http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/fourth_dimens...p04/10_fd_e.htm
By Charmion Chaplin-Thomas
HMCS MOOSE JAW Catches a U-Boat
Lt F.E. Grubb, RCN, commanding officer of the Flower-class corvette HMCS MOOSE JAW, reports the sinking of the German submarine U-501 during his first operational cruise.
September 10, 1941
From HMCS MOOSE JAW at St. John?s, Newfoundland, to Captain (D) Newfoundland Force, November 6, 1941. (For the full text of this letter, see National Archives of Canada, RG 24, volume 11334, file 8280-S.C. 42)
Sir,
I have the honour to forward this letter of proceedings for the period 5th September?17th September, 1941. ...At about 2100 on 10th September, flares and star shell were sighted ahead on either bow. Hands went to action stations at 2130. At about 2200, CHAMBLY signalled that he was about to blow a depth charge, and altered course to port. At the time the two ships were in line abreast, MOOSE JAW to starboard. I altered course to port in a wide sweep to keep clear of CHAMBLY and to place myself to carry out a depth charge attack.
A few minutes later, I saw a submarine surface between CHAMBLY and ourselves, [and it] appeared to be stopped. ...The submarine made a series of ?I?s? on a small lamp just abaft the conning tower. It got under weigh at this point, and I gave chase, opening fire with the 4-inch gun as soon as it was clear of CHAMBLY. The submarine appeared to be moving at about 13 knots. It attempted to place me dead astern, altering course to do so each time I tried to alter out of its wake. I ordered the 10-inch signal projector trained on it, disclosing the crew on the upper deck. They appeared to be so demoralized that ...I thought there might be some chance of capturing the submarine.
The next few minutes was spent in chase, the submarine attempting to get directly ahead of me, and I trying to keep on his quarter in case he fired torpedoes. ...I managed to go alongside the submarine, starboard side to, and called on her to surrender. To my surprise, I saw a man make a magnificent leap from the submarine?s deck into our waist, and the remainder of her crew move to do likewise. Not being prepared to repel boarders at that moment, I sheered off. The submarine altered across my bows and I rammed her, increasing to 185 revolutions to do so, and altering course to hit her forward diving rudders and thus prevent her submerging.
After the impact, she moved across my bows at reduced speed and ...I opened fire again. The crew jumped into the sea as soon as the first round went, and I ordered fire to be stopped. I subsequently learned that the shell had passed low enough over the conning tower to knock down the men who were standing thereon. The submarine was then on my port beam. ...
Somewhere in the North Atlantic, ca. 1943: Canadian sailors haul in a survivor from a sunken U-Boat. RCN
The man who I had seen jump aboard turned out to be the submarine?s commanding officer. He was badly shaken and when he was brought to me on the bridge appeared to be worried at the amount of light we were showing in order to pick up survivors. ...The total number of prisoners taken from U-501 was three commissioned officers, two midshipmen, and 24 ratings. The commanding officer, Commander Hugo Forster, a man of 35, was born in Berlin. He was quiet and well-mannered, and I saw no signs of Nazi influence. The executive officer, Lieutenant Werner Albring (age 26) was born in Wessel. I believe that if it had not been for the example of his commanding officer, he would have given trouble, as he appeared to be a Nazi type. The Second-Lieutenant, Lieutenant Hans Sittenfeld, age 24, born in Kiel, was in manners and attitude like his commanding officer.
As I neared the starboard wing of the convoy, star shell fired by a destroyer, whom I believe to have been SKEENA, passed close overhead. I switched on dim navigation lights until fire was ceased. The time was then approximately 2345.
The keenness and attention to duty of the three submarine detector operators was outstanding. The energy, initiative and professional knowledge shown by the senior S.D.O., E. Thomas, Ordinary Seaman, ON-V13460, was particularly worthy of note.
I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient Servant.
F.E. Grubb,
Lieutenant, R.C.N.,
Commanding Officer