Rank & Name: LCDR. Bill Ketzeback
Cycle: Cycle 7
(January 2004)
SubRon 2/ Division 4A
U.S.S. FINBACK
(SS-230)
Patrol Zone & Sector(s): Yellow Sea
TDC: Auto
Realism (%):
109%
Crew experience:
Veteran
Number of Warships sunk: 0
Number of Merchants sunk: 17
Warship tonnage: 0
Merchant tonnage: 70,930
Types of Warship sunk: None
|
Date |
Time |
Lat &
Long |
Class of
Vessel |
Tonnage |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Types of Merchant sunk:
|
Date |
Time |
Lat &
Long |
Class of
Vessel |
Tonnage |
|
20 June
1943 |
01:02 |
30-36N x
122-26E |
Supply
Ship |
1,920 |
|
20 June
1943 |
01:03 |
30-36N x
122-26E |
Armed
Merchant |
7,570 |
|
20 June
1943 |
01:04 |
30-36N x
122-26E |
Armed
Merchant |
7,570 |
|
20 June
1943 |
06:31 |
30-56N x
122-21E |
Sampan |
N/A |
|
20 June
1943 |
06:32 |
30-56N x
122-21E |
Sampan |
N/A |
|
20 June
1943 |
06:32 |
30-56N x
122-21E |
Sampan |
N/A |
|
20 June
1943 |
06:33 |
30-56N x
122-21E |
Sampan |
N/A |
|
21 June
1943 |
06:06 |
37-51N x
123-14E |
Factory
Ship |
4,370 |
|
21 June
1943 |
06:06 |
37-51N x
123-14E |
Standard
Merchant |
9,800 |
|
22 June
1943 |
03:01 |
32-27N x
121-51E |
Sampan |
N/A |
|
23 June
1943 |
19:01 |
30-41N x
122-24E |
Small
Freighter |
1,400 |
|
23 June
1943 |
19:52 |
30-45N x
122-22E |
Troop
Transport |
8,480 |
|
23 June
1943 |
19:52 |
30-45N x
122-22E |
Supply
Ship |
1,300 |
|
23 June
1943 |
19:53 |
30-45N x
122-22E |
Troop
Transport |
8,480 |
|
23 June
1943 |
20:05 |
30-45N x
122-21E |
Armed
Merchant |
4,180 |
|
28 June
1943 |
05:39 |
38-25N x
123-02E |
Oil Tanker |
14,430 |
|
3 July
1943 |
18:09 |
37-13N x
124-45E |
Small
Freighter |
1,430 |
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 |
|
23 June
1943 |
05:25 |
Singapore |
31-10N x
122-24E |
|
27 July
1943 |
08:35 |
Dairen |
38-51N x
122-21E |
Patrol Narrative:
Hull Damage: Light (22%)
System Damage: Light (3%)
Repair Time: 5 days
Patrol Narrative:
Underway from Pearl Harbor, Jun 4, 1943. Arrived on station (PZ YS) Jun
19,1943 17:36.
Jun 20, 00:43, Contact reported by Radar Operator.
Jun20, 00:47 Visual on
medium sized convoy. Comprising at
least two escorts and unknown number of ships. Decided to with current
full moon and clear skies that best approach was a blind one with short sneak
peaks of the periscope and reports from the sonar operator.
Jun 20, 00:50 3-sonar
contacts reported
Jun 20, 00:52 4-sonar
contacts reported
Jun 20, 00:56 Raised scope
briefly for sneak peek of approaching targets. Counted 10 merchants and 2
visible escorts
Jun 20, 00:59 Raised scope
for contact confirmation and TDC solution. Confirmed we were in the middle of
the passing convoy.
Jun 20, 01:00 Fired 3 fwd
at an Armed Merchant and 3 aft, at close supply ships. 2 of the aft-fired fish
were duds.
Jun 20, 01:01 Fired 3 more
fwd tubes at another close approaching Armed Merchant.
June 20, 01:01 - 01:05
explosions could be heard as 3 ships broke up and sank. Evaded
approaching escorts.
Jun 20, 03:10 Evaded
detection of escorts, surfaced to charge batteries prior to sunrise.
Jun 20, 06:10 Several
sampans spotted nearby in dawn twilight. Fear FINBACK may have been
spotted. Called battle stations-surface and sank 4 with Deck Gun.
Jun 20, 06:30 - Jun 20,
18:59 Several convoys spotted in area but as soon as approached SD radar would
detect nearby aircraft. Dove to avoid contact.
Jun 21, 06:00 9 Ship
convoy spotted 14,000 yds to North East. Dove to periscope depth and attempted
to intercept. Could only get in range of last 2 ships in formation, sank both
with 1 torpedo each.
Jun 21, 06:30 Evaded any
pursuit of escorts. Decided fishing in these waters had gotten hot and was best
to change operational area within patrol zone in case patrols would be
increased.
Jun 21, 19:00 As FINBACK
was traveling north we received a request for a Photo Recon of Shanghai Harbor.
We changed course due west deciding to take the northern channel. We dodged a
large patrol guarding this approach and traveled up the river and then back
South East sitting on the bottom most of the day of the 22nd and continuing
again on the surface the night of Jun 22nd.
Jun 23, 05:25 Completed
photo recon as the sun rose enough to provide enough light. Made slow submerged
approach for river entrance.
Jun 23, 18:50 SJ radar
reports contact.
Jun 23, 18:55 Small convoy
spotted. 5 unescorted ships approaching our course.
Jun 23, 19:00 Fired all
forward tubes at 4 ships, 2 small merchants and 2 Armed Merchant Cruisers.
Ordered right full rudder and fired 2 aft torpedo’s at the last ship in the
convoy, a third AMC. 1 hit and 1 premature detonation. Fired another 2 aft fish
and another hit and the last turned out to be a dud! This crippled ship turned
and fled. FINBACK surfaced and pursued in the failing light using radar to keep
track of the target.
Jun 23, 20:05 After some
chase, FINBACK was able to close range and sink the target with Deck Gun.
Return fire resulted in minimal damage to FINBACKs Forward Torpedo Room.
Jun 23, 20:10 - Jun 25,
19:00 Pursued several convoys west of Inchon but learned Air Patrols in
this area were heavy and no shipping seemed to be moving at night.
Jun 25, 19:05 Received a
Photo Recon request of the Harbor of Darien. Layed in a course for same.
Jun 27, 08:35 Completed
Photo Recon, sneaking in and then out to the area under 3 patrol crafts noses.
Jun 28, 05:30 Medium
convoy of 6 ships spotted. Fired 2 torpedo’s at largest ship in the group, an
oil tanker. Evaded pursuit.
Jun 28 - Jul 3, spent most
of this time evading air contacts and looking for a special target to deliver
our last torpedo.
Jul 3, 18:09 A medium
convoy of 6 ships with 3 escorts traveling north at a fast pace approached near
FINBACKs position. Approached and fired last torpedo from 2500 yds at
last vessel in the group. If this did not sink it we had a little ammo left for
the deck gun. It did sink the merchant. Being extremely low on fuel, supplies
and with no ordnance to speak of FINBACK returned reluctantly to base.
LCDR. Bill Ketzeback
CO: USS FINBACK