greendragon
04-03-2010, 23:38
In my search for more info about fourstackers I have found an interesting action report written by the CO of the HMNoS StAlbans - the fourstacker.
In very specific way one of them was in touch with the Polish Navy, unfortunately with tragic outcome.
His ship together with the HMS Seagull mistakenly attacked and sunk Polish submarine ORP (Warship of the Polish Republic) Jatrzab in 1942.
The series of attacks carried out effectively by both the escorts forced the sub to surface, then shelled by the StAlbans and Seagull that resulteded in human loses. Finally the Jastrzab was abandoned and sunk due to damages (broken batteries).
As seen in some books and at the internet the blame of this friendly fire accident is often put on the ORP Jastrzab - she is said of being away from her assigned patrol sector that resulted in crossing the route of the Arctic convoy.
From the Polish end the whole incident is well described by CDR B.Romanowski, the sub's CO in his memories "Torpeda w celu" (Torpedo Hit). He claims that the attack was carried out in the area where no attack on submarines were allowed and that the convoy was forced to change its route far south due to the heavy ice pack present on its planned course. This factor brought the convoy to the sub's sector.
He supports his view with the assesment of the incident as made by a HM Naval board that took all the charges out of him and made responsible for sinking the Jastrzab the CO of StAlbans and partially CO of HMS Seagull.
The survivors from the ORP Jastrzab were taken aboard of both the escorts, Romanowski was taken by HMS Seagull.
Here is some translation of the part of his memories - for the RN members of this forum - interesting observations of the life on the HM Minesweeper Seagull and his CO during an Arctic convoy run.
The Polish voluntairly joined the minesweeper crews at the guns and backed them in other duties.
The AA weapons were permanently manned by the crews for it was a constant danger of German aircraft attacking from the low layers of clouds. The Seagull crew ate and slept at their GQ posts and were all extremely tired.
About the Seagull CO CDR C.H.Pollock there is qute from one of the very impressed Polish seamen - as he told his CO, Romanowski:"...he (Pollock) is the man of the highest quality, calm and quiet.....his face is made like of wood. He asks with the same tembre of voice for a cup of coffe (I think it was cocoa) and gives the order <hard starboard> when bombs falls down. I wonder which way this small man can be so strong? He has been on the bridge for three days, as long as we (the Polish) have been here."
Romanowski remembers CDR Pollock visiting him at the sick bay. CDR Pollock was sorry for the attack and asked what else could be done for the Polish crew.
Romanowski stated that he was not blaming him for the attack because during the war this sort of things might always happen.
The human losses were relatively small - four killed. Actually almost whole the HMLiaison team was wiped out - with two of its members killed and SubLT Hanbury seriously wounded.
The British HAD to be the first on the sub's con to send recognition signals to the escorts.
As rembered by Romanowski:"..signaller Martin David grabbed an Aldis lamp and sent the recognition signal to the minesweeper. The minesweeper ceased fire immediately. Later on David was hit and killed instantly." (apparently by the StAlbans fire).
Romanowski was hit and wounded four times in his legs.
As from the HMNo Ship and his CO action report it was the HMLiaison officer who saw the sub's markings and reported it instantly to the CO who "...noticed with horror that I atacked and was firing to the friendly submarine."
Regards,
W.A.
.
In very specific way one of them was in touch with the Polish Navy, unfortunately with tragic outcome.
His ship together with the HMS Seagull mistakenly attacked and sunk Polish submarine ORP (Warship of the Polish Republic) Jatrzab in 1942.
The series of attacks carried out effectively by both the escorts forced the sub to surface, then shelled by the StAlbans and Seagull that resulteded in human loses. Finally the Jastrzab was abandoned and sunk due to damages (broken batteries).
As seen in some books and at the internet the blame of this friendly fire accident is often put on the ORP Jastrzab - she is said of being away from her assigned patrol sector that resulted in crossing the route of the Arctic convoy.
From the Polish end the whole incident is well described by CDR B.Romanowski, the sub's CO in his memories "Torpeda w celu" (Torpedo Hit). He claims that the attack was carried out in the area where no attack on submarines were allowed and that the convoy was forced to change its route far south due to the heavy ice pack present on its planned course. This factor brought the convoy to the sub's sector.
He supports his view with the assesment of the incident as made by a HM Naval board that took all the charges out of him and made responsible for sinking the Jastrzab the CO of StAlbans and partially CO of HMS Seagull.
The survivors from the ORP Jastrzab were taken aboard of both the escorts, Romanowski was taken by HMS Seagull.
Here is some translation of the part of his memories - for the RN members of this forum - interesting observations of the life on the HM Minesweeper Seagull and his CO during an Arctic convoy run.
The Polish voluntairly joined the minesweeper crews at the guns and backed them in other duties.
The AA weapons were permanently manned by the crews for it was a constant danger of German aircraft attacking from the low layers of clouds. The Seagull crew ate and slept at their GQ posts and were all extremely tired.
About the Seagull CO CDR C.H.Pollock there is qute from one of the very impressed Polish seamen - as he told his CO, Romanowski:"...he (Pollock) is the man of the highest quality, calm and quiet.....his face is made like of wood. He asks with the same tembre of voice for a cup of coffe (I think it was cocoa) and gives the order <hard starboard> when bombs falls down. I wonder which way this small man can be so strong? He has been on the bridge for three days, as long as we (the Polish) have been here."
Romanowski remembers CDR Pollock visiting him at the sick bay. CDR Pollock was sorry for the attack and asked what else could be done for the Polish crew.
Romanowski stated that he was not blaming him for the attack because during the war this sort of things might always happen.
The human losses were relatively small - four killed. Actually almost whole the HMLiaison team was wiped out - with two of its members killed and SubLT Hanbury seriously wounded.
The British HAD to be the first on the sub's con to send recognition signals to the escorts.
As rembered by Romanowski:"..signaller Martin David grabbed an Aldis lamp and sent the recognition signal to the minesweeper. The minesweeper ceased fire immediately. Later on David was hit and killed instantly." (apparently by the StAlbans fire).
Romanowski was hit and wounded four times in his legs.
As from the HMNo Ship and his CO action report it was the HMLiaison officer who saw the sub's markings and reported it instantly to the CO who "...noticed with horror that I atacked and was firing to the friendly submarine."
Regards,
W.A.
.