War Patrol Report (Page 6)
| CONFIDENTIAL | |
| Subject: | U.S.S. BERGALL - Report of SECOND War Patrol |
| ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 2100 | Gun flashes were seen in the direction of the escort and then a salvo of two rounds were fired at us. One landed in our wake close to the stern and the other pierced the forward torpedo loading hatch. See paragraph (k) for description of damage. Just after the salvo landed a small searchlight in the escort vessel swept our sector of the horizon but did not steady on us. |
| Turned away at standard speed on all four main engines. Another salvo landed two hundred yards short off our port bow. A third salvo landed about three hundred yards off our starboard bow. | |
| Cleared area at 18 knots determined to put as much distance as possible between us and the scene of action by daybreak - nine hours away. | |
| 2106 | Saw a series of explosions in the bow section of the cruiser. Shortly after this the flames in the bow section appeared to die out and the radar pip disappeared on this section. A column of steam rose from it and a cloud of smoke gathered over it. |
| The remainder of the night was spent extinguishing small electrical fires, moving sound gear and electrical motors from under the loading hatch, clearing the compartment of debris and keeping spray out with mattresses. | |
| Dec. 14, 1944 | |
| 0600 | Mounted all available guns and stood by to repel air attacks. Commenced repairs to loading hatch. |
| 1210 | Sighted plane about 12 miles, bearing 233 degrees true. Turned away and lost sight of him. |
| 2100 | Transmitted "Busted Bergall's first" while on course 080 degrees true, trying to impersonate a boat headed for Brunei Bay. |
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