Built on October 10, 1942 at the Albina Engine and Machinery Works in Portland, Oregon the USS PC-812 was a US Navy submarine chaser that earned the name the jinxed sub-chaser. On September 11th 1945 the USS PC-812 collided with the USS Laffey in San Diego and went down, but that is not what made her famous. She is known by her first commander Lieutenant (j.g.) L. Ron Hubbard the founder of the Church of Scientology, and his actions.
The PC-812 was commissioned on April 20, 1943 and Lt. Hubbard was given command. On May 19th 10 nautical miles off the shore of Cape Lookout in Oregon Lt. Hubbard detected what he was sure was one, and then two Imperial Japanese Navy submarines. For the next 68 hours the PC-812 dropped 37 depth charges, assisted by US Navy blimps K-39 and K-33, US Coast Guard patrol boats Bonham and 78302, as well as US Navy sub-chasers USS SC-536 and USS SC-537 all called as reinforcements. On May 21st the PC-812 was ordered back to base.
In Lt. Hubbard's 18 page report, Hubbard stated:
It is specifically claimed that one submarine, presumably Japanese, possibly a mine-layer, was damaged beyond ability to leave the scene and that one submarine, presumably Japanese, possibly a mine layer, was damaged beyond ability to return to its base.
Investigation after the event by Commander NW Sea Frontier, Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher was skeptical of Lt. Hubbard's claims.
An analysis of all reports convinces me that there was no submarine in the area. Lieutenant Commander Sullivan states that he was unable to obtain any evidence of a submarine except one bubble of air which is unexplained except by turbulence of water due to a depth charge explosion. The Commanding Officers of all ships except the PC-815 state they had no evidence of a submarine and do not think a submarine was in the area.
Fletcher went on to note that there was a magnetic anomaly in the area that may explain the situation and suggested that the crew of the PC-812 was not using the sonar correctly. Hubbard never accepted Fletcher's assessment.
I dropped the I-76 or the Imperial Japanese Navy Trans-Pacific Submarine down into the mouth of the Columbia River, dead duck. And it went down with a resounding furor. And that was that. I never thought about it again particularly except to get mad at all the admirals I had to make reports to because of this thing, see? This was one out of seventy-nine separate actions that I had to do with. And it had no significance, see?
After that incident Lt. Hubbard and the PC-812 participated in naval exercises. When the exercises ended early Lt. Hubbard took the extra time as an opportunity to drop anchor off of of the Mexican territory of South Coronado Island for an impromptu gunnery exercise. The Mexican government official protested to the US Government because no gunnery operations had been scheduled and the PC-812 had not been given permission to set anchor in Mexican territorial waters.
On June 30 a Board of Investigation was convened concerning the event and concluded that Lt. Hubbard had disregarded orders by his actions of gunnery practice and anchoring in Mexican territorial waters without proper authority. Hubbard placed the blame on his crew stating they were inexperienced, it was foggy, and he was tired. In his previous 18 page report he called the same crew experienced.
Vice Admiral Fletcher, who both chaired the board gave Hubbard a rating of below average.
Consider this officer lacking in the essential qualities of judgment, leadership and cooperation. He acts without forethought as to probable results. He is believed to have been sincere in his efforts to make his ship efficient and ready. Not considered qualified for command or promotion at this time. Recommend duty on a large vessel where he can be properly supervised.
Hubbard was relieved of command effective July 7, 1943.
-Professor Walter
And yet supposedly hundreds of thousands of people trust that this man has some connection to a higher (alien) power in this universe? Just goes to show how insanely stupid some people are.
It's not really fair to call the vessel jinxed, though. It was just poorly commanded by a deceitful moron.
Posted by: The Wife | 03/12/2010 at 12:34 PM
I would rather have him captain than Tom Cruise.
Posted by: Olivia | 03/12/2010 at 07:34 PM