TO: Submarine Division Commanders, SubPacFlt

 FROM: ComSubPac

 DATE: March 1942

 SUBJECT: Mission Orders ( August 2003, Cycle 2 )

Please read these orders carefully!

 RMKS: 1 A serious shortage of ordinance will require an adjustment to pre-war attack doctrine.

RMKS: 2 The following will take effect immediately:

1. All boats are to submerge when within 500 miles of a Japanese airfield and remain submerged during daylight hours. At night surface running will be on one engine to conserve fuel. Every effort is to be made by your commanders to concentrate their attacks to night surface attacks.
2. The standard three-torpedo spread is to be adjusted to a maximum of two torpedoes per target. Use of two torpedoes only when absolutely necessary, for Capitol Ships use according to need without being proliferate.
3. Revised settings for torpedo depth: MK 14 torpedoes are to be set for five feet beneath keel depth, MK 10 torpedoes are to be set for contact hits MOT. Our shortage of torpedoes means that each torpedo must be used for maximum effectiveness and a minimum number of torpedoes fired. Therefore MK 14 beneath-keel explosion is essential. Deviations from this policy will not be tolerated, BuOrd informs, and I concur, that reported failures are most likely due to Faulty Maintenance, Faulty settings or Faulty Estimation of Target Range, Course or Speed. These must be rectified.

RMKS: 3 Admiral Nimitz has directed a series of hit and run attacks on the islands of Kwajalein, Wake, Marcus and Rabaul. Any boats in these areas of operation will be on the alert for sudden surprise attacks by friendly airforces.

RMKS: 4 ONI believes that Main IJN striking force, including 4 CV’s and 2 BB’s are staging at Palau. It is believed that the next enemy move will be the occupation of Timor in the East of the Malay Barrier or the Coral Sea.

RMKS: 5 Target priority remains the same:

1. Capitol Ships
2. Cruisers
3. Troop Transports and Light transports
4. Oil Tankers and Supply Ships

RMKS: 6 Submarine Divisions are assigned to the following Areas:

Submarine Squadron 1

SubDiv 1M PacFlt – Formosa

SubAsiadic – Philippine Islands ( P-9 thru P-5 )

SubRon 7A PacFlt – Palau Islands

                  SubAsiadic – South China Sea

Submarine Squadron 2

SubDiv 3A PacFlt – Empire ( Southern Japan )

SubAsiadic – Java Sea

SubDiv 4A PacFlt – Empire ( Northern Japan ) with Special Mission SM4CY2

LCDR Edwards – U.S.S. Gato NJ - 2 & 3

Lt. SJ Turner – U.S.S. Gar Special Mission per ComSubPac

Lt. Ketzeback – U.S.S. Cachalot NJ – 1 & 2

Lt. Bearden – U.S.S. Tautog NJ – 4 & 5

Lt. Vormann – U.S.S. Cuttlefish NJ – 6 & 7

SubAsiadic – Malaysia

Lt. Cox U.S.S. Salmon M – 1 & M 2

Lt. Schow U.S.S. Sargo M – 2 & M 3

Lt. Hipply U.S.S. Seadragon M – 4 & M 1

Lt. Whitmore U.S.S. S-42 M- 2 & M 3

 

Submarine Squadron 3

SubDiv 5A PacFlt – Caroline Islands with Special Mission SM5CY2

                 SubAsiadic – Philippine Islands ( P-1 thru P-4 )

SubDiv 6A PacFlt – Mariana Islands

                 SubAsiadic – Indo China

 

 REMARKS: All Submarine Division Commanders are to acknowledge these orders.

All Submarine Commanders of SubDiv 4A are to Acknowledge these orders to ComSubDiv CO LCDR Edwards

Comments: In the event of any Submarine being on station for 10 or more days without sighting the enemy, the submarine CO should contact his SubDiv CO for a request for redeployment to another area.

Good Hunting and Good Luck

Rear Admiral Thomas Withers Jr.

Commanding PacFlt.

 

// Sends //