//IMMEDIATE//
From: LCDR Greg Turner (USS Grouper SS-214)
XO SubRon 4A
To: ComSubRon 4A
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: October 26,1942
Re: Patrol Format (April 01 - Cycle 2)
RMKS/ 1. Arrived in the eastern end of my assigned Patrol area midday of the 26th of October 1942. Had on board 24 MK-14 steam torpedoes. Set course due east to check the south bound shipping lanes out of Kii Suido and Bungo Suido. Surface travel was extremely difficult due to very heavy seas which repeatedly forced to bridge crew to close to hatch to prevent water from entering the boat. With no chance of making a sighting submerged I remained on the surface and we just put up with the weather.
RMKS/ 2. Tuesday October 13,1942, 13:47 Lookouts spotted a ship bearing 086` at 11,500 yds speeding along at an incredible 17.9 kts in these rough seas. As I started to dive the boat the starboard lookout identified the ship as a Nagara Light Cruiser. I dove to radar depth to close on the Cruiser. I had to raise the periscope high out of the water to sight the ship and was afraid we would broach or expose the shears but I continued closing. Also spotted an Aoba class Light Cruiser astern of the Nagara. Eased to periscope depth and closed at flank speed. At 13:53 the Cruisers turned south giving me a better firing angle. At 13:57 I set the bow tubes at 123 feet and had a setup on the Aoba. At 14:07 fired 4 torpedoes at the Aoba at 800 yds(SUNK). 3 torpedoes hit and detonated setting the ship afire and one torpedo was a dud. I immediately fired 2 more torpedoes from 740 yds. The 1st torpedo was a dud but the 2nd sent the Cruiser to the bottom. After firing the second volley I dove deep to allow the crew to reload without the violent pitching of the boat. Sonar lost contact at 14:43 and I went to periscope depth to check the area. Spotted one Kagero class DD picking up survivors at 7,700 yds astern. I went back to 250 feet and headed west to clear the area. At 17:36 surfaced and continued patrolling.
RMKS/ 3. Wednesday 14th October 1942 12:11 The SD radar picked up an air contact at 17,140 yds and we tracked it in to 10,000 yds before it began opening back out. Three minutes later the radar man reported a second aircraft was detected. I turned toward the aircraft hoping they were escorting ships. At 13:00 the OOD spotted 2 large mast bearing 012` at 14,140 yds on a southerly course. From the superstructure it appeared to be a Fuso class BB and a Kongo class BB speeding along at 17 kts. Being out of position I tried to get ahead but was unable to do so and gave up the chase at 18:40. I surfaced at 17:35 and continued west.
RMKS/ 4. Thursday 14th October 1942, 00:18 the port lookout spotted a submarine bearing 228` at 3,100 yds. Heading south at 11.7 kts. I immediately dove to periscope depth and ordered all back emergency. I didn't want to turn for a bowshot because the subs course was going to pass close astern. A brief look with the scope identified it as a class C type Japanese submarine. 00:25 sonar reported a 2nd sub outboard of the first on the same course. 00:26 I fired 1 torpedo at the C type sub at 1,800 yds then dove deep. The soundman reported hearing the torpedo hit the sub but no explosion. This was another dud torpedo. I remained submerged until 01:30 then surfaced and headed west to clear the area. Dove to periscope depth at 16:21 as the sun came up.
RMKS/ 5. At 16:27 sound reported low speed screws bearing 002` and I changed course to investigate. A sweep at 16:33 revealed 2- Kuma Light Cruisers and 1 - Takao heavy Cruiser to my northeast at a range of 4,400 yds heading 080` at 18 kts. At 16:40 the Task Force turned to port on a heading of 020`. I secured tracking at 16:44 as the Cruisers opened out and also spotted 1 - Asashio DD 6,800 yds to port trailing the Cruisers. Lost sound contact at 16:58 and I remained submerged while the ships cleared the area. At 18:06 surfaced and closed the coast to check for close in traffic until 01:48 then headed east to check the shipping lane from Bungo Suido. As morning approached I dove to radar depth per orders.
RMKS/ 6. Friday 16 October 1942, 10:59 sound reported low speed screws bearing 248` and an air contact at 17,600 yds. After a better look the radar man reported 2 aircraft instead of one. At 11:29 a periscope sweep revealed what they were flying cover for. I spotted 1- Armed Merchant and 1- Large Freighter plus their escorts. One Fubuki DD and 4 other unidentified DD's at 8,030 yds making 8.1 kts heading 263`. I went to 80 feet at 11:44 and let the near escort pass overhead with the merchants about 1,100 yds on my starboard bow. 11:51 fired 2 torpedoes at the AMC at 700 yds(SUNK) and fired 2 torpedoes at the Freighter(SUNK) at 710 yds all set for 16 feet. All 4 torpedoes hit their targets but one from each spread was a dud. I immediately fired a 3rd torpedo at each ship. These 2 torpedoes finished the merchants off and I dove deep to clear the area. The DD's seemed surprised at the sinkings for they never did mount an effective counter attack and I only heard 4 depth charge explosions which I'm sure caused the survivors from the merchants more harm than it did us. At 12:17 the ASW fell astern and at 12:42 I lost sound contact on the ASW and I headed north. At 13:02 I arrived at periscope depth and had no sightings. I stayed submerged until dark then surfaced at 18:38.
RMKS/ 7. At 19:31 the lookouts spotted a single Fubuki DD bearing 288` at 3,300 yds making 13 kts. I went to periscope depth and spotted 2 - Myoko class Heavy Cruisers. I setup for a stern shot with torpedo depth set at 15 feet. The lead Cruiser passed 340 yds astern and I waited for the second Cruiser and at 19:39 fired 4 torpedoes at a range of 540 yds then dove deep(DAM). Sound reported 2 explosions and 2 hits but no detonations. The escorts didn't search very hard and by 20:18 I had lost sound contact on the Task Force. At 20:23 I arrived at periscope depth and surfaced moments later after doing a periscope sweep. After surfacing I searched for the damaged Cruiser but made no further contact.
RMKS/ 8. Saturday 17 October 1942, 03:23 Lookouts made visual on a Standard Merchant bearing 285` at 3,650 yds. I dove to periscope depth and setup a stern shot. 03:27 also spotted a Converted Factory ship and an Armed Merchant. At 03:32 fired 2 torpedoes at the Standard Merchant at 790 yds. Both impacted but failed to detonate. I fired a 3rd torpedo at 700 yds then turned for a bowshot. The 3rd torpedo was also a dud. The convoy turned to port, which aided in getting another quick setup. 03:35 fired 4th and 5th torpedo at SM at 845 yds. The ensuing explosions set the SM afire and I fired a 6th torpedo at it at 650 yds. This was a dud torpedo too. Fired a 7th (and my last one) torpedo at the SM at 800 yds and this explosion broke the ships keel which sent it to the bottom(SUNK). The AMC and CFS made such evasive maneuvers that they almost collided. The CFS had to stop dead in the water to avoid ramming the AMC. I had a perfect setup at 670 yds but had no torpedoes left. I observed the ships break off to the north and lost visual at 2,800 yds before surfacing to return to Midway. No survivors were found and I ordered the helm to set course for base.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions: Enemy Sunk:
Total: 36,732 tons
Enemy Damaged:
1. Oct 16,1942, 19:39, (Myoko) Heavy Cruiser, 30-51N x 132-51E
Enemy Escaped:
1. 1 x Fuso class Battleship Damage Sustained:
NONE
Torpedo Performance:
Duds - Premature - Misses - Hits Aircraft Encountered: Ordnance Remaining: Comments: A successful patrol in almost every regard. The number of dud torpedoes could have been better resulting in more sunk vessels. No prematures though which did help. Request reload and refit.
LCDR Greg Turner /SENDS/
Seas: Heavy
Weather: Overcast
1. Oct 13,1942, 13:42, (Aoba) Heavy Cruiser, (10,822 tons), 31-26N x 134-50E
2. Oct 16,1942, 11:51, Large Freighter, (4,980 tons), 30-51N x 132-28E
3. Oct 16,1942, 11:51, Armed Merchant, (7,160 tons), 30-51N x 132-28E
4. Oct 17,1942, 03:36, Standard Merchant, (13,770 tons) 30-52N x 132-51E
2. 1 x Kongo class Battleship
3. 1 x C type Submarine
4. 1 x Mogami class Heavy Cruiser
5. 1 x Takao class Heavy Cruiser
6. 2 x Kuma class Light Cruisers
7. 1 x Asashio class Destroyers
8. 1 x Fubuki class Destroyer
9. 5 x Unidentified Escorts
10. 1 x Converted Factory Ship
11. 1 x Armed Merchant Cruiser
12. 1 x Myoko class Heavy Cruiser
- 11 -------- 0 --------- 0 ------ 13
3
Torpedoes: 0
Deck Gun: 95
CO USS Grouper
XO SubRon 4A