Naval Warfare and Submarine Tactics

On April 13, 1944, Commander Sam Dy and his crew faced a Japanese destroyer in the South Pacific. Despite having sunk 10 Japanese merchant ships, they had never defeated a destroyer. Depth charges, used by destroyers, are explained as explosive devices designed to sink submarines. Instead of evading, Dy decided to attack the destroyer, realizing he could shoot back before being depth charged. His strategic offensive led to sinking the escort before it could retaliate. This success placed Dy among an elite group of submarine officers who had sunk Japanese destroyers, boosting his confidence.

What challenge had Commander Sam Dy and his crew not faced before April 13th, 1944?

• Engaging with a Japanese destroyer

• Sinking a Japanese merchant ship

• Navigating the South Pacific

• Conducting a war patrol

What is the primary function of a depth charge?

• To sink merchant ships

• To destroy aircraft

• To target submarines

• To protect coastal areas

How are depth charges triggered to explode?

• By remote control

• By a specific amount of seawater entering

• By contact with a submarine

• By a timer

What strategic decision did Commander Dy make during the encounter with the destroyer?

• To evade the destroyer

• To surrender

• To call for reinforcements

• To attack with torpedoes

What risk did Dy's torpedoes pose during the attack?

• They could miss the target

• They could be intercepted

• They could reveal the submarine's location

• They could malfunction

What was the outcome of Dy's attack on the Japanese destroyer?

• The attack failed

• The submarine was damaged

• The destroyer escaped

• The destroyer was sunk

How many Japanese destroyers had been sunk by American submarines by this point in the Pacific War?

• 25

• 14

• 10

• 20

What did Dy's successful attack on the destroyer signify for him and his crew?

• They were reassigned

• They were promoted

• They joined an elite group of officers

• They received a medal