War Patrol Report (Page 9)
| CONFIDENTIAL | |
| Subject: | U.S.S. BERGALL - Report of THIRD War Patrol |
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| 7 Feb. 1945 | |
| 0950 |
A series of depth charges began which lasted until 1220. All told 98 depth charges were dropped during this time... In my ten patrols I have never before felt that Jap escorts really knew where we were. This time I feel sure they did. Sometimes charges were dropped singly, at others seven in rapid succession and once or twice seventeen or eighteen at intervals of less than a second. Evasion was affected by rigging in both sound heads and staying as close to the bottom as possible. JP heard some charges dropped that did not explode. Probably they hit bottom before reaching their set depth. We scraped the bottom several times but I believe this is what saved us because the majority of the charges sounded overhead. |
| 1406 | Escorts appeared to be drawn away. |
| 1515 | At periscope depth. All clear. |
| 1555 | Sighted floating mine by periscope. |
| 1644 to 1814 | Heard depth charges a long way off but could see nothing. |
| 1919 | Surfaced and headed towards area. |
| 2300 | Learned from FLOUNDER that a liberator plane had driven off our antagonistic escorts; also that he had not been able to see the two tankers after he heard us hit them. Concluded that we had damaged one or probably two but doubt if two hits could sink one of these large tankers. |
| 2315 | Headed for area. |
| 8 Feb. 1945 | |
| 0200 | Heavy seas and squally weather.
Transmitted our second message. Could not raise VIX0 but got a go-ahead from N.P.M. DId not get receipt and did not find message on schedule. Gave it up. Message had info on floating mine, our attack, ETA area and instructions for GUITARRO. This message apparently was never received. |
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