U.S. Navy log book (October 1941)
USS KEARNY
Date: Oct. 17, 1941
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0000
Steaming on course 090 (T) at convoy speed of about 7 knots, standard pedd 15 knots, 143 RPM, in company with ComTaskGroup 4.1.4 in PLUNKETT, Comdesdiv 21 in LIVERMORE, DECATUR and four british Corvettes and one British destroyer escorting an eastward bound convoy. Steaming under Boilers Nos 1 & 3 with a split engineering plant. Ship darkened and in Condition of Readiness III, Material condition Afirm set. On station off port quarter of convoy, patrolling station. Captain on the bridge
0000
Ship of convoy, bearing 070 relative, distance about 1200 yards, was struck by torpedo and burned brilliantly. Called all hands to General Quarters. Changed speed to 15 knots, 143 RPM and commenced swinging ship to port, conducting embarrassing barrage with depth charges in accordance with convoy doctrine
0002
Dropped 600 lb. depth charge
0006
Steadied ship on 240 (T) and changed speed to 10 knots, 93 RPM to avoid collision with British Corvette. Shortly thereafter with full left rudder, resumed swinging ship to port to parallel convoy course and take further action as necessary
0010
A torpedo struck the ship amidship on the starboard side abreast of No. 1 fireroom below the waterline. A torpedo wake was seen crossing the bow and another was seen crossing the stern.
The explosion of torpedo striking the ship caused the following casualties among the ships company:
KILLED: CURTIS, L. A. (WT1c), GAJEWAY, H. A. (WT1c), DOBNIKAR, L. (F1c), CALVERT, G. A. (F1c), LARRIVIERE, S. G. (F1c), STOLTZ, I. W. (F1c), WADE, R. B. (F3c), CAMP, F. A. (SC1c), LAFLEUR, L. (PhM2c), YOUNG, H. T. (MM2c), PYLE, D. F. (Sea2c). INJURED: Lieut-Comdr. A. L. DANIS, USN, Ensign H. LYMAN, FRONTAKOWSKI, L. (CBM), KURTZ, S. R. (TM3c), SALVATORE, C. (F2c), GREEN, J. (MAtt1c), JONES, J. R. (Sea2c), HIGGINS, C. I. (MM1c), HINTON, H. D. (Sea2c), DICKINSON, J. G. (QM1c), HALL, G. R. (FC1c), BOBE, L. T. (Sea2c), FRIEDMAN, H. (CRM), DOW, A. H. (RM3), TUNKS, L. E. (Sea1c), BERNHARDT, F. F. (Msmth1c), MANN, C. E. (CTM), PHILLIPS, A. (Sea2c), TWEEDY, F. H. (MM1c), PIERRON, J. A. (BM2c), EVANS, J. R. (Sea2c), SCHMIDLING, C. J. (FC2c).
The immediate inspection of the ship by the heads of the departments determined the following material damage sustained:
* No. 1 fireroom was destroyed and flooded.
* Fwd. bulkhead of fwd. engineroom was so weakened as to require immediate and extensive shoring.
* After bulkhead of the Plotting Room was damaged but the compartment, although waist deep in water and oil was not completely open to the sea.
* Apart from the compartments in the immediate vicinity of the explosion, the watertight integrity of the ship was maintained.
* After recovering from the list caused by the shock of the explosion, she assumed a good position and little sluggishness was noted.
* All watertight doors and hatches and fittings were checked and apparantly maintained their integrity.
* Forward of the explosion, the battle lighting circuit was still operative but general heating and lighting were gone.
* Visual communications were possible only by battle lanterns, as searchlights, blinker guns and yardarm blinkers, were either demolished or inoperative.
* All gunnery control from the director was lost as the wiring was demolished and the computer and I.C. board were badly damaged.
The following is as nearly possible an account of steps taken and the order in which they were taken to bring the ship under control and get underway, apprise Task Unit Commander of ship's predicament, and maintain the fighting powers of the ship at the highest possible efficiency
0013
Two white Very pistol shells were discharged to inform the surrounding vessels that this vessel had been torpedoed
0015
The Captain went aft to the Secondary Conn.
0020
Regained steering control by hand steering and headed ship into the wind and away from the vicinity of the convoy by order of the Executive Officer Conning from Secondary Control
0022
Stopped port engine
0025
H.M.S. BADDECK challenged and KEARNY replied, using a battle lantern
0040
Way was gotten on the ship by use of the port engine and the after fireroom which were still operative, and an approximate westerly course was established at about three knots
0041
Radio communication was reestablished in emergency radio. A message was sent to comTaskGroup 4.1.4 stating that we had been torpedoed but were able to proceed slowly
0100
Captain took Conn. and set course approximately North at a speed of about 5 knots which the engine was by then giving; zigzagging ship as much as possible
0103
Received orders from ComTaskGroup 4.1.4 to proceed to the nearest port
0115
Regained electric control and shifted from hand steering to power steering in steering engine room. About this time, the starboard engine was started on back pressure from the after fireroom and speed gradually increased to about 8 knots
0130
Established telephone connection between Secondary Conn, engineroom, and steering aft by jumper leads
0150
Shifted steering control to Secondary Conn. and continued on northerly course at about 8 knots
0200 – 0721
Steamed as before on course 010 (T) at 8 knots (starboard engine 70 RPM, port engine 98 RPM)
0721
Increased speed gradually to 10 knots (starboard engine 90 RPM, port engine 98 RPM). During watch, star shell illumination was visible periodically bearing about 150 (T)
0800
Mustered crew by signature. Absentees: 11. zigzagging on northerly course at about 10 knots
0921
Sighted ship bearing 045 relative
0955
Changed course to 020 (T) and dropped 5 turns on both engines
0955
Changed speed to 89 RPM starboard engine, 95 RPM port engine
1415
Sighted GREER bearing 218 (T), distance about 17 miles
1550
GREER formed anti-submarine screen ahead
1552
Changed time zone to zero time
1610
Secured from Condition of Readiness III and set regular sea watch
1622
Sighted MONSSEN on port bow
1640
Stopped all engines
1645
Lt.(jg) R.W. Rommel (MC), USNR, accompanied by pharmacist's mate first class Perkins, came aboard from MONSSEN with medical supplies
1657
Changed speed to 10 knots (93 RPM)
1700 – 2400
No remarks
Report of U-568 (October 17, 1941)
U-568
Date: Oct. 17, 1941
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L.G.'s all around. Be north of the escort course.
Detonating Leunch of garnet must run somewhat, there corvette in approx. 200 mtr. runs along afterwards to the east, around further to come forward is quite at the end of the escort course because of direct over me, where several Bewacher apparent strive corvettes for shipwrecked ones of a tanker and a freighter.
Leg evaporating must evade to several Bewachern and corvettes, which shoot themselves with abset over to apparent horohen and then into the Horchpeilung L. Viererfaecher on destroyers, de me with the Ranst feln again and again into those. Kommit traverses.
Position on the right of 86 degrees of travel 9 sm, E 2000. Meet after 1 min. 39 seconds. Destroyer breaks along TSO apart and sinks very fast American A or D class. 2 chimneys. Run on parallel course with and after. ski that must evade to corvettes thereby.
Stb. Korvetts with few travel into view on me comes ahead. To tricks off and go with A.k. corvette follows into oa 800 mtr.
Distance in the wake and is not to be shaken off. As it suddenly begins to rain, decides I to go and abzu turn with the travel down, since wake lights up very brightly. Use however nothing, the corvette comes up to ôonheran, from time to time a depth charge throws and shoots with the bug cannon (6 shot).
Make the tail torpedo as corvette in wake with position of O is situated again exactly loosely. Fehlschu alarm, since I do not get away over water and distance becomes slowly smaller.
Tricks still in dipping after Stb. over to turn then on lo m hard after BB.. With T=40 4 Wabos behind us are situated. Go without through-oscillating to T=90 m corvette returns and throws again 5 wabos, which are appropriate rather well uebur for the boat. No failures. Corvette stops, but no s. device. Boat can be kept good, comes once up to depth = to 98 mtr. however with 5 degrees stern-heavyness and H.f. again T=85 m.
Intend to emerge as soon as possible again must thereby still wait since two further Bewacher with s. device auchen. Take the vehicles figure eight out. At emigrating the bearings I notice that they lost me and dip with L.f. on duration 3/4 hour about.
In approx. 3000 to 4000 are are still 2 corvettes in view, which morsen eagerly. I blow out and flow after southeast. Escort course no more in view. Impact to to the east.
