USS Ulvert M. Moore (DE-442) - Sinking Japanese Submarine RO-115

Sinking Japanese Submarine RO-115

On 31 January, Ulvert M. Moore secured from the search at 1607 and steamed to join up with TG 77.4. En route, the destroyer escort received a radio message from USS Boise (CL-47) telling of a surfaced submarine on a southeast bearing 8 miles (13 km) away. USS Bell (DD-587) and USS O'Bannon (DD-450) left Boise's screen to investigate. Bell closed to four miles (6 km) before the enemy submarine—identified by postwar accounting as Japanese submarine RO-115 -- submerged. At 2037, Ulvert M. Moore received orders to assist in the search and arrived at the scene to complete the hunter-killer group. The destroyer escort detected the submarine at 2152 but briefly lost the contact. Regaining the contact at 2210, she fired her first "hedgehog" pattern four minutes later. At 2227, she fired another "hedgehog" pattern; and three explosions rumbled up from below—muffled noises intermingling with "crunching noises." Twice more, the destroyer escort attacked like a persistent terrier. Another pattern of 7.2-millimeter projectiles left the "hedgehog" mount at 2302, hit the water and plunged downward; 12 seconds later a sharp "crack" followed, as did "distinct and definite bubbling and hissing noises." Men on the destroyer escort's fantail reported seeing a large bubble burst on the surface.

Ulvert M. Moore closed the vicinity of the strong contact at 2336 and again at midnight. The eighth attack proved to be the killer; for, 15 seconds after the "hedge-hog" depth charges hit the water, three violent explosions sent out concussions felt by topside personnel in Ulvert M. Moore and the three other ships. A last explosion rumbled up from below—the death agony of the RO-boat and a "definite bluish light similar to burning gas" was noted. For two hours, the ships searched the vicinity to confirm the "kill". Men topside in Ulvert M. Moore noted the strong odor of diesel oil, an object which resembled a life jacket, small boxes and pieces of deck planking, and a considerable amount of paper.