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To: Commander, SUBRON 6A
From: Commanding Officer USS TROUT (SS-202)
OPERATIONAL ORDER: May 00/Cycle I
Subject: NARRATIVE Patrol Report October 1942

Rmks. October 4/ 0900 Departed Midway. Made Trim Dive and received indoctrination depth charges from escort. Set speed 10 knots for area, Southern Japan.

Rmks. October 5-13/ Transit time 9.5 days 28,290 gal fuel used, 71,859 remaining.

Rmks. Day 1, 13 Oct./ Arrived in patrol area October 13, pos 30-27N, 130-18E, time: 0311. Moderate seas we entered the Osumi Shoto and proceed on course 027d 6knts. 0415 encountered thick fog. Remained surfaced due to very poor visibility. 0645 submerged for trim dive and sound search. 0700 surfaced, changed course to 069d, speed-STD to transit Tanegt Shima Straights. 1215 changed course to place a search 12NM off eastern Coast in NNE direction. Submerged and conducted sound searches every 45 min. Sunset 1712, slowed to AAH2/3 ordered Torpedo checks. 1800 arrived 12NM south of BUNGO SUIDO.

Rmks. Day 2, 14 Oct./ 1240, Fog lifted. On course 315T immediately after sounding the diving alarm to conduct a sound search, sight Yugumo Class DD 040R range @2kyds. Man Battle stations! Bearing 300R 1 A.M.C. and one oil tanker making 5kts course 175T range 2kyds. AAH FLK left full rudder course 270 to intercept and put narrow view to DD. Too late, he lobs two rounds at us as we go under, no damage. This causes convoy to speed up and scatter. AMC radically changes course to right, tanker breaks left into our ballpark. At flank speed, we take TROUT hard right to course 355T and get range by telemeter of 2100 yds. Target course 050T, speed 13kts based on bow wake. No time to refine setup, fire tubes 1, 4 sec later 2, 4 sec later 3. Torpedoes spread by constant periscope bearings, 10ft depth setting. We flood negative, rig for silent running, rig for depth charge and go deep. 30 seconds later we hear a low rumble, 1 hit. 10 sec later a terrific explosion is heard, scratch one Tanker! There was a lot of luck in that situation! Third fish a miss. Sound reports at least 5 other sets of slow speed screws. The next hour was the payback. 0151 surfaced in calm empty seas. 0400 fog rolled in killing visibility, remained on surface. 0630 sighted Kaergo DD bearing 326T, manned Battle stations. Turned hard to port to point our stern at him and pull the plug. 0633 DD fires two rounds at us as we go under. Down deep and fast, we receive Japans finest for the next 4 hours. 1022 sound reports last DD speeding away, we go to PD and stay there rest of the day. 1200 numerous distant pinging heard, 1230 Kaergo DD sighted on course 180T range 5000 yds, likely hunting TROUT. Reversing course to avoid patrol. 1800 surface and charge our half flat can. I ordered the XO to "Splice the Main Brace" To celebrate the TROUT’s first kill.

Rmks. Day 3 - 15/ Oct. calm seas, medium fog. 0014- three merchants come into view, Man Battle stations! Troop transport, large freighter, and oil tanker course 270T lead ship range 2000yds. Short notice again, we pull the plug, and come to course 135T, ALL STOP. Distance to track 400 yds, Torpedo depth setting 11ft. Generate solution, creeping speed, fire tubes 1, 2 and 3, spread by constant periscope bearings. 0018-Scratch one transport. Second maru in column swings right, we swing left, AASTD Course 090T. Fire tubes 4, 5, and 6 all spread by constant periscope bearings. 0020 #1-DUD, 2&3 destroy Maru. Tanker pouring on the coal, battle surface to get ahead and set up on stern tubes. During the short end around, we pump 25 RDS into him to slow him down. At 1000 yds, he opens fire and hits us amidships damaging the pressure hull in radio, steering gear in control, and air lines to tubes 1&3. TROUT forges ahead and sets up. Fire tubes 7, 8, 9. Seven prematures, Fire 10. All miss! 0047-we proceed to finish him off with another 41 rounds. Next, we clear area to lick our wounds and reload tubes. TDC found damaged from earlier hit, under repair. I suspect it was the cause of our 3 misses. 0600- submerge for a day of periscope and sound search, and complete repairs. 0633- Sound reports low speed screws! 0638- Troop Transport sighted with 2 other small maru’s. Ideal firing position. Transport on course North, range 1500yds, AOB stbd 35 Mark! Fire tubes 3- 4- 5- 6. Torpedo’s spread by constant periscope bearings. Three premature’s , Dud-dud-dud! Target Zig’s toward us. We go left and deep. Then surface 4 min later and end around. Setup on stern tubes, and then submerge so as not to spook him. Fire tubes 7-8-9. All fish spread by periscope bearings. Seven misses, we back it up with a fish from tube 10. Fish from TT-8- dud, finally at 0659-fish from TT-9 breaks her back, 10-dud! Crew exhausted after nearly 3 days at Battle stations. Surface, top off the can, then submerge and start working our way south with 3 fish forward. 1050- OOD spots 2 Sampans. Man Battle stations Surface! 1059- Dispose of #1--No survivors. 1102- Finish off the second, pick up 2 survivors who are happy to be aboard TROUT. Set Course 160T AAFLK to clear area. 1208- Changed course to 245T AA2/3. Visibility dropping rapidly as fog rolls in. 1210- dive to RD. 1235- Sound picks up fast and slow screws bearing 030R. Swung right to 345T AAFLK to close target track. Sighted one Kaergo DD speed- 20 knots between the convoy and us. With three fish fwd we decide to take on the Smaller Maru figuring at least 2 fish will work right. 1244- Gyros at zero, we launch a three torpedo spread, depth setting 6ft, and 90d target track. 1 hit, 2 dud, 3 hit scratch Small Freighter. Trout goes deep and silent to evade, what a hammering, thought it would never end! 1629- surface, commence a battery charge, and start heading home. Visibility very poor. I order the watch doubled. 1830- we find ourselves in the middle of a convoy! 900yds to our STBD beam is a Supply ship. Man Battle stations Surface! TROUT’s gun crew pumps 30 shells and open her guts up before the escorts figure out where we are. Almost too easy. AAFLK course 270T and we clear the area safely. One last time before Midway, Trout "Splices the Main Brace." Our Japanese POW seems to have decided that he would clean the engine room bilges to earn his keep, I’m sure the Motor Mac’s will appreciate that!

TDC: MANUAL

DAMAGE: Light Hull, Internal fittings

ORDNANCE REMAINING: 0 Torpedoes, 5 3" Shells

Summary of Torpedo Performance:

9 Hits w/detonation
8 Hits - Duds
2 Premature Detonations
5 Misses

SHIPPING SUNK:

2 Sampans		140 tons
2 tankers		9220 tons
2 Troop Transports		19,160 tons
1 Large Freighter		4730 tons
1 supply ship		2800 tons
1 small freighter		2020 tons
Total tonnage sunk:		38,070 tons

Fuel used: 62%

Length of Patrol: 21 days

CREW PERFORMANCE: Average

MATERIAL CONDITION: There were few material problems. SD radar performed flawlessly, Galley Hatch began leaking on return to Midway, Torpedo tube # 4 Shutter began to rattle en-route to Midway also. Still went down once for 2 days but was repaired with spare parts carried onboard.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: Visibility was extremely poor, sea state was calm, No noticeable gradients as we went down to our test depth + 100ft. Detect ability was in the enemy’s favor.

HEALTH AND HABITABILITY: Crew health was noticeably well, Habitability fair, 1 A/C unit failed 1 unit worked flawlessly.

Respectfully submitted:

Frank Kulick
Comdr, USS Trout

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