//IMMEDIATE//
From: CDR Greg Turner (USS Hoe)
ComSubRon 12A
To: ComSubPac
Date: June 27,1943
Re: Patrol Format (June 01 - Cycle 2)
RMKS/ 1. Left Pearl Harbor on the morning of 2 June 1943 enroute for the Palau Islands. While transiting another subs Patrol Zone on 14 June I encountered an air contact at 16,810 yds at 07:52 and crash-dived when the air contact closed within 8,000 yds. SD radar reported 2 aircraft upon my diving. Heard 5 depth charge explosions but none were close. 07:27 sound reported active sonar in the area. I proceeded to Periscope depth and spotted 2 - Destroyers and 1 - Cruiser. The range was to great to make any identification and with the air cover I went to 200 feet and turned northeast to open out. Back to radar depth at 08:33 and picked up the ships at 11,500 yds astern with the aircraft at 12,200 circling the task Force. With no chance of interception I surfaced at 09:38 and continued toward my assigned Patrol Zone.
RMKS/ 2. Entered my assigned Zone at 23:04, and headed south to patrol western approach to island.
RMKS/ 3. Sunday 15 June 1943, 07:48 SJ radar reported a contact bearing 078` at 14,850 yds. Lookouts spotted a mast bearing 087` at 14, 021 yds and identified it as a Troop ship and a Converted Factory ship with a Standard Merchant in trail. I dove to radar depth in moderate seas under partly cloudy skies. 08:59 fired 2 torpedos at lead Troop ship at 750 yds (SUNK) and fired 2 torpedos at Merchant at 850 yds all set for 16-foot depth. The Merchant took on a sharp list but continued at a slow speed. I fired a 3rd torpedo at it from 750 yds and finished it off (SUNK). 09:01 fired 1 torpedo at 2nd Troop ship at 1,060 yds and the hit caused the ship to slow and turn toward my position. I must have hit the rudders. I swung for a stern shot and at 09:05 fired a 2nd torpedo at the Troop ship from 980 yds. This hit started a fire in the bow of the ship but it didn't sink it so I fired a 3rd torpedo from 960 yds and apparently hit the boilers because the ships side blew out and a very large amount of steam was vented. (SUNK) I surfaced at 09:07 and headed northwest to clear the area.
RMKS/ 4. 11:57 lookouts spotted 1 - Standard Merchant bearing 339` at 14,850 yds making 12 kts. I increased speed to flank to intercept. Lookouts then reported 2 - Supply ships with the Merchant. I took a chance but continued to close on the surface due to the high speed of the convoy. At 12:25 my luck ran out as the Supply ships opened fire on me. One salvo landed astern and the other ahead but caused no damage. I pulled the plug and took the boat to periscope depth and turned due north to lessen my chances of being hit. All three ships turned north to evade then suddenly the Merchant turned northwest by itself. I trailed the Merchant and when the range on the Supply ships opened to 10,000 yds I surfaced to overtake the Merchant. I paralled the Merchant for some time trying to get ahead when at 13:24 SD radar reported an air contact closing from 16,820 yds. Apparently the Merchant had radioed for assistance. Realizing my time had come I turned toward the ship and at 13:26 fired 3 torpedo's at 1,545 yds set for 16 feet then crash dived with the air contact passing through 8,000 yds (SUNK). We heard and barley felt 2 different depth charges but sustained no damage. At 16:29 I headed to radar depth and made no contacts and surfaced at 18:30.
RMKS/ 5. Monday 16 June 1943 01:58 SJ contact bearing 237` at 13,510 yds. Lookouts made visual at 02:17 on 1 - Standard Merchant at 6,380 yds. After a thorough search they also spotted 1 - Large Freighter, 1 - Armed Merchant Cruiser, 1 - Tanker, 2 - Supply, and 1 - Converted Factory ship in two columns making 11 kts. At 02:37 I fired 2 torpedos at the Standard Merchant, which was the lead ship of the nearest column from a range of 700 yds set for 25 feet. Both torpedo's hit the target and caused massive fires but the ship continued on so I fired a 3rd torpedo from a range of 600 yds and (SUNK) it. The convoy scattered after this sinking and I went after the Tanker but due to the scattering the Armed Merchant turned out to be my best target so I shifted to it and tracked as the range closed from 1,800 yds. At 02:41 I fired 2 torpedos at the AMC from 1,500 yds. The hits set the ship afire just forward of the bridge and it slowed to 2 kts but failed to sink so I fired a 3rd torpedo from a range of 1,600 yds and (SUNK) it. All the remaining ships except for the Factory ship had regrouped and were heading northeast away from me. I targeted the Factory ship and at 03:07 fired 2 torpedos at it from 1,000 yds. The hits caused a fire aft of the bridge and at 03:12 I fired a 3rd torpedo from 650 yds set at 20 feet (SUNK). At this time I spotted the remains of the convoy had regrouped and was heading straight for my position. I suspect they were unsure of my position and unknowingly heading right for me.At 03:23 fired 2 torpedos at the near Tanker from 730 yds (SUNK). I then setup and fired 1 torpedo�s at Large Freighter from 1,200 yds then dove. This fish missed. The battery was down to 100 volts and I surfaced to end around and charge on the batteries. At 05:00 I went to radar depth ahead of the Freighter. At 05:08 fired 2 torpedos at the Freighter from 525 yds and (SUNK) the ship. After checking the area and finding it to be clear I surfaced and set course for Pearl Harbor.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions:
Seas: Moderate Enemy Sunk:
TOTAL: 75,780 tons
Enemy Damaged:
None
Enemy Escaped:
1. 4 x Supply Ships
2. 2 x DD's Unidentified
3. 1 x Cruiser Unidentified
Damage Sustained:
None
Torpedo Performance:
Duds - Premature - Misses - Hits Aircraft Encountered:
3
Ordnance Remaining:
Torpedoes: 0 Deck Gun: 95
Comments: An exceptional patrol in means of torpedo performance. Out of 24 fired 23 hit and detonated on their targets. The one miss was due to a fire control error. All hands performed in a manner, which makes me proud to be their skipper. Request refit and reload
CDR Greg Turner /SENDS/
Weather: Partly Cloudy
1. June 15,1943, 09:00, Troop Ship, (9,930), 09-05N x 134-22E
2. June 15,1943, 09:01, Standard Merchant, (10,900), 09-05N x 134-22E
3. June 15,1943, 09:06, Converted Factory, (5,120), 09-05N x 134-22E
4. June 15,1943, 13:27, Standard Merchant, (5,250), 09-11N x 134-04E
5. June 16,1943, 02:38, Standard Merchant, (15,120), 08-01N x 133-24E
6. June 16,1943, 02:44, Armed Cruiser, (8,380), 08-01N x 133-24E
7. June 16,1943, 03:12, Converted Factory, (4,160), 08-03N x 133-25E
8. June 16,1943, 03:22, Tanker, (11,810), 08-04N x 133-26E
9. June 16,1943, 05:08, Large Freighter, (5,110), 08-01N x 132-58E
-0 -------- 0 --------- 1 ------ 23
CO USS Hoe
CO SubRon 12A