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From : LCDR Duke Cummings, CO. USS Drum, SS-298
To : Captain Woodrow T. Morgan, ComSubRon4
Date : 30 September, 1942
Subject : Patrol Report - April Cycle II
Rmks / 1. 4 September 1942 : Left Freemantle for assigned Patrol Area.
Rmks / 2. 12 September 1942 : 00:13 : Arrived at destination South China Sea. Beginning Patrol.
Rmks / 3. 13 September 1942 : 21:10 : Course 300 : Speed 4 kts. : Seas Calm. Contact : 7 Ships : 1 Armed Merchant Cruiser, 1 Small Freighter, 1 Converted Factory Ship, 1 Standard Merchant, 1 Troop Ship, 2 Large Freighters. Course 267 : Speed 11kts. Increased speed to overtake. Set Torpedo depth to 10 ft. and fired 2 bow Torpedoes at 1345 yds. at Troop ship. both hit and sunk target at 10-44N, 110-53E.
Rmks / 4. 15 September : 06:44 : Course 145 : Speed 4.3kts. : Seas Moderate, Contact : 7 Ships spotted 1 Mogami CA, 2 Kuma CL, 1 Akizuki DD, 1 Fubuki DD, 1 Yugumo DD, 1 Unidentified DD. Targets Course ; 169 at a speed of 28.3kts Range : 8575yds. Unable to overtake. Lost contact at 06:59.
Rmks / 5. 15 September : 23:14 Course 269 : Speed 5.1kts. : Seas Moderate, Contact : Due to poor visibility initially only 5 ships spotted. 3 DD's 2 Myoko or Takao CA, 1 Hiyo CV. Targets course 080 at 23kts. Plotted intercept course. Closed to 3000yds and submerged to periscope depth. Set Torpedo Depth to 3ft. At 23:20 fired 6 Bow Torpedoes at 1215yds at Hiyo CV. 2 Premature detonations, 1 Dud and 3 hits. Altered course 045 degrees for Aft shot. Fired 2 Aft Torpedoes at 1532yds on same target. Both missed, believe course was incorrect. Reset TDC and fired 2 more Aft Torpedoes at 1669yds. Both hit and sunk target at 11-26N, 109-17E. Dove to 231ft. to avoid Depth charge attack. Tracking 9 DD's. All are course to intercept sinking CV. Maintained course and speed until 16 September at 01:15 when lost contact with DD's. CA course last charted by sonar at approx. 030.
Rmks / 6. 19 September : 17:18 Course 017 : Speed 2.6kts : Seas Calm, Contact : 6 Ships, 1 Small Freighter, 1 Troop Ship, 1 Supply Ship, 1 Fubuki DD, 1 Shiratsuyu DD, 1 Akizuki DD. Targets course 276 at 11kts. Altered course to intercept. 17:26 fired 2 Bow Torpedoes at 1300yds. on Troop Ship. 1 missed under target and second was a dud. Fired 2 more Bow shots at 900yds. on same target. First prematurely detonated and second hit and sunk target at 10-25N, 107-23E. Now avoiding depth charge attack. 17:34 struck by several depth charges and received heavy damage. Flooding has become a problem. 17:55 received more damage from depth charges. Running low on oxygen and must surface. 17:57 Blew ballast tanks to surface for much needed air. 17:59 reached surface and have DD approx. 900yds away. Fired 2 Aft Torpedoes. Dove to periscope depth. 1 Premature detonation and 1 hit. DD on fire. Fired 1 more Aft Torpedo at DD on fire. Heavy Leaking and unable to hold periscope depth. Torpedo hit and sank Akizuki DD at 10-26N, 107-25E. Other DD's now attacking. 18:03 More damage from attack. Too much leaking and have sank to bottom. 18:36 Night has fallen and DD's are echoing for depth. 20:32 Lost contact with DD's. Blew emergency tanks to surface.
Rmks / 7. 19 September : 20:48 : Heading for Freemantle for repairs and refitting.
Patrol Summary :
Ships Sunk :
1 Troop Transport 9110 tons 1 Troop Transport 4000 tons 1 Akizuki DD 3485 tons 1 Hiyo CV 26,949 tons —————————————————————————————————————— Total tonnage for Patrol 43,544 tons
Damage :
Ordinance remaining : 95 Deck Gun Shells, 5 Torpedoes
LCDR Duke Cummings, USS Drum (SS-298)
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