US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

380 Amphibians Came To Conquer
Two destroyers, a minimum, were assigned to anti-submarine duty around
each of the three cruiser forces in the North, South, and East. Two other
destroyers were assigned to picket duty. Five destroyers, four destroyer-type
transports and five destroyer-type minesweepers were assigned to anti-sub-
marine duty around the two transport groups (XRAY and YOKE), in an
outer and an inner anti-submarine patrol. This was somewhat more than the
limited sea room called for.
Shifting of the two destroyers in the outer anti-submarine patrol around
the XRAY group of transports to picket duty could have paid big dividends
on the night of 8 August 1942, and still left a strong anti-submarine patrol
of seven anti-submarine craft for XRAY and five for YOKE.
Knowledge in regard to the capabilities and limitations of radar in early
August 1942 was limited.
Rear Admiral Turner, in March 1943, recalled:
The only point about which I was uncertain was the use of only two screening
destroyers to the west of SAVO, employing radar. The number seemed
small, but after some inquiry, I received assurances that these two vessels
ought surely to detect the approach of any enemy vessels up to twelve to
fourteen miles. Knowledge possessed by me and the staff concerning radar
was practically non-existent. Admiral Crutchley had an officer who was considered
well qualified in radar. I consulted some other officers with experience.
All seemed to think this team was satisfactory.ez
Some may question the desirability of leaving only fast minesweepers in
the XRAY Group outer anti-submarine screen, but it should be remembered
that the destroyer-type fast minesweepers, minelayers, and transports had
retained their destroyer anti-submarine equipment upon conversion and were
used for anti-submarine missions during this and many subsequent operations.
One of these converted destroyers, the Colboza (APD-2), made a submarine
attack on 7 August 1942 and claimed in its special report on the action, that
“numerous observers saw the bow of the submarine keel tip, break water at
an angle of 400 to the horizon.” No Japanese record supports this kill.
However, the Sorztlwrd (DMS-1O) was credited, post-war, with a firm sub-
marine kill on the I-172 on 10 November 1942 and a converted destroyer, the
Gamble (DM-15), was similarly credited on 29 August 1942 with sinking the
I-123. So during this period, these old converted destroyers were capable of
effective anti-submarine action.G3
“2RKT, Memorandum for AdmiraI Hepburn, Mar. 1943, pp. 4-5.
m Colbora Anti-submarine Action Report, 7 Aug. 1942.