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Loss of
Commander U.N. Blockading and Escort Force
of 26 Jan 1951
Commander Mine
Squadron THREE report Serial 00028 of 13 December 1950
Commander Mine
Squadron THREE report Serial 0027 of 11 December 1950
Glossary
CTF95/RHS:rac
L8/A6
Serial 0003
Jan 26 1951
From: Commander United Nations Blockading
and Escort Force
(Commander Task Force NINETY-FIVE)
To: Commander Naval Forces, Far East
Subj: Security Salvage, USS PIRATE (AM 275) and USS PLEDGE (AM
277)
Encl: (1) CominRon 3 TS ltr Ser 00028/L8
of 13 Dec 1950 with ComPhibGru ONE
(2) CominRon
3 Sec ltr Ser 0027/L8 of 11 Dec 1950 with ComPhibGru ONE
1. Enclosures (1) and (2), reporting the security salvage operations
conducted on the hulks of PIRATE and PLEDGE, are forwarded herewith.
2. Commander Task Force NINETY-FIVE is of the opinion that all
possible measures have been taken to prevent compromise of classified
matter and that such compromise is extremely unlikely.
3. Steps have been taken by higher authority to provide for periodic
aerial reconnaissance of the spot where the ships were sunk, in
order that possible salvage operations by the enemy may be detected.
FC-3
L8
Serial: 00028
13 DEC 1950
From: Commander Task Group 95.6
To: Commander Task Force 95
Via: Commander Task Force 90
Subj: Security salvage, PIRATE - PLEDGE
Ref: (a) CTF 7 secret despatch 230450z of October 1950.
(b) CTF 95.6 secret
ltr serial 0027 of 11 December 1950.
1. The diving and destruction, made hazardous by many days of
rough water, freezing winds, thick mud and torn, jagged metal
structures, has been accomplished in a highly efficient manner
reflecting special credit on the personnel of the CONSERVER and
DIACHENKO plus the four divers from the JASON and DIXIE.
2. Ships structures have been well demolished into small sections
spread over a considerable area and effectively buried in the
thick mud of the bottom. Recovery of any considerable amount of
the fragments would require a major salvage and dredging operation
covering many months of operating.
3. It is not considered possible that there has been any compromise
of classified materials.
4. In the strewn and buried wreckage are undoubtedly items which
will take several more months for deterioration to the point where
if recovered they would not reveal any classified information
to the enemy.
5. In order to make impossible such a major salvage operation
which could be undertaken immediately by the enemy to recover
items which are susceptible to compromise, it is recommended that
the area either be mined or subjected to daily surveillance by
search planes for a period of six months.
FC-3
L8
Serial: 0027
11 DEC 1950
From: Commander Task Group 95.6
To: Commander Task Force 95
Via: Commander Task Force 90
Subj: Security salvage, USS PIRATE (AM-275) and USS PLEDGE (AM-277).
Encl: (1) CTF 7 secret despatch 230450Z of October 1950. (missing)
(2) Mine
clearance in vicinity of wrecks during minesweeping assault Wonsan.
(3) - (12) are despatches
missing from report
(13) Report
by ENS W. B. FARNSWORTH, Jr., USN - UDT-3.
(14) CTF 95.6 secret
despatch 110558Z of December 1950. (missing)
1. This report submitted in compliance with Enclosure (1).
2. The subject ships were mined 12 October 1950 at Wonsan Korea
in about 16 fathoms of water.
3. Minesweeping commitment at Wonsan, Hungnam and Songjin were
carried out as directed, expediting all possible. These operations
were continuous. While at Wonsan it was possible to initiate clearance
of area around wrecks as outlined in Enclosure (1). No minesweeping
boats were available to continue salvage at Wonsan during Hungnam
and Songjin sweeping. Status of subject salvage upon departure
from Wonsan was reported to Commander Task Force 95, info all
commands concerned, by Enclosure (3).
4. Songjin sweep conducted in compliance with Enclosure (4) was
completed 19 November, and group sailed same day for Wonsan arriving
20 November. On 21 November the remaining eight mines were swept
away from the vicinity of the wrecks.
5. CONSERVER reported operational control of Commander Task Group
95.6 on 27 November. On 28-30 November she overhauled and repaired
diving equipment. During this period divers were given familiarization
on board the INCREDIBLE.
6. CONSERVER moored over PIRATE stern at 1600 on 1 December but
weather conditions prevented dive this date. Enclosures (5) through
(9) outline progress of salvage operations through 4 December.
On 3 December, Commander Task Group 95.6 directed CONSERVER to
obtain explosives for use if directed. On 4 December, Commander
Task Group 95.6 requested assignment of Underwater Demolition
Team personnel to assist destruction on PIRATE wreck. On 5 December,
Lieutenant THEBE from the DIACHENKO with extensive UDC experience
was assigned by Commander Task Force 90 to provide technical advice
and assistance. The Commanding Officer, USS DIACHENKO was assigned
command of security salvage by Commander Task Force 90, Enclosure
(10), at 051756 item. Enclosure (11) reports progress on 5 December.
7. Enclosures (12) and (13) provide additional information. The
publications recovered by Ensign FARNSWORTH were as follows:
8. To date, bow of PIRATE has not
been identified by divers.
9. By Enclosure (14) it was requested that Commanding Officer,
USS DIACHENKO complete the report to Commander Task Force 95 in
compliance with Enclosure (1).
11 December 1950
Subj: Mine Clearance in vicinity of
wrecks during mine sweeping assault, Wonsan.
1. On 13 October 1950, helicopter counted 27 mines in PIRATE line.
Pilot stated that there might be more mines.
2. On 16 October, Mine Division 31 swept 11 mines from the Rei
To end of the PIRATE line, and on 17 October, six additional mines.
From this time remaining mines were bypassed and main efforts
were directed to complete sweeping to Wonsan objectives. No minesweeping
boats were available at this time.
3. On 20 October, commenced rigging size 5 O-type gear for two
boats, partially by improvision. Previous efforts had been unsuccessful
because wire available was too heavy. The proper wire was received
by shipment from Sassaby.
4. On 20 October, the INCREDIBLE was directed to sweep out remaining
mines from the PIRATE line between the wrecks and Rei To. She
swept out three mines on 21 October to accomplish this task.
5. On 23 October, 16 mines were sighted remaining in the PIRATE
line. The DIACHENKO assisted by helicopter plotted 11 of these
mines. On 24 October, all of these mines were buoyed.
6. On 24 October, the boat sweepers had been satisfactorily rigged
and tested and commenced sweeping objective areas; this was completed
on 28 October. Poor visibility prevented work around wrecks on
30 October. On 31 October, the boats swept six mines from the
vicinity of the wrecks. Minesweeping gear of both boats fouled
in mines and two days were required for clearance and recovery.
On 3 November, gear and was recovered and one additional mine
swept. Boat sweeping on 3 November over wrecks obtained negative
results. On 4 November, repairs were commenced on minesweeping
motor launch and unseaworthy minesweeping L.C.V.P. replacement
by L.C.V.P. from DIACHENKO was initiated in preparation for Hungnam
sweep. Task group sailed for Hungnam on 6 November. Because of
small composition of group no units could be left behind to complete
PIRATE line sweeping.
7. About noon on 20 November, the LIPAN with sweep boats arrived
Wonsan from the Songjin sweep. Boats were unloaded and preparations
made for operations. Assisted by the MASSEY and ROCHESTER helicopter
the boats swept the remaining eight mines the following day.
8. Moored and magnetic check sweeps were made while waiting for
availability of the CONSERVER in order to guarantee safety of
her operations in wreck area. All results were negative; one mine
of the 16 reported in paragraph 5 above apparently came adrift
and was sunk during the interim period when several drifting mines
were sunk in the general area. The CONSERVER was able to proceed
with diving immediately when her work on THOMASON and BUCK was
completed and diving equipment overhauled and repaired.
Enclosure
(13)
Report by ENS. W.B. FARNSWORTH, Jr., attached to UDT-3
The following is an account of the destruction of crypto aids
on board U.S.S. Pledge on the day of her sinking, 12 October
1950:
Shortly after boarding the Pledge, Sylvia, J.T., AN, and
I proceeded to the Coding room where we accomplished the following
destruction of the ECM machine:
Face and some inner parts of the machine bent and smashed by slows
of a large piece of steel pipe. This destruction was not too effective
as the smashing was carried out in almost total darkness and the
space in which we found the machine was too confining to properly
swing an instrument of this sort.
Wheels found in the machine and others found in boxes under water
and oil on deck nearby were taken out of the main deck, removed
from the wheel racks, and pounded with a large piece of steel
pipe until little or no Bakelite casing or copper contacts remained
intact, then the remains were thrown over the side as far as possible
from the wreck, and as diversely as was possible under the circumstances.
The wheel racks were smashed also and thrown over the side, as
were the boxes in which the wheels were found.
The machine was evidently jarred open by concussion but we were
unable to find written crypto aids in the darkness, and were prevented
from further investigation and destruction by lack of time. The
Commanding Officer, then still on the starboard gun tub, gave
me to understand that most of the other crypto aids were in the
Communications Officer's stateroom, below decks and forward of
the wardroom, which we found we were unable to reach due to the
flooding and general destruction forward.
Source: UNBLOCK&ESCORT
Force Report, Serial 003 January 26, 1951 , Box 745, Post 46 Reports,
Operational Archives Branch, Naval Historical Center, Washington,
DC.
Glossary:
CominRon -- Commander Mine Squadron
TS -- Top Secret
ComPhibGru Commander Amphibious Group
Sec -- Secret
Com7thFlt Commander 7th Fleet
CTF -- Commander Task Force
CTF -- Commander Task Group
CTF -- Commander Joint Task Force
ComNavFE -- Commander Naval Forces, Far East
AM -- Minesweeper
Z -- Zulu Time, or Greenwich Mean Time (Found in the Activity
Summary of Salvage in the enclosure listing.)
CTF -- Commander Task Element
END -- Ensign
UDC -- Underwater Demolition Team
CSP -- Communication Security Publication
JALAP -- Joint Army-Navy Publication
L.C.V.P. -- Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel
10 April 2001