//IMMEDIATE//
From: LCDR Greg Turner (USS Plunger, SS-179)
To: ComSubRon 10A
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: January 8,1942
Re: Patrol Report (Feb01-Cycle2)
RMKS/ 1. Arrived on station off southern Japan on December 21,1941 in the late afternoon with 16 MK-14 steam torpedoes on board. Headed north toward the approach to Nagasaki. 02:14,December 22 lookouts spotted a lone Sampan at 2,400 yds off the port quarter. Deck gun crew prepared for action and after closing to 1,200 yds and opened fire and sank the vessel with 2 hits.
RMKS/2. 08:18 lookouts spotted 4 Sampans at 12,000 yds off the port quarter. Being off the busy port of Nagasaki I elected not to engage and alert heavier traffic in the area. I submerged the boat to avoid being spotted. After loosing sight on the Sampans I surfaced and headed for Bungo Suido that evening at 18:56. As the sun came up on the 23rd submerged the boat per orders and continued east. Surfaced at dusk and continued patrolling. At 21:31 lookouts potted 1 - Yugumo DD at 4,270 yds bearing 042`. Dove to periscope depth and spotted a Troop ship and a Standard Merchant in a single column at 4,300 yds. At 21:39 fired 1 torpedo at the Merchant at 3,100 yds set at 8 feet. Torpedo missed and the ships were not alerted and continued on. Spotted a 2nd Yugumo class DD 3,000 yds to port and turned out away from the convoy and dove. Surfaced at 22:30 and continued north. At 03:54 arrived at a point 10 miles south of Bungo Suido strait and dove to periscope depth at 06:25 as sunrise approached. At 06:30 sonar reported high speed screws bearing 240` and I turned to investigate. 06:35 I spotted 1 - Mogami class Heavy Cruiser, 1 - Aoba class Heavy Cruiser and 3 - Mutsuki class DD's at 5,700 yds. Cruisers were making 25 kts and the DD's were making 36 kts. At 06:40 2 of the DD's passed ahead at 1,100 yds as I closed. Periscope check showed 2 DD's between the Cruisers and me and also spotted 2 DD's ahead and behind the Cruisers. As the Cruisers turned north a DD's closed within 1,000 yds and I slowed to 1/3 speed and went to 76 feet. Check at 06:45 showed the Cruisers turning to the northwest at 3,000 yds. I continued to trail hoping to catch the Cruisers in a turn but the pulled away to the northeast. Closest range was 3,000 yds. Ceased trailing at 07:04 and awaited darkness. 16:47 surfaced and headed south. Lookouts reported a large ship bearing 190` at 11,470 yds and closing at 16:57. I turned east at flank to get in firing position and also identified the contact as a Fuso class BB making 22 kts. At 16:59 dove to periscope depth after making the turn with the BB bearing 286` at 9,500 yds. Spotted 1 - Mutsuki DD 1,000 yds off the BB's port quarter as we arrived at periscope depth. Made ready all tubes with torpedo depth set at 10 feet. Check at 17:04 showed the BB turning to the southeast and the DD shifting sides. At 17:09 the BB was at 2,000 yds and the DD was at 4,400 yds making a wide sweep of the area. At 17:10 fired 4 torpedoes at the BB, range 700 yds and then I turned to get the stern tubes to bear. Sonar reported all 4 torpedoes hit but only 1 exploded. (DAM) The DD headed my way and I dove and arrived at 275 feet at 17:04. DD circled the sub 3 complete times but made no contact on us. After a short search the DD moved out of sonar range by 17:50. Arrived periscope depth at 17:55 and then surfaced after checking the area to search for the BB but instead lookouts spotted 1 - Kagero DD bearing 042` at 5,200 yds making 33 kts at 19:13.
RMKS/ 3. One minute after spotting the DD also spotted a Merchant and I dove to PD and headed in. At 19:16 I went to 150 feet as a DD was heading right for me. Sonar reported DD turned back at 1,200 yds and I went back to periscope depth. A quick check revealed 2 more Merchants at 4,700 and 4,900 yds. All ships in a single column making 17.4 kts. Also spotted 1 - Asashio DD bearing 040` at 3,100 yds and 1 - Supply ship astern of the lead Merchant. At 19:23 I turned out to try an end around as convoy pulled ahead. Searched for convoy until 21:26 but had no luck. At 02:01 lookouts made visual on a Troop ship bearing083` at 4,200 yds. After diving to PD spotted a 2nd Troop ship and 2 - Small Freighters. By 22:57 was ahead of and waiting for ships to close. Ships were in 2 columns with the Troop ships nearest me making 11 kts. Bow tubes set for 6 feet and at 23:03 fired 2 torpedoes at the 1st Troop ship at 500 yds (SUNK). One minute later fired 2 torpedoes at the 2nd Troop ship at 720 yds. Observed 1 premature detonation short of target and 1 hit on target that set the ship afire. Troop ship circled the sinking Troop ship to the south then turned northwest allowing me to bring the stern tubes to bear. At 23:08 fired a 3rd torpedo at Troop ship at 722 yds (SUNK). Small Freighter had opened out to 7,100 yds and was making 15 kts to the southwest. 23:13 surfaced and continued north toward Kii Suido.
RMKS/ 4. 02:59 lookouts spotted 3 Sampans bearing 060` at 4,500 yds. Went to flank speed and closed to 400 yds then opened fire with deck gun firing 14 times for 6- hits and 8- misses thus sinking the vessels. 06:40 dove to periscope depth as the sun came up and continued patrolling at 1/3 speed.09:06 picked up search sonar and spotted 1 DD patrolling to the north, dove to 250 feet to let the crew rest and avoid the DD. 16:50 arrived periscope depth and surfaced at 17:34. 20:24 lookouts spotted 1 - Asashio DD bearing 002` at 5,100 yds. Dove to periscope depth and let ship pass then surfaced at 20:34.21:34 lookouts again spotted a DD, Mutsuki class bearing 062` at 5,600 yds. Dove to periscope depth and at 21:34 spotted 1 Troop ship bearing 066` at 4,570 yds making 11 kts. By 21:47 I had closed the gap by half and at 21:511 the DD passed 2,100 yds ahead with the Troop ship at 2,600 yds. At 21:57 fired 1 torpedo at the Troop ship at 1,900 yds and watched as it prematured only seconds later. The DD heeled over and came after me and I went deep at flank speed. Passing 178 feet active sonar hit the sub but didn't remain fixed and lost contact seconds later. At 22:47 lost contact on the DD by slipping away to the southwest. Arrived periscope depth at 22:53 and surfaced after checking the area and headed for the east side of the strait to search for traffic.
RMKS/ 5. 00:21 XO Marshall spotted 1 - Asashio DD escorting 1 - Kongo class Battleship bearing 240` at 5,700 yds. With the moon in behind the ships I headed for them at flank while surfaced and spotting additional ships consisting of 1 - Tone class Heavy Cruiser and 1 - Myoko class Heavy Cruiser. The BB and 2 Cruisers were in Echelon right formation making 29 kts. At 00:28 with the closest range at 3,550 yds I turned south hoping to catch the Task Force in a turn. At 00:29 the TF turned to port then back to starboard. Dove to periscope depth ass the DD closed within 2,900 yds. At 00:34 the DD fired a star shell and spotted my scope for it fired one round in my direction before I dove the boat deep and turned west. Upon diving the TF was commencing a turn to the southwest and the closest contact was at 2,850 yds. 01:13 lost contact on the DD and arrived periscope depth 5 minutes later. After a quick sweep surfaced and headed west to hunt for the TF. At 02:18 lookouts spotted ships bearing 145` at 5,700 yds. Identified 1 - Standard Merchant and 1 - Small Freighter in a single column making 17 kts. Altered course and at 02:26 fired 2 torpedoes at the Merchant at 700 yds from the stern tubes then turned to use the bow tubes. Both torpedoes hit but only 1 detonated. At 02:27 fired a 3rd torpedo at Merchant at 580 yds and watched it hit without detonating. Fired a 4th torpedo at 500 yds and it to was a dud. At 02:28 I ordered the boat to surface for a gun action while the last torpedo was being loaded. While staying outside effective small arms range the deck gun crew fired 49 rounds for 43-hits and 6- misses. At 02:42 I fried the last torpedo at the Merchant at 501 yds to finish it (SUNK). Being out of torpedoes I set course for Pearl Harbor.
Patrol Summary
TDC: Auto
Conditions: Enemy Sunk:
Enemy Damaged:
1. Fuso class Battleship
Enemy Escaped:
1. 4 x Standard Merchants Damage Sustained: Ordnance Remaining: Comments: Request reload and refit.
LCDR Greg Turner /SENDS/
Seas: Calm
Visibility: Partly Cloudy
1. Dec 24, Troop Ship, (8,820 tons), 33-17N x 132-58E
2. Dec 24, Troop Ship, (4,900 tons), 32-16N x 132-58E
3. Dec 26, Merchant, (9,830 tons), 33-17N x 134-49E
4. 4 x Sampans, (280 tons)
TOTAL: 23,830 tons
2. 3 x Small Freighters
3. 2 x Troop Ships
4. 1 x Supply
5. 1 x Kongo class Battleship
6. 1 x Tone class Heavy Cruiser
7. 1 x Myoko class Heavy Cruiser
8. 1 x Mogami class Heavy Cruiser
9. 1 x Aoba class Heavy Cruiser
10. 5 x Mutsuki class DD
11. 3 x Asashio class DD
12. 2 x Yugumo class DD
13. 1 x Kagero class DD
14. 4 x DD unidentified
None
Torpedoes: 0
Deck Gun: 29
(USS Plunger, SS-179)