War Patrol Report (Page 29

CONFIDENTIAL  
Subject: U.S.S. BERGALL - Report of FIRST War Patrol
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(I) MINES -
  No comments.
   
(J) ANTI- SUBMARINE MEASURES AND EVASIVE TACTICS -
                         The usual pinging and listening tactics were
encountered.   One vessel pinging and one listening
                       Turned toward close escort after firing to
get inside his turning circle and get off torpedo tracks.
Thereafter stayed as close to the bottom as possible.
Believed his depth charges would probably be set somewhere
above the bottom.
                       Also believed being close to the bottom
diffused our screw noises making it difficult for the Jap
to accurately locate us by listening.
   
(K) MAJOR DEFECTS AND DAMAGE -
                         Put QC sound head out of commission by
bottoming during shallow water evasion.
                       No other major defects or damage.
   
(L) RADIO -
                         All radio equipment function satisfactorily,
with the exception of the starboard antenna, which could not
be used for transmitting because of low resistance to ground.
Submarine schedules were received without difficulty, except
for a few instances of atmospheric interference while on
station.   Our first transmission off Cape Varolla was not
receipted for by Australian stations after several trans-
missions.   It was finally cleared through NPG< San Francisco.
A Japanese station, judged to be nearby from the strength of
his signal, attempted deception, using NFM's Call, but since
we heard him tuning up after we commenced transmitting and he
was using a speed key, we were not fooled.   While transmitting
just south of the barrier, more Japanese interference was
encountered, and trouble was experienced in getting a receipt.
On both occasions, the transmissions took more than an hour,
during which we ran on course widely divergent from our line
of advance.
   
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