Patrol Report June 00 I
SS-184 Skipjack eighth War Patrol covering the period from 3/4/43 to 3/27/43
To: ComSubPac
Via: Commander SUBRON 4 - Auto TDC
PROLOGUE TO
Arrived Fremantle 1/25/43 after seventh war patrol.
NARRATIVE
Departed Fremantle 3/4/43 for the Philippine Sea. Used auto-TDC for all torpedo's. Arrived on Station 3/13/43. Began patrolling in Eastern sea shipping lane again.
Rmks 1. 08:43 3/14/43. Spot task force at 21000 yards, three fighting tops heading NW at estimated speed 28+ knots. 08:50 zig towards, turn to intersect the new course will dive once ships can be seen with the scope down. Fired four fish at lead CA high speed depth 8 feet range 2500 - 2200 yds. First prematured after 30 seconds alerting convoy. Second prematured after 45 seconds third and fourth missed. As escort and convoy crossed our stern fired one fish at escort range 1400 prematured after one minute. Evaded escort. Surfaced at 10:00 departed the area at 2/3 speed. Heading south towards San Bernadino Strait.
Rmks 2. 16:23 3/14/43. Radar contact 18000 yards. Raise the periscope on the surface and spot another task force of a couple of CA's with five escorting DD's. These guy's appear to be aware that a sub is in area the escorts are much more active. Radar detects three aircraft dive and evade as this group is too well protected for a daylight attack. Planes lead all tin cans to us. They search and drop DC's for over two hours. Only damage is minor flooding in the engine room. No long term damage or pressure hull integrity problems. 19:30 back on the surface leaving the area with the escorts still searching.
Rmks 3. 00:00 3/15/43. Radar contact 13000 yards. Close to investigate. This group is two CA's, two CL's and one DD. Fire a spread of three at the lead CA from the bow and two at the Lead CL from the stern. Two hits and a dud on the CA One dud and a miss on the CL. Fire a follow up at the CA hits slowed to 12.5 knots. Fire two shots at the DD one dud one miss. The miss explodes at the end of the run on the other side of the tin can. The DD heads in wrong direction probably thinks that was a premature fired from the other side. Surface and pursue damaged CA. 01:55 Fired one torpedo range 1500 yards hit Takao class CA sunk 15780 tons.
Rmks 4. 07:00 3/15/43. Radar contact 15000 yards. Convoy with two escorts one on each flank. We are right in line with the main column dive and wait for them to get here. Fired two torpedoes at the lead tanker one at 1700 yards one at 1100 yards both duds. Dived and evaded escorts. These guys have a have much better ASW plan. They keep us boxed in and get close enough to do some real damage. DC2 damaged, bow planes damaged, flooding in Pump room, radio room and forward torpedo room. Manage to stop the leaks but not until the boat is too heavy to maintain depth. Have to blow ballast a couple of times which brings the tin cans in on us each time. Finally get back to periscope depth and pump out the water. Retire to the North and surface to finish repairs on bow planes. All damaged repaired except pressure hull has been weakened.
Rmks 5. 23:00 3/15/43. Radar contact at 12500 yards coming out of the San Bernadino strait. Looks like we are positioned between the escorts again in line with the column of ships. Dive and wait to see what develops. This group is a three DD patrol. Turn and move a little north out of the patrols way.
Rmks 5. 21:48 3/16/42. Radio request to photograph Aparri harbor before noon on the 18th.
Rmks 6. 01:30 3/18/43. SJ contact large patrol 5 DD's in the Babuyan Channel. Not enough time to go around so decide to slide in on the surface close to shore with the moon behind the patrol and land behind us. Had to dive to get through as they were patrolling close in but far enough apart that we skirted them without being spotted. Once past the patrol run in to Aparri at flank speed still need to get in and out before dawn. 03:15 radar contact at 11000 yards looks like five or six ships in the harbor. Will avoid engagement per directives get the picture and get the hell out. 03:30 spot an escort at 9000 yards patrolling outside the harbor. The moon will be down in about forty minutes sound general alarm things should get interesting. 03:35 spot second escort, pull the plug and dive to periscope depth for the approach. Three merchants and a sampan in the harbor. Sneak past the escorts and wait in the harbor for daylight. 05:50 finally light enough to get the picture begin slow departure from the harbor. Managed to sneak past these tin cans in the dark. Hope they aren't up early this morning. 07:00 past the escorts and depart the area at standard speed submerged. 09:00 pass the 100 fathom curve slow to 1/3 speed depart to the North.
Rmks 7. 12:20 3/18/43. Spot a convoy at 17000 through the scope. Appears to be a tanker escorted by an armed merchant. Develops into four columns of two ships each apparently without escort. Fire two fish from the stern at the largest ship leading column three one dud and one hit. Fire one stern fish at the lead transport in column two, dud. Come around for final fish from the bow at the damaged merchant, miss.
Out of torpedo's return to base.
3/27/43 arrived in Fremantle.
Torpedo performance summary
Attack Depth Speed Hit Pre Dud Miss Result ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1 8' Hi 0 3 0 2 Nothing 2 6' Hi 4 0 3 2 Sunk Takao class CA - 15,780 tons 3 6' Hi 0 0 2 0 Nothing but a severe beating by the escorts 4 6' Hi 1 0 2 1 Damaged a standard merchant - 10,380 tons ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� TOTALS 5 3 7 5
Torpedo performance: Hit and explode versus duds was slightly worse then last patrol although the prematures were less but still resulted in misses. Anything that travels more then 2000 yards tends to premature.
Deck Gun: Was not fired.
SJ Radar: Performance varied but generally made contact at about 13000 to 18000 yards.
SD radar: Aircraft were detected at around 15000 yds during the patrol.
Photo recons: One assigned completed as ordered.
Damage: Hull light 20%, system none. Repair time estimated at 5 days.
Weather Conditions: Fair and smooth to moderate seas while in PZ.
Respectfully,
LTCMD Ray McNeice
Commander SS-184 Skipjack