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Location: Chunky, MS | Subject: Small snippet of Bob Hunt's book of the USS Tambor
Here's a little tidbit of Bob Hunt's still-to-be released book "We Were Pirates" about his life aboard all 12 war patrols of the USS Tambor during WW2. I really really hope this book gets published, I feel like I need to read it.
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http://iptv.org/promo/thewar/sharestory.cfm?page=2&submission_id=4662&ext=0
Robert Hunt, Torpedoman on the USS Tambor
Robert Hunt
Decorah, Iowa
Robert Hunt of Decorah, Iowa, served as a Torpedoman on 12 long-range patrols aboard the submarine USS Tambor. This excerpt from the book, WE WERE PIRATES Robert Hunt: A Torpedoman's View of the Pacific War, by Robert Schultz and James Shell (Copyright ? Robert Schultz) is from his 10th patrol where, during its 61-day cruise of the Pacific, the Tambor sunk 4 ships. Hunt received a commendation for his service during this patrol.
(excerpted from the book, WE WERE PIRATES Robert Hunt: A Torpedoman's View of the Pacific War, by Robert Schultz and James Shell. Copyright ? Robert Schultz)
There were seven ships (in the convoy.) As the (submarine USS) Tambor maneuvered to attack the near Maru--a 10,000-ton freighter--crewman Tom Lampley stood a lookout post and gunner's mate "Nip" Howard was assigned to the 20MM machine gun,. Bob Hunt manned the phones in the forward (torpedo) room (and) prepared to fire a spread of three torpedoes on orders from the conning tower.
(Captain) Kefauver brought the sub to within 1,650 yards of its target when the freighter zigged 45 degrees to the left, unwittingly nearing the Tambor. The captain gave his order to fire at just 600 yards, near the minimum for the torpedoes to arm. No sooner was the first fish away the escort (ship)...increased speed and headed for the Tambor. Kefauver ordered the second torpedo away and turned the boat hard to port to evade the onrushing escort. In the forward (torpedo) room, water flew as the tubes vented into the bilges, sucking air bubbles and seawater back into the boat to prevent detection and maintain the sub's trim. Then the reload process began, but Bob knew something was happening above when the boat went left full rudder and all ahead frantic.
Both torpedoes...hit their target; smoke and fire shot from the freighter. Tom Lampley, the starboard lookout, saw bodies and debris spinning in the flash. The patrol boat, however, continued to come on, its bow pointed straight at the Tambor, its searchlight probing for the sub. As it loomed, gunner's mate Howard saw Japanese sailors in white uniforms running to man their deck guns. Kefauver, who had stepped to the bridge to fire the torpedoes, reported: "(A)ll hands were convinced that ramming amidships was inevitable."
Firing in a continuous burst, "Nip" Howard raked the deck of the patrol boat, knocking out the searchlight, sending a hail of fire into the bridge, and stopping the sailors racing for their guns. Bullets may have struck the Japanese helmsman, because the patrol boat veered off course and passed a mere 20 yards to the Tambor's stern.
By the time the escort recovered, the Tambor had escaped into the dark, having sunk a 10,000-ton freighter. ... Kefauver ordered the sub to reverse course and pursue the other two freighters. Back charged the escort, however, this time dropping depth charges, so the Tambor changed course again, still hoping to regain contact with the convoy, but without luck.
Bob had heard the gunfire and, once he had secured his room from battle stations, learned the full story of the encounter. "We are very lucky to get by with this deal we just pulled," he wrote in his diary. "This guy on the machine gun will probably get a medal, as he really saved us from getting rammed."
Submitted on 11/14/2007 through Iowa Public Television, Decorah, Iowa
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Small snippet of Bob Hunt's book of the USS Tambor
