USS PC - 815 USS " PC - 815 " was a built for the United States Navy during World War II . It was commanded for about eighty days in 1943 by L . Ron Hubbard , who later became the founder of Scientology . After Hubbard was removed from command for inadvertently shelling Mexican territory , the " PC - 815 " served as a shore patrol vessel off San Diego , California . She was lost with one of her crew in November 1945 after being hit by the destroyer USS " Laffey " . " PC - 815 " s short career led to the vessel being dubbed the " jinxed sub - chaser " . Construction . " PC - 815 " was laid down on 10 October 1942 at the Albina Engine and Machinery Works in Portland , Oregon . She was fitted out commencing 5 December and was commissioned on 20 April 1943 , with Lieutenant ( j . g . ) L . Ron Hubbard in command . A few weeks later she sailed down the Columbia River to Astoria , Oregon , where she arrived on 17 May to take on supplies . On 18 May , the " PC - 815 " left Astoria for Bremerton , Washington , where she was to have radar and depth charge launchers fitted . Her journey was interrupted by an air - sea rescue operation , then was resumed with a new destination — San Diego . The " jinxed sub - chaser " . Claims of submarine contact off Cape Lookout . In the early hours of 19 May 1943 , the crew of " PC - 815 " detected what Hubbard thought was first one then later two Imperial Japanese Navy submarines approximately off the shore of Cape Lookout . Both the SONAR operator and Lt . Hubbard himself thought that the echo of an active sonar ping , combined with apparent engine noises heard through the ship ' s hydrophone indicated contact with a submarine . Over the next 68 hours , the ship expended 37 depth charges in a " battle " that also involved the U . S . Navy blimps " K - 39 " and " K - 33 " , the United States Coast Guard patrol boats " Bonham " and 78302 , and the subchasers USS " SC - 536 " and USS " SC - 537 " , all summoned to act as reinforcements . " PC - 815 " was finally ordered back to base on 21 May . In his eighteen page after - action report , Hubbard claimed to have " definitely sunk , beyond doubt " one submarine and critically damaged another . However , the subsequent investigation by the Commander NW Sea Frontier , Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher , cast a skeptical light on Hubbard ' s claims . His summary memorandum to Fleet Admiral Chester W . Nimitz , stated : Fletcher added that " there is a known magnetic deposit in the area in which depth charges were dropped " , absolving the responding blimps from any fault as their method of detecting submarines relies on a Magnetic Anomaly Detector . This also implied that Lt . Hubbard and his crew were operating the ship ' s SONAR equipment incorrectly . After the war , British and American analysis of captured Japanese Navy records confirmed that no Japanese submarines had been lost off the Oregon coast . Hubbard , however , never accepted that he had been mistaken about the " battle . " Both he and Tom Moulton , one of his officers , claimed that the official denials of any Japanese submarine presence off the Pacific coast had been motivated by a desire to avoid panic among the U . S . population . Years later , Hubbard told Scientologists : However , the mouth of the Columbia River is some 75 miles north of Cape Lookout , the area in which Hubbard ' s naval reports claimed his anti - submarine action took place . Unauthorized shelling of Coronado Islands and failure to follow orders . A month later , the " PC - 815 " traveled to San Diego , which was to become her home port . She arrived there on 2 June , and at the end of June was ordered to sea to join an anti - submarine training exercise . The exercise , held on 28 June , ended early and Hubbard took the opportunity to order an impromptu gunnery exercise while anchored just off the Mexican territory of South Coronado Island to the south - west of San Diego . The Mexican government sent an official protest to the U . S . Government , as no gunnery operations had been scheduled . On 30 June a Board of Investigation was convened concerning " PC - 815 " which concluded that Hubbard had disregarded orders , both by conducting gunnery practice and by anchoring in Mexican territorial waters without proper authority . His orders stated that the " PC - 815 " was supposed to return after completing that day ' s training . Hubbard argued that his crew was inexperienced , it was foggy , and he was tired so he did not return to port as ordered . A month earlier in his after action report concerning the recent fiasco off Cape Lookout , he had described the same men as " experienced " and " highly skilled " . Vice Admiral Fletcher , who both chaired the board and read the prior after action report , rated Hubbard " below average " and noted : " Consider this officer lacking in the essential qualities of judgment , leadership and cooperation . He acts without forethought as to probable results . He is believed to have been sincere in his efforts to make his ship efficient and ready . Not considered qualified for command or promotion at this time . Recommend duty on a large vessel where he can be properly supervised " . Hubbard was relieved of command effective 7 July 1943 . Collision with USS " Laffey " . After Hubbard was replaced , " PC - 815 " remained in San Diego as a shore patrol vessel , but appears to have been mostly inactive during this period . According to her Movement Card she took part in the occasional offshore patrol , training exercises and escorting submarines in and out of the harbor . She was restored to active duty on 2 September 1945 , but at 6 : 47 a . m . on 11 September , the ship collided with the destroyer in dense fog off San Diego . The collision started a fire on board " PC - 815 " , which sank within five minutes . One man from " PC - 815 " was recorded as missing , presumed drowned . The " Laffey " suffered significant damage , with the fire from " PC - 815 " spreading into one of the destroyer ' s compartments . Navy divers demolished the wreck in early November 1945 due to the navigation hazard that it posed to a busy shipping channel . It is reported to be lying at in of water and is said to be diveable .