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From:  LCDR Duke Cummings, CO USS Tautog (SS-199)
To:  LCDR Hawk, CO SubRon 4M
CC:  ComSubPac
Date:  21 January 1942
Re:  Patrol Report (Feb. 00 - Cycle 2)

Rmks/1.  2 Jan. 1942 : In accordance with orders received from CO SubRon 4M, proceeded to assigned patrol area near Tsugaru Strait.

Rmks/2.  15 Jan. 1942 : 10:15 Reached destination. Beginning patrol.

Rmks/3.  16 Jan. 1942 : 01:58 Course 285 Speed 5 knots. Seas: Rough, Contact: Targets course: 354, Range 5416 yards, Targets speed 6.1 knots. Plotted intercept course and submerged. Now on new heading of 177. Three ships identified as two Standard Merchants and one Converted Factory Ship. All in single column. No escorts present. Torpedoes depth set to 8 feet. At 1200 yards fired 1st salvo from Forward tubes containing 2 torpedoes at a 5 second interval on lead merchant ship. 10 seconds from target first torpedo prematurely exploded. Second torpedo struck target but did not explode. Calculated for second target in column. Also a Merchant vessel. 1152 yards fired 2nd salvo of 2 torpedoes at 5 second interval. First missed in front of target. Second exploded on impact amidships. Recalculated for original target and fired 1 Aft torpedo and one Bow torpedo. Both exploded on contact and sank target. 41-47N 142-03E Surfaced, with a combo of Deck Gun Fire and one Bow torpedo sank remaining Standard Merchant vessel. 41-48N 142-03E Converted Factory Ship escaped. Last seen on Course 119.

Rmks/4.  17 Jan. 1942 22:10 Course 046 Speed 6 knots Seas: Rough. Contact: Targets Course: 332, Speed: 16.2, Range: 5363 yards. No Escorts. Ship Id: Standard Merchant. Plotted intercept course. Closed to 3510 yards and submerged. Fired 2 bow Torpedoes 5 second interval at 1800 yards. Torpedo 1 prematurely detonated 12 seconds out. Second torpedo missed. Target escaped on course 310.

Rmks/5.  18 Jan. 1942 02:18 Course 165 Speed 6 knots Seas: Calm. Contact : Targets Course: 024, Speed: 14 knots. No Escorts. Ships Id: Small Freighters. Maintained course and speed until 4800 yards. Submerged. Target altered course to 000 true. Closed within 1200 yards and fired 1 salvo of 2 forward Torpedoes 5 second interval at first Target. Torpedo 1 prematurely detonated 5 seconds from target. Second exploded on impact amidships. Target Sunk. 38-32N 141-51E. Surfaced and began assault on second target also a Small Freighter. Deck Gun action. Used remaining ammo for gun. Fired 2 torpedoes at target inside 1000 yards. Both torpedoes missed target. Believe wrong depth set. Both went under ship. Set depth of torpedoes to 0 feet. Fired one bow torpedo at point blank range. Hit and sunk. 38-32N 141-52E

Rmks/6.  18 Jan. 1942 08:58 Course 354 Speed 3 knots Seas: Calm. Contact: Targets Course: 175, Speed 5.0 knots, Range: 3005 yards, Ship Id: Troop Ship. No Escorts. Change course to match target and slowed to 1.5 knots. Fired 2 Aft torpedoes at 1250 yards. First missed astern. Second exploded on impact. Target sunk. 38-48N 141-49E

Rmks/7.  19 Jan. 1942 : 18:25 : Received Photo Recon mission near base of Aomori. Arrive before 21 Jan. 1942. Proceeding to Target.

Rmks/8.  19 Jan. 1942 : 20:03 : Course 001 Speed 5 knots Seas Calm. Contact: Targets Course: 177, Speed: 6.4, Range: 2884 yards, Ship Id: Troop Transport. No Escorts. Changed course and submerged. Fired to Aft torpedoes at 1442 yards. Depth set on Torpedoes at 2 feet. First torpedo prematurely detonated. Second hit target but did not explode. Plotted new course for Bow run on Target. Fired remaining 2 torpedoes at 885 yards. Both hit exploded on impact. Target sunk. 38-45N 141-51E

Rmks/9.  00:25 : Course 334 Speed 4 knots Seas Calm. Contact: Targets Course: 315, Speed: 5.4, Range: 3034, Ship Id: 2 Troop Transports, 1 Small Freighter, 1 Standard Merchant. Increased speed to 6 knots and fired last remaining Aft Torpedo at closest Troop Transport, 1100 yards. Torpedo hit target but did not explode. All ships escaped on various headings and speeds.

Rmks/10.  05:51 : Course 172 Speed 6 knots Seas Rough . Contact: Targets Course: Unknown, Speed: Unknown, Ships Id: Unknown Large Patrol. Submerged to 200 feet. Targets pinging. Endured one depth charge attack. Dove to 287 feet. Maintained course, slowed to 1/3. At 07:33 hrs altered depth to 150 feet and increased speed to 2/3. 4 Targets reacquired and began depth charge run. Made into harbor where two other Targets acquired and joined depth charge attack. Forced to find deeper water and changed course 180 degrees. Avoid depth charge attack until 08:10 hrs. when submerged to 265 feet. Harbor Floor. Waited until 13:45 hrs. and only two Targets pinging in front of harbor entrance. Surfaced to 165 feet and increased speed to 2/3. 14:25 hrs. Targets acquired and began depth charge attack again. 14:43 hrs. surfaced to periscope depth to far from target could not be photographed. Forced to submerge to 145 feet. Now engaging 7 Targets. Forced to leave Photo Recon Area. Altered course 180 degrees. Outside of Harbor slowed to 1/3 Silent Running. Increased Depth whenever possible. 16:50 hrs. Still taking on attack from 4 targets. 18:36 hrs. Lost enemy targets.

Patrol Summary:

TDC: Manual, Deck Gun: Manual

Enemy Sunk:

2 Standard Merchant     30400 tons   (15200 each)
2 Small Freighters       1900 tons   (950 each)
2 Troop Transports      15084 tons   (7542 each)

Enemy Escaped:

2 Standard Merchant
2 Troop Transports
1 Converted Factory Ship
7 Unidentified Targets

Damage Sustained: None

Ordinance Remaining: None

Comments: Request permission to return to base for reloading and refueling.

LCDR Duke Cummings

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