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From: LCDR Duke Cummings, CO USS Drum (SS-228)
To: Captain W.T. Morgan, ComSubRon4M
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: April 1943
Subject: Patrol Report for April
Rmks / 1. 3 April 1943, Left base at Freemantle to assigned patrol area in Indochina.
Rmks / 2. 11 April, 20:54 hrs, Arrived at destination 8-39N, 112-18E and began patrol.
Rmks / 3. 12 April, 21:47 hrs Calm seas and clear skies. SJ Radar contact at 11-14,000 yards approximately 5 or 6 ships. 21:58 hrs Akizuki class destroyer spotted on course 285 at 34 kts. 22:02 hrs. 2 Armed Merchant Cruisers and 1 Oil Tanker spotted on same course. Speed 16 kts. Unable to overtake targets. 22:28 hrs. Lost all contacts.
Rmks / 4. 13 April, 06:50 hrs. Radar contact on course of 058. Weather conditions have no change. 07:10 hrs. All ships visible. 2 Fouke class destroyers, 1 Yugumo class, 1 Asashio class, 1 Akizuki class, and 1 Mutsuki class destroyer. 3 Merchant vessels also spotted. 1 Armed Merchant Cruiser, 1 Supply Ship, and 1 Large Freighter. 07:36 hrs. With ships at closest range possible (3785 yds.) fired 2 bow torpedoes at AMC. 07:38 hrs. Both Torpedoes hit and damage AMC, but she steams off at 18 kts on course 207. Forced to leave area due to heavy Destroyer action. 08:27 hrs. Lost all contacts. 10:42 hrs. Spotted damaged AMC on course 241 at 11.3 kts. No escort. 10:48 hrs. Fired one bow shot at 2200 yds. Hit and sunk target at 10-10N, 109-59E.
Rmks / 5. 13 April, 16:22 hrs. Weather no change. On course 181 depth at 48 ft. Speed 2.3 kts. Radar contact on air and sea. 8 or 9 ships with 3 or 4 planes. Submerged to 200 ft. and remained on intercept course. 16:48 hrs. Sonar contact of 2 CL's and 9 Destroyers. Surfaced to periscope depth in middle of convoy. 16:50 hrs. Too close to one destroyer. Spotted me and began to fire his deck gun. Both CL's are within 1800 yds. Fired 2 sets of 2 bow torpedoes at both targets. All torpedoes missed. Dove to 158 ft. and escaped on course 249. 17:28 hrs. Lost all sonar contacts last known course 224. Surfaced to periscope depth. Spotted plane and he spotted us. 18:28 hrs. Destroyers are closing. Left area at fastest possible speed on course 353. 18:57 hrs. Lost all contacts. Surfaced for battery recharging. Due to surfacing to close to targets, could not ID any.
Rmks / 6. 14 April, 20:14 hrs. SJ Radar contact of 3 ships at 10,000 yds. Weather still very favorable. Course 041 at 8.1 kts. 20:15 hrs. Ships spotted, 1 Oil Tanker, 1 Armed Merchant Cruiser and 1 Standard Merchant Ship. On course of 217 at 16 kts. No escort. 20:25 hrs. Closed to within 1700 yds and fired 2 bow torpedoes at Tanker. One torpedo prematurely detonated and the second struck and sank target. Altered course and plotted new solution for Standard Merchant at 1090 yds. Fired 2 bow torpedoes. 1 Dud and one hit. Surfaced and began Deck Gun action. 20:32hrs. Fired 1 bow torpedo. Hit and sank target with the combination of Deck Gun action at 10-06N,109-45E. Altered course to intercept AMC. 22:41 hrs. Began deck Gun action and fired one bow torpedo at 2800 yds. Targets speed matched ours. Could not gain. Torpedo was a dud. 22:47 hrs. Fired one more bow torpedo at AMC, but it prematurely detonated 30 seconds out. 20:48 hrs. After good success of hits deck gun fired 1 more bow torpedo at 2200 yds. Missed target on portside. 21:13 hrs. No deck gun ammo left. Have to close for aft shot. Increased to flank on a ajacent course of target. 23:00 hrs. Target at 991 yds. Fired 1 aft torpedo. Hit target. Now on fire. Fired one more aft torpedo. Hit target and sank at 9-16N,109-58E. Before torpedo struck target damaged us with one shell from her deck gun. Damage as follows:
Due to damage and remaining torpedoes mostly to be aft. Will return to base for refit.
Patrol Summary
Ships Sunk:
2 Armed Merchant Cruisers 23,060 tons 1 Standard Merchant Ship 12,780 tons 1 Oil Tanker 13,420 tons ————————————————————————————————————————— TOTAL 49,260 tons
Ships escaped:
2 unidentified CL's 9 unidentified Destroyers 2 Fubuki class destroyers 1 Mutsuki class destroyer 2 Akizuki class destroyers 1 Asashio class destroyer 1 Yugumo class destroyer 2 Armed Merchant Cruisers 1 Oil Tanker
Ordinance Remaining: 7 Torpedoes and 0 Deck Gun Shells
Game settings: Manual TDC, Veteran Crew. First trip with this Sub on Crew experience.
LCDR Duke Cummings
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