Chapter II. PRIOR TO SAILING

Section 1. GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS

2101. On being informed that you have been detailed to command an Armed Guard on a certain merchant vessel, apply to the proper Authority for any special instructions issued to commanders of Armed Guards. These instructions are not included here as they vary at each port due to local conditions. Get information regarding the vessel's owner or agent and his business address, cable address, telephone number, and telephone number of vessel if not in the stream. Ascertain the vessels definite location.

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2102. Duties of Armed Guard officer. Upon notification of assignment, and during the period of arming, officers will follow, in general, the procedure outlined below:

  1. Your job is important and complicated. You will realize its importance and minimize its complications by reading and following these instructions.
  2. As Armed Guard commander you will make arrangements with the port director concerning personnel and equipment that is to be placed aboard the vessel.
  3. Visit the vessel, reporting to the master or his representative if the master is not on board. Inform him of your orders. Inspect the installation being undertaken in connection with the defense of the vessel or Armed Guard accommodations.
  4. Arrange with the master for stowage of your confidential books and papers in his safe while vessel is in port. At sea, such material should be kept in a weighted canvas bag so that in an emergency they may be disposed of promptly to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy.
  5. If this visit discloses that no Navy subsistence or quarters are available and the merchant vessel is unable to subsist yourself or crew prior to sailing, apply to the Port Director for subsistence allowances in accordance with Bureau of Naval Personnel dispatch 021603 of March 1942 and Bureau of Naval Personnel letter Nav-65-CL/L16-8(A) (4344) dated December 16, 1941.
  6. Make certain that you present a certified copy of your written orders to the master of the vessel. See that a certified and endorsed copy of your crew's orders is given the master. This officially places you and your crew aboard, and gives the ship an official record for its negotiations with the Maritime Commission. You will make the "Reported" endorsement on your orders. You will make the same endorsement on the original and copy of your crew's orders.
  7. The Armed Guard officer shall furnish to the manager, agent, maritime superintendent, or port captain of steamship company or line to which the vessel belongs, such information relating to number and rating of the personnel of the guard as will serve to assure proper record for officials concerned.
  8. You must use all the initiative possible in regard to your

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    vessel. The proper preparation and care of her armament for sea under war conditions is primarily your responsibility. Equipment and ammunition for which you must sign may come aboard at any time during the night or day. Take an inventory of all material coming on board. Check with the BuShips allowance list and the BuOrd standard list.

2103. Responsibility for Equipment. Much of the equipment and gear furnished to Armed Guard units consists of title B items. The commander of the Armed Guard unit is personally responsible for the safekeeping, care, and judicious use of all items of title B equipment.

2104. This equipment is signed for by you on a dock receipt. Accompanying the equipment is a list of invoices which list all items of equipment contained in the shipment. It is important for you to check the items contained therein against the invoices to determine whether all items with which you have been charged have been included. If shortages in title B items are discovered, two actions should be taken: (1) Call the Port Director and report the shortage; (2) write the supply officer who issued the equipment, reporting the shortage. An attempt will be made to supply such deficient items before your ship sails. Shortages in title C items should be reported to the Port Director for necessary action.

2105. Do not release title B equipment for use of other than Navy personnel. Never release title B equipment to anyone not a member of your Armed Guard Unit for repair, storage, or any other purpose without securing two written receipts for same. One copy of the receipt should be kept in your possession, and if the transfer of title B equipment is permanent, one copy should be sent to the office of the port director at which you were originally equipped. On being detached from your ship do not fail to receive custody receipts for title B equipment. Your responsibility for such equipment does not cease until you have done so.

2106. After assignment to command the Armed Guard of a merchant vessel the officer so detailed, before sailing, will make such inspection of the vessel as to satisfy himself on the following:

  1. That the battery is in all respects satisfactorily installed and that all equipment in connection therewith has

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    been provided and is in efficient condition. Problems regarding the actual installation of guns, ammunition, lockers, magazines, water pumps, cutting of machine gun cams, deficiencies of ordnance equipment, and the like should be taken up with the Port Director. The inspecting officer from the Port Director's office will aid materially in solving many of your problems.
  1. That the Armed Guard first-aid chests and gun bags have complete equipment and supplies in accordance with Bureau of Medicine and Surgery requirements for vessels without a medical representative on board.
  2. That the authorized allowance of binoculars in on board for use of Armed Guard lookouts.
  3. Shortages of equipment should be reported to the Port Director, as that officer has liaison between the Armed Guard and the supply officer in matters of equipment. The industrial manager of the naval district is cognizant of details of arming of the vessel and his office should be advised through the port director of deficiencies in armament or items of the defense installation.
  4. That satisfactory arrangements and equipment for abandoning ship have been provided for the Armed Guard, and are shown in the ship's organization bill.

2107. Make arrangements with the master for the detail of members of the ship's crew necessary to assist the Armed Guard in its duties in the military defense of the vessel. The Armed Guard crew must be augmented by men from the merchant crew to complete all gun and machine-gun crews and to supply ammunition from the magazines to the guns. The port director shall inform the master of this requirement and impress upon the master of the necessity of daily training of the merchant crew at battle stations to insure that they are well trained in their duties. This training is essential to the defense and safety of the ship and, under the law, is not considered as overtime or time in excess of the 8-hour day.

2108. An ammunition ledger shall be maintained showing date, amount, mark, and modification of all ammunition received aboard. The expenditure of ammunition, stating reason and date and amount remaining, shall be entered. Care shall be exercised to see that ammunition received is of the proper

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mark to fit the guns. This particularly applies to 4" and 3" ammunition.

2109. Armed Guard commanders shall not make any material change or alterations nor remove ordnance equipment installed aboard vessels.

2110. Should there be a dissatisfaction with any of the equipment installed, complaint concerning it should be made to the Port Director upon return to port. Inspection will be made to ascertain if complaint is justified.

2111. This does not prohibit such action as deemed necessary by the Armed Guard commander in purely emergency situations.

2112. Remember that we are a Nation at war; that our object is to win; that it is the sole objective of the Armed Guard to do its job properly; but that, of necessity, some confusion may be attendant; you may lack some equipment; your men may not be all that you desire. Every effort will be made to remedy these situations. In the meantime, do the best you can with what you have. Take advantage of every opportunity to continue the training of men assigned to your command.

 

Section 2. EQUIPMENT

2201. Armed Guard officers are cautioned that care should be exercised by all members of the Armed Guard crew to conserve materials and supplies, spare parts and tools for guns, etc. Such supplies issued to Armed Guard units are necessarily limited due not only to shortages occurring from time to time, but also to lack of stowage space aboard ship. All supplies and equipment should be carefully inventoried, checked against allowance lists, and stowed to prevent damage. Rags and wiping cloths should be washed and dried after use so that they may be used again rather than thrown over the side. All Title B equipment should be handled with care in order that it will not be necessary to replace such items after each voyage. It is the responsibility of the Armed Guard commander to caution his men in the conservation of supplies and equipment in order that supplies may be utilized to the greatest extent.

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2202. Armed Guard officers are directed to take necessary precautions to prevent loss or theft of Armed Guard equipment, both at sea and in port.

2203. Pistols and binoculars should be safeguarded, especially while in port when shore personnel are aboard. Binoculars should be checked in and placed under lock and key while in port. Binoculars and long glasses should not be left on the bridge or in the pilot house except when navy personnel are on duty to safeguard this important and critical equipment.

2204. The serial numbers of all equipment should be recorded so that losses may be reported to the Port Director without delay. Armed Guard petty officers and enlisted men should be held strictly accountable for equipment placed in their care.

2205. The officer in command of the Armed Guard will ensure that each member of his crew has the following equipment:

  1. Complete outfits of clothing.
  2. One steel helmet.
  3. One gas mask.
  4. One life jacket (Navy type).
  5. Full bag and hammock.

2206. Proper steps must be taken to fix the responsibility for the above outfits, and any man having received an outfit will be held accountable for articles in his possession. In cases where proper care has not been taken, or where articles have been misappropriated, lost, or destroyed through carelessness or otherwise, the officer in command of the Armed Guard will make a report to the Armed Guard center in order that the necessary disciplinary action may be instituted and proper notation made on the enlisted record. Send a copy of this report to the port director in order that steps may be taken to replace or repair the material.

2207. It will be noted that two types of winter clothing are provided Naval Armed Guards and communications groups. Special winter clothing is primarily for use during average winter weather at sea. The heavy winter clothing is primarily intended for use in extremely cold climates such as that experienced in Russian waters and the Alaskan waters west of Skagway.

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Armed Guard commanders should instruct the members of the Armed Guard in the wearing of suitable combinations of their clothing to take full advantage of the equipment furnished. Best results are obtained by standing on matting or wooden decking in extreme cold weather rather than standing a steel deck. Rubber soles become damaged when they come in contact with oil or oily decks and care should be taken to see that this is not done.

2208. Foul weather clothing of the oilskin type is issued to Armed Guards and communications groups to protect personnel during wet weather where the temperature does not warrant wearing winter clothing.

2209. Armed Guard commanders should instruct their men to take good care of their winter clothing. At the end of the voyage clothing that needs renovation and repairs should be turned in for suitable reconditioning.

2210. The outfit of clothing will vary dependent on the itinerary of the vessel. This information will be furnished to the Armed Guard commander by the port director who is responsible for assistance to insure that Armed Guards and communications groups sail properly equipped with foul weather clothing and either special winter clothing, or heavy winter clothing, depending on the itinerary.

2211. Foul weather clothing.

1 pair oilskin overalls -- type C.
1 short oilskin coat -- type B.
1 long oilskin coat -- type A (1 per officer).
1 oilskin sou'wester.

2212. Special winter clothing. For Average Winter Weather (issued by Armed Guard Centers in accordance with destination and itinerary of ship).

NOTE: Armed Guard special winter clothing constitutes one Navy Standard Sea Outfit per man.

1 jacket, winter N-1 2 drawers, winter N-1
1 trousers, winter N-1 3 socks, winter N-1
1 coat, parka, winter N-1 (officers) 1 jacket, parka, rain, N-2
1 helmet, winter N-1 1 trousers, rain, N-2
1 helmet, winter N-2 1 arctics, sea, N-1
1 mask, face, winter N-1 1 mittens, waterproof N-1
2 undershirts, winter N-1 1 mittens, winter, N-2
  1 goggles N-1

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2213. Sufficient special winter clothing should be provided for the watch standers in the Armed Guard and the communications liaison group on armed merchant vessels operating to the Far East via the Southern Hemisphere which may encounter winter weather during the voyage.

2214. Heavy Winter Clothing. The following heavy winter clothing is authorized to be issued to officers and men of the Armed Guard serving on merchant ships engaged in service to North Russian ports, or Alaskan ports, west of Skagway.

NOTE: Armed Guard heavy winter clothing constitutes one Navy Standard Sea Outfit per man, with additional cold weather items.

1 jacket, winter N-1
1 trousers, winter N-1
1 jacket, parka, rain N-2
1 trousers, rain N-2
1 coat, parka, winter N-1
1 helmet, winter N-1
1 helmet, winter N-2
1 mask, face, winter N-1
1 goggles N-1
1 scarf, winter N-1
1 sweater, winter N-1
1 mittens, waterproof N-1
1 mittens, winter, N-2
2 undershirts, winter N-1
2 drawers, winter N-1
6 socks, winter N-1
1 arctics, sea, N-1
1 boots, sea N-1
1 extra pair of hair felt duffle socks with boots, sea N-1
2 extra pairs wool felt innersoles with boots, sea N-1

2215. (a) The commander of the Armed Guard will be issued pistols and rifles and a supply of ammunition for use by himself and the Armed Guard for general quarters and drills, sentry or emergency duties. The practice of wearing sidearms while on routine watches at sea is not approved.

(b) Two .30 caliber AA machine guns are usually installed on the bridge of area 2 vessels for use by ship's officers in repelling air attack. These guns are included in the battery controlled and maintained  by the commander of the Armed Guard.

(c) Steel helmets will be furnished for the ship's officers. Similarly, steel helmets and Navy type life jackets will be furnished merchant personnel who are assigned to gun loading and ammunition parties. On ships whose prospective voyage warrants, gas masks and steel helmets will be furnished for all personnel, naval and merchant.

(d) Cargo and tank ships will be provided with at least four life rafts. The total capacity of the life rafts shall be sufficient to accommodate all of the ship's complement, and the Armed Guard crew.

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2216. Familiarize yourself with and check your equipment against current BuShips and BuOrd allowance lists obtainable at the port director's office. Do not report items of equipment as missing until you have thoroughly checked all gear on board.

2217. The attention of Armed Guard officers is invited to the fact that the Navy does not require rubber lifesaving suits for Armed Guard personnel. This policy is the result of careful investigation of several types of lifesaving suits, and since such suits were not approved, the Navy Department desires that Armed Guard officers decline to accept issue of the rubber lifesaving suits to themselves or their men.

2218. Recreation and welfare gear. In view of long periods at sea the Armed Guard officer will improve the contentment of his crew by providing some recreational equipment. The following suggested list may be procured in whole or in part. The Armed Guard officer should arrange with the Port Director or the Armed Guard Center, as the case may be, for issuance of such recreation and welfare gear as may be available depending upon the estimated duration of the voyage.

Suggested Recreational Equipment
     25 magazines.
25 books.
1 dart set.
4 packs playing cards.
2 sets checkers.
1 chess set.
2 sets dominos.
2 sets Acey Ducey games.
1 Chinese checkers set.
Knitted Wear:
    (a) Sweaters (1 per man).
    (b) Socks (1 pair per man).
    (c) Watch helmets (1 per man).
    (d) Wristlets (1 set per man).
    (e) Scarfs (1 set).
1 set boxing gloves.
1 striking bag.
1 soft ball.
1 Victrola.
20 Victrola records.
Shaving kits (1 per man).

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2219. As soon as possible after your arrival on board you will check all material to be used for signalling. This includes all signal flags, halyards, flag bags, blinker tubes, signal searchlights, spare bulbs, semaphore flags, recording boards, paper and pencils for recording, and any other equipment or material pertaining to signalling. Any deficiencies in this class of equipment should be reported immediately. Use your initiative to see that all equipment is used to the best advantage. The use of some equipment will require close cooperation with the ship's master.

2220. Bulletins and publications. (Issued to Armed Guard units by Armed Guard centers or Port Directors.)

  1. Ordnance and Gunnery Instructions for Naval Armed Guards on Merchant Ships, Fourth Edition.
  2. General Instructions for Commanding Officers of Naval Armed Guards on Merchant Ships, Fourth Edition.
  3. Chief of Naval Operations Armed Guard Bulletins.
  4. Safety Precautions for Armed Guard Officers -- contained in Ordnance and Gunnery Instructions (No. 1 above).
  5. Bureau of Ships Type Allowance List for Armed Guard Units, Navy Communications Liaison Groups and Convoy Commanders Assigned to Merchant Vessels.
  6. Articles for the Government of the United States Navy -- 1930.
  7. Deflection Computers and Instructions for Assembly.
  8. Customs Declaration (when necessary).
  9. German Raider Tactics (contained in CNO conf. ltr. Op-22A, (SC) A8-3/EF30 of January 2, 1942).
  10. Recognition Silhouettes of United States and Foreign Men-of-War (Op-16F-10 restr. ltr. serial 3510016 of January 1, 1942).
  11. Aircraft Silhouettes: German, Japanese, Italian, U. S. Army; Service Type. ONI serials G-2-42; J-3-42; I-1-42; 1A-42.
  12. Axis Submarine Manual (ONI 220-M).
  13. Special instructions for local protection of the vessel.

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  1. Any special instructions issued locally by the Port Director or Armed Guard center required for local administration or which shall be issued by reason of the nature of the voyage.

2221. Do not leave your vessel when you are expecting anything important, such as the arrival of ammunition, accessories, or gun telescopes. Your life may be dependent upon your armament being in first-rate condition, and your guns are more important than a little liberty ashore. If it is essential that you go ashore, select your top ranking petty officer to represent you during your absence. Inform him as to anything that you consider important and what you want done. Never leave the ship unguarded. A minimum of one-third of the crew must be aboard at all times. Also see that the rest of the crew know that this petty officer is in command during your absence.

2222. Remember, in case you lack materials or tools for any of this work, that the chief engineer, or his assistants who are machinists, or the master of the ship will generally be glad to assist you by extending you their services.

 

Section 3. WATCH, QUARTER AND STATION BILLS

2301. Before sailing, plan your organization, as far as practicable, covering all stations of your crew under the various conditions.

  1. A watch, quarter, and station bill shall be drawn up for the vessel and published, showing location of stations and allocation of naval personnel on watch duty on a 24-hour basis. The watch bill will in all cases include the following conditions of readiness which have been established for the Armed Guard service.
    1. Condition 1 -- General Quarters. Showing disposition of naval personnel at the ship's armament, with all hands at battle stations, including the merchant crew.

      Condition 2. In areas where submarine, surface, or air attack is imminent and contact with the enemy may be expected at any moment, the entire Armed Guard will stand watch and watch. Each of the 2 watches under this condition will be divided into two sections. This will provide sufficient men

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      for each section to stand 2 hours' lookout duty each 4-hour watch. The stand-by section will be stationed at the guns ready for instant action. If conditions warrant, the stand-by section shall also be stationed on lookout duty.

      Condition 3. During normal steaming at sea, the Armed Guard will be divided into sections not to exceed 3 watches. The Armed Guard lookouts shall stand their watches at the guns at all times. When anchored in an unguarded anchorage or roadstead, condition 3 shall be maintained.

    1. Show to what extent the merchant crew are used in supplying ammunition and maintaining the ship's armament under each of the above conditions. Consult the Master of the ship concerning details of assigning merchant crew members to complete your gun crews and ammunition parties.
    2. General Alarm Signals. Post signal to be sounded on ship's general alarm system for each type of attack. When the general alarm is sounded, all hands, including the merchant crew, will report to General Quarters battle stations. The following signals should be made standard on all armed merchant ships:
      Submarine sighted or attack from starboard: One long and one short ring.
      Submarine sighted or attack from port: One long and two short rings.
      Air attack: One short and one long ring.
      The above signals do not conflict with the fire and emergency or abandon ship, or boat lowering signals established by the Safety of Life at Sea Convention of 1929. It is essential that the above system of signals be adopted on all armed merchant ships to prevent confusion when members of the Armed Guard or merchant seamen change ships.

      The code of signals should be displayed at all operating and bell stations for the information of personnel. The Armed Guard and ship's lookouts should be directed to ring only the authorized submarine or aircraft attack or warning signals. All other signals should be sounded under the authority of the ship's officers.

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      It is essential that the entire ship's company (Armed Guard and merchant crew) be called to their action stations without delay when a torpedo wake, periscope, submarine or unidentified surface or aircraft is sighted. The general alarm bells should be sounded for this purpose in order that personnel may be aroused from their sleep in the shortest possible time and also that action stations may be fully manned without delay.

    1. Cleaning stations for battery and Armed Guard quarters.

  1. U. S. Army Transports. It will be noted in paragraph 1203 that, in cooperation with the Transport Commander, military personnel embarked for transportation may be utilized to assist the Armed Guard unit. It must be remembered, however, that in nearly all cases, troops are disembarked at their destination, and are not available for watch standing on the homeward voyage. Therefore, it will be necessary for the Armed Guard commander aboard a USAT to have two watch quarter and station bills; one for the outbound voyage when troops are aboard, and the other for the homeward voyage when troops are not aboard. Both watch bills will be made up for the Armed Guard crew as indicated in A above.
    1. Outbound. Include battle and extra lookout stations to be manned by the troops aboard under conditions 1, 2, and 3. Due caution should be exercised so as not to assign military personnel afflicted with so-called "night blindness" to lookout duty. On the outbound voyage while troops are on board the merchant crew should be assigned by the Master to man their abandon ship and boat lowering stations during condition 1. The merchant crew should be drilled at gun and ammunition detail stations during the outbound voyage, in preparation for the homeward voyage or passages when no troops are on board.
    2. Homeward bound. Sufficient of the merchant crew should be assigned to gun stations to complete all gun crews and pass ammunition as outlined in A above.

  2. Fire and abandon ship stations.
    1. The attention of Armed Guard officers is directed to the necessity for assigning Armed Guard personnel under their command to Fire and Abandon Ship stations. This should be accomplished by consulting with the Master and extending the merchant ship's station bill to include Armed Guard crew members at Fire

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      and Abandon Ship Stations, such station bill to be signed by both the Master and the Armed Guard officer.

    1. It is to be especially noted that two men, from opposite watch sections, are to be assigned to each magazine flood valve. This eliminates the possibility of a man, whose fire station is the magazine valve, being on lookout watch when Fire Quarters is sounded.
    2. During the fire drill men are to stationed at all ready service boxes, prepared to jettison the ammunition. Ready service ammunition should not be jettisoned unless stowed adjacent to or in the path of the fire.
    3. After manning fire stations, and when the location of the fire is known, the Armed Guard crew shall assist the merchant crew in fighting the fire. During action, only those of the Armed Guard crew whose battle stations are adjacent to the area affected by the fire will assist the merchant crew in fighting the fire.
    4. In assigning Abandon Ship Stations, the Armed Guard officer should distribute his men equally among all the lifeboats. When Abandon Ship drill is sounded, the Armed Guard crew, except those men on lookout watch, should report to boat stations for instructions.
    5. Boat stations are assigned for drill purposes, to instruct the Armed Guards in the clearing away and lowering of lifeboats. Auxiliary stations on life rafts should be assigned to the Armed Guard crew for the reason that during action or when under enemy attack, the Armed Guard personnel will remain aboard until gunfire is no longer possible and sinking imminent. It is expected that the men will be picked up from the water by raft or by their boat or boats when the ship has been completely abandoned.

Drill the men under your command as much as possible prior to sailing. Once under way you will have little time for drills.

Report and request a relief from the port director for any man not suitable to sail on Armed Guard duty.

If sailing in convoy, attend the Convoy Conference with the Master, at which time all final confidential instructions should be received. Close cooperation between the Port Authorities, the Master, and the Armed Guard officer is essential

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in order that the Armed Guard officer may be informed of the time and place of the Convoy Conference in sufficient time to attend. If not otherwise notified of a pending conference, the Armed Guard officer should make inquiry as to time and place to insure his attendance. Arrangements have been made with the British Admiralty to permit Armed Guard commanders to attend Convoy Conferences in British controlled areas. The Armed Guard commander should attend the Communication Conference, provided this does not interfere with attendance at the Convoy Conference. If not sailing in convoy, obtain routing and other secret information from the port authority.

 

Section 4. SECURITY IN PORT

2401. Security.

  1. The necessity for complete secrecy in the following particulars must be constantly emphasized.
    1. Name of ship.
    2. Cargo.
    3. Time of sailing.
    4. Route and destination.
    5. Armament.
    6. Escorts -- if any.
    7. Details of any action prior to release by the Navy Department.
    8. After arrival the route taken is still secret.

  2. Make no attempt to learn details that do not concern you. Do not inform your men of matters that do not concern them. Warn your men strictly against careless talk, especially just before sailing. Idle curiosity and useless talk and speculation serve no useful purpose. Your lives are at stake.

2402. Armed Guards do not stand ship's gangway watches or cargo watches in port. This is the responsibility of the ship's master and officers. The Armed Guard commander shall detail personnel for sentry duty at the gangway while in ports where such a watch is necessary for the security of the vessel, or required by the naval authority of the port. The sentry will not replace or assume the duties of the ship's gangway watchmen.

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2403. Armed Guards do not stand security watch over guns and equipment in port. At least one member of the Armed Guard will be on board, alert, and actually standing sentry watch at all times, day and night.

2404. In ports where air attack is possible the Armed Guard commander shall retain such men on board to man antiaircraft machine guns for the proper protection of the vessel under all conditions. In the event of an air raid alarm while in port, the gun crews with the necessary merchant marine personnel aboard an armed merchant vessel shall man all antiaircraft guns and be prepared to repel air attacks in accordance with the particular port regulations. The guns shall be manned until the all clear is sounded. Upon arrival the Armed Guard commander shall consult with the port director regarding the regulations or instructions in effect for defense against air attacks in that port. The guns shall be kept covered and the ammunition in the ready-service lockers under normal conditions in port. When word of an alert is received aboard, the man on watch will call all hands to general quarters, as provided in the antiaircraft battle bill.

2405. It is the duty of the master to see that all local port regulations are enforced both in United States and foreign ports. The defense of the vessel is the responsibility of the Armed Guard commander. The safety of the vessel is the responsibility of the master or senior deck officer in charge.

2406. Care should be exercised by all members of the Armed Guard around the decks while cargo is being handled. Hatches should be passed on the side opposite to that from which cargo is being handled. Extreme caution should be exercised when cargo is being handled from both sides of a hatch. Further care should be taken during darken-ship hours, to prevent falling into an open hatch, manhole, or scuttle.

2407.

  1. In two sinkings of vessels in the Caribbean the submarine commander was fully informed concerning all details of armament, crew, cargo, etc. of the vessels sunk. This he demonstrated by coming alongside the lifeboats, informing the master of the sunken vessel of the above details -- in one case, correcting the master when the latter gave false information.

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  1. The "leak" had apparently occurred in ports of departure, and, since the submarine commander was in possession of such details as number in gun crew, armament, etc., it is reasonable to suppose that he was also informed concerning the vessel's routing and had lain in wait along the track she would take.
  2. Armed Guard commanders and masters must make every possible effort to see that their crews give out no information. There is no question but that many fine ships and men been lost through loose talk in water-front bars. The enemy agent is literally everywhere and always on the alert for information of value to his government.

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