From: CAPT. Greg Turner (USS Whale)
ComSubRon 12A
To: ComSubPac
Date: April 20,1944
Re: Patrol Format (Sept 01 - Cycle 1)
RMKS/ 1. 2 April 1944 left Pearl Harbor enroute to the Mariana's Islands for patrol. Had aboard 16 - Steam torpedo's and 8 - new MK-18-1 torpedo's. Also received the new PPI radarscope.
RMKS/ 2. Arrived on station on the afternoon of 9 April 1944. While crossing into my assigned sector radar reported a surface contact bearing 317` at 39,500 yds. I altered course to investigate. By 22:52 radar had the contacts 6,000 yds to port. With only moderate seas and mostly cloudy skies it was extremely dark out. At 22:57 lookouts spotted 1-Armed Merchant, 1-Tanker, 1-Factory, 1-Troop and 2 escorting Destroyers. 1-Asashio, and 1-Mutsuki. At 23:10 fired 2 torpedo's at Tanker at 1,486 yds set for 10 feet (SUNK). Also fired 2 torpedo's at the Armed Merchant at 509 yds, which caused damage but failed to sink and fired 2 torpedo's at the Freighter at 655 yds (SUNK). The Freighter appeared it would not sink so I fired a 3rd torpedo at it and seconds after firing the ship exploded and sank in two halves. After firing this 6 shot spread I dove to avoid the DD's. At 23:21 I arrived at 328 feet with a good gradient at 100 feet. The DD's searched for me while picking up survivors but with the gradient I easily evaded them. By 23:35 I was back at periscope depth with the DD's astern. I spotted the previously damaged Armed Merchant and a Troop ship at 3,200 yds bearing 344`. I closed on and at 23L42 fired 1 torpedo at the damaged ship from 2,460 in the hope of slowing it until I could close for a sure kill. The torpedo must have hit munitions because the ship disintegrated with a giant blast (SUNK). I continued to close at flank and at 23:57 I surfaced and fired 1 torpedo at the Troop ship from a range of 508 yds, which sent the ship down (SUNK). I put all engines on line and cleared to the west to avoid the DD's.
RMKS/ 3. Thursday 10 April, 1944 15:24 SJ contact bearing 302` at 32,500. SD radar also picked up a contact at 16,710 yds so I dove to radar depth. At 15:59 spotted a Heavy Cruiser on the horizon and I headed north at flank to intercept. While running this shallow apparently the aircraft spotted our wake and came in to bomb. I crash dived and the bombs fell to port without causing damage. While at depth we listened to the high-speed screws of the Cruiser task Force pass overhead and fade out astern. By 17:04 I was back to radar depth and spotted 1-Fubuki DD astern. With no chance of intercepting I continued patrolling.
RMKS/ 4. At 20:06 SJ radar made contact on yet another convoy bearing 325` at 29,100 yds. Had closed the range to 7,200 yds by 20:29. Spotted 2-Fubuki DD's at 6,400 yds and I dove as they turned in my direction. Active sonar found me passing 350feet heading southeast. At 21:52 a depth charge knocked out the periscope and shattered several lights. It also damaged the Crew Quarters Pressure Hull causing minor leaking. At 22:33 I jettisoned debris and turned north. Finally at 23:48 I lost contact on the DD's and arrived at radar depth at 00:07 with the DD's 30,000 yds astern.
RMKS/ 5. Surfaced and set course for Pearl with 9-steam and 6-Electric torpedo's still aboard.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions: Enemy Sunk:
Total: 28,100 tons
Enemy Damaged: Enemy Escaped:
1. 1 x Converted Factory Damage Sustained: Torpedo Performance:
Duds - Premature - Misses - Hits Aircraft Encountered: Depth Charges Received: Ordnance Remaining:
Torpedoes: 9 - MK 14 Steam, 6 - MK-18-1 Electric Comments: A terrible break having the periscope destroyed. The Destroyers headed right for me and I don't see how they could have spotted my periscope. I believe they must have had radar and it picked up my scope while I was making observations. Request refit and reload.
CAPT. Greg Turner
Seas: Moderate
Weather: Mostly Cloudy
1. April 09,1944, 23:10, Tanker, (7,210 tons), 14-21N x 146-38E
2. April 09,1944, 23:10, Large Freighter, (3,190 tons), 14-21N x 146-38E
3. April 09,1944, 23:43, Armed Merchant, (11,270 tons), 14-25N x 146-35E
4. April 09,1944, 23:57, Troop ship, (6,430 tons), 14-23N x 146-34E
None
2. 1 x Asashio DD
3. 1 x Mutsuki DD
4. 1 x Fubuki DD
5. 1 x Heavy Cruiser Unidentified
1. Periscope Destroyed
-0 -------- 0 ---------- 0 ------- 9
1
0
Deck Gun: 95
CO USS Whale
CO SubRon 12A