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From: LCDR Duke Cummings, CO USS TAUTOG (SS-199)
To: Captain Woodrow T. Morgan, Subron4M
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: 11 April 1942
RE: Patrol report ( March 00- Cycle 1 )
Rmks / 1. 4 March 1942 : Upon receipt of orders from SubRon4M, proceeding to assigned patrol area near Formosa.
Rmks / 2. 19 March 1942 : 18:32 hrs : Reach designated area. Beginning patrol.
Rmks / 3. 20 March 1942 : 00:27 hrs : Course 269 Speed 2.1 kts Seas: Calm. Contact : Targets Course : 089 Speed : 9.0 kts Range : 4000 yds 4 ships sighted. Plotted intercept course. Dove to 100 ft and closed to 1980 yds. Made depth 60 ft and now have 6 ships spotted. 2 unidentified DD's, 1 Mutsuki DD, 2 Small Freighters, 1 Armed Merchant Cruiser. Set course to intercept AMC. Set depth of Torpedoes to 7 ft. Calculated and fired at 1200 yds one salvo of two Bow Torpedoes with a 5 second interval. Dove to 250 ft. First exploded on contact, second struck target but did not ignite. DD's did not acquire, blew ballast tanks to periscope depth and recalculated for second shot on AMC. Fired another 2 Torpedoes at 5 second interval and Dove to 264 ft. Both were direct hits. Target Sank at 25-39N, 124-33E at 00:42hrs. 01:36 lost contact with Destroyers. 01:42 surfaced to recharge batteries.
Rmks / 4. 22 March 1942 : 15:18 : Course 062 : Speed : 1.6 kts Seas : Calm Depth : 60 ft Contact : Targets Course : 049 Speed : 14 kts Range : 3650 yds Ships : 1 Small Merchant, 2 Armed Merchant Cruisers, 1 Small Freighter. Plotted intercept course. No escort vessels present. Targets in straight line. 1480 yds fired one salvo of two Bow Torpedoes at a 8 second interval on third ship in line (AMC). First prematurely exploded 10 seconds from target. Second hit and exploded on contact. Surfaced and at 1800 yds fired 2 Torpedoes on Small Merchant ship and 2 on second Armed Merchant Cruiser. All four Torpedoes missed targets. Fired two more Bow Torpedoes at 2028 yds on second AMC. They also missed. Reacquired first AMC and began Deck Gun action. Closed to 1015 yds and fired one Aft Torpedo. Premature Detonation. Sank Target with Deck Gun at 26-00N, 122-48E 16:05hrs. All other targets escaped on multiple headings.
Rmks / 5. 23 March 1942 : 19:22 hrs Received radio message to photograph target near Naha Base before 24:59, 25 March. Proceeding to target.
Rmks / 6. 25 March 1942 : 14:48 hrs. Course : 357 Speed : 3.1 kts Seas : Moderate Depth : 60 ft Contact : Aircraft spotted. Dove to 150 ft to avoid ASW. 16:57 hrs Heard several explosions, but none are near our position. Will surface after dark to recharge.
Rmks / 7. 25 March 1942 : 19:33 hrs. Course : 028 Speed : 6.1 kts Seas : Moderate Contact : 1 Kagero Destroyer, 1 Standard Merchant (Anchored). Destroyer has acquired and began depth charge attack. Altered course to fire 2 Aft Torpedoes, no interval, at 1085 yds. First prematurely detonated and second struck target but did not explode. Fired another Aft Torpedo and exploded on impact. Target damaged and on fire. Increased speed to full and fired Two Bow Torpedoes at anchored ship in harbor. First exploded on impact, and second did not not explode after hitting target. Fired 2 more Bow Torpedoes at same target First struck target but did not ignite, second exploded on impact. DD has reacquired and is pursuing aft. Fired 2 Aft Torpedoes at 845 yds. Both were Duds. Circled back as close to SM as possible. Slowed to one third. DD stopped directly to my starboard. Increased to flank and circled in back of DD. Surfaced and fired Deck Gun. To close for DD to get accurate range. Sank target with Deck Gun 26-18N, 127-12E 20:08 hrs. Positioned for last Aft Torpedo and fired at Standard Merchant. Struck target and sank at 26-18N, 127-12E 26:07hrs. Could not get clear target in time for Photo Recon.
PATROL SUMMARY :
TDC : Manual
DECK GUN : Manual
Enemy Sunk : 2 Armed Merchant Cruisers, 1 Destroyer Kagero Class, 1 Standard Merchant
Enemy Escaped : 3 Small Freighters, 1 Small Merchant, 1 Mutsuki Class Destroyer, 2 Unidentified Destroyers
DAMAGE SUSTAINED : None
ORDINANCE REMAINING : 11 Deck Gun Shells
COMMENTS : With all ordinance exhausted, request permission to return to base for reloading and refueling.
LCDR Duke Cummings
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