Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-08-20
Sub Hunting
By James Hirshf field
(WNU Feature-Through special arrangement
with The American Magazine.)

l was on the bridge of the coast
guard cutter Campbell, escorting a
big convoy, when there came
message, reporting a submarine 25
miles south of US. We charged full
speed for the spot.
Whether we got that first subma-
rine l don't know-you seldom know
but we didn't have time to worry
about it. A signal cracked through
from another vessel of the escort, a
British corvette. With sister cor
vette she was attacking another
U-boat she had picked up on her
sound gear.
With the two corvettes we con-
verged like arrows on the U-bOat.
Over wide area we sowed ash
cans. The sea went mad with gey-
sers. Then great patch of Diesel
oil appeared on the sea. 1t smells
like kerosene, but to submarine
hunters nostrils it is sweeter than
violets, for it means that a U-boat
has been sunk or damaged. From
engine-room to bridge there was joy
in the Campbell.
Whole Convoy Attacked.
1t was then about l p. M, and
very black. After final search of
the area, we ran back toward the
convey. Presently splotch of cold,
white light appeared on the horizon.
1t grew brighter as we drew nearer,
and we heard the rumble of distant
explosions. My heart sank. Those
lights meant the whole convoy was
under attack. Escort ships were
throwing up star shells to light the
sea better to fight off the raiders.
| Leaving the slower corvettes in
our wake we raced for the convoy,
but before we reached it another
message came in from the escort
commander. 1t confirmed my fears.
Several ships had been attacked.
One had fallen behind. The Camp
bell was to go to the rescue.
l didn't like leaving the convoy
just then, but orders are orders.
Foam boiled under our keel as we
reversed course. An hour or so lat
er we found the ship 10 miles astern
of the convoy. She was just sitting
there in the darkness. AS we sight
ed her, tall tower of water erupted
on her port side. The ship was I'M
der attack.
Hole Torn in Campbell.
Soon we were under attack our
selves. An explosion tore a great
hole in the water just astern of the
Campbell. 1t was mighty close 1t
really shook us up. 1t sounded as
though we were on the inside of an
iron boiler which had been slammed
with a sledge hammer.
waited on edge, for second
one. Then our lookouts spotted the
U-boat which was throwing the stuff.
1t was on the surface about a mile
away. Through the eerie light of
early morning we could make out
the cream of her wake and a faint
haze from her Diesels. The Camp
bell bore down on her like terrier
after a rat.
The rat showed no inclination to
fight it out. Our guns were Just
opening when the craft submerged.
We dropped pattern of depth
charges, and few minutes later
were again rewarded with that
blessed fragrance of Diesel oil. 1t
was the third submarine the Camp
bell had engaged in less than IL
hours.
About midmorning, our sound
gear picked up another submarine.
Sub Crash-Dived.
l ran to the starboard side of the
bridge, where the men stood point
ing. The periscope had vanished.
The submarine had crash-dived. We
gave it the works.
When it was all over I happened
to notice the lookout who had given
the alarm. He was beaming like
happy ape.
l had forgotten our prize fund for
the men who spotted submarines.
Before the end of that voyage, our
treasury was exhausted.
1t was high noon when the Camp
bell encountered her fifth Jerry. 1t
was on the surface. about three
miles away, and must have had
some foolish notion it could outrun
us. 1t soon found that it couldn't,
and submerged in hurry. Again
we laid down a pattern of depth
charges.
Later that night we sighted our
sixth. 1t was on the surface, about
500 yards off the starboard bow.
For the 18th time in little more
than "a hours, our gongs changed
general quarters" The men sprang
to their battle stations. We swung
hard right to ram. The Campbell
raced down on the sub with guns
blazing at point-blank range. We
really caught that U-boat mapping.
1t was big one with large con-
ming tower and heavy armament.
We could see men on the deck.
Shouting wildly, they tried to bring
deck gun into action. They never
had a chance. We raked their deck
from stem to stern with machine
gun fire.