Action Report on the sinking of italian submarine Argento (continued):

2311B- Dropped full pattern of 11 charges, base setting 200 feet.

2315B- Began turn to left with standard rudder and steadied on course 350 deg.T.

2321B- Regained sound contact bearing 185 deg.T, distant 600 yards. Informed sound operators I would open the range and we would then turn and deliver a deliberate attack. 2323B- Lost contact at 800 yards. Turned to right with standard rudder and steadied on course 165 deg.T. Intention was to circle area of last drop to regain contact.

2332B- Began slow turn to the right and steadied on course 050 deg.T. This course from DRT headed ship close to drop of second pattern.

2346B- Sound contact reported bearing 060 deg.T, but was classified as reverberations. No range obtainable.

2346B-0017B- Conducted box search around second depth charge attack point, using DRT plot to keep informed of ship's position with respect thereto. Planned to search area using box search, gradually extending the range from the reference point.

0017B- While on course 030 deg.T, obtained firm sound contact bearing 062 deg.T, range 600 yards. Announced intention to open range so deliberate attack could be made. Ship's head ordered to 082 deg.T.

0019B- Lost contact at 800 yards.

0020B- Began a turn to the right and asked DRT for course to steer to position of contact obtained at 0017B. This information was continuously supplied by the DRT as the ship turned to the right and at 0024B steadied on course 290 deg.T.

0024.5B- Obtained firm sound contact, bearing dead ahead, range 500 yards. Ordered sound officer to fire a full pattern of eleven charges, using a base setting of 300'.

0026B- Dropped full pattern of eleven charges, base setting of 300 feet.

0028B- At this time the Commanding Officer was observing the remote PPI scope on the bridge. The last depth charge explosion had subsided shortly before. Suddenly dead astern at a range of about 1200 yards there appeared a contact. I wish to state that at this time I experienced one of the greatest thrills of my life. Control was informed that submarine had surfaced. "Open fire with all guns which would bear." Full right rudder and 25 knots speed was ordered. I went to starboard wing of bridge and could observe submarine on surface.

0028.5B- 5" Gun No. 3 opened fire on submarine. Also starboard 40MM and after 20MM Gun opened fire. Fire from the machine guns provided excellent illumination for the 5" guns. The submarine stood out clearly and distinctly, fully surfaced and did not appear to be listed.

0029B- Torpedo reported approaching, bearing 150 deg.T by sound operator. The Commanding Officer could hear the noise of the approaching torpedo from the sound stack out on the bridge. The ship was already turning toward the bearing of the approaching torpedo with full rudder and flank speed so no other evasive action was taken. The torpedo track was observed to pass down the starboard side by several of the crew. The bearing of this torpedo was followed down the starboard side by the sound operator. At this time it appeared to the Commanding Officer that the submarine intended to fight it out and the decision was made to ram.

0030B- Forward five inch guns and two forward 20MM guns now bore and opened fire. It was very gratifying to the Commanding Officer to see this hail of lead and steel hitting on, around, and near the submarine. I knew the enemy would not be able to man their deck gun or machine guns in that withering fire.

0030.5B-Torpedo reported approaching by sound operator bearing South. The ship was still swinging toward the submarine. No further evasive action was taken. This torpedo by sound did not appear to come as close to the ship as the first torpedo. The sound operator states that he distinctly heard the sound of both torpedoes being fired and their subsequent run. The noise of the first torpedo was so loud it could be distinctly heard on the bridge. Word was passed on all circuits to standby for collision with submarine. After guns were now blanked but forward machine guns and 5" Gun No. 2 were firing rapidly and accurately at this time. 5" Gun No. 1 had rammer failure and only fired 2 rounds during the action. Hand ramming was used but gun had hangfire.

0031B- Submarine close aboard dead ahead. The rudder was not eased quite soon enough by the Commanding Officer and the intention to ram was defeated, the ship passing about 50' astern of the submarine. As the ship passed close aboard, no signs of life were visible on the submarine. The submarine was obviously stopped. The deck gun of the sub was still fore and aft and no machine gun fire was directed our way. Shouts of men in water were heard close by. It is believed that shortly after firing the second torpedo the submarine was abandoned. This decision was probably influenced by the effective gunfire and the close proximity of Buck approaching head on at high speed.

0032B- As the crew appeared to have abandoned the submarine, the decision to ram was abandoned, and control was informed that submarine would be circled at close range, every available gun would be brought to bear and the submarine sunk.

0032B-0037B- A hail of lead and steel was directed against the submarine. During lulls in the shooting, shouts could be heard in the water all about the submarine. The range to the submarine during this period was never more than 1,000 yards.

0037B- Cease firing was given. The submarine was still afloat but was obviously stricken, having a 45 degree list to starboard, and appeared to be settling lower and lower in the water.

0040B- Radar contact in submarine faded. Ship still circling with full rudder at 25 knots.

0041B- Slowed to 15 knots. It was decided to make a careful search of the area by sound and radar before accepting the risk of slowing or stopping to rescue survivors. Accordingly the area in the vicinity of the submarine's last known position was searched by radar and sound until 0100B. No contacts were obtained. Shouts from water were continuously heard during this search.

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