Rank & Name: Lt. Bill
Ketzeback
Cycle: 3 (September 2003)
Squadron & Division:
Submarine Squadron 2, Submarine Division 4A
USS GUARDFISH (SS-217)
Patrol Zone &
Sector(s): F-3+4
TDC: Auto
Realism (%): 109%
Crew experience: Veteran
Number of Warships sunk: 0
Number of Merchants sunk: 5
Warship tonnage: 0
Merchant tonnage: 49,350
Total JANAC tonnage: 24,675
Types of Warship sunk:
|
Date
|
Time
|
Lat &
Long
|
Class of
Vessel
|
Tonnage
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Types of Merchant sunk:
|
Date
|
Time
|
Lat &
Long
|
Class of
Vessel
|
Tonnage
|
|
July 30,
1942
|
21:45
|
26-04N,
122-06E
|
TROOP SHIP
|
10,450
|
|
July 30,
1942
|
21:45
|
26-04N,
122-06E
|
CONVERTED
FACTORY
|
5,810
|
|
July 30,
1942
|
21:55
|
26-04N,
122-06E
|
OIL TANKER
|
11,030
|
|
August 1,
1942
|
09:19
|
26-24N,
122-06E
|
OIL TANKER
|
11,030
|
|
August 1,
1942
|
12:43
|
26-25N,
122-22E
|
OIL TANKER
|
11,030
|
Conducted Lifeguard duty: N / A
Conducted Photo Recon: N / A
|
Date
|
Time
|
Location
|
Lat &
Long
|
|
|
|
|
|
Patrol Narrative:
Underway from Pearl Harbor, July 4, 1942. Arrived on station (PZ F
23-54N, 128-49E) July 17, 06:58. Set a course to proceed to sector 4.
On July 21, 09:00, left sector 4 after seeing no contacts for 4 days and
entered sector 3. At 13:55 received an incoming radio message for a Photo Recon
of Takoa by morning of July 23. This radio message fell outside our assigned
patrol area so it was disregarded as a possible IJN trap.
July 22, 00:27, a small convoy was spotted at 25-44N, 122-12E. At 00:38, dived
to periscope depth upon identifying contacts as 2 merchants and 2 escorts.
At 00:48 the convoy changed course radically to starboard and GUARDFISH was no
longer in position to attack or pursue.
July 30, 21:00, after several days on station at 26-03N, 122-05E, chasing ghost
convoy reports from island watchers without any sightings of the enemy. One of
these reports finally bore fruit. A merchant ship was spotted. At 21:19,
surfaced to get in a better position. High periscope revealed a second target.
These ships were unescorted. 21:49, Destroyed first target with 2 torpedoes.
One fish fired at the second target exploded. However, 3 of the 6 fish fired
total
proved to be duds. Finished off the second target with the deck gun.
July 31, 00:55, Ship Spotted! This was a small convoy of 3 merchants and 2
escorts. Fired 2 torpedoes at the middle target from 800 yards. Both were duds.
Fired 3 fish at the training merchant. One of the escorts turned into the path
of the target of the first fish - hit the destroyer but did not sink it.
Of the 2 remaining fish, one exploded when it struck the
merchant. The second was a dud. Fired the last aft tube at the lead merchant
but it was a clear miss due to a course change by the target. GUARDFISH then
dove to 200 feet and awaited a pounding that never came. Destroyers searched in
vain for GUARDFSH for 2 hours. At 02:15 they broke contact. GUARDFISH surfaced
for a badly needed battery charge.
Aug 1, 09:06, a convoy of 4 merchants and 6 escorts spotted! Setup perfect
firing position and emptied all fwd and aft tubes into the lead 4 merchants
from 1,200 yards. 3 hits, 6 duds, 1 miss and no runs. Dove, to 200 yards and
received a pounding from the 6 escorts. However, within 50 minutes they seem to
have lost GUARDFISH and left the area. Surfaced for repairs and a quick
recharge.
Aug 1, 12:30, Ship spotted headed for GUARDFISH. Dove to periscope depth and
wait for the four-ship convoy to approach. Fired last 2 remaining fish from
1,300 yards into the second merchant, sinking it. Dove to 200 feet and let the
convoy leave the area.
Aug 1, 18:00, GUARDFISH proceeded out of patrol area back to base.
LT Bill Ketzeback
CO USS GUARDFISH