Rank & Name: Lt. Bill Ketzeback        

 

Cycle:  Cycle 5 (November 2003)

 

Squadron & Division: SubRon 2/ Division 4A

 

U.S.S.  GUARDFISH (SS-217)

 

Patrol Zone & Sector(s):  Caroline Island  CI-1

 

TDC:  Auto

 

Realism (%):  109%

 

Crew experience:  Veteran

 

Number of Warships sunk:  0

 

Number of Merchants sunk:  11

 

Warship tonnage: 0

 

Merchant tonnage: 64,330

 

Total JANAC tonnage:  32,165

 

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
Dec 14, 1942	00:06	07-15 N x 146-24E	Oil Tanker	13,800
Dec 14, 1942	00:10	07-14 N x 146-24E	Standard Merchant	7,220
Dec 14, 1942	00:11	07-14 N x 146-24E	Supply	3,190
Dec 15, 1942	06:21	07-16 N x 146-13E	Small Freighter	1,080
Dec 15, 1942	06:22	07-16 N x 146-13E	Oil Tanker	9,030
Dec 16, 1942	02:26	06-49 N x 147-28E	Troop Transport	4,600
Dec 16, 1942	02:28	06-49 N x 147-28E	Troop Transport	4,610
Dec 17, 1942	03:35	07-07 N x 146-54E	Armed Merchant	5,880
Dec 19, 1942	00:32	07-07 N x 147-03E	Supply	2,910
Dec 19, 1942	04:37	07-10 N x 146-32E	Large Freighter	3,060
Dec 19, 1942	04:37	07-10 N x 146-32E	Standard Merchant	8,150

 

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:

 

Hull Damage: Light (17%)
System Damage: None (0%)
Repair Time: 4 day

Patrol Narrative:
Underway from Midway, Dec 4, 1942. Arrived on station (PZ CI 7-14N, 146-13E) Dec 12, 2100.

Dec 13, 2350, Spotted Small Convoy on SJ Radar. Was in a pretty good position when first ship was spotted visually. Target 1 destroyed with one hit. Target 2 took 3 fish to sink. Target 3 went down with one hit.

Dec 15, 1400, CL Group Spotted. One of its Escort Aircraft spotted GUARDFISH at Periscope Depth and radioed the escorts to our position. GUARDFISH evaded and underwent depth charges and bombs for the better part of two hours and 15 minutes. Contact with the patrol was broken at 1615.

Dec 15, 2245, Small Convoy spotted. Consisting of 4 merchants and 2 escorts. Could not navigate GUARDFISH to a good firing position. Had to let pass.

Dec 16, 0226, Repositioned GUARDFISH early today to try to catch shipping entering / exiting the Truk Atoll from the westerly entrance to the reef. This paid off by catching a small convoy with one escort, a small transport and Troop Transports. Was unable to fire effectively on the small transport, electing rather to attack the priority targets mentioned in our orders, the Troop Transports. 2 fish into each at approximately 850 yards sank each of them.

Dec 17, 0320, Picked up a Merchant traveling alone on the SJ Radar. Surfaced expecting an easy approach at night and if one torpedo did not sink this guy the Deck Gun crew would have easy pickings. To our surprise this was a well armed merchant vessel! We received a bad beating in return before we sent it Davy Jones’ Locker. Avoided, any contact for better part of a day to repair various systems.

Dec 19, 0200, CL Group located on Radar, tried to get in position but when the ships were finally spotted they Zigged out of range. Could not get in a better position and decided to head back to the western approach to Truk.

Dec 19, 0430, Medium sized convoy of 10 vessels were spotted, on Radar, made best speed to catch up. Noticed that its sole escort was patrolling ahead and to starboard of the formation and we were approaching from aft and port. GUARDFISH was able to quickly (Flank Speed) sneak up, maneuver into position, fire 3 aft tubes and one fwd tube from approximately 900 yds and then submerge before the escort was notified. 2 ships sank, one was damaged, one premature detonation on a torpedo. GUARDFISH eluded the escort. After 30 minutes. With all ordnance on board expended GUARDFISH returned to base.

LT Bill Ketzeback
CO USS GUARDFISH