From: CDR Greg Turner (USS Hoe)
ComSubRon 12A
To: ComSubPac
Date: August 7,1943
Subject: Patrol Report (July 01 - Cycle 2)
RMKS/ 1. Left Pearl Harbor and arrived on station off Northern Japan on August 7, 1943. At 09:05 received a radio dispatch assigning us lifeguard duty off the port of Hachinohe. I closed on the surface until 06:00 then dove to radar depth.
RMKS/ 2. At 09:50 we received a radio message alerting us to a down pilot close to 40-28N x 141-12E. I headed for his position at standard speed. At 09:51 received report of a 2nd downed pilot at 40-26N x 141-12E. Fearing their capture I surfaced and headed for the nearest pilot at flank speed. I doubled the lookouts but did not man the AA guns. I wanted to be able to dive as rapidly as possible. 09:54 received report of yet a 3rd down pilot at 40-24N x 141-13E. SJ radar made contact bearing 098` at 17,000 and 20,000 yds. We continued to close and at 12:11 lookouts spotted the 3rd reported pilot bearing 345`. At 12:20 SD radar reported an aircraft at 17,000 yds and lookouts simultaneously sighted a ship anchored in the port. I dove to radar depth as the aircraft closed within 11,000 yds. SD reported the aircraft closed to 2,300 yds then turned back. I waited until the aircraft opened out to 9,000 yds the surfaced and picked up the downed pilot and headed back to radar depth.
RMKS/ 3. I turned north to head for the 2nd pilot and at 12:26 SD reported that the aircraft had closed within 2,000 yds so I went to periscope depth and sound picked up active sonar. I was back to radar depth by 12:40 and radar reported the aircraft at 8,000 yds. Two minutes later as the aircraft closed within 2,600 yds I went to 77 feet. Arrived back at radar depth at 13:03 to find the aircraft had departed the area. At 13:05 a quick sweep showed the 2nd pilot at 800 yds off the port bow. I set course in his direction and awaited dark to make the rescue. Observed 2 - DD's, 1 - Submarine, 1 - Carrier, 1 - Standard Merchant plus numerous other vessels at anchor. The aircraft reappeared and dropped 2 depth charges nearby that caused no damage.
RMKS/ 4. At 19:37 with the aircraft at 5,100 yds we surfaced almost from beneath the pilot
and mad a fast rescue then went back to radar depth. Spotted the 3rd pilot at 2,700 yds to the northeast. At 20:02 we rescued the last pilot then checked out the harbor. I remained on the surface to charge batteries while I closed the harbor. At 20:18 dove to radar depth top close
for an attack. At 20:27 I spotted 1 - Kagero DD at 3,750 yds stationary. Also spotted 1 -
Hiyo class CV at 4,400 yds with 1 - Submarine anchored outboard of the carrier. Also
spotted 1 - Standard Merchant, 1 - Troop Ship, and 1 - Tanker. At 20:49 I fired 1 torpedo
at the Submarine set at 14 feet on high speed (SUNK). Made a quick setup and fired 4
torpedoes at the CV set for 16 feet . Shifted to Tanker and fired my last bow torpedo
at 20:56. (SUNK). Surface search radar and spotlights came out ashore. Apparently the Japs thought they were being bombed again. At 21:00 after seeing the CV wasn't sinking I fired
2 more torpedos from 4,050 yds (SUNK). 21:01 fired 2 torpedos at the SM at 4,329 yds then repositioned as the bow tubes neared reload. Both hits set the Merchant afire so at 21:05 I
fired a 3rd torpedo from 4,160 yds at it. This hit caused even more damage but the Merchant
still didn't sink. With no sign of aircraft and no destroyer screen I elected to remain and
give the Japs hell. At 21:26 fired a 4th torpedo at the Merchant from 4,220 yds set for slow speed and fired 1 torpedo at a previously unspotted Cruiser at 4,370 yds. The 4th hit on the Merchant started even more fires but the ship still refused to go down. Fearing a
counterattack from seaside forces I headed out to deeper water to observe and also fired
my last 3 ready stern tubes. Fired 1 torpedo at the Merchant (5th shot) and fired 2 torpedo's
at the Cruiser from 4,360 yds on slow run. Finally the Merchant rolled over and sank after
taking 5 hits(SUNK). The hits on the Cruiser set it afire and at 21:46 I fired a 4th and my last stern torpedo at the Cruiser (SUNK) then turned north to get e better look at what had
occurred. With a tremendous roar the Cruiser lifted out of the water then settled to the
bottom in less than 30 seconds. I suspect a magazine exploded.
RMKS/ 5. While heading north I spotted 1 - Agano CL and 1 - Troop Ship so I turned in to attack. At 22:27 fired 2 torpedos at the CL from 3,200 yds.(MISS) The fish missed for an unknown reason. I suspect the could have hit some debris from a previously sunk vessel.
After repositioning at 22:41 fired 2 torpedo's at a Yubari CL from 2,100 yds. These hits
caused some small fires (DAM). At 22:43 fired a 3rd and 4th torpedo at the Yubari but these
to missed. Being unsure if my last torpedo would sink the cruiser much less hit it I shifted
to a Coastal Tanker at 2,200 yds and fired my last torpedo at it (DAM). The Tanker must
have been in ballast because the exploding torpedo seemed to have little effect. Being out of torpedo's and with no aircraft or escorts in the area I surfaced and headed for the open sea at flank speed. After clearing the harbor I set course for Pearl Harbor.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions: Enemy Sunk:
Total: 56,993 tons
Enemy Damaged:
1. (CL), Yubari class Enemy Escaped: Damage Sustained: Torpedo Performance:
Duds - Premature - Misses - Hits Aircraft Encountered: Ordnance Remaining:
Torpedoes: 0 Comments: We were assigned Lifeguard duty to rescue downed pilots. Other then the second pilot which came down right in the entrance to the harbor all went well. I'm sure there were other ships but I elected not to go in to far. Luckily I hit and sank the CV. Request refit and reload
CDR Greg Turner
Seas: Moderate
Weather: Mostly Cloudy
1.
Aug 7,1943, 20:49, Sub (A-type), (2,934 tons), 40-28N x 141-07E
2. Aug 7,1943, 20:52, Carrier (Hiyo), (26,949 tons),40-28N x 141-07E
3. Aug 7,1943, 20:55, Tanker, (7,410 tons), 40-28N x 141-07E
4. Aug 7,1943, 21:46, CA (Mogami), (13,440 tons),40-28N x 141-07E
5. Aug 7,1943, 21:34, Standard Merchant,(6,260 tons), 40-28N x 141-07E
2.Coastal Tanker
UNKNOWN
NONE
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0 -----0----
4 ----- 20
3
Deck Gun: 95
CO USS Hoe
CO SubRon 12A