WWII: The Fletcher Class Destroyer: Documentary VIDEO

[To-Whose-Benefit?]

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USS O'Bannon (DD-450) engaged a Japanese submarine by throwing potatoes at it.

1943


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_O%27Bannon_(DD-450)

Retiring from such a run early 5 April, O'Bannon sighted the Japanese submarine Ro-34 on the surface and made to ram it. At the last moment, the officers decided that the sub may be a minelayer, and the rudder was turned hard to avoid the collision. This action brought the destroyer directly alongside the sub. As the Japanese sailors attempted to man their three-inch deck gun, the O'Bannon's deck hands, not having side arms, grabbed potatoes from nearby storage bins and pelted the Japanese with them.[2] Thinking the potatoes were hand grenades, the submarine's sailors were too occupied with throwing them away from the sub to fire. This gave the O'Bannon the opportunity to distance itself to fire its guns at the sub and damage the conning tower. Although the sub still managed to submerge, O'Bannon used depth charges to finally sink it. During this period, the O'Bannon also splashed at least two enemy aircraft in various attacks.[1]