From: LCDR Mush Magnusson, (SS-214) Grouper
Date: November 24 1942
Patrol report from Grouper´s second patrol (my fourth patrol)
Rmks/ 1. November 4. After having SJ radar installed we were once again on our way to our asigned patrol area, this time Northern Japan. Est. travel time was 9.58 days.
Rmks/ 2. November 13 0810 on loc. 39-16N, 143-43E heading 252°at all ahead standard our speed was 14.2 kts with calm seas and clear weather. At 0815 i ordered change off course to 312°.
Rmks/ 3. At 1605 surface contact was picked up on SJ radar bearing 018° Ordered all ahead flank and course to 356°. We spotted ship at 1617 and begin to make endround. Convoy speed apeared to be around 16 kts. Our speed was a litle over 20 kts. At 1640 we had in our sight two ships one destroyer and one what lookt like an oil tanker. Range to targets was 11500 yards to destroyer and 8800 yards to oil tanker. took her down to radar depth at 1657 range to target 6000 yards range to destroyer 5300 yards. 1730 Radar lost targeds (tecnical failur or mine, i do not know). At 1757 it became clear to us that we had lost both targeds. Last known loc. 41-21N, 142-11E heading 025°.
Rmks/ 4. 1800 ordered change of course to 222° trying to intercept a convoy heading 133° at 9 kts. Running at standard ahead our speed was 14.2 kts. At 1934 SJ radar showed two pleeps bearing 337° at range off 13500 yards. Ordered change off course too 259°. Ship spotted at 1946 bearing 340°. It is an Armed merchant cruiser range 6700 yards. Ordered an endround. Sighted small freighter at 1947. At 2037 we submerged and prepared for torpedo attack. 2046 fired 3 bow torpedos at Armed merchant cruiser at a range off 2500 yards. #1 prematured. Others missed. Took her to 150 feet and ordered change off course to 319°. Surfaced at 2328.
Rmks/ 5. 0349 periscope depth we are now entering Tsugaru Strait. 0955 on loc. 41-22N, 14020E lookouts spotted destroyer (lookt like one, maybe it´s a patrol) bearing 293° range to targed 12500 yards. Lost sigt off him again. 1046 destroyer sighted bearing 345°range 12500 yards. Another one sighted bearing 309° range 12000 yards. Fyrst DD looks like a Mutsuki class. 1128 4 destroyers sighted closest one 4500 yards away others 10000 yards away. Did not get good enough firing solution DD came way to close, made a crash dive. Depthcharges dropt Damages taken (minor). Took her deep 39 feet below test depth (339 feet) At least 5 DD´s are coming for us. 1222 Under constant depth charge took her down too 360 feet. 1413 still under constant attack i ordered Jettison debris and change of main course to 271°. 1435 Not being able to escape them i came a litle bould and took her too 400 feet. 1543 Sonar hears ony 3 DD´s now. 1654 Only two DD´s heard now. 1900 We slowly started to follow the bottom upwards. At 0014 were at periscope depth and surfaced at 0035. Sunday november 15 after having sighted patrol at 1046 and been hunted for about 4 hours and having to stay down for 13.5 hours with DD´s constantly sailing over us, we are now finally able to relax a bit and grab somthing too eat.
Rmks/ 6. 0121 When entering Sea of Japan we made a surface contact on SJ radar bearing 350° range 12700 yards. 0133 destroyer sighted (looks like Yugomo class) bearing 358°range 3500 yards. Fired 2 bow torpedos at him at range off 900 yards (submerged) #1 dud, #2 hit and destroyed at 0135. Whent to radar depth contact bearing 005°range 14000 yards will try to awoid them. Surface. 0216 No contact on SJ radar.
Rmks/ 7. 0903 Surface contact on SJ radar bearing 002°. Range 12000 yards. 0904 convoy spotted bearing 006° at range off 11500 yards. 3 DD´s sighted and one MR. O MY GOD. There are 6 destroyers and one Supply ship. Decided to go on with attack and fired 5 bow torpedos at MR at a range off 1200 to 900 yards. all missed except one dud. Fired 4 stern torpedos at him witch all missed (DAMN) Planes on dive going deep, down to 420 feet she did not approve off that and we took her back up too 400 feet. First depth charges dropt 0932. Far away. This {censored} unbeleafable (pardon me), after 30 min. off depth charging (witch were never close to the bout) they gave up and whent away. 1037 Surfaced and changed course to 180°.
Rmks/ 8. 1143 Lookouts spooted ship bearing 347° at range of 15600 yards. Aminut later SD radar spotted airplane, DIVE DIVE. Took her to 114 feet. 1150 We heard some exsplotion and i ordered periscope depth. Destroyer sighted range 4500 yards bearing 015°. Another one bearing 290°. Set course to intercept the convoy it self then dived again as first DD came with in 1000 yards. Took her to 150 feet as we turned to heading 122°. 1206 periscope depth, a large amount of marus were up there right in front off me. Fired 3 torpedos at Oil tanker #1 dud, #2 dud, #3 hit and destroyed at 1215 november 15. Fired 2 torpedos at Troop transport, both missed. Airplane spotted down periscope, planes on dive. Bomb dropt, not close to the bout. Another bomb was dropt again not close to us. Took her to 400 feet. 1237 Two marus have been sailing over us covering our escape. 1306 depth charges heard far away and again at 1330. 1355 Hi speed screws heard on top of us, they sailed past us. 1342 sounds like DD´s (they were only 3 off 4 dd´s looking for us) are moving out. 1353 Sonar has lost all contact with destroyers. Came to periscope depth at 1400. Ship sighted bearing 082° range 10000 yards. 1428 Lost sight of siph range was 10000 yards it´s bearing was 284°, with our heading 194°, on speed of 16 kts. 1500 Surface. 1505 Ordered return to base.
Patrol summary
TDC: Manual
Conditions:
Seas - calm Weather - clear
Enemy sunk:
Yugomo-class DD 2520 tonn Nov 15 0138 41-00N, 139-47E Oil tanker 10530 tonn Nov 15 1215 41-18N, 139-23E
Enemy escaped
First convoy:
Oil tanker Destroyer (kagero class)
Second convoy:
Armed merchant cruiser Small freigther
First patrol:
Destroyer (mutsuki class) Destroyer (unidentyfied) Destroyer (unidentyfied) Destroyer (unidentyfied) Destroyer (unidentyfied, sonarcontact only)
Second patrol:
Destroyer (unidentyfied)
Third convoy:
Supply ship Destroyer (Mutsuki) Destroyer (asashio) Destroyer (Yugomo) Destroyer (Akizuki) Destroyer (Fubuki) Destroyer (Kagero)
Fourth convoy:
Armed merchant cruiser Converted factory ship Troop transporter Supply ship Supply ship Supply ship Troop transport Standard merchant Standard merchant Destroyer (Shiratsuyu class) Destroyer (Shiratsuyu class) Destroyer (unidentyfied) Destroyer (unidentyfied)
Damages:
Crews mess press hull, minor (repaird) Fwd battery, minor (repaired)
Ordance remaining:
5 MK 14 torpedos (damn that Supply ship)
Comments:
Request for refuel and reload.
LCDR Mush Magnússon