TO:                 Submarine Division Commanders, SubPacFlt

 

CC:                 Submarine Squadron Commanders, SubPacFlt

 

FROM:           ComSubPac

 

DATE:            March 1943 

 

SUBJECT:   Mission Orders (Cycle 6 December 2003)

 

Please read these orders carefully and note any patrol start times for your particular command!

 

RMKS: 1       As you are aware, with the death of the late Rear Admiral Robert English, I have been appointed to replace him as Commander Submarines Pacific Fleet. I will look forward to working with all of you toward the inevitable defeat of the Japanese.

 

RMKS: 2       ONI, FRUMAL has suffered a severe setback of their code-breaking operations. On 29 January the New Zealand corvettes H.M.S. Kiwi and H.M.S. Moa, operating in the Guadalcanal area, intercepted the IJN Submarine I-1. The submarine was loaded with Japanese code books. The Kiwi and Moa cornered and rammed the I-1 and drove her ashore in a sinking condition. The crew of the I-1 tried to burn the code books but many were left on the beached hulk and with the escape of some of the crew that evaded capture and made it to Rabal and reported the loss of the books and possible capture by allied forces the Japanese have altered their coding procedures and issued new code books. Therefor the intelligence information regarding ship movements is minimal.

 

RMKS: 3       Premature explosions and dud torpedoes continue to be a baffling issue. I am not however convinced that the fault lies in the Mark VI Magnetic Exploder. While many commanders feel that the device should be deactivated in favor of contact hits, commanding officers are ordered to employ the Magnetic Exploder during all attacks on the enemy.

 

RMKS: 4       SubSoWesPac is pursuing the development of an advanced base, code-named ‘Potshot’ in Exmouth Gulf on the Northwest coast of Australia where the tender U.S.S. Pelias will be stationed. This is expected to reduce, by 1000 miles’ the distance that our submarines will have to traverse to reach their patrol areas.

 

RMKS: 5       All commanders are to be on maximum alert when attacking any unescorted Marus. One of our boats attacked a lone merchant last month only to find it to be an armed Q-ship. This Q-ship fired on our boat and than dropped several patterns of depth charges which caused extensive damage to the boat. “ KEEP ALERT”.

 

RMKS: 6       Submarine Divisions are assigned to the following areas of operation:

 

Submarine Squadron 1

SubDiv 1M    PacFlt – Caroline Islands

                        SoWesPac – Sulu Sea

 

SubDiv 7A   PacFlt – Aleutian Islands

                        SoWesPac – Java Sea

 

Submarine Squadron 2

SubDiv 3A    PacFlt – Formosa

                        SoWesPac – Philippine Islands

 

SubDiv 4A    PacFlt – Palau Islands

 

Commander Edwards – U.S.S. Pogy  All areas April 43 and May 43

 

Lt. Commander Bearden – U.S.S. Sawfish  All areas March and April 43

 

Lt. Whitmore – U.S.S. Flying Fish  All areas April 43 to May 43

 

Lt. Farley II – U.S.S. Permit  All areas March and April 43

 

                        SoWesPac – Indo China

Lt. Commander Turner III – U.S.S. Thresher  All areas March and April 43

 

Lt. Commander Hipply – U.S.S. Tuna  All areas April and May 43

 

Lt. Ketzeback – U.S.S. Finback  All areas March and April 43

 

Submarine Squadron 3

SubDiv 5A    PacFlt – Yellow Sea

SoWesPac – TF-42 ( Solomon Islands)                                            ( Special Mission       SM5CYVI)

SubDiv 6A    PacFlt – Mariana Islands ( Special Mission     SM6CYVI)

                        SoWesPac – South China Sea

 

 

RMKS: 7       All Division Commanders are to acknowledge this transmission.

 

RMKS: 8       All SubDivision 4A commanders are to acknowledge the receipt of these orders before sailing. And remember to send a copy of your patrol report to SubRon 2 ( Captain Joe Sauder ) and ComSubPac.

 

Commander Ethan Edwards

Commanding SubDivision 4A

 

 

Good Luck and Good Hunting

Rear Admiral Charles A. Lockwood

Commanding SubPacFlt

 

 

 

 

//     SENDS    //