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Notable events involving Bergall include:

The history of USS Bergall as compiled on this page is extracted from her patrol reports.

This page was last updated in April 2017.

See also this website on USS Bergall (offsite link).

25 Jun 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) arrived at Newport, Rhode Island to conduct her torpedo trials.

28 Jun 1944
Having completed her torpedo trials, USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN), arrived at New London, Connecticut from Newport, Rhode Island.

2 Jul 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) conducted deep submergence tests in the New London area.

6 Jul 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) conducted exercises in the New London area together with USS Jenks (Lt.Cdr. M.F. Cocroft, USNR), USS Jordan (Lt.Cdr. D. Bontecou, USNR) and USS SC-642.

7 Jul 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) conducted exercises in the New London area together with USS Jenks (Lt.Cdr. M.F. Cocroft, USNR), USS Coffman (Lt.Cdr. W.D. Day, USNR) and USS SC-642.

8 Jul 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) conducted exercises in the New London area together with USS Jenks (Lt.Cdr. M.F. Cocroft, USNR) and USS SC-642.

11 Jul 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) is put on the railway at New London.

12 Jul 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) is put back in the water.

15 Jul 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed from New London bound for Pearl Harbor.

24 Jul 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) arrived at Christobal, Panama Canal Zone from New London.

28 Jul 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed Balboa, Panama Canal Zone for Pearl Harbour.

13 Aug 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) arrived at Pearl Harbor.

19 Aug 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Carlson (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Stapleton, USNR) and USS Greiner (Lt.Cdr. L.H. Kiser, USN).

20 Aug 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Canfield (Lt.Cdr. P.E. Cherry, USNR), USS Charles R. Greer (Cdr. A. Jackson, Jr., USNR) and USS Razorback (Cdr. R.S. Benson, USN).

Upon completion of these exercises Bergall was docked at Pearl Harbour.

21 Aug 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) was undocked.

She then conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Carlson (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Stapleton, USNR), USS Greiner (Lt.Cdr. L.H. Kiser, USN), USS Allen (Lt. W.J. Riley, Jr., USNR) and USS Razorback (Cdr. R.S. Benson, USN).

22 Aug 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Carlson (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Stapleton, USNR), USS Greiner (Lt.Cdr. L.H. Kiser, USN), USS Allen (Lt. W.J. Riley, Jr., USNR).

23 Aug 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Canfield (Lt.Cdr. P.E. Cherry, USNR), USS Allen (Lt. W.J. Riley, Jr., USNR) and USS Bang (Cdr. A.R. Gallaher, USN).

26 Aug 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Canfield (Lt.Cdr. P.E. Cherry, USNR), USS Greiner (Lt.Cdr. L.H. Kiser, USN), USS Lovering (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Bayley, USNR) and USS Sea Devil (Cdr. R.E. Styles, USN).

8 Sep 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.

For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) for USS Bergall during this patrol see the map below.

19 Sep 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) arrived at Saipan. She was escorted in by USS Downes (Cdr. R.S. Fahle, USN).

21 Sep 1944
At 1654 hours (Zone I, -9), USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN), sighted a small boat with five Japanese soldiers. They declined to be picked up. Position was 16°41'N, 138°33'E.

3 Oct 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) damaged a small Japanese transport vessel with gunfire east of Nha Trang, French Indo-China in position 12°23'N, 109°56'E.

(All times are zone H, -8)
1300 hours - In position 12°53'N, 109°26'E sighted a small transport vessel of about 150 tons. Decided to engage him with gunfire and then patrol further out to sea to find bigger prey.

1343 hours - In position 12°23'N, 109°56'E battle surfaced at a range of 3550 yards. Opened fire with the 5" gun and 40mm. The target immediately turned for the beach. One 5" hit was obtained. The range could not be closed further due to the shallow water.

1355 hours - Radar contact on an aircraft. Broke off the action and dived.

9 Oct 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) torpedoed and sinks a small Japanese transport vessel just south of Cam Ranh Bay, French Indo-China in position 11°40'N, 109°12'E.

(All times are zone H, -8)
0628 hours - In position 11°38'N, 109°13'E sighted a small transport bearing 230°(T). Commenced approach. A self propelled barge was also sighted but the small transport was selected as target.

0716 hours - In position 11°40'N, 109°12'E fired three torpedoes from 1000 yards. The first one hot and completely demolished the target which was thought to be about 700 ton in size.

13 Oct 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant tanker Shinshu Maru (4182 GRT, built 1934) off Cam Ranh Bay, French Indo-China in position 11°52'N, 109°20'E.

(All times are zone H, -8)
0816 hours - In position 11°54'N, 109°18'E sighted two ships bearing 343°(T), range 12000 yards. Commenced approach.

0833 hours - Sighted two escorts, one new PC and one older one. The two other ships first sighted were seen to be a 2000 ton tanker and a 4000 ton transport that looked rather new. The ships were very close inshore making the attack a difficult one.

0902 hours - In position 11°52'N, 109°20'E fired four torpedoes from a range of about 2000 yards. Two torpedo hits were heard.

0908 hours - Depth charging started. Depth charging continued for over five hours in which about thirty were dropped as well as four aircraft bombs.

1604 hours - Came to periscope depth. All clear.

27 Oct 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese tanker Nippo Maru (10528 GRT, built 1944) and damaged the Japanese tanker Itsukushima Maru (10007 GRT, built 1937) south-west of Balabac Strait in position 07°09'N, 116°40'E. They were escorted by the frigates Chiburi, Kaibokan 17, Kaibokan 19 and Kaibokan 27.

(All times are zone H, -8)
0248 hours - In position 07°35'N, 116°40'E obtained radar contact with four ships at a range of 21000 yards. Commenced tracking.

0310 hours - Battle stations.

0325 hours - Closed to attack. The targets could still not be seen. Range was now 10000 yards. Targets course was 240°, speed 13 knots. The contact was thought to be two large ships and two escorts.

0328 hours - Range was now 8000 yards. Two large ships were now seen. Decided to attack with three torpedoes at each ship. Later decided to fire a full salvo of six at the bigger one.

0336 hours - In position 07°09'N, 116°40'E fired a full salvo of six torpedoes from the bow tubes from a range of 3500 yards. It is thought four hits were obtained.

0349 hours - Depth charging started but none were close.

0352 hours - The targets pip began to disappear from the radar screen. The other three ships were still on the screen.

28 Oct 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed her patrol area for Fremantle.

2 Nov 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) destroyed a small sailing vessel with gunfire east of the Kangean Islands in position 07°05'S, 116°15'E.

In the evening she made the southbound passage of Lombok Strait on the surface. During this passage she was detected by an enemy patrol vessel and taken under fire. She successfully managed to evade this patrol vessel.

(All times are zone H, -8)
1515 hours - Sighted a sailboat which appeared to be loaded. Manned the 40mm and 20mm guns. While closing to 1000 yards a covered hatch was sighted which appeared to be loaded with junk. Two or three men were sighted on the deck. Fired a few bursts across her bow. The men disappeared. Opened fire and destroyed the boat. The boat was loaded with Coconuts and chickens. The crew of seven Malay's and one possible Japanese were found in the water on the far side of the boat.

8 Nov 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) ended her 1st war patrol at Fremantle, Australia.

30 Nov 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) was docked at Fremantle.

1 Dec 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) was undocked.

2 Dec 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed from Fremantle for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.

For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) for USS Bergall during this patrol see the map below.

5 Dec 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) topped up with fuel at Exmouth Gulf before proceeding towards her patrol area.

8 Dec 1944
In the evening, USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN), made the northbound passage of Lombok Strait on the surface.

13 Dec 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) hit the Japanese heavy cruiser Myoko (offsite link) with 2 torpedoes from a salvo of 3, off the Royalist Bank, South China Sea in position 08°10'N, 105°31'E.

Bergall retired and reloaded but on coming in for a second attack on the surface due to shallow water, was taken under fire by the main battery from the escort, Japanese destroyer Ushio, a shell from a salvo of four, fired at over 9000-metres range, landed on the forward casing, pierced the torpedo loading hatch, tore off some of the plating, punched a hole in the pressure hull over the forward torpedo room but luckily failed to detonate, though it started several electrical fires in the forward compartments.
Incredibly, nobody was injured. Another shell landed less than 30 metres from the stern, tripping electrical relays inside the boat. The hole in the hull was stuffed with hammocks and whatever was available, Bergall retreated and the fires were brought under control during the night but she was still 2000 nautical miles from the nearest friendly port.
She transited Karimata Strait and sailed the length of Java after transferring part of the crew to USS Angler, and the boats sailed to Australia together, arriving Fremantle on 23 December.

(All times are zone H, -8)
1755 hours - In position 07°36'N, 105°12'E sighted a ship bearing 105°(T). Range was estimated as 35000 yards. Commenced an end around run planning to attack after dark.

1830 hours - Stil unable to make out the type of target but his speed was estimated at about 13 knots.

1920 hours - Radar range was now 26000 yards. Bearing was 102°(T). Commenced radar tracking.

1958 hours - Sighted the target at a range of 17500 yards.

2011 hours - Range was now 13000 yards. Target's course was 055°(T). Speed 16 knots. She appears to be a large warship. An escort was barely visible just ahead of her. Radar started that this escort was 2000 yards on the starboard bow of the target. Bergall was on his port beam.

2020 hours - Range now 9400 yards. The target had slowed down to 14 knots on a course of 35°(T).

2030 hours - Range now 6000 yards. The taget was now seen to be a heavy cruiser.

2037 hours - In position 08°10'N, 105°31'E fired six bow torpedoes from 3300 yards.

2040 hours - Saw a terrific explosion which enveloped the target completely in flames which spread along her entire lenght and reached at least 750 feet in height. Two explosions were heard in the control room. The target was reported to have been broken in two, also three pips were now on the radar screen instead of two. Bergall meanwhile retired from the area. The escort remained near the target.

2100 hours - Gun flashes were seen in the direction of the escort and then a salvo of two rounds were fired at us. One landed in our wake but the other pierced the forward torpedo loading hatch. Immediately turned away. Another salvo then landed 200 yards short of our port bow. A third salvo landed 300 yards of our starboard bow. Continued to clear the area at 18 knots to put as much distance between us and the area of the attack before daybreak.

17 Dec 1944
During the night of 17/18 December 1944, USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN), succesfully made the southbound surface passage of Lombok Strait.

20 Dec 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) made a stop at Exmouth Gulf for repairs. Later the same day she continued her passage to Fremantle.

23 Dec 1944
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Fremantle.

19 Jan 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed from Fremantle for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in/off Lombok Strait and later move on to the South China Sea.

For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) for USS Bergall during this patrol see the map below.

22 Jan 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) made a stop at Exmouth Gulf to top off with fuel before she continued on to her patrol area.

26 Jan 1945
In the early moring hours, USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN), commenced the northbound transit of Lombok Strait. Two hours after commencing the transit she received a radio message ordering her to perform lifeguard duties to the south of Lombok Strait so course was reversed.

Upon completion of the lifeguard duties she again commenced the northbound transit of Lombok Strait but this time submerged as it was now daylight. Opon completing the transfer early in the evening she patrolled the northern entrance to Lombok Strait.

27 Jan 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa 102 (174 tons) in Lombok Strait in position 08°34'S, 115°50'E.

(All times are zone H, -8)
0000 hours - Commenced the southbound transit of Lombok Strait.

0305 hours - Commenced tracking a patrol vessel from astern. Position was 08°35'S, 115°40'E.

0344 hours - The patrol vessel reversed course and came towards. She did not increased speed and was still making 8 knots.

0348 hours - Went to radar depth.

0400 hours - Ordered 200 feet when range to the patrol vessel was 3000 yards. She was stil doing 8 knots. Angle on the bow was 0°.

0407 hours - Fired one torpedo when the range was 600 yards. It hit.

0427 hours - Surfaced.

0430 hours - Sighted the patrol vessel at a range of 4000 yards. Closed the range to 2800 yards.

0518 hours - The target disappeared from the radar screen at a range of 3400 yards. Headed for the last position of the target.

0520 hours - Sighted wreckage in the water. Sighted a life boat that appeared to be empty. Fired a pan of 20mm at the life boat to sink it. Several survivors appeared from the bottom of the boat and jumped into the water.

0550 hours - Picked up two survivors. Stripped them topside and made them prisoners.

0600 hours - Submerged and headed for our lifeguard station but could not make it against the current while submerged so eventually reversed course for the northern approaches. (In the evening, after dark, another attempt was made to reach her assigned life guard station in Lombok Strait).

29 Jan 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) attacked an enemy patrol boat near her lifeguard station in Lombok Strait with one torpedo. It missed.

(All times are zone H, -8)
0245 hours - In position 08°22'S, 115°52'E sighted patrol boat in the moonlight bearing 314°(T).

0313 hours - Submerged to radar depth to avoid being sighted. Lost contact.

0320 hours - Obtained sound contact on screws bearing 265°(T). Sighted a small patrol boat through the periscope. Radar range was 1300 yards.

0331 hours - Fired one torpedo. No explosion followed.

0426 hours - Surfaced.

30 Jan 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) torpedoed and damaged the Japanese store ship Arasaki (920 GRT, built 1943, offsite link) in Lombok Strait in position 08°26'S, 115°40'E (This position must be incorrect and is on Bali).

(All times are zone H, -8)
0340 hours - Sighted a patrol vessel bearing 180°(T). Range was about 10000 yards. His course was easterly. Commenced an end around towards Lombok to get moon advantage and benefit of land background as well as the all important position ahead.

0425 hours - Submerged to radar depth. Range was now 6500 yards.

0450 hours - Targets course was now 075°(T), speed 7 knots. Went to 200 feet.

0500 hours - In position 08°26'S, 115°40'E fired one torpedo. It hit.

0506 hours - At periscope depth. Saw the target sink (sic ?).

0513 hours - Surfaced.

7 Feb 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese frigate Kaibokan 53 (745 tons, offsite link) and torpedoed and damaged the Japanese merchant tanker Toho Maru (10238 GRT, built 1944) off Cam Ranh Bay, French Indo-China in position 11°56'N, 109°18'E.

These ships were part of convoy HI-93. The other tanker was Toa Maru (10038 GRT, built 1944). The other escorts were Kaibokan 61, Kaibokan 63 and Kaibokan 207.

(All times are zone H, -8)
0845 hours - In position 12°04'N, 109°22'E sighted masts of two ships and heard much pinging. Commenced approach.

0905 hours - Can make out four escorts and two tankers which are thought to be large fleet tankers.

0930 hours - Range now 4400 yards. The nearest escort was very close.

0936 hours - In position 11°56'N, 109°18'E fired six bow torpedoes from 3700 yards at the overlapping tankers.

0940 hours - Heard three torpedo explosions.

0943 hours - Depth charging started.

1220 hours - Depth charging ceased. A total of 98 had been counted and some had been very close.

1515 hours - At periscope depth. All clear.

13 Feb 1945
Off Hainan island, USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN), intercepted a Japanese Task Force south-west of the Parcel Islands with hybrid battleship/carriers Ise and Hyuga heading north. Unable to close the range, Cdr. Hyde fired a full bow salvo from 4800 yards but none of the torpedoes found the mark.

The other ships in the Japanese Task Force were the Japanese light cruisers Oyodo and Japanese destroyers Kasumi, Asashimo and Hatsushimo.

(All times are zone H, -8)
1213 hours - In position 15°35'N, 110°50'E sound reported high noise level bearing 220°(T). Went to normal approach course at full speed. Range was about 10000 yards. Could see two battleships, one cruiser and two destroyers.

1234 hours - Could not get closer so fired six bow torpedoes from 4800 yards in position 15°34'N, 110°50'E. One was heard to explode but no hit was obtained.

1240 hours - Depth charging started. Fifteen were dopped during the next seven minutes. Begall was shook violently but no damage was caused.

1308 hours - Screws faded out.

1320 hours - Surfaced.

1330 hours - Transmitted contact report.

17 Feb 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Subic Bay, Philippines.

5 Mar 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed from Subic Bay for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea off the French Indo-China coast.

For daily positions for USS Bergall during this patrol see the map below.

17 Apr 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) ended her 4th war patrol at Fremantle, Australia. At Fremantle she was refitted by relief crew no.6 from submarine repair unit 137. She was also docked during this refit for a much needed bottom cleaning.

12 May 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed from Fremantle for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Gulf of Siam.

For daily and attack positions for USS Bergall during this patrol see the map below.

18 May 1945
In the early moring hours, USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN), transited Lombok Strait northbound.

Later the same day she damaged a 'Sugar Dog' with gunfire.

(All times are zone H, -8)
0725 hours - In position 06°53'S, 115°13'E sighted a small coastal freighter (Sugar Dog) close to the south shore of Kangean Island.

0806 hours - Opened fire with both 40mm guns. Saw about a dozen hits bounce of his side. Also a small fire was started aft.

0809 hours - Decided that 40mm would take to long and manned the 5" gun and started to secure to 40mm's. Position was now 06°25'S, 114°30'E.

0810 hours - Sighted an aircraft. Cleared the topside. In the meantime the crew of the Sugar Dog had started to abandon ship.

0812 hours - Submerged when the plane started to close. The target meanwhile was lying to.

0820 hours - At periscope depth. Began meaneuvering to fire a torpedo at the target but eventually decided that the target was not big enough to fire a torpedo at it. The aircraft remained patrolling nearby and the Sugar Dog entered Gedah Bay.

30 May 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) sank two Japanese tugs and five barges with gunfire in the Gulf of Siam in position 10°44'N, 99°30'E.

(All times are zone H, -8)
0125 hours - In position 10°35'N, 99°28'E contacted seven small vessels by sight and radar at a range of about 7000 yards. Radar tracking showed a speed of 3 to 4 knots.

0220 hours - Manned guns and sank all of them. The tugs tried to slip their tows and make a run for it but their top speed of 8 knots was not adequate. Position was 10°44'N, 99°30'E.

13 Jun 1945
At 0110 hours, while chasing an enemy convoy, USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN), is damaged by a mine in the Gulf of Siam in position 11°45'N, 99°50'E. She is forced to terminate her patrol.

An investigation revealed that the mine was an air laid mine which was laid by US aircraft in March 1945 but that this was not reported to Com Subs 7th Fleet.

17 Jun 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) ended her 5th war patrol at Subic Bay, Philippines. It was decided to sent her to the Portsmouth Navy Yard for repairs.

21 Jun 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed Subic Bay for Pearl Harbour, via Saipan.

28 Jun 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) arrived at Saipan from Subic Bay.

29 Jun 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed Saipan for Pearl Harbour.

8 Jul 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) arrived at Pearl Harbour from Saipan.

11 Jul 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed Pearl Harbour for Balboa, Panama Canal Zone and onward routing to the east coast.

24 Jul 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) arrived at Balboa, Panama Canal Zone.

27 Jul 1945
USS Bergall (Cdr. J.M. Hyde, USN) departed Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone for Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

3 Aug 1945
USS Bergall arrived at New London, Connecticut from the Panama Canal Zone. She departed for the Portsmouth Navy Yard later the same day.

4 Aug 1945
USS Bergall arrived at the Portsmouth Navy Yard from New London, Connecticut for repair and refit.

31 Oct 1954
During war games off Norfolk, Va., her sail was rammed by USS Norris. The destroyer suffered 5 flooded compartments while Bergall suffered damage to the sail structure. Both vessels proceeded to port under own power for repairs.

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