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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

Subject Copy                                      File No.

Cablegram Sent 3 February 1918. ROC.1

To Opnav, Washington.                        Serial No. 3600

Prep. by NCT2      SX D.R.

27 ADR        

          VERY SECRET

3600.     Your 2686.3   AYLWIN begins channel patrol with hunting unit to test apparatus under war conditions February fourth full report will be made. Preliminary tests with British submarine confirmed results obtained in United States. Urgently recommend work development trailing wire device or other means detecting submarine on bottom be expedited. Progress here not satisfactory. Hunted submarines in channel invariably take refuge on bottom.4

Sims.         

Source Note: Cy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B.

Footnote 1: These are the initials of the transcriptionist.

Footnote 2: Capt. Nathan C. Twining.

Footnote 3: Document referenced has not been found.

Footnote 4: For more on the tests involving the U.S. destroyer AYLWIN, see: Sims to Lewis Bayly, 31 January 1918.

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