From: CAPT. Greg Turner II(USS Sea Dog)
ComSubRon 12A
To: ComSubPac
Date: December 31,1944
Re: Patrol Report (Nov 01 - Cycle 1)
RMKS/ 1. Arrived on at the Entrance to the Yellow Sea mid-morning December 8,1944. Had aboard 12 MK-14 Steam Torpedo's and 12 MK18-2 Electric Torpedo's.
RMKS/ 2. 13:24 while enroute to my PZ made radar contact bearing 062` at 10,550 yds. Alert lookouts spotted 2 Sampans bearing 081` at around 11,000 yds and we skirted around them to remain unseen.
RMKS/ 3. Friday December 9,1944 09:18 we entered our PZ and began patrolling on the surface due to heavy seas and a low cloud deck. Sound reported an average of 100 feet beneath the keel. At 12:15 I ordered a trim dive in 185 feet of water then surfaced and began patrolling west of Inchon.
RMKS/ 4. Sunday December 10,1944 02:31 SJ contact bearing 193` at 33,700 yds. I tried to close on the contact but only managed to get within 22,000 yds before it pulled away headed in the direction of Inchon harbor. At 20:20 SJ contact bearing 059` at 8,500 yds. I suspected either Sampans or a possible surfaced submarine and bypassed the area and headed north.
RMKS/ 5. Monday December 11,1944 15:48 SJ contact on multiple contacts bearing 280` at 31,750 yds. Closest contact was at 7,000 yds and I suspect it was an escort due to its proximity from the other contacts. Main body closed to 10,000 yds before opening out. Not more then 100 feet of water under the keel the whole time the contact was in radar range.
RMKS/ 6. Tuesday December 12,1944 Seas were moderate today with heavy fog. SJ contact at 18:10 bearing 324` at 31,100 yds. I got within 7,000 yds before contacts pulled away at high speed. I trailed until 21:32 then ceased. Made no further contacts until the 14th of December.
RMKS/ 7. Thursday December 14,1944 06:58 SJ contact bearing 067` at 34,810 yds. Contacts were heading in my direction. At 08:46 lookouts spotted 1-Supply, 1-Small Freighter, and 1-Escort (PC or DE). Dove to periscope depth and at 05:47 fired 1 electric torpedo at the Freighter from 790 yds and fired 1 electric torpedo at the Supply from 690 yds (SUNK). The Freighter was damaged and I fired a second torpedo (1-Steam) from 810 yds (DUD) then dove to avoid the escort. At 09:40 I secured engines at 139 feet with 18 feet under the keel. Escort never closed toward my position so I came to periscope depth and spotted the damaged Freighter and went after it. At 11:02 I had closed to 500 yds and fired 1 steam torpedo (SUNK). Came to Radar depth and picked up the escort at 26,000 yds and opening. It appeared that the escort abandoned the remaining ships. Surfaced and set course south to charge the batteries. Made no further contacts until the 17th.
RMKS/ 8. Sunday December 17,1944 while moving in closer to Inchon harbor SJ radar made contact at 00:24 bearing 298` at 34,100 yds. The contacts circled then reversed course. I suspect they had radar. I am unable to explain this. At 05:07 made a trim dive and had a thermal layer at 100 feet.
RMKS/ 9. Monday December 18,1944 17:15 SJ contact bearing 345` at 31,150 yds. Radar reported the contacts beginning to circle so I dove to radar depth. The contact settled back on its original course confirming to me that they have radar. At 20:16 I surfaced to try and get ahead of contacts. At 20:20 dove back to radar depth as contacts closed to 7,000 yds. At 22:10 surfaced as contacts passed 3,200 yds ahead without making visual. At 22:16 lookouts spotted2-Small Freighters, 1-Standard Merchant, 3-Converted Factory Ships, and 2-Supply. I remained on the surface and closed to 2,000 yds then turned and at 22:23 fired 3 torpedo's from the stern tubes at the Standard merchant set at 16 feet (SUNK). I headed west at flank speed to avoid any possible
Counter-attacks due mainly to shallow water and a flat battery. Radar reported no contacts pursuing and due to the fact that the convoy was only 50 nautical miles from Inchon I elected not to pursue. At 23:24 I reduced speed and began charging the batteries. At 23:53 picked up a contact bearing 287` at 32,900 yds. Dove to radar depth at 01:00 and nine minutes later spotted 1-Akizuki DD emerge out of a rainsquall at 2,700 yds bearing 280`. I eased down to periscope depth and continued to observe the DD. At 01:23 spotted 1 Standard Merchant emerge out of the squall bearing 305` at 2,250 yds. After observing for a few minutes spotted 1-Standard Merchant, 2-Converted Factory, 1-Armed Merchant, 1-Small Freighter and 2-Converted Factory Ships. At 01:30 I fired 2-steam torpedo's at a Standard Merchant from 810 yds (DAM), also fired 2(1-electric+1-steam) at a Factory ship from 740 yds (MISS) all set for 25 feet depth. I turned away from the convoy to confuse them and lost sight of the damaged Merchant as the convoy began to scatter. At 01:40 fired 2-electric torpedo's at an Armed Merchant from 2,100 yds, which set the ship afire. I fired a 3rd torpedo at 01:42 from 2,200 yds (MISS). Spotted an escort going north and 2-Merchants going south. I dove deep to avoid any possible sighting on me. At 02:06 low speed screws passed overhead and I went to radar depth. Picked up multiple contacts on multiple bearings. 1 ship bearing 301` at 3,460 yds, 4 ships bearing 119`, 3 ships bearing 157`, 1 ship bearing 215` and 1 ship bearing 054`. Surfaced at 02:50 and headed south at flank to overtake south contact. 05:40 lookouts spotted the Damaged Armed Merchant bearing 007` at 3,500 yds making 12 kts. Six minutes later I fired 1-steam torpedo from 2,000 yds which hit just forward of the stern and slowed the ship. 05:48 fired a 4th torpedo (Steam) at this target from 2,100 yds (SUNK). The ship sank stern first. After checking with radar I headed southeast with contacts at 195` at 31,300 yds, 340` at 20,000 yds and multiple contacts at 350` at 23,850 yds.
RMKS/ 10. Tuesday December 19,1944 06:41 alert lookouts spotted 1-Factory ship bearing 327` at 4,000 yds I turned to 175` and dove to radar depth thinking I had a straggler from the previous nights engagement when the XO reported several ships coming into view through the periscope. He identified 1-Troop Ship, 1-Converted Factory, 1-Supply, 1-Small freighter, and 1-Tanker. At 06:52 I turned northwest at 2/3 speed to widen the gap and fire on the Factory ship. 06:59 fired 2 torpedo's (1-steam + 1-electric) at the Factory ship from 1,370 yds and set it afire. 07:02 fired a 3rd torpedo from 1,780 yds (SUNK) the whole side opened up under the bridge as a large cloud of steam erupted. It sank in 12 minutes. I dove to 103 feet and evaded to the north. 07:48 Radar depth and picked up contacts. 1 bearing 108` at 13,470 yds, 1 at 125` at 17,750 yds, 1 at 159` at 19,950 yds and multiple bearing 183` at 8,850 yds. Surfaced at 07:51 and went after closest contacts. At 08:27 spotted the Akizuki DD and I reversed course to open. Continued to pursue after passing around the DD and at 12:17 I turned toward the convoy from 3,000 yds off their port beam and went to radar depth. 12:19 fired 2 torpedo's (1-electric + 1-Steam) at a Tanker from 2,000 yds. The hits set the ship afire and it circled around to the northeast before coming back to its original course to the south. At 12:29 I fired a 3rd torpedo from 1,450 yds and the Tanker exploded in a great fireball. (SUNK) Surfaced and headed south.
RMKS/ 11. 15:44 SJ contact bearing 167` at 33,940 yds with only 2-steam torpedo's remaining aft. I closed to 6,400 yds then the contact turned and sped off. 20:33 SJ contact bearing 163` at 28,250 yds. Closed on contact and at 21:45 dove to radar depth with contact at 5,500 yds. 22:23 spotted 1-Asashio DD at 3,200 yds and I waited until I lost visual then surfaced and headed south at flank speed.
RMKS/ 12. Wednesday December 20,1944 14:13 lookouts spotted a single Sampan bearing 002` at 14,000 yds. I elected not to engage in case it had a radio and got off a warning. 21:49 SJ contact bearing 226` at 32,190 yds. At 23:01 lookouts spotted 1-Standard Merchant, 2-Tankers, and 1-Patrol Craft roughly bearing 349` at 4,600 yds making just over 11 kts. I tried to make a end around to the northwest but met a second PC head on at 3,600 yds. I immediately reversed course and pulled out at flank speed.
RMKS/ 13. Friday December 22,1944 SJ contact bearing 117` at 32,490 yds. After closing for just over an hour lookouts spotted 1-Standard Merchant, 1-Troop ship, 1-Armed Merchant, 1-Converted Factory, and 7 DD's (unidentified). Dove to periscope depth at 15:27, 11,000 yds ahead of convoy and continued to close. With only 83 feet of water under the keel and several escorts I decided to let the convoy by. I felt any attempt to attack would have been fatal for my boat and crew. At 17:18 I lost contact and surfaced.
RMKS/ 14. Saturday December 23,1944 07:28 SJ contact bearing 110` at 29,930 yds. 08:15 dove o radar depth as I closed in very calm seas. 08:23 I spotted 1-Standard Merchant, 1-Converted Factory, and 1-Patrol Craft at 7,500 yds making 16 kts. Water depth was only 100 feet and the PC headed my way. I went to 95 feet and listened as the convoy passed overhead. Sound reported at least 7 sets of high-speed screws and 11 sets of low speed screws.
RMKS/ 15. Sunday December 24,1944 0:37 SJ contact bearing 100` at 32,450 yds. I tracked the target but it evaded about 8,000 yds astern and I surfaced at 01:28. After turning and giving chase at 01:31 lookouts spotted 1-Armed Merchant, bearing 324` at 7,000 yds making 21 kts. As I gave chase lookouts reported a Mutsuki class DD on the same bearing at 3,000 yds. I reversed course and headed south to clear. Lost this contact at 02:01. 06:56 SJ contact bearing 353` at 31,650 yds. At 07:38 lookouts spotted 1-(type C) Patrol Craft bearing 045` at 7,500 yds and I dove to radar depth. After observing for a short spell spotted 3-Supply ships, and 7 escorts. With 99 feet of water and only 2 stern torpedo's I remained hidden and let this convoy pass me by 5,000 yds inland of my position. I surfaced at 10:50 and continued south. 11:33 SJ contact bearing 038` at 32,500 yds. I closed and at 12:00 spotted a mast at 16,000 yds. Identified 2-Converted factory, 4-Standard Merchants, 2-Tankers, 2-Large Freighters and 3-escorts. I got within 12,000 yds but no closer. Ships were moving to fast. I headed back north.
RMKS/ 16. Monday December 25,1944 07:36 SJ contact bearing 047` at 32,200 yds. After a short run to intercept SD radar picked up an air contact with the surface contact. I dove to 100 feet and listened as the aircraft flew overhead several times. It held me down while the surface contacts passed. Came to radar depth at 08:58 and picked up the aircraft at 11,000 yds and the ships at 15,600 yds. To play it safe I dove back to 100 feet as the ships and plane cleared the area. Surfaced at 10:33 with no contacts on radar.
RMKS/ 17. Tuesday December 26,1944 16:03 SJ contact bearing 306` at 33,400 yds. 17:08 lookouts spotted 2-Standard Merchants, at 7,000 yds making 16 kts. I paralleled their course until 18:51 when I turned my stern toward the trailing Merchant and fired my last 2 remaining torpedo's from 2,800 yds set at 15 feet. Both missed. I headed south for the Open Ocean and homeport.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions: Enemy Sunk:
Total: 33,810 tons
Enemy Damaged:
1. 1 x Armed Merchant Cruiser
Enemy Escaped:
1. 10 x Standard Merchants Damage Sustained: Torpedo Performance:
Duds - Premature - Misses - Hits Aircraft Encountered: Depth Charges Received: Ordnance Remaining:
Torpedoes: 0 Comments: A very difficult patrol in shallow water. The crew was disheartened to see so many ships be allowed to pass freely by. But was also aware of our inability to dive deep to evade escorts and depth charges. With 6 ships sunk still a good patrol. Request refit and reload.
CAPT. Greg Turner II
Seas: Calm - Heavy
Weather: Clear - Overcast
1.
Dec 14,1944, 08:58, Small Freighter, (1,250 tons), 37-32N x 124-03E
2. Dec 14,1944, 11:02, Supply, (2,940 tons), 37-36N x 124-08E
3. Dec 18,1944, 22:24, Standard Merchant, (7,280 tons), 37-29N x 125-09E
4.Dec 19,1944, 05:49, Armed Merchant, (4,690 tons), 37-22N x 123-40E
5.Dec 19,1944, 07:03, Converted Factory, (6,770 tons), 37-09N x 123-55E
6. Dec 19,1944, 12:30, Tanker, (10,880 tons), 38-26N x 123-37E
2. 11 x Converted Factory
3. 12 x Destroyers Unidentified
4. 4 x Small Freighters
5. 3 x Tankers
6. 3 x Supply
7. 2 x Troop ship
8. 2 x Large Freighter
9. 1 x Armed Merchant
10. 1 x Patrol Craft (Type C)
11. 1 x DD - Akizuki
12. 1 x DD - Mutsuki
None
-1 -------- 0 ---------- 5 ------- 18
1
0
Deck Gun: 95
CO USS Sea Dog
CO SubRon 12A