Rank & Name:
Lt. Robert Farley
Cycle: Cycle 4 (October 2003)
Squadron & Division: SubRon 2/ Division 4A
USS & SS:
Sargo SS-188
Patrol Zone & Sector(s): Philippines P-1 and P-2
TDC: Auto
Realism (%):
95%
Crew experience:
Green
Number of Warships sunk: 0
Number of Merchants sunk: 6
Warship tonnage:
0
Merchant tonnage:
34,230
Total JANAC tonnage:
17,115
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 |
|
9/13/1942 |
11:05 |
21-06N x
121-28E |
Small
Freighter |
1,840 |
|
9/13/1942 |
11:05 |
21-06N x
121-28E |
Troop
Transport |
6,740 |
|
9/13/1942 |
11:12 |
21-06N x
121-29E |
Factory
Ship |
6,240 |
|
9/15/1942 |
08:15 |
20-34N x
121-29E |
Large
Freighter |
5,050 |
|
9/15/1942 |
08:15 |
20-34N x
121-29E |
Large
Freighter |
5,050 |
|
9/15/1942 |
08:46 |
20-35N x
121-28E |
Std. Merchant |
9,310 |
Conducted Lifeguard duty: (If yes how many aviators
rescued):
|
Date |
Time |
Lat &
Long |
|
|
|
|
Conducted Photo Recon: (If Yes than where was it
performed )
|
Date |
Time |
Location |
Lat &
Long |
|
|
|
|
|
Patrol Narrative:
September 13, 1942:
15:20 Entered
assigned patrol area without being spotted by the enemy. Began patrol by following zigzag pattern
over known shipping lanes.
23:40
Received Ultra report of possible convoy heading 180 at approximately
21-28N 120-00E. Plotted intercept course and ordered all
ahead full.
September 14, 1942:
06:00
Received a new Ultra communication detailing a closer convoy. Adjusted course to intercept.
09:05 Lookouts
spotted a three ship convoy, dead ahead moving away. We accelerated to flank speed and performed an end around
maneuver to get in front of them.
10:31 Achieved
ideal attack position. Dove to
periscope scope depth when the enemy reached 8,000 yards.
10:40 Accelerated to flank speed to position myself just off the
convoy’s starboard bow.
10:46 Took
periscope observations to update the TDC solution
11:05 Convoy
now at 1,000 yards. Commenced attack.
Fired two Mk 14’s at middle ship. The first prematurely detonated. The second hit and cracked the ship in two.
Adjusted target and fired two fish at the first ship
in the convoy. Without waiting for the
results, I ordered right full rudder and swung the Sargo around for a stern
shot on the last ship in the convoy.
Just before firing on the last ship, sonar reported
two hits on the first ship. Amazingly,
she wasn’t destroyed.
With a solid TDC solution on the last ship, I fired
two fish from the stern tubes. Both hit
and sunk the merchant.
11:12 I swung
the Sargo again to bring the stern tubes to bear on the first ship in the
convoy. She was making about 2 knots
even after taking two hits from my forward tubes. I fired a single Mk 14.
Torpedo tore a massive hole in her side. The ship sunk beneath the waves in minutes.
11:14 Surfaced the boat to continue my search along
the known shipping lanes. Ran at 2/3
speed to recharge the batteries to full.
Also commenced full reload on all tubes.
13:06 Lookouts
reported a ship at 8,500 yards heading right at us. We dove to periscope depth and maneuvered to ship’s port bow for
the attack.
13:13 Setup
was text book -- single ship, no zigzagging and no escorts. We fired 2 fish at 1,300 yards. The first ran erratically off to port. The second one hit, but was a dud. The air flask was seen to detonate.
Closed the distance to 800 yards and fired the
remaining two fish from the bow tubes.
Both were duds.
13:21 Ordered
right full rudder to swing the Sargo about for a stern shot. The Jap merchant was now more than aware of
our presence and made a run for it.
13:23 Fired
two fish at 1,100 yards. Both were
duds. Fired remaining two
torpedoes. Again both were duds.
13:24
Attempted to follow the target while submerged to give the torpedo crews
time to reload. Had to increase to
flank speed to keep the target within range.
13:36 Tube one
was reloaded. Fired single fish at
1,600 yards to slow the target. Shot
missed. The target was able to increase
speed. She might have brought a new
boiler on line.
14:11 Target was almost out of sight to the
northeast. Surfaced the boat to try and
get around her. Seas were extremely
rough. Best speed we can make is 12
knots. Attempting to plot an end around
run
15:51 A check
with the navigator shows that the target has exited our assigned patrol
area. After almost an hour and a half,
we have been unable to catch up the target.
I ordered us about to return to our assignment. Radioed to ComSubSoWesPac the course and speed of the target. Hopefully someone else can get her.
September 15, 1942:
06:13 Lookouts spotted a destroyer coming our
way. At 6,000 yards we dove to
periscope depth and change course in order to get out of her way.
Periscope observation revealed that she was part of a
5 ship convoy. The convoy consisted of
4 destroyers and one cruiser. As per
the ROE, I avoided all four destroyers.
I considered taking on the cruiser, but with the
failures of 8 torpedoes in a row, I’m not at all confident about taking on a
warship.
07:10 Periscope
observation revealed clear seas above.
We surfaced.
07:31 SD
contact with aircraft at 17,000 yards, closing fast. We were unable to see the aircraft due to low cloud cover. Dove to periscope depth and changed course
to be safe.
08:07 Came up to
radar depth and could make no SD
contact. Sonar immediately notified us
of low speed screws bearing 336.
08:12 Order flank speed to get reach intercept point
for this new 3 ship convoy
This one was unescorted and a prime target for us to
use up the remaining 4 torpedoes.
08:15 I
misjudged the convoy speed. They were
much closer than anticipated. Fired a
single Mk 14 from bow tube at 1,300 yards.
Hit the lead ship and sunk her.
Fired single fish from the bow at the second ship in
the convoy. Again hit and destroyed
her.
Fired last bow torpedo at the third and final ship in
the convoy. After leaving the tube, the
torpedo ran erratically off to starboard.
08:19 Order
right full rudder to bring the stern around to shoot my last fish.
08:26 Setup
was perfect. Target was bearing
181. Fired last torpedo. It hit her amidships and damaged her. She continued to make good speed. Being out of torpedoes, I surfaced the boat
and commenced to finish her off with the deck gun. Due to the rough seas and inexperience of my gun crew, it took 28
rounds to sink the target.
08:47 With no
more torpedoes, I decided to return to port.
07:10 Arrived
in port and commenced re-supply and refit.
Lt. Robert Farley