// IMMEDIATE //
To: Commander, SUBRON 4
From: Commanding Officer USS TROUT (SS-202)
OPERATIONAL ORDER: May 00/Cycle II
Subject: NARRATIVE Patrol Report January 1943
Rmks. January 03/ 1600 Departed Fremantle. Made Trim Dive and received indoctrination depth charges from escort. Set speed 10 knots for PZ, Philippine Sea.
Rmks. January 03-12/ Transit time 9.5 days 31,740 gal fuel used, 67,548 gal (67%) remaining fuel conservation will be a concern. Air activity normal, no contacts encountered.
Rmks. Day 1, 12 Jan./ 1735-Arrived in patrol area , pos 18-18N, 125-03E. Moderate seas entering the PI Sea proceeding on course 234T 6kts. With 1/3 of our fuel to patrol, we decide to search in a southern wide zig pattern toward the Straits of San Bernardine. SJ working well, hopes are high it will remain that way.
Rmks. Day 2, 13 Jan./ 0000, Out of nowhere Heavy seas. Making only 3kts by log, we change course to 180T to gain headway south. 0224- SJ Contact Bearing 355T. 0237- sight 4 Sampans. I order the Chief of the Boat to have the gun crew don harnesses due to the weather, and TROUT “Man’s Battle Stations Surface” for the first time this patrol. 0308- we dispose of the vermin, and resume southward Track. 1046- SJ Contact 14kyds. 1048 SD Contact 8 miles closing fast. We go to Battle stations. Not willing to disclose our presence, we dive to 100ft AAFULL course North. 1058 back at RD targets have zigged SSW at 13kyds brg 189T. Figuring they will head in a northerly direction next leg of their pattern we change course to 270T and come to 100ft. 1103- listened with sonar -nothing. 1118- at RD an air contact drives us down to PD at 1 mile, but we get a quick look at the contacts. Bearing 245T, 8kyds, on a northward course. Air contact opening fast, we get a high look as I order the boat broached. 1120 we finally get a look. CA group course 000T speed @15kts, back down to 100ft to close track. 1126- back at RD targets on course 315T range 9200, back down to 80ft to conduct our “duck and run.” 1131-at RD lost sight, only the STBD escort in sight. We will take one last shot at this. 1135- Fly over. 1137- at RD nothing visual, SJ has group opening fast, and air cover moving on. 1140- surface, course 270T AAHFLK. Seas are only allowing 9 kts. Suddenly planes begin to close, FAST! We pull the plug, but the seas have a suction on us. One flyer sights us just as we finally go under and drops a dust finding bomb, breaking glass and generally irritating the whole crew. 1148- with the can half flat and our unwelcome guests peppering the ocean with bombs, we head north to clear area and the DD coming in! 1157- we begin evasive maneuvers, but with only one DD we decide to take him on. 1221, at PD, range 1500 yds. AOB S- 90, he gets a solid “ping”, speeds up and drives in with a bone in his teeth. Two torpedo spread from stern tubes, 1/2d left and right of his bow, plasters him! 1230-, 250ft AAH2/3 we clear the area with the “can” reading yellow. 1330- AA1/3, 150ft resume southern track keeping watch on sonar. Crew is bumming but keeps busy with maintenance, quals, and a movie before dinner. 1700- surface and begin a long and badly needed charge.
Rmks. Day 3, 14 Jan/ The raging seas continue. 0228- SJ goes down, rapidly the technicians have it ripped apart attempting to fix it. Quiet day.
Rmks. Day 4, 15 Jan 0000/ This lousy weather continues. 0132- SJ back up and running hot. 0218- SJ contact 14kyds bearing 000R, single pip. Man Battlestations! Change course to 270T to move off targets track . 0338- Visual on a Troop Transport course 000T range 3500 yds. SJ giving us good ranges. 0355- submerge to RD to keep our presence concealed. 0358- 2 torpedo spread depth setting 14ft gyro angle 45d range 2100 yds, tubes 8 & 9. Both hit and explode sending the transport to Davey Jones Locker. 0530- SJ poops out again. 0650- Submerge, we will patrol by sound and intermittent high periscope sweeps today to give crew a rest from the heavy seas. 1245- sound picks up fast screws 128R. At PD we sight 5DD escorting 1 Naka class Light cruiser. Man Battle stations! Course 250, 80ft, AAH Full to close track. 1255- We fire a four torpedo spread 8ft depth 20d gyro all spread by constant periscope bearings. 1 premature’s just before hitting, 2 & 3 are duds, and the fourth either misses or runs under. Rig for depth charge, rig for silent running, double back to 090T, take her deep! By luck, clean getaway. 1441-surface, all contacts 14K and opening. 2350- SJ contact 3-4 small and one Big pip, man Battle stations!
Rmks. Day 5,16 Jan/ Damn storm won’t quit. Plot course to intercept. 0005-5600yds on the SJ no visual. 0014- finally a view, heavy cruiser course 000T making @ 15 knots, distance to track 1900yds. 0034- submerge to RD. 6 torpedo attack spread by TDC range 1600 yds-2 hits caused a fire, other four were all duds. 0036- counter detected, crash dive, rig for silent running and depth charge. Destroyers coming in fast, I’d say we are screwed, but somebody on this boat has friends in the right place, clean getaway-again! 0301-Surface all clear. 0634- all tubes loaded, submerge for a sonar and high periscope search day. 1058- sound picks up fast screws 270R. 0636- visual, but it’s a fast convoy and we have no chance to get into a firing position because of sea state. 1743-Surface, commence a normal battery charge. 1753- we take a large wave down the hatch and the SJ is down again. 1847-we spot an escort @3500 yds, Man Battle stations! 1915- SJ back up and we get an electronic picture of the convoy. 1926- we submerge to have sonar pick out the merchant. With a good idea of the convoys make-up we surface AAH FLK and plot a course to intercept. 1956- submerge to RD, and pinging escorts. Guess we blew our cover. Crash dive to go under the incoming escorts, but we bottom out. AAH FLK charging towards the known bearing of the merchant, we barely clear the ash cans. 2008- at RD and escorts coming up our stern, we get a quick set-up on a large merchant, and launch three torpedo’s all spread by constant periscope bearings, depth 9ft, range 900 yds, 5 sec intervals. Two of the three prematured, only one operated properly. Crash dive to 170 feet and course 180 to deep water. 2018 we rig for silent running. 2038- pinging far behind and we have gotten away once again-clean.! 2130- surface and fill the can, continue our hunt to the east.
Rmks. Day 6,17 Jan/ Storm perseveres. 0146-SJ Contact 13kyds and TROUT goes to Battle stations. 0223- Visual on Asashio class DD, we head in submerged at RD. The formation turns directly toward and we find ourselves with two light cruisers 10d either side of our bow! We choose the Nagara Class on the right and launch our last three forward fish all spread by constant periscope bearings, depth setting 8ft, range 900 yds. All three either miss or go under. We get a new setup on the other CL with the stern tubes, same settings except we adjust speed to 15kts. All fish perform perfectly and the emperor will have to bear the loss! 0249- Down at test depth + 60ft we evade and get our final clean getaway of the patrol.
TDC: MANUAL
DAMAGE: NONE
ORDNANCE REMAINING: 0 Torpedoes, 90 3” Shells
Summary of Torpedo Performance:
| 11 Hits w/detonation |
| 4 Hits-DUD’s |
| 3 Premature Detonations |
| 6 Misses |
SHIPPING SUNK:
| 4 Sampans | 140 tons | |
| 1 Large Freighter | 4730 tons | |
| 1 Yugumo class DD | 2520 tons | |
| 1 Troop Transport | 9580 tons | |
| 1 Nagara class Light Cruiser | 5570 tons | |
| Total tonnage sunk: | 22,680 tons | |
Fuel used: 71% - Spent a lot of time at one engine speed to conserve fuel.
Length of Patrol: 21 days
CREW PERFORMANCE: Average
MATERIAL CONDITION: SD radar went down several times, but technicians we able to revive it.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: Visibility was extremely poor, heavy seas, gradients may have been present as we went down to our test depth + 80ft. escape was in our favor.
HEALTH AND HABITABILITY: Crew health was well, the heavy seas contributed to numerous minor injuries. Habitability fair, Both A/C units worked flawlessly while submerged. Temperatures were appropriate for this time of year, and location.
Respectfully submitted:
Frank Kulick
Comdr, USS Trout
// SENDS //
// BT