//IMMEDIATE//
From: LCDR Greg Turner (USS Grouper SS-214)
To: ComSubRon 4A
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: July 6,1942
Re: Patrol Format (March 01 - Cycle 2)
RMKS/ 1. 09:14 June 16,1942 we entered our patrol area of SJ-2 and SJ-3 to begin patrolling. I secured to periscope depth to await darkness to begin patrolling on the surface. At 19:07 surfaced and started patrolling to the north. June 17 03:55 lookouts spotted 1 - Mogami class Heavy Cruiser with 1 - Mutsuki class DD and 1 - Kagero class DD bearing 290` at 7,190 yds making 27 kts. At 03:57 dove to periscope depth with the nearest DD at 5,200 yds. The Task Force passed east of my position and left me no shot. With daylight coming on I stayed submerged and awaited for darkness. June 18, 1942 12:05 the periscope watch spotted a ships mast bearing 205` at 15,800 yds, estimated speed at 23 kts. At 12:16 identified 3 - Myoko class Heavy Cruisers, 1 - Kuma class Light Cruiser and 1 - Kagero class DD. Task Force turned south at 12:17 and I adjusted my course. A check at 12:20 revealed an aircraft flying cover. I ordered the depth to 200 feet with the aircraft heading my way. Arrived back at periscope depth in time to spot the Task Force pulling away to the northwest. Dove back to 200 feet to avoid the aircraft still in the area. I lost sonar contact at 12:54 and remained at depth to await dark. Surfaced at 19:12 and charged the batteries with no contacts.
RMKS/ 2. June 19, went to radar depth as the sun came up. At 04:29 sonar reported low speed screws bearing 262`. At 04:31 I spotted 4 sampans and a Light Cruiser task Force consisting of 1 - Kuma LC, 1 - Naka LC and 2 - Shiratsuyu DD's all heading north 7,300 yds off my port beam 04:41 the Task Force turned southeast at 5,800 yds. At 04:44 an aircraft suddenly appeared and dropped a depth charge nearby that caused no damage to the boat but damaged all the crews nerves including mine. I made one last check of the Cruisers then began diving just as the aircraft made a second pass and released another depth charge causing severe damage to the Pump Room Hull and DC Motors 1 + 4. 04:47 the aircraft caused more damage with yet another depth charge. Affected was the SD radar, Engine 1, and the Aft Torpedo Room Hull. At 04:48 I eased the boat to the bottom and shut down everything except the pumps. Right away the Pump Room began to flood and the Aft Torpedo Room also began taking on water. By 05:31 the Pump Room was half filled with water. 6:11 the Hull in the aft Torpedo Room had been repaired but the room had filled to over half full by this point. At 06:47 sonar lost contact on the DD that was searching the area and by 06:50 the Hull in the Pump Room was repaired and the pumps began getting a foothold on the flooding. By 07:56 the flooded compartments had been pumped out and I headed for periscope depth. I made visual on the 4 Sampans I had spotted earlier bearing 247` at 6,200 yds but saw no sign of the Cruiser's. I did regain visual on the aircraft bearing 014` at 12,000 yds at 08:18 and observed it to search the area at a distance before departing. With the sun up and my presence in the area I took the boat back to depth and rested the crew and caught some shuteye myself.
RMKS/ 3. Arrived periscope depth at 17:16 after sonar reported a possible contact bearing 004`. Made visual on a ships mast bearing 006` at 13,833 yds, estimated speed was 0 kts. The ship was stationary. SD Radar reported 2 aircraft at about 7,00 yds so I dove to 150 feet to close on the ship. Came to periscope depth at 17:331 to check the contact and picked up active sonar searching on long scale. Identified the ship as a Shiratsuyu class DD. Continued to close at 204 yard per minute. The aircraft d departed so I remained at periscope depth to close and spotted a second stationary DD bearing 325` at 8,200 yds. By 18:22 I had closed as much as I dared and fired 2 torpedoes at the 1st DD at a max range of 3,756 yds with a depth setting of 7 feet (DAM). I immediately turned and dove to 150 feet to clear the area to the northwest. At hitting time we heard one explosion and then heard several depth charges going off. The second torpedo missed the mark or didn't detonate. Came to periscope depth at 18:45 and saw no evidence of the damaged ship. Surfaced at 18:48 and then spotted smoke from the burning DD bearing 194` at 8,040 yds. I didn't dare to try and finish it off with the second DD being in the area. Lost visual at 18:53 and continued north toward Tsushima Strait.
RMKS/ 4. June 20th, 23:26 arrived in the Tsushima Strait area. Lookouts spotted a small convoy ay 03:55 and identified 1 - Armed Merchant, 1 - Large Freighter, 1 - standard Merchant, and 1 - Supply all bearing 030` at about 8,000 yds making 17.6 kts. Dove to periscope depth at 03:58 7,400 yds off the forward starboard beam of the convoy and continued closing. At 04:10 fired 2 torpedoes at the Standard Merchant at 2,170 yds just as it passed ahead with a depth setting of 18 feet(DAM). Also fired 2 torpedoes at the armed Merchant at 1,970 yds also set for 18 feet. Both torpedoes detonated on the Standard Merchant causing it to turn south and slow. One hit on the AMC set it afire and the second fish missed, as it turned northeast. 04:12 fired a 3rd torpedo at the AMC at 1,830 yds (MISS). Fired a 4th torpedo at AMC at 1,510 (MISS) the ship turned south upon my firing then back to the northeast. I pursued the AMC and turned north to follow which allowed me to fire a 3rd torpedo at the Standard Merchant from a stern tube at 1,770 yds. It prematured 6 seconds from the target. 04:21 fired a 4th torpedo at the SM at 2,125 yds (DUD). It impacted but failed to detonate. 04:23 fired a 5th torpedo at a range of 2,800 yds and it prematured. With the range on the SM opening I turned my attention back to the AMC and at 04:26 fired a 5th torpedo at the ship at 1,900 yds and finally sent it to the bottom (SUNK). I turned to the northwest to clear the area on a low battery. Surfaced at 04:37 to get a little charge time in before submerging for the day.
RMKS/ 5. At 05:14 dove to radar depth with 2/3rds of a battery charge. At 06:29 sonar reported low speed screws bearing 021` but a periscope search revealed no contacts. 09:45 secured the engines 10 miles south of Tsushima Island to conserve battery power. At 13:08 SD radar reported contact at 17,250 yds. At 13:20 the high periscope spotted a small convoy bearing 040` at 15,420 yds. I began maneuvering to intercept and at 13:22 the aircraft began closing our position so I took the boat down. Before diving far the aircraft dropped a depth charge close aboard that rattled my teeth but caused no damage. After arriving at 200 feet I lost contact on the aircraft and the convoy and stayed submerged awaiting dark. At 15:11 sonar reported low speed screws bearing 015` and I headed for periscope depth. At 15:17 spotted 1 - Mogami class Heavy Cruiser, 1 - Kuma Light Cruiser, 1 - Fubuki DD, 1 - Hatsuharu DD, and 1 - Unidentified DD at 10,000 yds. Due to a low battery I elected not to fight and dove to 250 feet to let them pass. At 19:14 arrived periscope depth and surfaced two minutes later and commenced battery charge. Completed charge by 00:08 of the 21st of June.
RMKS/ 6. June 21st 02:37 lookouts spotted a ship bearing 042` at 5,000 yds making 27.7 kts. Port lookout Bluth identified the ship as a Carrier and seconds later reported seeing a second carrier and 2 heavy Cruisers. Identified 1 - Kaga CV, and 1 - Akagi CV, 1 - Myoko HC, and 1 - Mogami HC. At 02:43 being in the best possible firing position I fired 4 torpedoes at the nearest CV (Kaga) at 1,700 yds set for 15 feet(DAM). One torpedo prematured alerting the task Force to my presence witch then turned 20 degrees to port. The other 3 torpedoes impacted but only one detonated. At 02:45 I fired 2 more torpedoes ( 5th and 6th) at the same CV at 2,050 yds. Both torpedoes prematured well short of the target. By 02:50 the Task Force had sailed out of sight and I surfaced to top off the battery. 03:54 back to radar depth to search the area. At 05:40 SD radar reported contacts at 17,540 yds, possibly 4 - 5 aircraft. 05:49 I spotted 1 Carrier making 21 kts bearing 077` at 16,000 yds + 1 - Aircraft. Dove to 100 feet to close and avoid air cover. Check at 06:03 revealed the CV to be a Kaga class with 1 - Light Cruiser (Kuma) turning to the southwest at 7,200 yds. At 06:17 I fired 4 torpedoes at the Cv at 608 yds set for 21 feet then dove(DAM). The LC apparently spotted my scope or the torpedo wakes because it fired one volley from its main guns. Sound reported 2 solid detonations with 2 dud hits. The aircraft I had spotted earlier dropped its depth charges in an attempt to get me but missed wide to port. A set of screws passed directly overhead and I suspect it was the LC taking evasive action. The CV didn't slow enough for me to pursue submerged and by 06:34 I had lost contact on the task Force but the aircraft continued to search for me. At 07:40 I secured the engines with less than half a battery charge to await dark. Have 1 torpedo remaining forward and 1 aft. At dark I plan to head south to clear the area before my luck runs out. At 14:00 an aircraft overflew the sub but continued on. Arrived periscope depth at 18:57 and surfaced at 19:01 to head south Made good time south and had no contacts of any kind.
RMKS/ 7. Went to periscope depth at 06:03 on the 22nd to avoid being spotted by any air or surface contacts. At 09:37 the XO reported sighting 2 - Light Cruisers (2 Kuma), 1 - Asashio DD, 1 - Mutsuki DD, and 1 - Fubuki DD bearing 358` at 8,000 yds. I dove to 250 feet to let them pass. With only 2 torpedoes and such a large escort I elected not to engage. Arrived back at periscope depth at 10:02 and scanned the area making no sightings. Remained in this position until 19:40 when I surfaced and started recharging the batteries. 04:38 on the 23rd June I went to periscope depth as the sun rose. Made no contacts through the day and at 19:37 surfaced to patrol. At 21:28 lookouts spotted 1 - Fubuki class DD bearing 220` at 6,800 yds making 12.6 kts. We observed this vessel and at 21:42 also spotted a second DD (Shiratsuyu) and 1 - Large Freighter. The DD's were running screen on the Freighters bow at a range of about 1,000 yds. Freighters estimated speed was 6.1 kts. By 21:45 I was ahead of the freighter and waiting for a good setup to fire. At 22:00 I went to 80 feet as the Fubuki DD passed directly overhead. Back to periscope depth at 22:04 and fired my last forward torpedo at the Freighter at 980 yds set for 12 feet with the DD at 890 yds. Dove deep after firing and heard no explosion so assumed torpedo missed and was not spotted because the DD's continued on. Lost sonar contact at 22:39 and headed for periscope depth. Surfaced after checking the area and attempted to trail the freighter but made no further contact on it.
RMKS/ 8. June 24th 05:40 dove to periscope depth as the sun rose. At 08:13 sound reported low speed screws bearing 240`. I then made visual on a Heavy Cruiser task Force at 9,000 yds making 27 kts. Identified 1 - Myoko Heavy Cruiser, 1 - Mogami HC, 1 - Kuma Light Cruiser, and 1 - unidentified DD. 08:24 fired my last torpedo at the Mogami HC at 960 yds then dove to avoid the DD. Sound reported the torpedo missed and faded out on the same bearing. The Task Force continued on and I heard what sounded like gunfire. Unsure of the source but suspect the Cruisers were firing their main guns. Lost contact at 08:44 and waited for dark to surface and head for Pearl Harbor. At 15:23 heard an aircraft fly over and twenty minutes later sound reported low speed screws bearing 271` with 5 sets of high-speed screws. Being out of torpedoes I stayed submerged and let them pass and lost contact at 16:03. Surfaced at 119:35 and set course for base.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions: Enemy Sunk:
Enemy Damaged:
1. June 19,1942, 18:22, Shiratsuyu class DD, 32-54N x 128-49E Enemy Escaped:
1. 4 x Myoko class Heavy Cruiser's Damage Sustained:
1. Pump Room Hull - Severe Torpedo Performance:
Duds - Premature - Misses - Hits Aircraft Encountered: Ordnance Remaining: Comments: Patrol Areas SJ-2 and SJ-3 are used heavily for military traffic and either mines or wolf packs should be implemented to hamper the IJN ability to use these shipping lanes. I feel strongly that the 2nd Carrier I hit was in deed the first one I had fired upon and hit earlier that day. I believe it had reversed course to get back to port for repairs and I added further damage to it. Request reload and refit.
LCDR Greg Turner /SENDS/
Seas: Moderate
Weather: Clear
1. June 20,1942, 04:26, Armed Merchant, (10,560 tons), 33-33N x 129-28E
Total: 10,560 tons
2. June 20,1942, 04:10, Standard Merchant, 33-33N x 129-28E
3. June 21,1942, 02:43, Kaga class Carrier, 34-04N x 130-30E
4. June 21,1942, 06:17, Kaga class Carrier, 33-59N x 130-23E
2. 4 x Kuma class Light Cruiser's
3. 4 x Sampan's
4. 3 x Mogami class Cruiser's
5. 3 x Shiratsuyu class DD's
6. 2 x Fubuki class DD's
7. 2 x Kagero class DD's
8. 2 x Large Freighters
9.1 x Supply
10.1 x Hatsuharu class DD
11.1 x Mutsuki class DD
12.1 x Naka class Light Cruiser
2. DC Motors 1 + 4 - Heavy
3. SD Radar - Heavy
4. Engine 1 - Heavy
5. Aft Torpedo Room Hull - Moderate
-- 5 -------- 5 --------- 6------- 8
7
Torpedoes: 0
Deck Gun: 95
CO USS Grouper SS-214
XO SubRon 4A