Cycle: 2 (August 2003) SPECIAL MISSION
USS & SS: U.S.S. Gar, SS-206
Patrol Zone & Sector(s): Tokyo Bay
TDC: Auto
Realism (%): 109%
Crew experience: Veteran
Number of Warships sunk: 4
Number of Merchants sunk: 1
Warship tonnage: 67,302
Merchant tonnage: 3,610
Total JANAC tonnage: 35,456
Types of Warship sunk: 4
|
Date |
Time |
Lat & Long |
Class of Vessel |
Tonnage |
|
19 April 1942 |
11:42 |
35-25N x 139-37E |
(CL) NAGARA |
5,570 / 2,785 |
|
19 April 1942 |
11:57 |
35-25N x 139-37E |
(CL) NAKA |
5,832 / 2,916 |
|
19 April 1942 |
23:57 |
35-37N x 139-41E |
(CVE) TAIYO |
20,000 / 10,000 |
|
20 April 1942 |
00:44 |
35-37N x 139-41E |
(BB) FUSO |
35,900 / 17,950 |
Types of Merchant sunk: 1
|
Date |
Time |
Lat & Long |
Class of Vessel |
Tonnage |
|
19 April 1942 |
12:07 |
35-25N X 139-37E |
CONVERTED FACTORY |
3,610 / 1,810 |
Conducted Lifeguard duty: (If yes how many aviators rescued): 5
|
Date |
Time |
Lat & Long |
|
18 April 1942 |
14:06 |
35-30N x 139-43E |
|
18 April 1942 |
16:02 |
35-31N x 139-43E |
|
18 April 1942 |
19:43 |
35-35N x 139-48E |
|
18 April 1942 |
20:13 |
35-30N x 139-55E |
|
19 April 1942 |
10:07 |
35-26N x 139-35E |
Conducted Photo Recon: YES
|
Date |
Time |
Location |
Lat & Long |
|
15 April, 1942 |
08:44 |
Yokohama |
35-27N x 139-36E |
|
16 April, 1942 |
05:54 |
Tokyo |
35-37N x 139-39E |
Patrol Narrative:
RMKS/ 1. Departed Pearl Harbor 1st
of April 1942 and headed for Tokyo Bay to conduct a special mission. Had a load
of Mk-10 torpedo’s with contact exploders.
RMKS/ 2. Entered Tokyo harbor at the
maximum depth available to me and crept at silent running under two ASW
pickets. A periscope sweep showed two lighted channel markers at 35-08N x
139-08E. Took me some time to get into the harbor at this speed and then I
encountered numerous ASW forces and remained at depth to avoid detection.
RMKS/ 3. April 14 received a radio
message from ComSubPac at 02:15 directing us to conduct a Recon of Tokyo harbor
before 14:15 April 16 so we silently headed that direction.
RMKS/ 4. At 02:20 we received a second radio message
from ComSubPac directing us to get a Recon of Yokohama harbor before 14:20
April 16. Since it was the nearest we headed for it. We slipped close into the
port and awaited daylight to get the photos. We were only 1,500 yards from the
nearest merchant and spotted multiple targets. At daylight we got the photos
then went back to depth and silently headed north along the coast heading for
Tokyo. After clearing Yokohama I surfaced the Gar to get some fresh air in the
boat. We were only up briefly then went back down to avoid detection. At random
periods sonar was picking up eleven sets of sonar searching the harbor. When it
neared us I would hover just off the bottom to reduce our chances of detection.
RMKS/ 5. By late evening of the 15th
we were in position to get the photos and a sweep revealed several nice warship
and merchants. Positively identified were 1 x Taiyo CVE, 1 x Fuso BB, 1 x CA unidentified and at
least 1 x Standard Merchant. We were in close so I limited the time the scope
was up. After all the photos would show
for certain what was in the harbor. At
one point several high-speed escorts passed overhead and around us to enter the
harbor then after awhile departed. Per
our orders we came to Radar depth at every chance to pick up any radio messages
that might be sent our way from ComSubPac. Once the sun came up we took our
photos then headed away from the port to the east to get a little rest and air
the boat.
RMKS/ 6. 17 April 02:13 received a
message from Pearl to be on Lifeguard duty within 20 miles of Tokyo. We headed
for our station.
RMKS/ 7. 17 April 02:23 received a
message from Pearl to be on Lifeguard duty within 20 miles of Yokohama.
RMKS/ 8. 18 April 07:21 received
reports of 4 downed pilots in the bay. We headed for the nearest one at best
possible speed. As we closed on the last reported position of the pilot sonar
picked up several sets of high-speed screws to our east. We remained deep until
the contacts moved off to our northeast. We then done a quick sweep that showed
us clear and surfaced to get the pilot. Moments after pulling the pilot from
the water I spotted a torpedo wake heading at us from the southwest. I sounded
collision and dove with right full rudder. Fearing that the unseen submarine
would alert the surface ships I headed for the second pilot just to our west in
hopes of grabbing him before ASW forces arrived. At 16:02 I came to periscope
depth and done a sweep and to my relief spotted the 2nd pilot. I was
surprised that no surface ships or aircraft were seen. I surfaced and rescued
pilot # 2 then dove. I then turned northeast to go after number 3. As soon as
it was dark enough I surfaced and went to flank speed and picked up pilot # 3
at 19:43. The 4th pilot was almost ashore on the northeast corner of
the nay and we nearly beached picking him up. My navigator reported that pilot
# 5 was practically in Yokohama harbor so we headed down the east coast of the
bay to cross over and avoid the large number of sonar contacts to our
north. After entering the harbor we
dove to Periscope depth and crept within 1,000 yards of anchored merchants
before spotting the pilot. We surfaced at 10:07 in full view of everyone right
from under the pilot and he was surprised yet relieved to see us. His relief
turned to fear once below because he was sure we had been spotted. I was pretty
sure we had been to. As I headed southeast to clear the area I decided to fire
on a couple of CL’s in hopes it would keep everyone to busy to deal with us
right now if indeed we had been spotted. I fired my 4 stern tubes at a Nagara
class CL from 1,200 yds and after they hit and sank the ship I decided to run a
tight circle and bring my forward tubes to bear. At 11:57 I fired 4 torpedo’s
at a Naka class CL from 1,700 yds and fired 2 torpedo’s at a Converted Factory
ship from 2,100 yds. I settled back on my base course to exit the harbor in
search of the remaining pilots. At hitting time the Cruiser exploded with a
roar and the CFS was engulfed in flames but didn’t sink. When the stern tubes
were loaded I fired an additional 2 at the CFS from 3,100 yds. These finished
off the CFS. Yokohama harbor was a smoking mess at this time. I ran at 2/3rd
speed due to the fact that the remaining 3 downed pilots had been in the water
for a long while.
RMKS/ 9. I exited the harbor without
difficulty and then surfaced and turned west to search for the pilot northeast
of Ogawara. By this time there was a fairly moderate sea making spotting anyone
difficult. A brief search didn’t turn up any pilot and we turned east to head
for the others. The location of these
two pilots was well up the east side of the island and after a brief discussion with the rescued pilots we
decided to try and sink or damage the CVE and BB in Tokyo harbor. We entered
the bay and by 23:57 were ready to fire. We lined up on the CVE and let fly
with 4 torpedo’s. The CVE sank stern first and only the superstructure was
visible. Over the next few minutes I
fired my remaining 2 aft torpedo’s and my final 6 forward torpedo’s to sink the
Fuso class BB. It slowly rolled to starboard and sank. Being out of torpedo’s
we headed for the open sea and to search for the last 2 pilots up the east
coast. We searched extensively but no pilots were found. It’s possible from
their reported location that they made it ashore. We set course for Pearl
Harbor.
Lt. SJ Turner
CO: USS Gar
// SENDS //