 USSPC-815 running trials 13 April 1943 on theColumbia River | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | PC-815 |
| Builder | Albina Engine & Machine Works,Portland, Oregon |
| Laid down | 10 October 1942 |
| Launched | 5 December 1942 |
| Commissioned | 20 April 1943 |
| Fate | Sunk after collision withUSS Laffey, 11 September 1945, off the coast of San Diego |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | PC-461-class submarine chaser |
| Displacement | 295 tons fully loaded |
| Length | 173 ft (53 m)[1] |
| Beam | 23 ft (7.0 m) |
| Draft | 10 ft 10 in (3.30 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 × Hooven-Owens-Rentschler diesel engines (Serial No. 6977 and 6978), two shafts. |
| Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h) |
| Complement | 59 |
| Armament |
|
USSPC-815 was aPC-461-classsubmarine chaser built for theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II. Its first commander, for about eighty days in 1943, wasL. Ron Hubbard, who later became the founder ofScientology. After Hubbard was removed from command for conducting unauthorized gunnery practice in Mexican territorial waters, thePC-815 served as a shore patrol vessel offSan Diego,California.
In September 1945, the ship was lost along with one of her crew after colliding with the destroyerUSS Laffey.PC-815's short career led to the vessel being dubbed the "jinxed sub-chaser".[2]
PC-815 was laid down on 10 October 1942, at theAlbina Engine and Machinery Works inPortland, Oregon. Her propulsion was two 1,440bhpHooven-Owens-Rentschler R-99DA diesel engines (Serial No. 6977 and 6978), Westinghouse single reduction gear, two shafts.[3]
ThePC-815 was fitted out commencing 5 December 1942, and was commissioned on 20 April 1943, with Lieutenant (j.g.) L. Ron Hubbard in command.[4] A few weeks later she sailed down theColumbia River toAstoria, Oregon, where she arrived on 17 May to take on supplies.[citation needed]
On 18 May, thePC-815 left Astoria forBremerton, Washington, where she was to haveradar anddepth charge launchers fitted. Her journey was interrupted by anair-sea rescue operation, then was resumed with a new destination —San Diego.[4]
In the early hours of 19 May 1943, the crew ofPC-815 detected what Hubbard thought was first one, then later twoImperial Japanese Navy submarines approximately 10 nautical miles (19 km) off the shore ofCape Lookout, Oregon. Both thesonar operator and Lt. Hubbard thought that the echo of anactive sonar ping, combined with apparent engine noises heard through the ship'shydrophone, indicated contact with a submarine.[5]
Over the next 68 hours, the ship expended 37 depth charges in a "battle" that also involved the U.S. NavyblimpsK-39 andK-33, theUnited States Coast Guard patrol boatsBonham and 78302, and the subchasers USSSC-536 and USSSC-537, all summoned to act as reinforcements.PC-815 was finally ordered back to base on 21 May.[6]
In his eighteen-page after-action report, Hubbard claimed to have "definitely sunk, beyond doubt" one submarine and critically damaged another. However, the subsequent investigation by the Commander NW Sea Frontier, Vice AdmiralFrank Jack Fletcher, cast a skeptical light on Hubbard's claims. His summary memorandum to Fleet AdmiralChester W. Nimitz, stated:
Fletcher added that "there is a known magnetic deposit in the area in which depth charges were dropped",[citation needed] absolving the responding blimps from any fault, because their method of detecting submarines relied on aMagnetic Anomaly Detector. This also implied that Lt. Hubbard and his crew were operating the ship'ssonar equipment incorrectly.[8] After the war, British and American analysis of captured Japanese Navy records confirmed that no Japanese submarines had been lost off the Oregon coast.[9] Hubbard, however, never accepted that he had been mistaken about the "battle." Both he and Tom Moulton, one of his officers, claimed that the official denials of any Japanese submarine presence off the Pacific coast had been motivated by a desire to avoid panic among the U.S. population.[10] Years later, Hubbard told Scientologists:
However, the mouth of the Columbia River is some 75 miles north of Cape Lookout, the area in which Hubbard's naval reports claimed his anti-submarine action took place.
Moreover, the Japanese submarineI-76 (renamedI-176 by that time) was based inTruk and operated only in the south Pacific during the time when Hubbard was in command ofPC-815. The I-176 was sunk in theCoral Sea in May 1944 and removed from the Japanese Navy List on 10 July 1944 – a year after Hubbard was relieved of command of thePC-815.[12]
In June 1943, thePC-815 traveled toSan Diego, which was to become her home port. She arrived there on 2 June, and at the end of June was ordered to sea to join an anti-submarine training exercise.[4] The exercise, held on 28 June, ended early. Hubbard took the opportunity to order an impromptu gunnery exercise while anchored just off theMexican territory ofSouth Coronado Island, to the south-west of San Diego. The Mexican government sent an official protest to the U.S. Government, as no gunnery operations had been scheduled.[citation needed]
On 30 June a Board of Investigation was convened concerningPC-815. It concluded that Hubbard had disregarded orders, both by conducting gunnery practice and by anchoring in Mexican territorial waters without proper authority. His orders stated that thePC-815 was supposed to return after completing that day's training. Hubbard argued that his crew was inexperienced, it was foggy, and he was tired so he did not return to port as ordered. But a month earlier in his after action report concerning the fiasco off Cape Lookout, he had described the same men as "experienced" and "highly skilled".[citation needed]
Vice Admiral Fletcher, who both chaired the board and read the prior after action report, rated Hubbard "below average" and noted: "Consider this officer lacking in the essential qualities of judgment, leadership and cooperation. He acts without forethought as to probable results. He is believed to have been sincere in his efforts to make his ship efficient and ready. Not considered qualified for command or promotion at this time. Recommend duty on a large vessel where he can be properly supervised". Hubbard was relieved of command effective 7 July 1943.[13]
After Hubbard was replaced,PC-815 remained in San Diego as a shore patrol vessel, but appears to have been mostly inactive. According to her Movement Card she took part in the occasional offshore patrol, participated in training exercises, and escorted submarines in and out of the harbor. She was restored to active duty on 2 September 1945, but at 6:47 a.m. on 11 September, the ship collided with the destroyerUSS Laffey in dense fog off San Diego. The collision started a fire on boardPC-815, which sank within five minutes. One man fromPC-815 was recorded as missing, presumed drowned. TheLaffey suffered significant damage, with the fire fromPC-815 spreading into one of the destroyer's compartments.[2]
Navy divers demolished the wreck in early November 1945 due to the navigation hazard that it posed to a busy shipping channel. It is reported to be lying at32°37′54″N117°14′12″W / 32.63167°N 117.23667°W /32.63167; -117.23667 in 90 feet (27 m) of water and is said[by whom?] to be diveable.[14]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in September 1945 | |
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| Other incidents |
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