Rescue by Periscope, How to (1945)
7. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
…c. Where a submarine is unable to approach a survivor on the surface because of the proximity of enemy shore batteries or strafing by enemy planes, the submarine may attempt to pick up the survivor by approaching submerged and towing him by periscope to a position where it can surface. The submarine should perform the operation at not more than three knots. It should approach the survivor from upwind and, if possible, on such a course that the survivor will not be towed closer to the enemy shore before the retirement course is set. In the early stages, when the periscope is first sighted, the survivor should attempt to hold his position to assist the approach of the submarine. If there is danger of a miss, the survivor should instantly attempt to get into position ahead of the direction of movement of the periscope. A submarine cannot back when submerged, so that after a miss it would be necessary for the submarine to make another complete circle to pick up the survivor. The submarine may stream a line, secured to a periscope, with a lifejacket or other buoyant object tied to the free end, in which case the survivor should grasp the towline or lifejacket tightly, or, preferably, secure his life raft to the towline. It is important that the survivor should not lose his life raft. If no towline is streamed, the survivor should use the line with which his raft is equipped to pass over the top of the periscope, which the submarine will attempt to have projecting no more than four feet above the water. About twenty feet of line is required. The end of the line should be held in the hand so that quick release can be made if the raft capsizes.
Source: Chapter VIII, Section II, Page 7, War Zone Familiarization: Pacific Ocean Areas, Troop Carrier Command Edition for Air Crew Members, HQ, 1 Troop Carrier Command, May 1945.
Image: “Douglas SBD ‘Dauntless’ dive bomber balanced on nose after crash landing on carrier flight deck, June 21, 1943.” Library of Congress.