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From : CDR Duke Cummings CO. USS Skate (SS-305)
To : Comsubron4
Date : 1944, January 4
Subject : Patrol Report for August Cycle II

Rmks/1. 11 January. Tuesday. Conducted several emergency dive tests to 450 feet, began patrol off the Malaysian coast. (0-41S, 108-41E) Heading 308 degrees. Depth 16 ft. Speed 4.3 kts. Weather conditions for this patrol remained constant. Seas calm and skies mostly cloudy.

Rmks/2. 12 January. Weds. 00:46 hrs. Radar contact at 32,000 yards. Targets course projected to 099 at a speed of 16 kts. Altered to intercept course now 278. 01:34 hrs. Destroyers spotted. 1 Akizuki class and 1 Kagero class. Medium convoy consisting of 6 ships. 5 ships identified due to poor visibility. 2 Small Freighters, 2 Oil Tankers and 1 Supply ship. All ships within 3000 yard range. Ships are staggered in 3 sets of 2. 2 tankers are paired on behind the other. Poor angle on first off 2 Tankers. Lined up for shot on 2nd Tanker. Fired 2 Mark 14 torp. At 5 sec. interval with a depth setting of 9ft. 1st fish missed target, 2nd struck target and ignited. Tanker on fire. 01:45. 1st Tanker now accessible. Increased to flank speed to stay ahead off on coming escorts. Calculated and fired 1 Mark 14 torp. And 1 Mark 18. 1st fish hit target and exploded. Mark 18 dud. Passed presently engaged target on portside and at 570 yards fired 1 Mark 14 torp. from aft tube. Hit and sunk (0-06N, 106-48E) Escorts still haven't acquired. Calculated for an aft shot on 1st Tanker engaged at 1800 yds and closing. Fired Mark 18 at 1200 yards. Hit and sunk at same coordinates. Dove to 350 feet. Convoy has now scattered on various courses and speeds. DD's have acquired. Sound informs me of merchant vessel coming up fast directly astern. Slowed to 7.4 kts and tried to stay under ship. Course 250. Surfaced to 250 feet and maintain course and speed. 02:16. Merchant vessel has changed course to starboard screws growing faint. Remained on course and speed. 02:38 Lost all sonar contacts. Surfaced to periscope depth. No visible sighting. Surfaced to charge batteries. Continuing patrol.

Rmks/3. 12 January. Weds. 17:41. Radar contact at 32,000 yards. Course 016 speed 4.9kts. Targets course 127 at 29.3 kts. 18:10. Targets inside of 5000 yards dove to radar depth. 18:26. Sonar reports 4 targets. Only 2 have become visible. 1 CL Kuma class and 1 Destroyer Kagero class. Targets are 3200 yards. 19:11. Altered to 047 and still can not get a good firing solution. Targets ducking in and out of visibility. 19:48. Lost all contact. No good opportunity presented itself. Continuing on.

Rmks/4. 13 January. 04:48. Radar contact. 30610 yards. And closing fast. Course 137. Speed 4.8 kts. Targets course 330 relative at 21 kts. 05:01. Targets within 6000 yards. Dove to radar depth. 05:19. Sonar confirms 6 patrol vessels in area. Spotted 1 Yugumo class destroyer. Dove to 100 feet. 05:20. Sonar reports heavy screws on course 335. Speed unknown. Plotted intercept course. 05:26. Surfaced to periscope depth. Believed targets to be outside of 2000-yard range. Targets are inside of that range. Identified 2 CA's class unknown. 1 Ryuho class CV and 1 Taiho class CV. Tracked Taiho class CV. Fired 4 Bow Mark 14 torpedoes at CV, Range 800yards. Recalculated for closest CA coming astern. Fired 4 aft torpedoes 3 Mark 14's and 1 Mark 18. CA too close. Emergency dive. Miss calculated distance. CA knocked periscope out of action. Sonar reports 5 hits. CV breaking up. CA slightly damaged and continuing on course. Changed course to 248. DD's have acquired. Altered course to 096 and increased to flank. DD's dropping DC's at their last contact. Destroyers still moving in my direction. Slowed to 7.1 kts. 05:57. DD"s now dropping DC's on my position, but wrong depth settings. 07:35. Lost all sonar contacts. Remained submerged for an additional 2 hours before surfacing to recharge batteries. 09:45. Periscope beyond repair. Minor leaking in conning tower from damaged scopes. Will wait for repairs and then return to base.

Rmks/5. 13 January. 10:15. While waiting for repairs to be completed, radar reports contact at 30,000 yards. Decided to investigate. XO strongly protesting against. Continuing on intercept course 246 at 2.8 kts. Radar shows 6 ships. 11:22. Ships spotted by look out. 1 Troop Transport, 1 Standard Merchant vessel, 1 Oil Tanker, 2 Large Freighters and 1 Supply Ship. Decided to circle directly aft of targets to avoid there deck guns. Fired 2 (Mark 14) bow torpedoes at closest ship (Standard Merchant). Wrong settings and missed target. Reconfigured heading and fired 1 Mark 14 and 1 Mark 18 torpedoes. Both hit and exploded on contact. Vessel on fire. Sank with Deck gun action. (1-36N, 105-29E). Closed in on next target. Troop Transport. Sank with deck gun action. (1-36N, 105-30E). Closed in on Oil Tanker. Ships are scattering. Receiving heavy fire from 3 ships. On the advice of my XO, decided to dive and vacate area. All ships escaped on various headings and speeds. Returning to base for refit.

Patrol Summary:

Ships Sunk:

2 Oil Tankers              13,170 tons ea.
1 Escort CV Taiho class    20,000 tons
1 Standard Merchant        13,630 tons
1 Troop Transport          10,020 tons
——————————————————————————————————————————
TOTAL                      69,996 tons

Ships damaged: 1 CA class unknown.

Ships escaped: 8 unidentified vessels, 2 Yugumo class destroyers, 1 Kuma class CL, 1 unknown class CA, 1 Ryuho class CV, 1 Kagero class destroyer, 1 Oil Tanker, 2 Large Freighters, 2 Supply ships, and 2 Small Freighters.

Ordinance remaining: 31 Deck gun shells, 3 Mark 18 Torpedoes, 3 Mark 14 Torpedoes.

Damage sustained: Minor leaking in conning tower. Repaired. Periscope damaged beyond repair.

HEALTH AND HABITABILITY: 1 crewmember slightly injured during depth charge attack, but recovered favorably. Chief reported minor work needed on air condition units after obtaining a depth of 425 feet during test dives. Overall ship in good standing order.

Respectively submitted:

CDR Duke Cummings
Commander USS Skate

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