// Immediate //
From: CDR Duke Cummings, CO. USS Skate (SS-305)
To: ComSub
Date: March 1944
Subject: Patrol Report Sept. Cycle I
Rmks/1. 2 March 1944. Left Freemantle to assigned patrol area in the South China Sea. Completed several successful emergency dives on route to PZ.
Rmks/2. 10 March. 18:30 hrs. Reached PZ and began patrol.
Rmks/3. 12 March. 14:20 hrs. Radar contact of ships 32,000 yards out on course 338. Submerged to radar depth. Seas moderate and weather conditions partly cloudy. 14:24 hrs. Air contact reported at 17,000 yards. Took a final bearing on targets and submerged to 150 ft. No thermal layer encountered. 14:37 hrs. Estimated due to last contact that ships were about 5,000 yards out. Surfaced to periscope depth for a look. Spotted 2 ships still on course 338 but too far for identification. Figured planes still in area and submerged to 100 ft and continued to close on there port quarter. 15:11 hrs. Surfaced to radar depth. Sighted 1 Nagero Battleship, 1 Ise battle ship, 1 Kongo Battleship and 1 Yamato battleship. 4 Destroyer escort types unknown due to BB range of 2000 yards. 1 plane still circling but not near us. Dove to periscope depth and calculated for Yamato BB. 15:16 hrs. Fired all 6 bow torpedoes with a 2-degree angle to starboard 3 seconds apart, at target and ordered a crash dive. Sound reported 1 hit on vessel cut across torpedo path and 5 hits on Yamato. DD's have acquired and are begging DC run. Couldn't go up for a look. 15:22 hrs. Damage from DC attack has been reported through out the ship. Periscope out of action. Deck Gun out of action. Aft engine room reports engine 3 has moderate damage but repairable. Crew Quarters has pressure hull damage and moderate leaking. 16:04 hrs. Damage control party reports all leaks in the crew quarters have been repaired. 16:17 hrs. More damage reported. Sound heads moderate, Forward engine room moderate leaking. 17:30 hrs. Engine room repaired. 17:59 hrs. Lost sonar contacts. Surfaced to periscope depth. 18:02 hrs. Spotted by plane. He must have reported my position to the DD's who are now returning. Ordered dive to 150 ft. Plane dropped bomb at us but missed. 18:26 hrs. DD's have required and beginning DC run. Between the times of 18:34 and 22:05 received heavy damage as follows: Aft torpedo Room hull damage with heavy leaking, dive planes damaged, Motor Room reports hull damage with heavy leaking, DC motor 1 & 3 heavy damage, DC Motor 2 critical but repairable, Aft engine room: Engine 3 & 4 damaged beyond repair, Forward engine room reports pressure hull damage with severe leaking, engines 1 & 2 critical but repairable, radio room has pressure hull damage with heavy leaking, radio out of action, Control Room reports sound heads damaged beyond repair, SD radar heavy damage but repairable, Storage Room has pressure hull damage with heavy leaking, Forward Batteries have heavy damage, Forward torpedo room reports dive planes have heavy damage, tubes 1,2,3 &4 outer door damage but repairable. 00:12 hrs 13 March. DD's are out of sonar range batteries in need of repair. Most of the leaks have been repaired, however some damage needs to be attended to topside. 00:26 hrs. Surfaced to repair and recharge batteries. Chief reported that due to the extensive pressure hull damage deep dives are not recommended. Decided to head for Freemantle for repairs.
Enemy ships sunk: 0
Enemy ships damaged: 1 Yamato class Battleship and 1 unidentified vessel.
Damage: Extensive damage as reported above.
Ordinance remaining: 18 torpedoes and 95 deck gun shells.
Health and Habitability: Most serious injury to crew was an broken arm suffered by seaman first class Harold Dykes all other injuries were minor and attended to by the chief pharmacist mate.
Signature,
CDR Duke Cummings
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