark.


1400 Began preparations for execution of special mission, insertion of Scouts under LT Duckworth, US Army off Point
de la Tour.

1800 Evening Fox Traffic confirmed TORCH would commence 8 November.


2320 Surfaced 3900 yards NNE of Point de la Tour.

2330 Deployed Army Scouts via rubber boat off Point de la Tour. Proceeded to landing beach to assumed guide position.



November 8
___________


Submerged at dawn off landing beach.

Observed approach of landing force at 0400. Bombardment and exchange of fire with shore batteries began at 0500.


0647 Observed first wave of landing craft approaching beach bearing 150.


0700 Troops landed.


0730 Observed air strikes by F4F and SBD's in Safi area.


1001 Enemy aircraft attacked landing force. Observed heavy AA fire in area.


1022 One friendly AK observed on fire from bomb hit by dive bomber.


1800 Surfaced, proceeded to patrol station West of landing area.



November 9
___________

0400 Submerged for patrol at dawn.

1408 Surfaced at dusk into heavy seas. Winds 20 knots direction 275.


November 10
___________

Patrolled North of landing area. Uneventful.



November 11
____________

TORPEDO ATTACK NO.1
____________________

2231 SJ contact bearing 030 18200 yards. Turned to intercept.

2313 Made visual contact bearing 020 with surfaced U Boat(identified as Type 9)

2314 GENERAL QUARTERS-TORPEDO. Set course 160 to match contact and pull ahead for attack.

2325 Submerged for attack.

2327 Leveled off at 100 ft for approach.

2334 Periscope depth. Target course 160, speed 12 knots.

2335 Tubes 1,2,3,4,5,6 made ready to fire.

2337 Fired Tubes 1,2,3. at range 1800 yds.

2338: Torpedo exploded prematurely
25

2338: Torpedo exploded prematurely
30

2338: U Boat alerted, began evasive maneuvers at high speed. Appeared to turn towards BARB. Ordered 150 ft, rigged for silent running and collision.
32

2339 Sound could hear torpedoes closing BARB, surely fired from U Boat.

2340 BARB torpedo missed, reached end of run.


November 12
____________

0300 All cleared. Secured Silent Running and GQ. Remained submerged for the day.


0817 Periscope observation. Heavy fog and rain in area. Seas light chop.


0830 Surfaced.


November 13
____________

Rains persisted in area.

2102 Received message from COMSUBLANT regarding MULLET in need of assistance with engineering casualty. Set course for Canary Islands.



November 14
____________


2341 Rendezvoused with MULLET. Provided spare parts and CMoMM to assist in repairs. Remained in area to provide cover and further assistance.


November 15
____________

Patrolled area near MULLET through the day.


November 16
____________

MULLET repairs completed. CMoMM R.J. Hadler, USN, remained aboard MULLET to assist.

BARB , per COMSUBLANT, set course for Rosneath, Scotland.



November 17
____________

0904 Lookouts spotted a USN TBF Avenger flying low on water bearing 094. SD did not detect due to low altitude.
With plane appearing to take attack posture, ordered a dive.

0905: With BARB passing 85 feet, a series of explosions off port side shook the boat with minor damage.
See MAJOR DAMAGE AND DEFECTS. Remained at 200 feet for rest of the day.


1900 Surfaced, set course for Rosneath-BASE II.


November 18-22
_______________

Transited 15 miles off Portguese and Spanish coasts.
Daily routine en route BASE II. Uneventful.


November 23
____________

0430 Passed Strumble Head and cleared minefields.

2220 Passed Ailsa Craig Lighthouse



November 24
____________

0028 Arrived entrance to Firth of Clyde, awaited escort off Little Cumbrae Lighthouse.


0500 Escort did not arrive by dawn for rendezvous. Proceeded independently to BASE II.


1400 Arrived BASE II, Rosneath, Scotland. Terminated war patrol.


(B) CONTACTS
--------------


SHIPS
_____

NO.1
DATE 11/11/1942
TIME 2231
LAT 32-41N
LOG 9-47W
BRG 030
RNG 18200 yds
CRS 160
SPD 12 kts
TYPE U Boat-Type 9
HOW SJ-Visual
REMARK
Torpedo Attack No.1


NO.2
DATE 11/4/1942
TIME 2320
LAT 30-27N
LOG 13-39W
BRG 003
RNG 8000 yds
CRS 085
SPD 0 KTS
TYPE USS MULLET SS
HOW SJ-Visual
REMARK
Rendezvous to assist MULLET. Transferred spare parts and CMoMM.



AIRCRAFT
________

NO.1
DATE 10/19/1942
TIME 1229
LAT 41-16N
LOG 71-38W
BRG 140
RNG 8000 yds
CRS 085
ALT 1000 ft
SPD 110 kts
TYPE PBY
HOW Visual
REMARK



NO.2
DATE 11/06/1942
TIME 0453
LAT 28-27N
LOG 14-39W
BRG 090
RNG 4000 yds
CRS 010
ALT 1000 ft
SPD 155 kts
TYPE JU 87 Stuka-Dive Bomber
HOW Visual-No.1 Periscope
REMARK
Appeared to carry French markings. Coastal air patrol?


NO.3
DATE 11/17/1942
TIME 0904
LAT 35-30N
LOG 12-50W
BRG 094
RNG 6000 yds
CRS 270
ALT 600 ft
SPD 200 kts
TYPE TBF AVENGER (USN)
HOW Visual only
REMARK
Bombed-Friendly Fire.


(C) ATTACKS


USS BARB SS 220 Torpedo Attack ONE War Patrol ONE
Date 11 November 1942 Time 2337 Lat.32-38N Long.9-51W



Description

While on barrier patrol, made lone SJ contact at 18200 yards, approximately 40 nautical miles West of Safi landing area.
Soon after closing, established visual contact on surfaced Type 9 U Boat and began shadowing for approach and attack.
Fired three MK 14 torpedoes from tubes 1,2,3 at 1800 yards. Two torpedoes prematurely exploded, one missed.


Type Attack

Submerged-Night-Periscope

Ships Sunk
None


Ships Damaged
None

Ships Probably Sunk
None

Torpedo Attack No.1 Target Data (at firing)

Name U-Boat Type 9
Course 160
Speed 12 kts
Range 1800 yds
AOB 90 P
Bearing 007
True Bearing 249
Remark


Torpedo Attack No.1 Torpedo Fire Control Data

Tube # 1
Type MK 14
Serial No. 31990
Exploder MK 6
Serial No. 2990
Gyro 351 P
Track 107 P
Course 234
Method Single bearing
Interval 4 seconds
POA MOT
Spread 0
Power High
Depth 6 ft
Set Actuation Magnetic-Contact
Actual Actuation --
Hit No
Erratic No
Remark
Premature Detonation


Tube # 2
Type MK 14
Serial No. 31991
Exploder MK 6
Serial No. 2991
Gyro 351 P
Track 107 P
Course 234
Method Single bearing
Interval 4 seconds
POA MOT
Spread 1 degree port
Power High
Depth 6 ft
Set Actuation Magnetic-Contact
Actual Actuation --
Hit No
Erratic No
Remark
Premature Detonation



Tube # 3
Type MK 14
Serial No. 31993
Exploder MK 6
Serial No. 2993
Gyro 351 P
Track 107 P
Course 234
Method Single bearing
Interval 4 seconds
POA MOT
Spread 1 degree starboard
Power High
Depth 6 ft
Set Actuation Magnetic-Contact
Actual Actuation --
Hit No
Erratic No
Remark
Torpedo missed, reached end of run.



Own Ship Data (at firing)

Depth 60 ft
Course 241
Speed 3 kts
Angle 2-down
Seas Heavy
Depth under keel 150 fathoms plus




(D) WEATHER


Weather en route New London to area of operations varied from calm, mild days and cool nights, to raging seas, winds, and bitterly cold nights.

Weather in operation area was mild to warm, with choppy seas for most of duration. A period of about 72 hours in mid November produced ongoing storms with blinding winds, rains, fog, and heavy seas.

Weather en route BASE II from operating area was almost yachting weather along the Portguese and Spanish coasts. Shortly after passing Cape Finisterre as BARB entered out reaches of the Bay of Biscay temperatures dropped
with choppy seas and occasional rain squalls for duration of transit.


(E) NAVIGATIONAL AIDES

Lighthouse at Pointe de la Tour near Safi provided a aide to navigation in operating area.

Lighthouse at Cape Finisterre aided in navigation along the Spanish coast.

Lighthouses in the Firth of Clyde provided navigational aide en route to Rosneath.


(F) SOUND CONDITIONS AND SOUND GEAR

Sound conditions throughout patrol ranged from poor to okay. During the only torpedo attack of the patrol, sound had difficulty following
the surfaced U Boat target in the heavy seas.

Sound conditions were enemy were unknown but suspected likely as enemy U Boat did not appear aware
of BARB's presence until premature detonation of torpedoes.


(G) RADIO

Radio function for this patrol was normal.


(H) RADAR

SJ

SJ radar performance was excellent overall. Targets were typically detected at around 17000 yards.


SD

SD radar performance was sufficient overall. Typical detection range was 18000 yards. However,
a low flying TBF was not detected and in a case of mistaken identity, BARB was bombed.


(J) MINES

No mines were encountered on this patrol.


(K) ANTI-SUBMARINE COUNTERMEASURES AND TACTICS


No enemy ASW vessels were encountered. Just one enemy air patrol was encountered in operating area.


(L) MAJOR DAMAGE AND DEFECTS


BARB suffered minor damage when attacked by a USN TBF. All damage repaired at sea.

1. Rudder transmission
2. No.2 Periscope
3. Shattered glass fixtures-All compartments
4. Light bulbs-All compartments
5. Minor gland and piping leaks in Conning tower and control room.
6. Minor leaks in high pressure air lines.


(M) THERMAL LAYERS

No thermal layers were encountered on this patrol.


(N) SPECIAL OPERATIONS

BARB arrived in area a few days prior to scheduled November 8 landings and conducted
reconnoiter via periscope during daylight hours as close as 3000 yards off the beach.

Reports were sent to COMSUBLANT regarding tides, beach status, weather, and other vital
information on a
nightly basis.

BARB deployed six Army Scouts under LT DUCKWORTH via rubber boat approximately 4,000 yards
NNE of Point de la Tour near Safi at 2330 7 November. Operation went smoothly with the enemy unalerted.

Following this, BARB per orders, proceeded to position at the Safi landing beaches where provided guidance
via infrared signals. At dawn BARB submerged and observed the bombardment, exchange of gunfire with shore batteries,
carrier air strikes, and finally landing craft hitting the beaches. Per orders BARB cleared the area to provide
barrier patrol North-West of the landing area.

BARB was ordered to rendezvous with submarine U.S.S. Mullet off the Canary Islands. MULLET suffered critical breakdowns in
all four HOR engines during her patrol. Upon rendezvous on 14 November, via rubber boat the required parts and our best Chief Motor Machinist's Mate were transferred
to provide assistance. MULLET was able to get underway and per orders BARB proceeded independently, with her CMoMM stll aboard MULLET. Naturally, our Chief rejoined the crew
upon MULLET reaching port.




(O) PERSONNEL

Officers 7 Qualified for Command 3
Chief Petty Officers 7
Men 56
Qualified in Submarines Officers 5 CPO/Crew 40
Qualified during patrol Officer 1 Crew 9
Advanced in Rating 6


(P) Health and Habitability

Overall morale and health of the crew remained high throughout the patrol.
Meals prepared were excellent. Conditions in the boat were overall satisfactory.


(Q) MILES STEAMED-FUEL CONSUMED

Miles Gallons
New London to Area 4096 39445
In Area 5500 61250
Area to Rosneath 1850 23200


(R) DURATION
Days
New London to Area 17
In Area 8
Area to Rosneath 11



(S) FACTORS IN ENDURANCE

Torpedoes 21
Fuel 34250 gallons
Provisions 42 days
Crew Indefinite

Factor in termination of patrol: Orders per COMSUBRON 50


(T) REMARKS


A successful patrol in all assignments were completed to satisfaction. Great disappointment is felt at the failure to sink the enemy U-Boat
encountered on 11 November, due to torpedoes prematurely detonating and alerting target. Enemy ASW activity was surprisingly light throughout the patrol. The friendly fire incident of 17 November was quite disconcerting and not the only one to befall a boat of SUBRON 50 during operations in support of TORCH. Hopefully, such incidents are avoided in the future


J.R. Waterman
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