// IMMEDIATE //
From: LCDR Greg Turner (USS Muskellunge)
To: ComSubRon 4
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: Sept 25 1943
Re: Patrol Report (July 00 Cycle 2)
Assigned to patrol the Marianas Islands
RMKS/ 1. Proceeded to conduct sea trials and crew training while enroute to patrol station. Dive times are good but still need work. The crew is eager to get after the japs. Some of the new hands were surprised at the amount of night training that was conducted.
RMKS/ 2. Arrived in patrol area about midday on the 10th. Due to darkness I bypassed Guam and headed to Siapan. 12th 03:50. Made SJ contact bearing 275° at 11,790 yds. Went to radar depth at 04:29 as a Fubuki class DD appeared out of the dark at 3,290 yds. Went to p periscope depth as DD broke 1,000 yds. At 05:01 I fired 2 torpedoes at a Troop Transport at 830 yds and destroyed it. I then fired 2 torpedoes at a second TT at 960 yds. One torpedo damaged it while the second was a dud. This ship limped away. I crashed dived to 325 feet and used the sinking ship as a screen. At 05:04 sound reported 6 different sets of active sonar. Received first depth charges at 05:07. No help from the isotherm. I ordered debris jettisoned at 05:10. Ten minutes later I received damage to the Control Room pressure hull, Forward battery, and the Officers Quarters pressure hull. Two minutes later I jettisoned debris again and ordered silent running. At 05:29 sound reported the cripple ship was bearing 270°. OOD reported the Officers Quarters Hull repaired.
RMKS/ 3. At 05:43 active sonar hit the boat so I jettisoned debris and headed to 340 feet and changed course. The OOD reported the Control Room Hull had been repaired at 05:52. Sound reported that the depth charges had the right course but were set to shallow. Got the battery repaired by 06:30. At 06:48 a depth charge caused more damage (DC Motor 2, Engine 4, Forward Engine Room Hull, Crew Mess Hull, Control Room Hull, Forward Torpedo Room Hull, Steering Gear, and Destroyed the Deck Gun). By 07:01 the bilge pumps could not check the flooding. By 08:45 damage control had patched the leaks and pumped out the flooded areas. All was minor damage other than the deck gun. Lost sonar contact on the DDs at 09:56 and surfaced at 10:09 after checking the area. Commenced battery recharge.
RMKS/ 4. Made SJ contact bearing 253° at 12,450 yds at 11:01. Made visual at 11:08 on 1 Kagero class DD bearing 090° at 7,650 yds. DD reversed course and due to the moderate seas and overcast I remained surfaced to ensure contact with the convoy. Stumbled on a 22-ship convoy (17 Merchants - % Escorts). Due to proximity of escorts I Had trouble identifying the ships. Went to periscope depth at 11:35 and waited for nearest ships to cross my track. Finally identified 4 Large Freighters, 3 Supply, 3 Troop transports, 4 Oil tankers, 1 Armed Merchant Cruiser, 1 Small freighter, and 4 unidentified escorts. Fired 2 torpedoes at OT at 632 yds at 12:11 and 2 torpedoes at TT at 617 yds and 1 torpedo at second OT at 1,103 yds. Dove to 323 feet after firing and waited for sound to report. Sank 1st OT and TT and missed the second OT. Active sonar began after detonations. At 12:19 I eased down to 350 feet as DD started depth charge run. Received minor damage at 12:44 to the pump room hull and the SJ radar. Had both repaired by 14:51. Escorts stayed with the convoy and moved off by 15:00. Sonar reported they thought the convoy had reversed its course but were unsure due to the depth charges. Proceeded to radar depth and made radar contact bearing 212°. Surfaced at 15:08 and decided to head north to let the area settle down. Patrolled an area 45Nm west of Siapan.
RMKS/ 5. Tues. 14th, 00:00 SJ made contact bearing 091° at 14,190 yds. Made visual nine minutes later bearing 108° on 1 Shiratsuyu class DD. Went to radar depth upon spotting DD. Tracking reported it was a 14 ship convoy heading north. Seconds later sonar reported a possible submerged contact to the northwest. After a short chat with the XO I decided to let this convoy pass. At 11:20 SJ radar picked up a contact bearing 032° at 14,370 yds. At 11:22 the XO spotted the lead DD of an 11-ship convoy. Identified 2 Supply, 2 AMC, 2 TT, 2 SF, 1 SM and one other escort. At 12:00 we went to periscope depth. While checking the convoy at 12:04 the DD spotted then fired on my periscope. As it turned toward me I fired 1 torpedo at 820 yds then dove. Sank the DD (Asashio). After DD was sunk convoy scattered. I went after a single heading south. Second DD appeared out of the dark with a bone in its teeth so I fired 1 torpedo at it at 705 yds. Hit a Mutsuki class DD but didnt sink it. At 12:20 depth charges damaged the Forward Battery Pressure Hull and the Forward Battery. I fired 1 more torpedo at the DD at 820 yds. It missed but the DD turned away on fire. Fired 1 more torpedo at the DD but it broached. Fired 1 more torpedo at DD at 640 yds and destroyed DD. Surfaced the boat at 12:40 to catch straggler. Fired 1 torpedo at 990 yds and destroyed a TT. I opened out to the south to repair damage. Finished repairs by 14:00.
RMKS/ 6. Wednesday, 15th, 18:59 Made SJ contact bearing 022° at 12,490 yds. Made visual at 23:58 on small convoy. Identified 3 Standard Merchants, 1 Supply, 1 DD. Convoy was heading away so I elected not to give chase.
RMKS/ 7. Thursday, 16th, Made SJ contact at 23:03 bearing 272° at 13,300 yds. Went to radar depth and closed on contact. Made visual at 23:15 on Carrier Task Force. Identified 1 Kaga class Carrier, 1 Hiyo class Carrier, and 4 Escorts. At 23:30 the carriers made a course change that put me in a perfect firing position. Best firing angle was on the Hiyo so at 23:33 I fired 4 torpedoes at 752 yds. Dove to 300 feet after firing. Sound reported 4 explosions and breaking up noises. Destroyers dropped depth charges at random. At 00:03 we received damage to DC Motor 2 and the Aft Engine Room Pressure Hull. I continued evasive maneuvers but received further damage at 02:22 to the Aft Battery Room Pressure Hull, Control Room Hull, and the Steering Gear. Had repaired all but the Steering Gear by 04:00. Had the Control Room pumped out by 05:15 with intermittent contact on the ASW. Was over flown by an aircraft at 05:31. ASW kept me down for several hours but made no further contact on me. After checking the area at radar depth I surfaced at 10:15 and turned north to clear the area and recharge the batteries. Battery was down to 150 volts.
RMKS/ 8. Had finished recharge by 15:32 and headed for Guam to use my last three torpedoes/ Saturday, 18th Made SJ contact bearing 331° at 13,390 yds at 16:27. Made air contact with SD radar at 16,550 yds. Went to radar depth as aircraft closed within 10,000 yds. Aircraft circled then left the area. Surfaced at 16:45 and made visual bearing343°. Identified 2 AMC, 1 Supply, 1 OT, 1 CFS, and 1 DD (Hatsuharu). Maneuvered into position and at 18:21 fired 2 torpedoes at OT at 861 yds and fired 1 torpedo at Supply at 684 yds. Dove to 329 feet. Sound reported 3 explosions then 2 ships breaking up. At 18:27 active sonar hit the boat and was followed by 1 depth charge run. No damage. The DD searched the area and moved off at 19:42. I took the boat to radar depth to check the area then surfaced at 20:23. Set course for Pearl Harbor.
Patrol summary
TDC: AUTO
Conditions:
Seas: Moderate
Weather: Mostly Cloudy
Enemy Sunk:
1. 1 x Hiyo Class Carrier 26,949 tons 16-13 N x 145-54 E
2. 3 x Troop Transports 9,870 tons 13-50 N x 145-08 E
9,310 tons 13-52 N x 145-01 E
5,350 tons 15-16 N x 145-46 E
3. 2 x Oil Tankers 13,470 tons 13-51 N x 144-51 E
6,960 tons 13-52 N x 145-01 E
4. 1 x Supply ship 2,280 tons 13-51 N x 144-51 E
5. 1 x Asashio class DD 2,370 tons 15-21 N x 145-45 E
6. 1 x Mutsuki class DD 1,772 tons 15-21 N x 145-46 E
Enemy Escaped:
Damage Sustained:
Ordnance Remaining:
Torpedoes: 0
Deck gun: 95
Comments:
Antisubmarine efforts have improved. I received damage that would have sunk a thinner-skinned boat. Damage control teams did a great job. The boat and crew need further training to improve in certain areas but I believe all did well to be mostly new hands. The waters around Siapan and Guam are overloaded with traffic. I suspect they are being reinforced for future actions. Request refits and reload.
LCDR Greg Turner
USS Muskellunge
// SENDS //