TO PROTECT AND SERVE

Blog number    172                                                            21 May 2008

During WW 2, over-estimation of the number of sinkings of American submarines by the Japanese was never denied because "We wanted the Japanese to think their existing methods were highly effective..." 

Then in 1943, Congressman Andrew Jackson May, a member of the House Military Affairs Committee, at a news conference, said that the Japanese didn't know that they were setting their depth charges too high and therefore the American subs could, in complete safety, submerge below 300 feet and just wait until the Japs left.

Vice Admiral Lockwood estimated that May's indiscretion cost the US ten submarines and eight hundred officers and men.

Loose lips sink ships*

*Ubiquitous poster caution during WW 2.