At All Costs by Sam Moses

Author:Sam Moses
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Nonfiction
ISBN: 9781588365613
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2009-01-14T05:00:00+00:00

1955: 4 min 30 sec after firing, while at 65 meters depth, the hunt begins with a pattern of depth charges; dive to 100 meters and stop all machinery. The hunt continues with deliberate attacks for two hours, patterns of depth charges being fired. It is noticed that each time the boat rises to between 80 and 90 meters the transmissions of the asdics are clearly heard, followed immediately by depth charges. Decide to remain between 100 and 120 meters.

While the Axum was hiding at 300 feet and the Ohio was smoldering on the water, the dive-bombers arrived, right on schedule.

“Whilst we were fighting the fires,” said Mason, “enemy planes commenced attack at masthead height. Near misses were many and frequent, throwing deluges of water over the vessel. I sent for the chief engineer to ask him how long it would take to raise steam, as the steam had dropped back whilst we were stopped, and fortunately, owing to being fitted with a diesel generator, we were able to raise steam again within ten minutes, instead of the usual three or four hours.”

From Mason’s log:

Apparently Gunners (Army Ratings) E. Smith & W. Hands also Galley Boy M. Guidotti paniced [sic] & attempted to lower no. 5 Boat. This overturned throwing these men into the sea. They were not seen again. At approx the same time vessel was bombed & R. Morton (Asst. Steward) was found to be missing. It is assumed he was washed overboard with the deluge of water as he was assisting at Gun on the port side.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.