//IMMEDIATE//

From: LCDR Greg Turner (USS Plunger SS-179)
To: ComSubRon 4A
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: April 28,1942
Re: Patrol Format (March01-Cycle1)

RMKS/ 1. Arrived on station southwest of Truk lagoon in the early hours of April 12,1942 with a load of 16 MK-14 steam torpedoes. With heavy seas and overcast skies the visibility was such that I remained surfaced at dawn and patrolled on the surface.

RMKS/ 2. At 16:21 lookouts sighted a Troop ship bearing 266` at 8,000 yds, estimated speed was 10.4 kts. I turned west to intercept and also spotted 1-Supply ship, 1-Tanker and a 2nd Troop ship all trailing the 1st Troop ship in a single column. At 16:26 I turned southwest to get a better angle and began closing the gap at 300 yds per minute. At 16:36 dove to periscope depth 2,800 yds from the lead Troop ship with extremely bad visibility. 16:43 fired 2 torpedoes at the lead Troop ship at 1,100 yds. One torpedo impacted under the bridge and broke the ships keel and the 2nd torpedo hit the ship but failed to detonate (SUNK). The Tanker and Supply ships increased speed to 9.5 kts as the 2nd Troop ship slowed below 4 kts to apparently rescue survivors. At 16:40 fired1 torpedo at Troop ship at 814 yds set at 15 feet. Torpedo impacted ship but didn't detonate. I immediately fired a 2nd torpedo from a range of 740 yds and it to struck but failed to detonate. At 700 yds fired a 3rd torpedo which hit below the funnel and detonated setting the ship afire. Having expended all loaded forward tubes and being astern of the crippled ship I surfaced for a gun action. The gun crew fired one 3" shell, which apparently hit a vital spot because the ship was racked with secondary explosions, which turned the vessel into a blazing hulk that sank shortly thereafter (SUNK). After securing the deck gun I headed west to clear the area and give the crew a rest.

RMKS/ 3. At 02:29 on the 14th received an encrypted message from Pearl Harbor requesting a recon of Truk Lagoon on or before the 17th. I set a course to patrol so as to be able to execute the recon on the night of the 15th-16th. At 09:55 lookouts spotted a lone Shiratsuyu class DD bearing350` at 9,700 yds heading southeast. Dove to periscope depth and sonar also reported slow speed screws following it. At 10:10 my XO spotted 2-Troop ships and 1-Tanker bearing 355` at 7,200 yds in a single column making 10 kts. Unable to close within firing range I watched as the convoy passed ahead at 6,400 yds. Also spotted a second escort (2nd Shiratsuyu) on the far side of The convoy. Lost visual on the convoy at 10:33 and surfaced 15 minutes later to head for the entrance to Truk Lagoon. 13:21 dove to periscope depth awaiting darkness to enter.

RMKS/ 4. Surfaced at 18:01 and headed in at flank speed. At 22:51 went to periscope depth to close the final distance and avoid 4 DD's patrolling around several moored ships. While awaiting for daylight I identified 1-Kuma Light Cruiser, 1 - Chitose Carrier and 1-Aoba Heavy Cruiser plus spotted several smaller vessels but didn't risk being spotted just to get an identification on them. As the sun broke on the 16th I got the requested pictures and headed out at slow speed. At 09:46 we were over flown by an aircraft, which caused several moments of near panic. Finally at 18:54 I surfaced at the entrance to the lagoon, as the air was getting unbreathable and to commence charging a very low battery. After clearing the entrance I headed west to give the crew a little rest and to complete the battery charge. At 21:29 lookouts reported a DD (Mutsuki) closing from astern and I dove to periscope depth to determine if we had been spotted. As the DD closed on my position I ordered the boat to 275 feet. The DD passed overhead and faded out on the same course. After making a periscope sweep I surfaced at 22:00.

RMKS/ 5. 08:06 April 18th, lookouts spotted 2 Heavy Cruisers bearing 099` at 13,660 yds making 27 kts. Dove to periscope depth and headed west to get in firing position with a closure rate of 790 yds pr minute. Identified 1-Furutaka DD, 1-Fubuki DD, 2-Shiratsuyu DD's and 1-Myoko heavy Cruiser and 1-Kuma Light Cruiser. At 08:12 the task force turned northwest which left me with no possibility of an attack on it. I continued west at flank hoping the TF would turn north again but it continued on until I lost visual at 08:34. I ceased trailing and awaited darkness to surface and charge the battery. Surfaced at 18:42 and started charging. At 20:22 lookouts spotted 2 ships emerging from the dark bearing 265` at 2,890 yds making 6.6 kts. Identified a Troop ship and a Merchant ship. Dove to periscope depth and closed for a shot. At 20:32 fired 1 torpedo at the Troop ship at 592 yds set for 15 feet. It blew out the fantail and the ship sank stern first (SUNK). Then I fired 1 torpedo at the Merchant at 720 yds set for 15 feet as the ship turned to starboard. Torpedo hit but didn't detonate. Fired 2nd torpedo at 620 yds and this one detonated between the bow and the bridge, which slowed the ship but didn't sink it. I fired a 3rd torpedo at 510 yds, which impacted but didn't explode. I swung around to fire a stern shot and at 20:33 fired 1 4th torpedo at the Merchant at 500 yds, which also hit the ship but didn't detonate. Being extremely frustrated I fired my last loaded torpedo at 740 yds and watched it hit and fail to explode. With the weather being as bad as it was and extremely dark I surfaced to bring the deck gun to bear while the torpedo men finished reloading the tubes. The Merchant increased speed to over 10 kts after being hit. At 20:39 the 3" gun opened fire at 1,340 yds and proceeded to wreck the bridge with 42 hits that started fires, which eventually caused the ship to explode sending out a huge ball of fire and debris. Luckily we were not hit by anything of any size from the explosion so I secured from battle stations and continued patrolling.

RMKS/ 6. 03:03 April 19th, lookouts spotted1-Mutsuki DD escorting 1-Chitose class Carrier bearing 057` at 3,122 yds making 25 kts. Dove to periscope depth and prepared to fire. At 03:08 just as the DD passed ahead at 370 yds I fired 2 torpedoes at the carrier at 1,600 yds set for 17 feet then dove deep. A sweep of the area before diving revealed 2 more DD\s and what looked to be 2 heavy Cruisers. Still 30 seconds from impact one of the torpedoes prematured and the DD's began searching for me. The other torpedo missed and sonar reported 4 sets of high-speed screws closing. At 03:23 active sonar found the depth charges and me began dropping. Dove to 279 feet and made several hard turns to throw off the attack. At 04:01 I jettisoned debris and dove to 300 feet as the DD's continued to pound me. At 04:15 a depth charge damaged the Crew Mess Hull, the Officers Quarter Hull, DC Motor 2, Destroyed the periscope and the Aft Battery began to flood. By 05:45 had lost contact on all but one DD. At 06:07 the XO reported chlorine gas was rapidly filling the boat from the flooded battery aft. I ordered the boat to the surface hoping that the DD would not spot me. Broke the surface at 06:20 and spotted the DD bearing 181` at 8,070 yds making only 5.6 kts. Went to flank speed and lost sight of the DD in a rainsquall moment's later.06: 33 lookouts cried out that an aircraft was closing from 160` at 4,700 yds. The AA gun crew sprung into action to try and get the aircraft before it did us. The twin-engine plane dropped one depth charge that damaged the Sound Heads, SD radar, the Radio Room Hull, the Motor Room Hull and the Conning Tower Hull. The aircraft then proceeded to make several strafing runs, which caused superficial damage topside, and I had the 3" gun return fire. After firing 6 rounds of 3" and hundreds of rounds of 20 Millimeter we finally shot down the aircraft. Only 2 crewmen were slightly wounded in the action. With the periscope knocked out I set course for Pearl Harbor.

Patrol Summary:

TDC: Auto

Conditions:
Seas: Heavy
Weather: Overcast

Enemy Sunk:

1. April14, 1942, 16:43, Troop Ship, (10,000 tons),06-53N x 147-00E

2. April 14,1942, 17:02, Troop Ship, (8,800 tons), 06-53N x 146-55E

3. April 18,1942, 20:32, Troop Ship, (9,630 tons), 06-26N x 146-49E

4. April 18,1942, 20:50, Merchant,   (10,340 tons),06-28N x 146-46E

Enemy Damaged:
NONE

Enemy Escaped:

1. 4 x Shiratsuyu DD's
2. 3 x Supply
3. 2 x Tankers
4. 1 x Chitose Carrier
5. 1 x Myoko Heavy Cruiser
6. 1 x Kuma Light Cruiser
7. 1 x Furutaka Heavy Cruiser
8. 1 x Fubuki DD
9. 1 x Mutsuki DD
10. 2 x Heavy Cruisers Unidentified
11. 2 DD Unidentified

Damage Sustained:

1. Conning Tower Hull - Minor
2. Radio Room Hull - Minor
3. Motor Room Hull - Minor
4. Officers Quarters Hull - Heavy
5. Crew Mess Hull - Heavy
6. DC Motor 2 - Moderate
7. Sound Heads - Heavy
8. SD Radar - Heavy
9. Periscope- Destroyed

Ordnance Remaining:
Torpedoes: 3
Deck Gun: 45

Comments: My crew performed flawlessly during the tense moments in Truk Lagoon and I want to recommend gunners mate Jackson and Petty Officer Horn for the Purple Heart award due to their wounds sustained in the air attack. Torpedo performance is still very poor with only 4 detonations out of 13-fired torpedoes. The rest were 7-hits but no detonations, 1-premature, and 1-miss. Request reload and refit.

LCDR Greg Turner
CO USS Plunger SS-179
XO SubRon 4A

/SENDS/