Rank & Name: Lt. Commander Ethan Edwards
Cycle: 1 (July 2003)
Squadron & Division: Squadron 2, Submarine
Division 4A
USS & SS: U.S.S. Perch SS-176
Patrol Zone & Sector(s): Philippine Islands,
Sectors P-1 & P-2
TDC: Auto
Realism (%): 100%
Crew experience: Green
Number of Warships sunk: 0
Number of Merchants sunk: 0
Warship tonnage: 0
Merchant tonnage: 0
Total JANAC tonnage: N/A
Types of Warship sunk: N/A
|
Date |
Time |
Lat &
Long |
Class of
Vessel |
Tonnage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Types of Merchant sunk:
|
Date |
Time |
Lat &
Long |
Class of
Vessel |
Tonnage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conducted Lifeguard duty: (If yes how many aviators
rescued):
|
Date |
Time |
Lat &
Long |
|
|
|
|
Conducted Photo Recon: YES
|
Date |
Time |
Location |
Lat &
Long |
|
22 December, 1941 |
08:22 hours |
Aparri, Luzon |
18-27`N, 121-37`E |
Patrol Narrative: We departed Manila on 9 December and headed north to our assigned patrol sector. No shipping sighted on the trip north and upon arriving in P-1 we set-up a standard patrol.
13 December, 06:20 hours, we spotted a BB Group and
turned to intercept. 06:21 hours we targeted a Fuso Class BB and went to
periscope depth. The group turned and headed for our position, keel depth of
Fuso is 31 feet so we set our torpedoed to run at 45feet depth per orders from
ComSubPac to run under target using the MK VI exploder. At 06:31 hours we fired
all forward tubes at the target, we observed the torpedoes running under the
target without exploding. After passing under the target one of the torpedoes
exploded on the far side of the target and the escorts immediately started
pinging. We dove to 300 feet and tried to evade. After getting depth charged
for our trouble we finally lost contact and resumed our patrol. I ordered the
Chief to pull all the remaining torpedoes and check the settings.
14 December, 10:54 hours, we spotted a CL Group. We
got into a firing position and targeted a Kuma Class CL. Keel depth of the Kuma
is 15` so we set our fish to run at 22 feet. 11:22 hours we fired four
torpedoes at the Kuma and again watch as all four ran under the target without
exploding. Dove deep to avoid the escorts and we were depth charged again for
nothing. 13:36 hours we finally lost contact with the escorts and resumed our
patrol.
15 thru 21 December no contacts.
21 December we received orders from ComSubPac requesting
a Photo Recon of Aparri Harbor on north Luzon before 22:30 hours on the 23. We
headed for the target area. Arrived of the port on 22 December at about 04:30
hours and decided to put the boat on the bottom until daylight. 08:00 hours we
went to periscope depth and observed a Fubuki Class DD and a Kagero Class DD
patrolling outside the harbor entrance and a aircraft patrolling overhead.
There were two Standard Merchants and two Coastal Tankers in the Harbor. We
took several pictures and completed the mission at 08:20 hours. We headed back out to resume our patrol.
22 December, 15:02 hours we went to periscope depth
and spotted a CA group heading for our position. We targeted a Myoko Class CA
and at 1,000 yards range we fired all forward tubes. The Myoko has a keel depth
of 21 feet so we decided to try and set the fish to run a little shallower this
time so we set them to 24 feet depth. Two of the torpedoed prematured half way
to the target and the escorts charged out position and we had to crash dive. On
the way down we were depth charged with damage to the stern planes, radio room
leaking and the periscope damaged. We were able to evade at 300 feet and lost
contact after about two hours. Surfaced and repaired the stern planes and
decided to head for home because of the damage to the periscope.
On the way back to port we received orders to divert
to Surabaya, Java and made port on 4 January.
Note to BuOrd, there is definitely something wrong
with the MK VI magnetic exploder as all the torpedoes we fired were observed to
run under the targets without ever exploding. We also believe the MK XIV
torpedoes are running deeper than set.
Rank & Name Lt. Commander Ethan Edwards
// SENDS //