// IMMEDIATE //
FROM: LCDR Hawk, USS S-39 (SS-144)
TO: ComSubRon 4, ComSubPac
DATE: 0730 hrs - December 26, 1941
SUBJ: February - Cycle 1 Patrol Report
RMKS/1. Received orders via radio transmission 0435 hrs - 9 December 1941 while inbound from routine training exercise in Philippine Sea. Proceeded to Sector 4 - Patrol Area 7 Baker to execute unrestricted submarine warfare against all Japanese shipping as directed. Monsoon gales and heavy seas impeded progress. Sighted Lan Hsu dawn 14 December and weathered South Cape of Formosa early A.M. 15 December. Initiated patrol pattern in southern approaches to Formosa Strait.
RMKS/2. 17 December - 0049 hrs Bridge reported visual sighting of enemy DD bearing 155° true, heading N by W, AOB 15° port. 0051 submerged and changed course to 346°. Sound reported 4-6 contacts at 0058. 0100 ship passed over close aboard followed 2 minutes later by another. Surfaced 0103 and ordered standard speed. Heavily laden large merchantman bearing 358° relative. 0104 fired tubes 1-3, 0° gyro angle, 10-second intervals, 8° spread, depth 10 feet. Primary target range approx. 600 yards. Convoy of 4 enemy ships in 2 columns of two ships. Primary target was last ship in starboard column. Torpedo wakes visible, all torpedoes passed target astern. 0106 one torpedo hit escorting destroyer on port flank and exploded. At last sighting, DD was burning fiercely and listing heavily to starboard. Commenced dialing in gyro angle for shot at the lead ship in the starboard column, a standard merchant, as she turned to port and presented her beam. Range approx. 1600 yards. Fired tube 4 at 0107 as convoy began to disperse. Target and two portside ships turning westward while initial target turned to the east. Circled inside of standard merchant ship waiting for tube 1 to be reloaded. 0112 target settled on course 120° at approx. 14 knots. Changed course to 125° and increased speed to flank, making good 7.2 knots given sea conditions. 0117 heard explosions in distance to north of my position, assume escort dropping depth charges. Lost sight of all but target and burning destroyer. 0120 fired tube 1 at a range of 2000 yards. 0121 target turned hard to port and evaded torpedo. Manned deck gun for surface action in attempt to damage target and slow her down. Turned north and commenced firing on target at a range of some 1600 yards. Estimate 13 hits and 2 near misses on target. 0129 sighted another DD bows-on and closing fast. DD opened fire from 1000 yards at 0131. Submerged as range closed to 600 yards. Dove to 120 feet and took evasive action as depth charges started dropping. Some damage, taking on water in after battery cold storage compartment and radio gear rendered inoperable. 0140 went to periscope depth and barely made out target through search scope. DD dead ahead to south, range approx. 1000 yards. Tube 2 loaded and ready. Changed course to 0°, surfaced and proceeded north at standard speed. 0146 commenced firing on DD at 1300 yards. Target identified as Shiratsuyu-class destroyer. 12-15 hits on DD which started a fire amidships. Lack of return fire was some relief and puzzlement. Target barely making way. 0204 tubes 3 and 4 reloaded, came about to attack DD from abeam. 0210 circled around to port into firing position 700 yards off DD's port beam. Fired tube 2 at 0° gyro angle, depth 8 feet. DD finally opened fire just before torpedo hit her just forward of amidships. Target exploded, broke in half, and began to sink immediately. Turned north at flank speed in pursuit of convoy. 0403 damage in after battery repaired and water pumped out. No sight of enemy convoy. Turned WSW to resume patrol. Radio still out of service. Reduced speed to charge batteries. Submerged 0630 for trim dive and daylight patrol.
RMKS/3. 0852 hrs - 17 December, radio gear repaired and operational. 1455 hrs periscope watch sighted 1 ship bearing 005° true and hull-down on horizon. 1500 sighted 3 more contacts. Appeared to be 2-ship convoy escorted by 2 destroyers. Changed heading to NAC and started target plot on lead ship in convoy. 1512 detected 2 more contacts. Evaluate as 3-ship convoy in line ahead with smallest ship at center. 3 escorts around perimeter, 2 ahead and 1 astern. Column appeared to be a troopship in lead, small freighter at center, with an AK bringing up the rear. 1518 changed course to close in on transport's port bow. 1525 picked up screws on sound gear. Solution on primary target (troop transport) - bearing 032º relative, range 3000 yds, AOB 15° port, est. speed 7 kts. 1531 escorts began pinging. Took final bearing on target. Fired spread of 3 torpedoes 1532 hrs, 10-sec intervals, 4° spread, stern to bow, depth 15 feet. High speed screws closing in. Dove to 150 feet, rigged for depth charge, and took evasive action. Apparently all fish missed as no explosions were heard. Counted 61 depth charges during next hour and a half counterattack. Sound twice reported hearing aircraft and 4 explosions were noted that sounded different, probably aerial bombs. Sound gear was damaged during depth charging and a minor leak developed in the after battery compartment. Last DC's were heard at 1709 hrs. Surfaced 1830 hrs. Sound gear repaired by 1909 hrs. 2345 battery charge complete. Proceeded 114° at 2-engine speed, or 5 knots.
RMKS/4. 18 December - 2239 hrs. Cruising on surface, dark night with moderate seas. Visually sighted destroyer N by W bows-on, range 1 mile. Dove quickly to 100 feet. Reduced speed and sonar picked up 4-5 contacts. 2243 DD passed close by overhead. Moved to periscope depth 2245 hrs but too dark to see anything. Surfaced. 2247 sighted 4 ships in line ahead. 2 freighters or supply ships followed by 2 transports. Started tracking 3 ship in column. 2249 closed to within 1000 yards and fired last 3 torpedoes in an 8° spread at 8-sec intervals, depth 12 feet, stern-to-bow. 2250 two torpedoes hit, one missed. Target ship heavily damaged and sinking fast. 2252 passed last ship in enemy line abeam on opposite tracks. Out of torpedoes. Turned east to flee the area and evade the escort. 2302 sighted destroyer astern and bows-on. Changed course to 045° and speed to full for 6 knots. 2307 saw DD drop 4 depth charges. Turned to port to get off the escort's track. DD turned toward my position, range now 1000 yds. Turned north and dove. DD fired guns as we passed 30 feet. Ordered left full rudder to course 300°. Leveled off at 200 feet and maintained full speed. 2314 reduced speed to 1/3. Endured depth charging for 1 hr 15 minutes, counted 25 DC's. 4 were close. Took on water in crew's mess and galley dry storage. Sound gear was also damaged. Surfaced 0052 hrs - 19 December.
RMKS/5. Received radio communication 21 December requesting photo reconnaissance of Naha harbor, Okinawa. Changed course to comply. 1215 hrs - December 22, maneuvered offshore of Naha and took a series of 10 photographs. 3 ships in port - 1 troopship (approx. 7000 tons), 1 coastal collier (approx. 1500 tons), and 1 converted passenger/cargo vessel (approx. 5000 tons). In addition, there was 1 Mutsuki-class DD patrolling harbor approaches. 0935 hrs - 24 December, departed Sector 5 and proceeded to Manila Bay.
RMKS/6. PATROL SUMMARY
TDC: Manual
CONDITIONS:
Seas - Moderate to Rough with one day of calm seas.
Visibility - Overcast & mostly cloudy skies, new moon and dark nights.
ENEMY SUNK:
1 x Fubuki-class DD 2090 tons 17 Dec 1941 - 0105 hrs 22°35'N - 120°28'E 1 x Shiratsuyu-class DD 1980 tons 17 Dec 1941 - 0210 hrs 22°36'N - 120°27'E 1 x Troop Transport 7390 tons 18 Dec 1941 - 2250 hrs 22°12'N - 120°32'E
ENEMY DAMAGED:
1 x Standard Merchant - multiple hits with surface gunfire.
ENEMY ESCAPED:
10 x various merchantmen and fleet auxiliaries
3 x DD
DAMAGE SUSTAINED:
Pressure Hull - Moderate (42%)
Ships Systems - Light (5%)
ADDITIONAL OPERATIONS:
1 x Photo-recon of Naha harbor, Okinawa
ORDNANCE REMAINING:
0 x Mk.10 Torps
6 x 4-inch shells
COMMENTS:
Patrol Area: Formosa - East China Sea
1317 miles logged while on patrol.
13,500 gallons fuel used (33%).
15 days on patrol.
Total claims for this patrol are 3 ships sunk for 11,460 tons and one Standard Merchant lightly damaged.
LCDR Hawk - CO
USS S-39 (SS-144)
// SENDS //