Jan-Feb, Mar-Apr, May-Jun 1965 - Navy League of Australia

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BUY A PACKET TODAY!REACH FOR SWAUOW'Senjoythe belter baking!V p.m.. 1 rose to the surface,found no ships in sight, andcommenced to charge batteries.No ships passed in straits duringthe night."About 4 a.m. on April 26 Iproceeded on surface up straits;just before dawn sighted shipsahead, and dived to attack. Assoon as light permitted, I observedthrough periscope twoships approaching — probablysmall ship leading, and largership astern—both men o'war.Sea was glassy calm, and I approachedwith periscope down.On hoisting periscope (trainedon port beam) I observed shipon line of sight of port tube. Iimmediately fired, and ship alteredcourse and torpedo missed.I then discovered I had fired atleading ship and found it impossibleto bring another tube tobear on second ship (a battleshipo! Barbarossa class) with reasonablechance of success. I thereforedid not fire. I attribute thisfailure to the state of the sea andrm personal error in overdoingan unseen attack."I continued on course throughstraits, examined the Gallipolianchorage and found no shipworthy of attack, so proceededon into Sea of Marmora, whichwas entered about 9 a.m."About 9.30 a.m. sighted severalships ahead approachingseparately on zigzag courses.A.E.2 carried no gun. and hadonly eight torpedoes, of whichtwo were already expended; Ihad no intelligence as to the natureof ship likely to be met with,and these ships flew no flag. 1considered that, until anothersubmarine joined me in the Seaof Marmora, it was necessary toexercise great care in the expenditureof torpedoes. I thereforedecided not to fire unless I wascertain of troops being on boardthe enemy ship, and with thisintention dived up close to theforemost ship—a tramp of about2.000 tons. Passing about 200yards abeam of her, I could seeno sign of troops or ammunition:but, as I passed under herstern, she ran up colours andopened rifle-fire at periscope. Ithen dived over to next ship,and attacked at 400 yards withstarboard beam torpedo. Thetorpedo failed to hit. I was unableto get within range of theother two ships. Rose to surfacehalf-an-hour later and spentremainder of day on surfacecharging batteries, making gooddefects, and examining fishingboats."Shortly after dark, when onsurface endeavouring to getwireless connection (in which wewere never successful) I was attackedand forced to dive bysmall vessel; throughout thenight, whenever we rose to surface,we were attacked by craftwithin half-an-hour and forcedto dive. The want of a gun wasa severe handicap at this time."At dawn on April 27, whilststill diving, sighted ship approachingfrom eastward, convoyedby two destroyers, oneahead of her and the other onstarboard beam. Dived pastleading destroyer and across thebows of another one, and firedbow torpedo at ship—a beamshot, distance 300 yards. Thetorpedo's engine failed to start,and destroyer, attempting toram. precluded possibility ofsecond shot. No other shipspassed throughout the day. Atnight, in order to give the crewsome rest, lay on the bottom inArtaki Bay."On April 28 (a.m.) in deadcalm weather attacked smallship convoyed by two destroyers.Fired starboard beam torpedoat 300 yards' range. Torpedofailed to hit, and destroyer,attempting to ram. precludedchance of second shot."At dusk sighted two meno'war approaching at high speedfrom westward. Dived to attack,but when near ships it was toodark to see anything but smokeof one of them. Judging her tobe near, fired port torpedo,which failed to hit. Proceededtowards Gallipoli to reach nearestpoint to receiving ship in endeavourto get wireless connection."On April 29 at dawn divedtowards Gallipoli, and observedgunboat patrolling head of straitoff Eski Farnar Point. Divedunder gunboat down strait, andreturned up strait showing periscopein endeavour to give impressionthat another submarinehad come through. Destroyersand torpedo-boats came out toassist gunboat in pursuit; havingled all up towards Sea of Marmora,I dived back and examinedGallipoli anchorage, butfound nothing to attack. Steeredout towards Marmora, and, risingto observe some half-an-hourlater, found gunboat crossingline of fire of stem tube. As batterywas getting low, I wished ifpossible to end the pursuit, andfired at 700 yards' range. Gunboatdodged, and torpedo passedone yard ahead (this I afterwardslearnt). Pursuit then ceased, andI proceeded to rendezvous 5'north of Kara Burnu Point. Justbefore reaching rendezvous, E. 14rose close to port bow. CommandingOfficer of E.14 directedme to meet him at rendezvousat 10 a.m. next morning. Proceededto bay north of MarmoraIsland, and rested on bottom fornight."On April 30 at uaylight refittedexhaust-tank valve andproceeded to rendezvous. Arrivedat 10 a.m. and sightedtorpedo-boat approaching fromwestward. Dived to avoid torpedo-boat;whilst diving, sightedsmoke in Artaki Bay, so steeredsouth to investigate. AboutMARCH-APRIL, 1965