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From:  LCDR Greg Turner - USS Muskellunge SS-262
To:  ComSubRon 4
Cc:  ComSubPac
Date:  November 17,1944
Subject:  (Patrol Nov00 � Cycle 1)

RMKS/ 1.  Arrived on station in the East China Sea around midday on November 9, 1944. Had a full load of 24 MK-18-2 electric torpedoes on board.

RMKS/ 2.  Friday November 10,1944 SJ contact bearing 028� at 36,610 yds at 05:25. Set intercept course in heavy seas. At 06:50 lookouts spotted 1 � Asashio DD bearing 024� at 7,000 yds. Two minutes later lookouts also spotted one Large Freighter at 8,800 yds. At 06:59 lookouts spotted an Armed Merchant Cruiser and a Standard Merchant emerging out of a squall at 9,200 yds. I secured the tracking party at 07:01 as the convoy pulled away at 10.4 KTS. Seven minutes later SD radar picked up an air contact at 17,000 yds. Remained surfaced and manned the AA gun. At 07:17 the port lookout spotted a twin engine plane at about 3,700 yds bearing 255�. Seconds later the AA gun opened fire and we watched as the tracers tore into the flight deck and port engine. The plane dove into the ocean a few moments later. Radar reported the convoy at 11,400 yds and opening out. At 07:57 I ordered a trim dive to check the depth. Touched bottom at 125 feet with 60 fathoms showing on the charts. Surfaced and headed northwest. At 08:50 made another dive to check the depth and hit bottom at 100 feet with 50 fathoms showing on the charts. Surfaced and continued patrolling.

RMKS/ 3.  15:28 SJ contact bearing 049� at 33,640 yds. Set intercept course. By 18:14 had closed to 18,000 yds. At 20:50 radar reported contact at 4,400 yds, Due to the darkness and intermittent rain it was hard to get a visual. At 21:11 the starboard lookouts spotted one ship bearing 025� but lost it in a rainsquall before identification could be made. I set a better intercept course to get ahead of the convoy. At 21:27 lookouts spotted two additional ships and identified one as an oil Tanker. 22:07 I dove to radar depth 900 yds off the convoy�s starboard beam. Identified 2 � OT, 1 � TT, 1 � SM, 1 � LF, and 1 � unidentified. At 22:08 fired 2 torpedoes at the Troop Transport bearing 022� at 1,250 yds. Thirty seconds later fired 2 torpedoes at an Oil Tanker at 650 yds. At 22: 09 fired 2 torpedoes at second oil Tanker at 880 yds. Hits on TT broke its back. Hits on the first Tanker blowed out its side and set it afire before it sank. Second tanker exploded in a giant fireball. At 22:13 fired 2 torpedoes at Standard Merchant at 1,300 yds. Hits set it afire and I fired a 3rd torpedo, which sank it. I surfaced to intercept the LF and radar reported a ship closing from the south. Suspecting it was an escort I pulled out to the northwest. Radar also reported a single fast moving contact at 28,740 yds bearing 303�. Unable to close due to extremely rough seas.

RMKS/ 4.  Saturday November 11,1944 SJ contact bearing 014� at 32,750 yds. Set intercept course. At 08:30 made trim dive to check depth before making contact. Bottom at 125 feet. By 08:40 back on the surface when lookouts spotted 1 � LF at 10,500 yds bearing 346� plus 1 � AMC, 1 � OT, 1 � SM and 1 � DD at 11,600 yds. Average speed 9.9 KTS. At 08:44 dove to radar depth to avoid the DD. With the ships rolling in the rough seas getting by the DD was easy. At 09:06 a periscope check identified 5 � Oil Tankers, 3 � Standard Merchants, 1 � Armed merchant Cruiser and 1 � Large Freighter. At09:07 fired 2 torpedoes at OT at 920 yds. Fired 2 torpedoes at AMC at 930 yds and fired 2 torpedoes at a second OT at 1,800 yds. First tanker sank after breaking up. Hits set AMC afire but failed to stop it. Second OT caught fire and burned fiercely before sinking. By 09:09 I had turned the boat enough to bring the stern tubes to bare and fired a 3rd torpedo at the damaged AMC at 1,300 yds. Seconds after firing the AMC turned starboard and evaded the torpedo. At 09:20 in position to fire at third tanker when all remaining ships turned port. With no shot I pulled out to the northwest. The damaged AMC headed south. Since the DD was spotted coming from that direction. I chose not to pursue the AMC. Periscope watch reported that one tanker and one merchant headed north while the remaining ships headed east.

RMKS/ 5.  09:47 I surfaced to intercept the northern tanker. At 10:21 the tanker turned southwest allowing me to rapidly close the distance. Also dove to radar depth 2,000 yds off the tankers port beam. At 10:26 fired 2 torpedoes at the tanker at 1,200 yds. I stopped engines after firing to observe the hits. Ship exploded and sank in 10 minutes. At 10:28 radar reported contact bearing 105� at 37,380 yds pulling away. Chart showed islands and reefs in that area so I didn�t give chase. I headed northeast and at 10:54 I surfaced and commenced charging the battery. At 12:30 SJ contact bearing 003� at 32,970 yds. Radar reported the current course would cross the convoy�s track. At 13:34 lookouts spotted one escort at 11,000 yds so I dove to radar depth and continued to close. At 13:46 radar reported the escort at 5,200 yds and the convoy at 11,500 yds. One minute later lookouts spotted the convoy emerging out of a rain shower and identified 1 � SM, and 1 � AMC or an LF. At 14:00 identified one Type D Patrol Craft. Three minutes later I surfaced for an end around and lookouts identified 2 � SF, 5 � Supply, 2 � SM, 2 � LF, 1 � OT and 1 � AMC. At 16:08 the Patrol Craft reversed its course and headed at me. I was preparing to dive when it turned away. By 17:53 I was 1,800 yds ahead and dove to radar depth to start my attack. At 17:28 fired my last 2 forward torpedoes at a tanker at 2,000 yds then swung around for a stern shot. Convoy turned to starboard after tanker exploded giving me an easier setup. At 17:30 fired 2 torpedoes at SM at 658 yds. Hits set it afire so I fired a 3rd torpedo that sank it. One minute later fired my last torpedo at AMC at 880 yds then dove to avoid a LF coming at me. At 17:42 surfaced for a gun attack since it was extremely dark. Had fired 43 rounds into a SM setting it afire when lookouts spotted a Patrol Craft closing at 2,000 yds. I elected to fight due to its closeness. Sank PC with gun then fired the last of my ammunition at the damaged SM. Secured the gun and set course for Pearl harbor.

Patrol Summary:

TDC:  Auto

Conditions:

Seas: Heavy
Weather: Overcast

Enemy Sunk:

TOTAL:  76,950 tons

Enemy Damaged:

1. 1 x Oil tanker
2. 2 x Standard Merchant
3. 2 x Armed Merchant Cruiser

Enemy Escaped:

1. 5 x Supply
2. 4 x Large Freighter
3. 4 x Standard Merchant
4. 2 x Oil Tanker
5. 2 x Small Freighter
6. 4 x DD unidentified
7. 1 x Merchant unidentified
8. 1 x Patrol Craft Type-C

Damage Sustained:  None

Ordnance Remaining:

Torpedoes: 0
Deck Gun: 0

Comments:  Request refit and reload. God speed to the men of the Muskellunge.

LCDR Greg Turner
USS Muskellunge SS-262

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