//IMMEDIATE//
From: LCDR Greg Turner (USS Grouper SS-214)
XO SubRon 4A
To: ComSubRon 4A
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: August 7,1942
Re: Patrol Format (April 01- Cycle 1)
RMKS/ 1. Arrived on station late on the 7th of August 1942 with 24- Mk 14 steam torpedoes aboard. Headed north toward the east side of Koror Island. At 09:00 lookouts spotted a ship bearing 192` at 15,500 yds making around 30 kts. I changed course to intercept and identified this as a Cruiser Task Force. Identified 1 - Mogami Heavy Cruiser, 1 - Takao Heavy Cruiser, 1 - Kuma Light Cruiser, 1 - Naka Light Cruiser and spotted 3 DD's before diving to periscope depth at 09:08. Task Force changed course in my direction and at 09:16 I fired 4 torpedoes at the lead Heavy Cruiser (Takao) at 1,500 yds(DAM) and fired 2 torpedoes at the Naka class Light Cruiser at 1,100 yds(DAM) then dove to avoid the escorts. Sound reported 2 solid explosions on the Heavy Cruiser with 2 dud hits also. It slowed a couple of knots but continued on course. The Light Cruiser digested both torpedoes without hardly slowing and also speed off. The escorts began searching for me and at 09:29 found me with their active sonar as I passed 250 feet. I continued down to 350 feet and lost sound contact on the Cruisers but the DD's dropped several depth charges blindly from the sound of it then continued on to guard the damaged Cruisers. By 10:40 I had lost sound contact on all the ships and headed to periscope depth to search the area. Surfaced at 10:49 to try and spot the Task Force but failed to do so and continued patrolling.
RMKS/ 2. At14: 16 SD radar reported 2 air contacts at a range of 17,000 yds Lookouts could not make a visual on the aircraft so I dove to radar depth to watch them. At 14:21 sound reported high speed screws bearing 331`. Six minutes later my XO (Marshall) spotted a second Cruiser Task Force close on the starboard beam and then immediately ordered the boat to dive deep as a DD was heading our way. After arriving at 350 feet the DD circled a couple of times and dropped a string of 6 depth charges. Active sonar hit the boat one time and the Destroyer must have thought it came from his depth charges because he made no more drops and continued searching the area. I lost contact on the Destroyer at 16:21 after evading to the southeast. Arrived periscope depth at 16:28 and checked the area then went to radar depth to check for the aircraft. With no contacts I surfaced at 19:03 and headed north.
RMKS/ 3. At 06:07 the next morning the starboard lookout reported a very large warship closing bearing 287` at 11,000 making an estimated 30 kts. A quick look revealed 1 - Yamato class Battleship and 1 - Kongo class Battleship heading right for me. I dove to periscope depth and made ready all tubes. At 06:18 the BB's zigged to port and crossed behind me where upon I fired all 4 stern tubes at the Yamato Battleship at 1,380 yds set for 20 feet(DAM). I commenced turning for a bowshot. All 4 stern torpedoes hit the mark and detonated but the ship only slowed by 6 knots and turned southwest and continued on. At 06:20 I fired 2 more torpedoes at the Yamato at 2,000 yds only to have one premature seconds out of the tube thus alerting the battleship, which turned even more to the south causing the second torpedo to miss. I pursued as the BB slowed to 23 kts but the ship speed on and I secured tracking at 06:45 and surfaced. I patrolled to the south but never regained contact and turned back to the north.
RMKS/ 4. Air search radar picked up a contact at 09:13 at 17,420 yds. With clouds around serving as a place for the aircraft to pounce on me from I dove ordered the boat to radar depth. Twelve minutes later I spotted a Destroyer at 17,479 yds bearing 000` making 20 kts. I eased down to periscope depth and lost visual on the DD. 09:27 I spotted a small convoy consisting of 1 - Standard Merchant, 1 - Tanker, 1 - Converted Factory, and 1 - Large Freighter. I closed to fire but the Destroyer was patrolling on my side of the convoy making it difficult to get close. I stopped at 2,400 yds short of their track as the DD began turning to the north to circle the ships. At 10:00 I fired 2 torpedoes at the Tanker at 2,100 yds(DAM) then fired 2 torpedoes at the Merchant at 1,800 yds(DAM). I observed both torpedoes hit the Tanker but neither detonated. Both torpedoes hit the Merchant but only one detonated. The DD was 4,700 yds away as it began to turn back and the convoy turned to the northwest except for the Tanker, which turned to the southwest which would bring it across my bow for a second setup. At 10:02 fired a 3rd torpedo at the Tanker at 1,100 yds and watched it impact without detonating. Immediately fired a 4th torpedo at the Tanker at 1,000 yds then dove deep as the DD closed my position. Torpedo missed and the Tanker continued on. The DD never could get a positive contact on me so it just circled holding me down. At 10:14 low speed screws passed overhead heading for the southwest and faded out on that bearing. After loosing sound contact at 10:26 I went to periscope depth and spotted the tail end of the convoy at 10,100 yds bearing 108` making 16 kts. I was preparing to surface for an end around when I spotted the DD to the north heading my direction and dove back to depth to avoid it. The DD passed overhead and then returned to the convoy. I stayed submerged to reload the tubes and then at 11:23 I surfaced to charge the batteries.
RMKS/ 5. At 15:44 air search radar picked up a contact at 17,540 yds. I stayed surfaced until aircraft closed within 8,000 yds then dove for 250 feet. At 16:04 sound picked up high speed screws and I headed for radar depth. A periscope sweep showed a Cruiser task Force on my Starboard beam at 3,000 yds. I identified 1 - Mogami and 1 - Aoba Heavy Cruiser, 1 - Kuma and 1 - Naka Light Cruiser plus 2 - Shiratsuyu and 2 - Asashio DD's at an average speed of 27.9 kts. The Task Force had already passed ahead and I had no shot. With their speed and my position I had to watch as the warships steamed off toward the southeast. At 16:28 while taking a periscope sweep the XO spotted an aircraft at 4,200 yds to starboard and ordered the boat to depth. The aircraft didn't spot us and continued its patrol. I surfaced at 18:30 to charge the batteries and continue patrolling.
RMKS/ 6. 01:28 August 7 the lookouts spotted 2 ships to ort at 2,700 yds. The OOD took us to periscope depth and contacted me. Upon my arrival to the conning tower he reported A Carrier Task Force was heading our way and we had a perfect setup. He identified 1 - Soryu CV, 1 - Chitose CV, 1 - Heavy Cruiser (Unidentified) and 2 - DD's. With guidance from me I allowed the OOD (Branscome, Ray) to make the attack. At 01:32 the OOD fired 4 torpedoes from the stern tubes at the Soryu CV at 720 yds(DAM) then dove. Sound reported 1 - Premature, 1 - Dud and 2 - Explosions on target but said the CV continued on. I ordered the boat to 350 feet as the DD's (4 in all) began searching the area. At 01:42 active sonar hit the boat and the DD's came in to drop but we maneuvered out of the area without being damaged. The DD's searched the area dropping depth charges until about 02:45 then departed. I arrived periscope depth at 03:01 and then surfaced at 03:15 to search for the damaged CV. No further contact was made so we gave up the search for the CV. We were all disappointed especially the OOD but he was happy I had allowed him to make the attack.
RMKS/ 7. At 18:06 lookouts spotted 1 - Fubuki bearing 320` at 8,200 yds making 30 kts. I dove to periscope depth and sound picked up low speed screws bearing 004`. At 18:14 I surfaced astern of the ship and started an end around. At 18:19 spotted the same DD again at 9,200 yds on an outward leg. At 18:46 spotted the DD again at 6,200 yds as it turned away. At 19:09 lookouts spotted a Standard Merchant bearing340` at 4,800 yds making 17.4 kts. Over the next 25 minutes additional ships were spotted totaling 1 - Merchant, 2 - Armed Merchant, 2 - Tanker, 1 - Supply and 1 - Small Freighter all in a single staggered column cruising at 17kts. At 19:38 I turned in toward the convoy and dove to periscope depth to fire on the trailing tanker. At 19:41 I fired my last 2 torpedoes at the Tanker at 800 yds set for 20 feet(SUNK). The first torpedo prematured just off the end of the boat and shook things up a bit. I dove deep and while doing so heard the 2nd torpedo impact on the tanker. It must have blown sky high because sound reported it went down in less than 6 minutes. Sonar also picked up 3 sets of high-speed screws converging on my position from the north the east, and west. I headed southwest but active sonar found me and the DD's kept me under attack for several minutes before breaking contact and departing the area. Several near misses shattered lights and caused a few minor leaks but no major damage was received. The DD's must have been worried about the convoy breaking up and headed back to them. At 21:54 sonar contact was lost and we arrived periscope depth at 22:03 then surfaced and set a course for Midway Island.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions: Enemy Sunk:
Enemy Damaged:
1. August 5,1942, 09:16, Takao class Heavy Cruiser, 07-31N x 136-29E Enemy Escaped:
1. 1 x Chitose class CV Damage Sustained:
NONE
Torpedo Performance:
Duds - Premature - Misses - Hits Aircraft Encountered: Ordnance Remaining: Comments: Crew performance has greatly improved and I believe I will let the junior officers conduct more attacks. Lt jg Branscome would have surely sent that flattop to the bottom had the torpedoes done their job. They crew did an outstanding job. Request reload and refit.
LCDR Greg Turner /SENDS/
Seas: Moderate
Weather: Clear
1. August 7,1942, 19:42, Oil Tanker, (13,120 tons), 07-35N x 137-39E
Total: 13,120 tons
2. August 5,1942, 09:16, Naka class Light Cruiser, 07-31N x 136-29
3. August 6,1942, 06:18, Yamato class Battleship, 07-57N x 136-20E
4. August 6,1942, 10:00, Standard Merchant, 07-30N x 136-15E
5. August 6,1942, 10:00, Oil Tanker, 07-30N x 136-15E
6. August 7,1942, 01:32, Soryu class Carrier, 07-31N x 136-04E
2. 1 x Kongo class BB
3. 1 x Mogami class HC
4. 1 x Myoko class HC
5. 1 x Kuma class LC
6. 4 x Cruisers Unidentified
7. 7 x DD's Unidentified
8. 1 x Shiratsuyu DD
9. 2 x Armed Merchants
10. 1 x Oil Tanker
11. 1 x Large Freighter
12. 1 x Converted Factory
13. 1 x Standard Merchant
14. 1 x Supply
15. 1 x Small Freighter
-- 7 -------- 2 --------- 2 ------ 11
3
Torpedoes: 0
Deck Gun: 95
CO USS Grouper SS-214
XO SubRon 4A