// IMMEDIATE //
To: ComSubRon 4
Cc: ComSubPac
From: LCDR Greg Turner - USS Muskellunge (SS-262)
Date: August 4, 1944
Re: Patrol Report (Oct 00 Cycle 1)
RMKS/ 1. Arrived on station about noon July 15, 1944. For this trip I had a full load of MK- 14 steam torpedoes. I welcome the added punch and speed nut could do without the wake they leave. I checked the area around Okinawa while in the area.
RMKS/ 2. At 16:18 lookouts spotted three sampans off the port bow. I opened fire four minutes later with the deck gun. Gun crew fired 8 shots for 6 hits and 2 misses. Resumed patrol. At 09:43 SJ radar made contact bearing 349° at 32,720 yds. At 10:05 I went to periscope depth with aircraft at 15,105 yds. Periscope watch spotted one ship as we dove but did not make an ID. Check at 10:31 showed the convoy turning back to the north with a destroyer at 1,922 yds. Dove to 125 feet to reposition. Sound reported the convoy pulling away so I went to Periscope depth. Identified 4 SM, 2 LF, and 6 DDs at 11,470 yds. Surfaced at 12:06 and continued on toward Formosa. Elected to take up a station southwest of the island to watch for traffic heading from or to the Philippines.
RMKS/ 3. Tuesday 18th, 16:50 SJ contact bearing 185° at 32,820 yds. At 17:10 SD radar made contact on an aircraft at 17,000 yds. I ordered the boat to radar depth. At 17:38 SD radar reported three aircraft in the area. I suspect they were convoy air cover. Closest range was 21,070 yds. Convoy moved off by 18:17.
RMKS/ 4. Wednesday 19th, SJ contact bearing172° at 29,420 yds. At 02:38 lookouts made visual on a destroyer at 3,350 yds. Went to radar depth one minute later. At 03:08 went to periscope depth to get a setup on five merchants. To dark for positive identification. At 03:14 fired 2 torpedoes at five-second intervals at a TT at 575 yds. Two minutes later fired 2 torpedoes at 620 yds at an AMC. Sank both ships. Convoy turned to port and I fired 1 torpedo at 03:20 at an SM at 2,000 yds. Just before impact periscope lookouts spotted a DD at 900 yds heading for us. I fired 1 torpedo down the destroyers track as we dove. Bottomed the boat at 213 feet. The impact shook things up a bit but didnt damage anything. I stayed down wait out the escorts. The DD moved off by 05:10. Went to periscope depth and spotted one ship bearing 076° at 7,400 yds. Surfaced at 05:14 to intercept. Identified as a Converted factory ship. Went to PD 2,700 yds ahead of CFS. It turned as I dove closing the gap. At 05:35 fired 2 torpedoes at 970 yds. Hits set ship afire. Fired 3rd torpedo to sink it. At 05:38 radar picked up an air contact at 13,420 yds. Dove to 112 feet and turned west. Turned south at 06:04 to open out. Due to low fuel state I elected to remain in this general area. At 11:55 radar made contact bearing 071° at 32,830 yds. Went to RD at 12:24 with aircraft at 17,100 yds. Convoy passed east of my position. At 12:52 I surfaced for a battery charge. Completed charge by 17:38.
RMKS/ 5. Thursday 20th, 00:53 SJ contact bearing 300° at 34,120 yds. Closest range was 24,000 yds. 06:07 SJ contact bearing 040° at 33,000 yds. 06:28 picked up an air contact at 17,000 yds. Went to RD one minute later. At 06:54 spotted one aircraft and SD radar reported two others. Dove to 150 feet to avoid AC. Convoy passed ahead around 16,500 yds. Surfaced at 07:46 to continue patrol. At 12:01 SJ contact bearing 262° at 29,870 yds. Set intercept course. At 12:25 picked up two air contacts at 17,240 yds. Went to radar depth two minutes later. At 12:13 the periscope watch spotted a Carrier Task Force. Went to periscope depth to attack. At 12:23 a check showed aircraft close ahead. Dove to 150 feet to close. Back to PD by 13:29. Check showed Carrier at 14,000 yds. At 13:35 check showed the Carrier heading my direction. At 13:42 I fired 4 torpedoes at the Carrier (Ryuho) at 1,379 yds also fired 2 torpedoes at a second Carrier at 2,100 yds. Believe it to have been a Kaga class CV. Dove for the bottom after firing to wait out the escorts. Sound reported the first Carrier sinking but heard no hits on the second. I believe it evaded. At 13:46 hit bottom at 250 feet. XO reported seeing six DDs and one escort DD. Task Force had cleared the area by 15:45 and I headed for deeper water to reload. Surfaced at 18:00 and commenced charging. At 18:05 SJ contact bearing 077° at 31,920. Continued charging and set intercept course. At 19:46 lookouts spotted convoy. Identified 2 LF, 1 AMC, 1 Supply, and 2 DDs. Convoy pulled ahead by the time visual was made. Closest contact was at 4,000 yds. Estimated speed was 16 kts. I elected to pass on the convoy due to several reasons.
RMKS/ 6. Friday 21st, 07:29 SJ contact bearing 134° at 33,040 yds. Set intercept course. At 07:37 lookouts spotted ship masts at 23,630 yds. Could not make an ID. Convoy passed ahead at 20,000 yds and pulled away. Identified 1 SM, 3 DDs, and spotted 3 more ships that were not identified. I secured tracking and continued patrolling. At 14:08 SJ made contact bearing 038° at 32,380 yds. Tracking reported little chance of intercepting due to our relative position. I ordered the helm to proceed toward the contact in case it changed its track. At 14:53 lookouts spotted masts at 20,040 yds to port pulling away. Secured tracking.
RMKS/ 7. 23:14 SJ contact bearing 053° at 33,960 yds. I changed course 30° to port to intercept. At 00:22 Saturday 22nd lookouts spotted one Hiyo class Carrier at 4,400 yds. Began working to get a shot. At 00:24 CV turned away to the southeast. At this time spotted one Takao class Heavy Cruiser. I continued east at flank in case they turned north again. Lookouts lost visual at 4,700 yds so I tracked them by radar. TF pulled out to 12,000 yds before turning northeast closing on the coast. I eased into 12,500 yds from the coast and stopped to track the TF. At 00:45 radar reported contacts stationary bearing 021° at 10,575 yds. I doubled the lookouts and moved toward the last known position of the ships. At 01:30 lookouts spotted the CV and Cruiser anchored about 1,000 yds off the coast of Formosa in the shallows. Even though it was dark I went to radar depth to keep from being possible spotted by lookouts. At 01:42 fired 3 torpedoes at the CV at 2,954 yds with the torpedoes set to run slow. Also fired 2 torpedoes at the HC at 3,050 yds also set to run slow. Turned the boat for a stern shot. The three hits set the CV afire. At 01:48 fired a 4th torpedo at the CV and sank it. At 02:00 fired 2 more torpedos at the Cruiser. Third hit set it afire. The fourth torpedo missed astern and hit the beach. Fired a 5th and my last torpedo at 02:03 and sank the Cruiser. Surfaced at 02:09 and headed for deep water at flank. Set course for Pearl Harbor. Arrived Pearl Harbor on August 4, 1944.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions: Seas - Moderate, Weather - Clear
Enemy Sunk:
1. 1 x Hiyo class Carrier 26,949 tons 22-56N x 120-28E 2. 1 x Ryuho class Carrier 15,300 tons 22-49N x 120-10E 3. 1 x Takao class Heavy Cruiser 15,780 tons 22-56N x 120-28E 4. 1 x Troop Transport 7,240 tons 22-36N x 120-21E 5. 1 x Converted Factory Ship 6,340 tons 22-36N x 120-25E 6. 3 x Sampans each 70 tons 25-52N x 126-02E TOTAL = 71,819 tons
Enemy Escaped:
1 x Kaga class Carrier 5 x Standard Merchant 4 x Large Freighters 3 x Unidentified Merchants 1 x Armed Merchant Cruiser 1 x Supply 18 x Destroyers 2 x Escort Destroyers
Damage Sustained: NONE
Ordnance Remaining
Torpedoes: 0
Deck Gun: 87
Comments: The southern area of Formosa is heavy with traffic. Apparently carrying troops and supplies from the south. Recommend wolf pack operations. Unbelievable luck to even run across two Carrier Task Forces much less sink a Carrier. I thank the lord for such a great crew. Request reload and refit.
LCDR Greg Turner
USS Muskellunge (SS-262)
// SENDS //