// IMMEDIATE //
From: LCDR Greg Turner - (USS Tarpon)
To: ComSubRon 4
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: Jan 26, 1943
Re: Patrol Report (May 00 - Cycle II)
RMKS/ 1. Arrived at Patrol Station on night of Jan 12, 1943. Patrolled up East coast toward Tsugaru Strait.
RMKS/ 2. 00:13, Jan 13. Made SJ contact bearing 342�, at 3,800 yds. Made visual contact moments later on 1 Sampan. Sank with gunfire Southeast of Ishunomaki Wan Harbor.
RMKS/ 3. 14:06 - Made SJ contact bearing 011�, range 13,625 yds. Made visual contact at 14:14 on convoy. Identified 1 - Converted Factory Ship, 1 - Troop Transport, and 1 - Asashio class DD. At 14:25 I secured the tracking party as the DD crossed over to my side of the convoy thus blocking any chance of gaining a firing position. Closest contact was at 7,923 yds. Continued patrol as soon as ships passed out of sight.
RMKS/ 4. Arrived Tsugaru Strait about 17:30. Dove to test depth to check trim. 04:25 Jan 14 - Made SJ radar contact bearing 341�, range 12,150 yds. Tracking party confirmed that target was in the Sea of Japan. Ran into patrol at 05:26. Identified 1 - Yagumo class DD. I went to radar depth and listened as Destroyer continued sonar search. I moved farther East to avoid patrol.
RMKS/ 5. 08:01 SJ contact bearing 1,771 yds, range 9,960 yds. Identified as 1 - Shiratsuyu class DD. Sound reported low speed screws bearing 3231 at 08:05. Made visual on convoy 11 minutes later. Identified 3 - Standard Merchants, 2 - Large Freighters, 1 - Oil Tanker, 1 - Converted Factory Ship. At 08:18 convoy turned to 317� heading away from me. I reduced speed to standard and listened to escorts pinging with active sonar. Closest range was 7,210 yds. At 08:22 I noticed Oil Tanker suddenly changed course and almost collided with a Standard Merchant while proceeding to far side of convoy. Escort headed directly toward me. I dove to 250 feet and set course East at 2/3. Surfaced at 09:39 and set course for an end around on convoy. Called off search at 11:20 and continued patrol.
RMKS/ 6. SJ contact bearing 034�; range 13,670 yds at 16:28. Made visual on escort 5 minutes later at 10,140 yds. Identified as 1 - Kagero class DD. Went to radar depth as DD closed to 9,000 yds. Spotted 2 - Standard Merchants, 2 - Small Freighters, 1 - Troop Transport, 1 - Converted Factory Ship, 1 - Armed Merchant Cruiser, 1 - Oil Tanker, 1 - Large Freighter, 1 - Supply ship and 1 - Yagumo class DD. Convoy was bearing 033�, at 11.3 kts. I proceeded to periscope depth and increased to flank speed. Closest contact was 4,810 yds on Troop Transport. I reduced speed to standard as convoy disappeared in direction of Murocan harbor. I Surfaced and set course South to search water off Tokyo Bay.
RMKS/ 7. Jan, 15 - 23:56 - SJ contact bearing 036�, range 12,640 yds. Made visual just after midnight on Cruiser Task Force. Identified 2 - Nagumo class Light Cruisers, 3 - Mutsuki class DD, 1 - Asashio class DD, 1 - Fubuki class DD. Closest position on TF was 2,290 yds with their speed at 23.1 kts. I secured at 00:14 and continued south.
RMKS/ 8. SJ contact bearing 159�, range 14,970 yds at 01:49 Jan 16. At 02:02 radar confirmed target was overtaking me so I secured engines and waited to make visual. Made visual 30 minutes later at 6,200 yds on 1 - Large Freighter and 2 - Small Freighters. I proceeded to radar depth and prepared to fire. Targeted LF for torpedo shot with the intention to sink the SM with gunfire. At 02:55 I fired 2 torpedoes at FF at 640 yds. One hit damaged it while one was a dud. LF turned to starboard while SF turned to port. I applied left full rudder at flank speed for 2nd shot on LF. It increased speed from 8.8 to 10.7 kts. Fired 2 torpedoes at 990 yds. 1 prematured the other hit. LF continued starboard turn and slowed to 5.3 kts.
RMKS/ 9. Surfaced at 03:00 and sank Small Freighter with gunfire. (25 hits to sink) Went to flank speed to finish off crippled Large Freighter. At 03:19 LF fired one round that landed in my wake. I reduced speed to lessen my wake signature then dove to periscope depth as LF commenced port turn. At 03:22 I fired 1 torpedo with a 7degree right offset at 820 yds. Torpedo prematured shortly after firing. Fired 2 more torpedos at 780 yds. Both hit but were duds. I fired the 4th tube at 568 yds and sank target. Surfaced and chased down the remaining SF and sank with gunfire. (26 hits)
Continued south toward Tokyo.
RMKS/ 10. Jan, 16 - 08:22 - Made SJ contact bearing 000�, range 13,910 yds. Made visual on Cruiser Task Force at 08:45. Identified 1 - Naka class LC, 1 - Nagara class LC, 1 - Mogami class HC. Plotted best possible intercept course. At 08:49 TF changed direction from Northeast to Northwest and increased speed to 27.3 kts. Minutes later I went to periscope depth and readied the torpedoes. At 09:00 TF changed course to 340� from 320�. Two minutes later I fired 1 torpedo at maximum range of 4,390 yds. Torpedo broached on firing and headed due north. Seconds after I fired the TF changed course to 115�. Range closed rapidly. At 09:08 I fired 2 torpedoes at Nagara Light Cruiser at 545 yds then dove to 85 feet to pass under HC that tried to ram me. Sound reported 1 dud then 1 hit. Went immediately back to periscope depth and fired 1 torpedo at HC at 1,700 yds. Torpedo prematured shortly after firing. I secured engines and watched with disappointment as TF sailed over the horizon. I had fire control technician�s check remaining torpedoes for problems while continuing south.
RMKS/ 11. At 20:07 made SJ contact bearing 356�, range 13,070 yds. Dove to radar depth and made visual contact 10 minutes later on 1 - Standard Merchant, 1 - Oil Tanker, 2 - Supply Ships. Fired 2 torpedoes at 20:38 at oil tanker at 580 yds. Destroyed ship. I went to flank speed to starboard for stern shot on SM. SM turned to starboard after tanker was hit making for an easier stern setup. Fired 2 torpedoes at 520 yds. 1 prematured and 1 hit target but was a dud. With armed supply ships within 1,000 yds and no torpedoes I elected not to engage in a surface battle. I decided to remain on station until 24:00 in hope of finding an unarmed merchant to sink with gunfire. Made SJ contact at 22:52 bearing 027�, range 14,690 yds. At 23:13 sound reported high speed screws bearing 007�. Ten minutes later I spotted 1 - Kaidai class submarine at 4,100 yds bearing 331�. I watched the sub sail away and at 24:00 I surfaced and set a course for Midway.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions:
Seas: Moderate
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Enemy Sunk:
1. 1 x Sampan 70 tons 37-50N x 141-37E 2. 1 x Armed Merchant Cruiser 9,630 tons 37-19N x 141-55E 3. 1 x Oil Tanker 14,840 tons 35-08N x 141-11E 4. 1 x Small Freighter 1,520 tons 37-20N x 141-51E 5. 1 x Small Freighter 1,740 tons 37-13N x 142-01E
TOTAL = 27,800 tons
Enemy Damaged:
Enemy Escaped:
Damage Sustained:
None
Ordinance Remaining:
Torpedo: 0
Deck gun: 24
Comments: Out of 16 fired torpedoes only 6 were effective. The rest were 1 - erratic, 4 - premature, and 5 - duds that hit their target but failed to explode. With high speed targets like the Cruiser Task Force where my crew and me damaged the LC you have to be able to depend on your torpedoes to work. You seldom have a second chance. The men of Tarpon will continue to take the battle to the japs whenever we can. Request refit for future patrol.
LCDR Greg Turner - (USS Tarpon)
//SENDS//