//IMMEDIATE//
From: LCDR Greg Turner (USS Lagarto SS-371)
To: ComSubRon 4
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: May 13,1945
Re: Patrol Report (Dec 00 - Cycle 2)
RMKS / 1. Arrived on station off southern Formosa at 15:00 May6, 1945. Patrolled off southern tip the remainder of the day without contact then moved north up the west coast.
RMKS/ 2. 10:42, May 7, 1945 received a message from ComSubPac assigning the Lagarto lifeguard duty within 20 miles of Takao, Formosa. After submerging I set course for Takao. I elected to observe but not to engage any convoys except for capital ships to keep my presence unknown. May 8, 1945 SJ contact bearing 115` at 33,060 yds. Convoy appeared to be heading for Takao. It passed within 12,000 yds. By 04:10 we were on station about 13 miles southwest of Takao. At 05:05 came to radar depth to check the area. 07:45 contact at 185` at 32,510 yds. Periscope watch made visual at 09:01 at 14,000 yds on a mast. At 09:33 dove to 100 feet after identifying 1 - SM, 1 - Supply, 1 - TT or AMC (unsure) and 7 unidentified escorts. Back to radar depth at 10:26 and spotted ships ranging from 8,400 to 12,450 yds and identified 1 - Hatsuharu class DD. Lost visual at 10:57 as convoy sailed out of range. Radar reported ships halted at 26,000 yds bearing 046`. (Takao Harbor)
RMKS/ 3. Surfaced at 19:32 and waiting for further orders. At 20:40 observed flashes from bombing raid and received a radio report of a pilot down 25 miles north of Takao. Headed for position at flank. At 20:46 received report of a second down pilot located 5 miles south of Takao. Continued north to search for 1st pilot then to get second. At 20:53 received a report of a 3rd down pilot located 50 miles southwest of Takao. At 22:13 spotted the northern most pilot afloat in his life raft and hauled him aboard five minutes later. Set course south to search for 2nd pilot. At 00:01 lookouts spotted this pilot almost on the beach where the current s had carried him. After nosing in close to the shore we hauled him aboard. I backed the boat out to deeper water then headed south at flank to search for the 3rd pilot. At 02:38 lookouts spotted this pilot and we closed rapidly and hauled him aboard. After checking on the condition of the pilots I set course west to search for enemy shipping.
RMKS/ 4. May 9, 1945 03:23 contact bearing 320` at 32,820 yds. Went to general quarters and headed for contact. At 04:06 lookouts spotted 1 - Tankers, 3 - Armed Merchants, 3 - Supply, and 2 - Standard Merchants. Closest contact was at 5,200 yds. No escorts visible but sonar reported high-speed screws in the area. At 04:14 fired 2 torpedoes at Tanker at 730 yds. (SUNK) Fired 2 torpedoes at AMC at 690 yds (Damaged). Fired a 3rd torpedo at AMC at 600 yds (MISS). Convoy turned to port and I turned to pursue. At 04:8 fired 1 torpedo at a single Supply ship passing astern at 500 yds (Hit). Fired a 2nd torpedo at Supply at 700 yds (SUNK). At 04:19 dove for 225 feet and turned northeast. Active sonar found me at 04:21. Three minutes later I turned southwest as the escorts closed inside 1,000 yds. Depth charges began dropping at 04:27. At 04:33 active sonar found me again. Jettisoned debris at 04:54 and thought I was going to get clear when active sonar pinpointed my position once again. Depth charge attack at 05:19 damaged DC Motor 4, the Crew Mess Hull, the Control Room Hull and the Steering Gear. 05:25 damage control reported a fire in the Crew Mess. One minute later the XO reported the Control Room leak was plugged but the fire was still out of control. I bottomed the boat at 317 feet to try and elude the escorts above but their active sonar picked me up and they closed again. As I began to maneuver a depth charge damaged Engine 4 and breached Store Room 1's Hull. Before I could clear the area a massive depth charge attack caused damage throughout the boat. Affected was the Bow Planes, Fwd Battery Room Hull, Engine 1 + 3, Motor Room Hull, DC Motor 1, Conning Tower Hull, Crew Quarters Hull, Fuel tanks, Aft Engine Room Hull, and the Deck Gun was disabled. Immediately the Conning Tower, Store Room and Aft Engine Room began to flood. With all the flooding and the fire I ordered the boat to periscope depth to fight. Just as we began to rise another depth charge damaged the Radio Room Hull, Radio, Aft Battery an the Sound Heads. Arrived at periscope depth at 05:52 and spotted 2 Patrol Craft to be the cause of my plastering. Immediately fired 1 torpedo at Patrol Craft at 532 yds (SUNK) then as I swung the scope toward the other PC it disabled the periscope with a shell hit. I ordered the boat back down to regroup and to keep from being shelled. At 05:55 the XO reported the fire was out in the Crew Mess. Two minutes later active sonar pinpointed my position and the PC headed in. With maneuvering becoming difficult due to the flooding and the batteries beginning to take on water I ordered the boat to surface and make a last stand. Surfaced at 06:02 and immediately fired 4 torpedoes at the Patrol Craft at 602 yards (SUNK). The PC replied with a few shells but missed. As the torpedoes struck the PC the XO reported a fire in the Control Room. Within minutes it had spread to the Crew Mess. Damage teams had the fire out in the Mess by 06:14 but the fire in the Control Room damaged the SJ radar before being extinguished at 06:52. I set course for the southeast side of Formosa while repairs continued in case I would need to call for assistance. By 12:01 everything that could be repaired had been. The Deck Gun, periscope and Steering Gear were wrecked. With these repairs beyond my crew's abilities I set course for Pearl Harbor and Steered with the engines only.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions:
Seas: Moderate
Weather:Clear
Enemy Sunk:
1. Oil Tanker 5,370 tons 22-49N x 120-14E 2. Supply 1,340 tons 22-49N x 120-13E 3. Patrol Craft (Type D) 940 tons 22-43N x 120-10E 4. Patrol Craft (Type C) 810 tons 22-42N x 120-10E
Total: 8,460 tons
Enemy Damaged:
1. 1 x Armed Merchant
Enemy Escaped:
1. 6 x Escorts Unidentified
2. 3 x Standard Merchant
3. 3 x Supply
4. 1 x Unidentified Merchant
5. 1 x Hatsuharu DD
Damage Sustained:
1. Fuel Tanks - Heavy
2. Engine 1 + 3 - Moderate
3. Engine 4 - Minor
4. Dc Motor - Moderate
5. Radio - Heavy
6. Aft Battery - Moderate
7. Bow Planes - Moderate
8. Steering Gear - Disabled
9. Sound Heads - Moderate
10. Deck Gun - Disabled
11. Periscope - Disabled
12. Conning Tower Hull - Moderate
13. Control Room Hull - Minor
14. Store Room 1 Hull - Minor
15. Crew Mess Hull - Minor
16. Crew Quarters Hull - Moderate
17. Radio Room Hull - Moderate
18. Fwd Battery Room Hull - Moderate
19. Aft Engine room Hull - Moderate
20. Motor Room Hull - Moderate
Ordnance Remaining:
Torpedoes: 12
Deck Gun: 100
Comments: Honorable mention of the 3 pilots we rescued. They gave their all to help save the Lagarto as did the rest of the crew. Request reload and refit.
LCDR Greg Turner
(USS Lagarto SS-371)
/SENDS/