USS J.R.Y. Blakely (DE-140) - Sinking of German Submarine U-1062

Sinking of German Submarine U-1062

The veteran ship conducted training operations in Casco Bay, Maine, for several weeks, but departed Norfolk 8 September with another hunter-killer group, led by USS Mission Bay (CVE-59). On this cruise the escort vessel took part in her first successful attack, as the Mission Bay group was sent to break up a suspected meeting between cargo submarine U-1062 and another submarine. The USS Tripoli (CVE-64) group helped maintain an around the clock search, and on 30 September USS Fessenden (DE-142), USS Howard (DD-179) and J. R. Y. Blakely began to search out a contact. Fessenden's depth charge attack sank the submarine, U-1062, which was carrying valuable cargo for Germany. Following this success the group moved into the South Atlantic, where because of the great success of allied antisubmarine tactics, contacts were scarce. After visiting Bahia, Brazil, and Cape Town, South Africa, J. R. Y. Blakely arrived New York 27 November 1944.

During December the ship conducted additional training in the Caribbean, after which she sailed 16 January 1945 to participate In tactics out of Mayport, Florida. After screening carriers and acting as rescue ship, the ship carried out training and escort duties In the Caribbean, arriving New York 9 March 1945.