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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

Captain Nathan C. Twining, Chief of Staff to Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters, to Lieutenant Commander David M. Le Breton, Commanding Officer, Aylwin

4th June, 1918.         

From:  Force Commander.

To:    The Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Aylwin.

Subject:  Conclusions drawn from first Chaser Operations in English Channel.

Reference: C.C. U.S.S.Aylwin’S report of 22nd May, 1918.1

     1. The conclusions arrived at by the Commanding Officer of the U.S.S.Aylwin are in the essential points approved with the following modifications:- The personnel of the Chasers is too unfamiliar with local conditions and too lacking in training to be left entirely to their own devices. It should be the policy of the Destroyer to make a round of visits once or twice a day to see Chasers on station for the purpose of giving them their position, information concerning allocations of enemy or other craft which may come to the Destroyer, and to receive any reports which the Chasers may have to make. It might well happen that the Destroyer would be very useful to run some distance away to force a submarine on the surface to submerge, to warn off an approaching convoy, to investigate air craft reports, etc. The moral effect on the Chasers of having a Destroyer look them up at certain intervals will be of considerable value.

/s/ N.C.TWINING.            

Captain U.S.Navy,       

Chief of Staff,    

Signed for Vice-Admiral Sims

in his absence.    

Source Note: D, DNA, RG 45, Entry 517B, Destroyer Ships Files: Aylwin.

Footnote 1: This report is not included in the Aylwin’s war diary. However, there is a report on operations in the English Channel, dated 1 June, that appears immediately before this note. It concludes:

The S.C. tube seems to be the most satisfactory listening device on the chasers. Usually approaching vessels could be heard and identified before they could be seen. The design of the M.B. tube is poor, constant leaks developing; the design should be improved immediately. It is difficult to get accurate bearing with the K tube. Radio telephones worked well and are invaluable for maneuvering the boat in a hunt.

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