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Action Reports > USS Sims
Action Report
The
U.S.S. Neosho at Coral Sea
Action
Report of The
U.S.S. Sims
May 18, 1942
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From:
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The
Senior Line Petty Officer, U.S.S. SIMS,
(Robert James Dicken, C.S.M., U.S. Navy).
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To:
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The
Secretary of the Navy.
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Via:
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The
Commander U.S. Submarines, Eastern Australia.
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Subject:
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Personal
observations of SIMS #409 disaster.
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1.
On May 7, I was serving as Chief Signalman on board the U.S.S. Sims.
We were employed convoying the U.S. Navy Tanker Neosho when attacked by
Japanese planes, bombed and sunk. After several days we were picked up by the
U.S.S. Henley and while enroute to Brisbane Australia, I prepared a
report which I gave to the Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Neosho who
had been taken off by the U.S.S. Henley.
That report is
as follows:
At
Sea
May 13, 1942
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From:
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Dicken,
R.J., C.S.M., U.S. N.
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To:
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The
C.O. U.S.S. Neosho.
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Subject:
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Personal
observations of SIMS #409 disaster.
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On May 7 at
0930 I was in the Chief's quarters and heard a man in #1 handling room exclaim
that a bomb had lit right alongside. General Quarters sounded immediately and
duty gun opened fire. Upon reaching bridge the other guns had commenced firing
on horizontal bombers. Recognition signals were attempted but no reply.
There were a
large number of our shells which failed to burst at the beginning of the
attack but after several rounds, number unknown, the fuse settings seemed to
be operating satisfactory as bursts were observed near the enemy planes.
At beginning
of attack Sims went to full speed and patrolled on either bow of
tanker. Our gunfire seemed very effective in keeping the planes high and on
the move.
Observed one
bomb score near miss, port side, amidships. No damage reported. One casualty,
slight shoulder wound, on #2 gun. Man treated during lull and returned to gun.
High level
attack lasted ten to fifteen minutes.
For next two
hours several Radar contacts made, distance fifteen to twenty miles, but no
planes appeared.
#1 gun
appeared to be blistered.
About 1155
planes approached, identification attempted and upon no response the order to
commence fire was given. Enemy planes began dive bombing attack on tanker. A
steady rate of fire was maintained from all 5" guns.
About 1215 Sims
received direct hit on or near after set torpedo tubes. Bomb apparently
pierced deck and exploded in after engine room. Deck buckled forward of after
deck house. Radar fell across gig. Received two more hits, one on after deck
house, port side forward, which appeared to have caused only local damage.
Another hit on #4 gun caused local damage. #1 and #2 guns were continuing to
fire by local control.
Personnel was
ordered off bridge and reported to Assistant Chief Engineer Ensign Tachna who
ordered us to take off our shoes and put motor whale boat in water.
Numerous
fireroom personnel seemed uninjured by first hit in engine room. This force
assisted in lowering boat. Two men in boat when lowered. Boat began drifting
clear of side. I went over the side, swam to boat, took tiller and began
picking up personnel in water.
The Captain,
still on bridge, ordered me aft to try to get aboard to flood after magazines
and extinguish fire on after deck house. This was necessary due to fact that
main deck between after deck house and machine shop was awash.
An attempt
was made to get aboard. Ship began settling from aft, whale boat pulled clear
and immediately afterwards the boilers blew up followed by another but smaller
explosion. The ship broke in two parts, and sank.
All men that
were not apparently dead were taken aboard, search made for two life rafts
with from ten to twenty (total) men aboard. We then proceeded to tanker and
placed ourselves under that command. There were fifteen Sims survivors
in boat.
I have
questioned Sims survivors for more data but no further information
available.
Respectfully
submitted
Robert James Dicken C.S.M.
2. I never saw any sign
of panic. Everyone was on their stations doing their job and the whole ship
worked as a well organized unit until the end. Discipline was excellent.
3. There are a few
outstanding things that I can remember in addition to the above report:
The number one gun crew stood
by their gun and kept up a steady rate of fire after the paint on their gun was
burning and the ship was at such an angle that the decks were awash. The Chief
Engineer was wounded severely but carried out several duties under extremely
difficult conditions. He tried to fire the forward set of torpedo tubes to
assist the Captain in lightening the ship and to remove the danger of the
torpedoes exploding aboard. He also extinguished the fire on the torpedo deck
house at the time. One outstanding act was done by an enlisted man named E.F.
MUNCH, MM2c, just before he jumped over the side to be picked up by my boat, he
secured a depth charge to the deck so it would not go over the side or accidentally
explode on deck.
4. The last I saw of the
Commanding Officer he was standing on the bridge when the ship was blown up by
the explosion. He showed an example of courage throughout the entire engagement.
5. To the best of my
knowledge and belief all muster rolls, log books and valuable papers went down
with the Sims. We did not have any books or papers in my boat at all. My
boat was not loaded with a view to permanently abandon ship. The Captain
believed that he could save the ship and was doing everything in his power to do
so right up until the ship blew up and sank.
6. During the entire four
days of hard work in the boat, part of which time we were alongside the Neosho,
and part clear of the Neosho, the conduct of the men was very good. We
did the best we could to provision the boat and prepare it for sea. For the
first three days we were repairing the 18 inch hole in the boat.
7. Our small boat was
left tied up alongside the Neosho when we were taken aboard the Henley.
When the Neosho was fired on and purposely sunk, this boat went down with
her. No property of any kind
remains of the Sims.
8. To the best of my
knowledge and belief the following are the only survivors of the U.S.S. Sims:
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NAME
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RATE
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SERVICE NO. |
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VESSIA, V.J.
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F2c
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Unknown
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LAWES, J. Jr.
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Sea2c
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Unknown
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TEVEBAUGH, J.W.
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RM3c
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Unknown
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GOBER, A.C.
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Sea2c
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Unknown
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CHMIELEWSKI, J.
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F1c
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Unknown
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SCOTT, M.W.
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F3c
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Unknown
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VERTON, J.C.
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Sea2c
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Unknown
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ERNST, G.E.
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FC3c
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Unknown
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SAVAGE, J.
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FC3c
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Unknown
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MUNCH, E.F.
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MM2c
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Unknown
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CANOLE, V.F.
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MM2c
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Unknown
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REILLY, T.F.
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WT1c
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Unknown
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CLARK, (unknown)
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CY
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Unknown
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PELIES, E.M.
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Sea2c
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Unknown
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DICKEN, R.J.
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CSM
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Unknown
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I am the senior petty officer
in this group of survivors. Of this list two men are now dead, they are: Chief
Yeoman CLARK, who died the first night we were in the boat and PELIES, E.M., who
died in the sick bay on board the Henley. To the best of my knowledge and
belief there are no other survivors of the Sims.
Robert James
Dicken, CSM.
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Table of Contents:
U.S.S. Neosho
(AO-23) |
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