USS Turner DD-648 (3/4)
Official Report of the Sinking
Here is a reproduction of the official Navy report on the loss of the Turner, as recorded on board the USS Swasey, DE-248, which took part in rescue operations. SwaseyUSS Solar pictured below, which was lost just a few miles away in a similar accident two years later.
COMINCH FILE
UNITED STATES FLEET
HEADQUARTERS OF the COMMANDER IN CHIEF
NAVY DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C.
13 January 1944
SECRET MEMORANDUM
From: F-48
To: Secret Mail Room
Subject: Distribution of Extracts from USS SWASEY War Diary
dated 1, 2 and 3 January 1944.(Atlantic Coast.)
1. Please have subject report distributed as follows:
CominCh
(F-105; F-48 (2); F-30) 4
Vice CNO
(Op-02; Op-16; Op-16E; Op-20G; Op-23) 5
BuShips 1
Naval War College 1
General Board 1
Naval Training School (Damage Control) 1
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
BURN WHEN NO LONGER REQUIRED.
1. 1100 - On orders CTF64 Norfolk, Va. section of convoy split. This vessel took station on port quarter of New York section of advance base course 327 T. Speed 9.75 knots. Positions: Time Lat. Long. 0800 36 01' N. 68 53' W. 1200 36 08' N. 69 35' W. 2000 37 04' N. 70 16' W. 2 January, 1944 1123 Convoy Base course changed course to 312 T. 1245 Fired 24 practice rounds of plastic loaded Hedgehogs. 1400 Cut in Degaussing. 1630 Convoy formed in a single column, SWASEY patrolled port side, distance 2000 to 3000 yards - maintaining various courses and speed conforming to channel. 0110 Secured sound gear and 0134 dropped starboard anchor in 34 ft of water off Ambrose Light - Lat. 40 30' 15" N Long. 73 53' 24" W, using 45 fathom of chain Positions: Time Lat. Long. 0800 38 32' N. 71 30' W. 1200 39 03' N. 72 06' W. 2000 39 57' N. 73 22' W. 3 January 1944
1. At anchor 5 miles bearing 328 T. from Ambrose light awaiting clearance to channel. Orders of CTF64 to get underway at 0715 and proceed to Navy Yard Brooklyn were not carried out as scheduled due to an explosion and final sinking of the U.S.S. TURNER. The original explosion on board the U.S.S. TURNER was observed from this vessel at 0618, by the O.O.D. and J.O.O.D. who were on the flying bridge of this vessel at the time, and by several enlisted men that were on duty topside. Their impressions were of a rumbling, rather then a sharp noise of explosion and of flames leaping above the TURNER in a volcanic effect. Three projectiles that resembled rockets, appeared above the flames and curved out- ward in wide arcs. This vessel was anchored 3000 yards, 330 degrees true from TURNER at this time.
2. Commanding Officer was called and preparations were begun immediately for getting underway. General quarters was sounded at 0623. Several explosions were noted on about this time, though not of great violence. At 0635 this vessel was underway and proceeding at best speed toward TURNER. Fire and Rescue party was ordered to assemble on starboard side main deck with full equipment. Men were ordered G.Q. gun stations as necessary to man line handling details, and to assist repair parties.
FILMED Photostated ENCLOSURE "A" 9.
Hoses were fixed and manned to side. All search- lights were manned and trained toward TURNER. This vessel approached TURNER from aft and to port with intention of going alongside. At 0645 SWASEY had approached to within 500 yards of TURNER when it observed that a small craft was moving in to TURNERS port quarter. This fact made going directly alongside impossible so motor whaleboat was lowered immediately and fire and rescue party of 15 men dispatched to board TURNER if possible. SWASEY then moved forward and managed to get within approximately twenty yards of the fire. All hoses were used that could be brought to bear in vicinity of the fire but the volume of water we were able to get over was pitifully ineffective for a flame of that magnitude.
3. TURNER, at this time had a large hole in her port side in vicinity of #2 turret four to six feet at main deck, tapering "V" shaped to about two feet from the waterline. Brilliant flames, bright yellowish in color billowed out this hole and through the main deck and were blown by the wind across the entire bridge superstructure which by this time was also on fire. Number two turret appeared to have been blown completely away by the original explosion. Number one turret was forced upward and forward. The bridge superstructure was badly twisted and torn and appeared to have been blown upward and aft. There were no personnel on deck in the forward part of the vessel at the time. Several who had been on the forecastle when we arrived had jumped overboard to starboard and. were subsequently picked up by small boats.
4. When danger of becoming fouled in TURNERS anchor chain became imminent SWASEY came ahead and crossed the TURNERS bow to port illuminating the water to assist small boats in picking up survivors. A coast guard cutter was observed on TURNERS star- board quarter, close aboard. There was a hole in TURNERS star- board side in about abreast of number two turret, approximately ten feet wide at edge of main deck tapering "V" shaped to the edge of the waterline. The plate from the hole had been peeled forward, outward and downward. There was a man in the water holding himself afloat by this plate. He was in a dazed condition and had a head wound from which he was bleeding badly. He was picked up by one of the small boats. During all of this time small explosions were occurring continuously in forward part of TURNER. She was then on approximately even keel. When no further men could be seen in the water on starboard side, SWASEY was backed down so her searchlights could bear on TURNER'S port side. Both rescuing boats then pulled away from TURNER'S stern end. SWASEY was maneuvered so as to come alongside TURNER'S port side again. Before this could be effected however there was a violent explosion just forward of amidships (0650) and
ENCLOSURE "A" 10.
TURNER took a sharp list to starboard ( about 15 degrees) and fuel oil began pour out of the rupture on port side. SWASEY ordered all small boats to immediately clear the vicinity over the "bull horn". The explosion showered SWASEY'S decks with flaming debris which was immediately extinguished. The oil flowing from the port side promptly became ignited and was carried aft by the wind. The paint along her entire side caught fire, running across the decks and up her after deck housing. Depth charges along the side in "K" gun racks began to burn. The starboard depth charge racks appeared to be empty but the port racks appeared to contain about five charges. The after one was the first one to ignite. No depth charges are believed to have exploded. Explosions were being heard in various parts of the ship now that are believed to have been 5 inch ammunition. The smaller explosions of 20 MM and 40 MM were constant at this stage of the fire. This explosion at 0650 cleared the entire forward housing which toppled over the starboard side.
5. At 0750 a terrific explosion occurred aft of #2 smokestack and TURNER immediately capsized to starboard and sank except for a small portion of her bow which remained floating about three feet above water. Her sound head appeared to be lowered. At about fifty feet from the stem, slightly to port of the keel, there was a mass of twisted steel about five feet in diameter that appeared to have been forced bodily through the bottom, ex- tending about three feet beyond the plating. TURNER floated in this condition until 0827 when she disappeared completely below the surface. SWASEY dropped a marker buoy where TURNER went down.
6. At 1440 a buoy tender entered the area and was directed to the wreck by SWASEY. A buoy was dropped 50 yards 215 true from TURNER. SWASEY continued patrolling the area until relieved at 1558 by SC 1323, and orders from CTF64 to proceed to Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
Note: Those days represented by 0800, 1200, and 2400 positions only represent days when only routine operations took place - patrolling station, maintaining continuous SL radar and HF/DF, and sound search. Material condition of this vessel was normal and moral of personnel excellent. Full war cruising condition of readiness was maintained throughout voyage and return, except when actually at battle stations or when secured in Casa Blanco Harbor.
ENCLOSURE A 11.
This report, still marked Secret by the War Department, was sent to me by Patrick Colligan pvc6102@comcast.net.
