Friendly Fire: Sinking of ORP Jastrzab

[greendragon]

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.



.

[patroclus]

ORP JASTRAB was also a former USN vessel - an S Class submarine.

The accepted explanation of this incident is that the JASTRAB was 95 miles to the north of her intended position. She had not been able to obtain a position by sun or star sights for the best part of a week and she had no bottom patent log and no way of measuring engine revolutions.
(Hezlet: "British & Allied Submarine Operations in World War 2").

[dennis a feary]

Here is one of the RN Liaison lost in the boat ;

BEARD THOMAS ASKERN LDG SIG D/JX 131762
MID RN 29 130812 C I R PLYMOUTH 1 - 40
Son of Thomas Askern and Lucy Beard, of Danygraig, Swansea.
Lost on Submarine Liaison Duty - Polish Submarine JASTRZAB.
H.M. Submarine P.551. HMS FORTH. JS 190635.
Seedie's List ; Awarded Mention in Despatches (Posthumously).London Gazette 8 September 1942 - For gallantry under fire in May 1942. (Polish submarine ORP JASTRZAB).
P.R.O. file ADM 199 / 1217 & ADM 199 / 2067 ;
Patrol Reports ORP JASTRZAB read ; Polyarnoe. 8th May, 1942.
Polish Submarine P.551.
2nd May. 2015 Destroyer sighted ... TOWN Class ... At 2115B depth-charge dropped ... After surfacing Captain ordered "Abandon ship". Those who followed commanding officer on to the bridge were fired at by pompons ... British signalman was holding in his hand a recognition flare which was burning in his hand ; he was shot. British ships firing were ST. ALBANS and SEAGULL. Lt. Guzowski was the only surviving officer.
No Log for JASTRZAB ADM 173 / Series.

Sadsac

[crolick]

In fact claims from both sides are correct - JASTRZAB was well beyond the position in which she should be (around 70 Nm to the north) and also convoy was not in the place where it should (around 50 Nm to the south).

Nevertheless according to the findings of the board of inquiry:
"On the evidence available it is not considered that Lt. Cdr. Romanowski, PN, was guilty of any negligence or of any serious errors of judgement.

It is considered that although the DC Attacks were inevitable the fact that a yellow smoke candle had been sighted should have made ST. ALBANS chary of opening fire after the submarine had surfaced. There appears to be no doubt that the knowledge of the submarine recognition items and the appearance of allied submarine was inadequate".


Hope it helps,
Andrzej

[greendragon]

There is here in the net a full and detailed action report as seen by the CO HMNoS StAlbans.
He stated that having experienced how much traecherous the Germans were in the Norvegian campaign he was taking no risk and carried out a very resolute actions including of course Oerlikon fire.
Some rounds were fired by an Oerlikon gunner after the cease fire was ordered.
Friendly fire has been and will be always problem.
As one of the veterans said in his story of "raking the nearby ship with 20mm rounds"- "we were kids and damned scared".

Greendragon