Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980
OH the disappointment...
Testing New Construction career in a Gato.
Departed Portsmouth, NH on second sea trial on June 21 1942. USS Shad-Gato class.
Night of June 23, 1942 at 2304 hours, lookouts spotted (no SJ radar yet) a surfaced U Boat bearing 184 degrees roughly 5000 yards.
Since AI subs can fire torpedoes plus his deck gun, I sped up and took evasive maneuver then did a crash dive, leveling off at 150 feet. Went to GQ-Torpedo, silent running. A sound check showed no course changes by enemy nor sounds of torpedoes, looks like he had not spotted the Shad.
Eased up to periscope depth...with the light from the half moon silhouetting the U boat, was able to gain decent reading for periscope shot.
Tubes 1,2,3,4,5,6 were all made ready, set to 6 ft depth. U Boat appeared to be a Type IX on course 270 at 11 knots. Shad eased in with outer doors on tubes open.
Time: 2351- Fired four MK 14 torpedoes from 1200 yards, AOB 90 , gyros at 8. Ideal shot.
First torpedo 10-15 yards target prematurely detonated. Followed by the second. Third torpedo ran deep and passed below keep. Fourth torpedo, seemed right on target in spite of evasive maneuver by the now alerted U boat. Torpedo hit the stern, but failure to detonate...the audible clang of the DUD heard throughout the boat. U Boat turned toward Shad's scope, firing her deck guns and apparently torpedoes, as they were now audible on sound gear. Sahd sounded collision and went to 100 feet, careful not to have stern sticking in air. Torpedoes passed overhead.
Well stayed deep and quiet a while, came to service, U boat was no where to be found.
Talk about disappointment.
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