From : LCDR Mush Magnusson - (USS-Tarpon)
Date : 10 March 1942
Subj : Patrol report (Special mission)

Rmks/ 1. On enroute to our patrol area i recived information via radio that ordered us to abandon our patrol and take on a special asignment. Primary target troop transport loaded with oil equipment and personnel.

Rmks/ 2. Arrived in patrol area on 9 march 0534 hours. 0804 hours airplane was spotted, ordered crash dive. Sonar reported 4 bombs been dropt on us. 0930 hours we sufaced again only to see what i beleave was the same airplane as before at 0936 hours. Manned AA-guns and, since i beleave it to be the same airplane as before my orders were surface battle. At 0950 hours the AA-gunners shoot him down. Minor damages recived.

Rmks/ 3. At 1254 hours lookouts reported small freighter bearing 354�. Made an endround and surfaced to fire a spread of 3 torpedos at him. We were rewarded with a good and solid hit witch sank him at 1348 hours. Other two torpedos missed. Airplane sighted down periscope and ordered dive to 150 feet. Sonar reported 3 bombs being dropt but never close to us. Changed course to 315�. Unable to surface, duo to airplane activity, until 1830 hours.

Rmks/ 4. 0000 hours Troop transport never sighted, contacted comsubron4 for further information.

Rmks/ 5. After reciving information that said targed still in area we found our selfs on loc. 0-30S, 105-17E heading 099�. The time was 0818 hours and duo to enemy airplane activity we were at 59 feet. Ordered 150 feet and change course to 176�.

Rmks/ 6. At 0955 hours lookouts spotted enemy convoy, looks like our targed is in that convoy. At 1018 hours when we were making an end round we got shot up on at range of somewere around 6000 yards + lookouts spotted airplane. Ordered crash dive but was unable to change course becouse of damages taken. Took her to 160 feet and ordered all ahead 1/3. 1030 hours DD sailed over us but did not detect us. 1050 hours storage room 2 is flooding heavyly duo to that we sank to the bottom at 175 feet. Again DD sailed past us in about 600-900 yards. At 1150 hours sonar reported DD�s were leaving. 1218 hours acording to sonar one of 4 DD is most likly going to be around us a litle longer. 1429 hours DD is still dead stopped up there not to far away. Ordered periscop depth, DD sighted 7000 yards away bearing 348�. 1438 hours i ordered all ahead 1/3. 1536 hours fired two bow torpedos at him #1 was a dud torpedo #2 was a solid hit and destroyed targed at 1557 hours. Surfaced and ordered return to base.

Rmks/ 7. PATROL SUMMARY

TDC : Manual

CONDITIONS :

seas-calm
visibility-partly cloudy

ENEMY SUNK

Small freighter  1460 tonns  Mar 9  13:48 Loc. 0-52S, 104-09E
DD Mutsuki class 1772 tonns  Mar 10 15:57 Loc. 1-28S, 105-25E
One unidentyfied airplane

ENEMY ESCAPED

Troop transport
Seaplane carrier
armed merchant cruiser
3 destroyers (unidentyfied)

DAMAGES

ASW air attack:
Aft torpedo room press hull (repaired)
Radio room press hull (repaired)

ASW surface attack:
Steering gear critical (unable to repair)
Radio heavyly damaged (repaired)
Storage room 2 press hull (repaired)
Fwd battery critical (unable to repair)

REMARKS :

Admiral, this may not be any of my buisness, but i feel that (USS-175) Tarpon could do with some major overhull.

Comments

Request for refuel and reload.

Mush Magnusson