SURVIVED SINKING OF USS TIDE (AM-125)
The USS TIDE, an AUK-Class minesweeper, was sent to England in March 1945 to prepare for the invasion of Europe. There she escorted convoys in British coastal waters and engaged in minesweeper exercises until June 5, 1945, when she left England and swept channels for ships headed for Normandy. She continued sweeps off the Normandy beaches the next day, D-Day, clearing channels for fire-support ships. On the morning of June 7, TIDE continued sweeping operations and at 0940, while recovering her gear, the ocean currents drifted the ship over the Cardonet Banks where TIDE struck a German mine which exploded with such force that nearby observers said the ship was completely lifted out of the water at least five feet. The explosion broke her back, blasted a tremendous hole in her bottom, and tore away all bulkheads below the waterline causing immediate and irreversible flooding. Efforts to salvage the ship were fruitless and when she broke in two she sank only minutes after the last survivors had been taken off. Historical records report that the ship incurred 100% casualties, with about 26 crewmembers killed in the sinking and every other surviving crewmember suffering injuries, many of whom required hospitalization. Following World War II the TIDE crew held several reunions and established a website where survivors of the sinking could write of their experiences. Motor Machinist Mate Third Class (MOMM3) Alfred “Stan” Catherwood was one of the survivors and the following are excerpts from the article he posted:
“I joined the Navy at Chicago, Illinois, on October 14, 1942. On the USS TIDE I worked on the evaporator machines to turn salt water into fresh water. To me TIDE was the best ship in the Navy; we had the best cook and baker, we always had coffee and soup (24H/24H), fresh eggs, and also steak and ice cream. Our quarters were clean but very small. When it was stormy the ship could rock up to 37 degrees off center and sometimes we had to sleep tied down to our bunks so we wouldn’t fall out. We had 25 men per room with bunks 3 high. We would feed porpoises for amusement. When we got bored they would show movies if the ship wasn’t rocking too much. We also played a lot of cards. From Charleston to England we were going across the Atlantic with a convoy taking 47 days (Columbus was quicker than we were). We traveled at a speed of 4 knots (you could have walked faster than that).”
“The day our ship hit a mine will always stay with me. I was in the evaporator room when the mine hit the bottom of the ship I was going down to the boiler room to check the water. Just as I got there I heard a terrible explosion; a hole was blown out big enough for a car to drive through. Water came pouring in. I was down there by myself. The water got to my waist, then to my neck. My foot was caught in the deck plates under one of the evaporators and I was struggling to get it loose but couldn’t. By the time I got loose the water was over my head. I finally thought this is it but all of the sudden my foot was free. I swam over to the ladder, got half way up and started to pass out when I felt a hand and a voice saying ‘You can make it.’ What a great feeling came over me to see that it was a friend who pulled me out. My clothes were blown from me. When I got to the deck I could see that the ship was sinking fast. A PT-Boat was the first one to come to help us. Later I was transferred to an LST which took us to South Hampton, England. I spent six months and fifteen days recovering from injuries I received off the TIDE.”
“I was discharged January 27, 1945. On D-Day a lot of my buddies were killed. My ship was sunk June 7. Every man aboard TIDE was killed or injured in the explosion and I think only about six 6 could walk off without help. I know that God plays a big part in sparing me. I thank him every night for his watchful care over me.”
NOTE: Following his Navy service Alfred Catherwood worked as a tool grinder foreman for many years and was a past member of the Sangamon County Board. He died on October 28, 2008, and was buried with full military honors at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois, where he lies beside his father, John Hugh Catherwood VI, who served in the Navy as an Ordinary Seaman during the Moro Rebellion in the Philippines and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic combat actions on September 24, 1911. Also buried with them is John Hugh Catherwood VII who served as a Fireman Second Class during World War II.
Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)
