From: CAPT. Greg Turner II (USS Tirante)
ComSubRon 12A
To: ComSubPac
Date: February 15,1945
Re: Patrol Report (Nov 01 - Cycle 2)
RMKS/ 1. Arrived on station February 8,1945 just before midnight. Had on board 14 Mk-14 Steam Torpedo's and 14 Mk-18-2 Electric Torpedo's. Began searching for enemy shipping.
RMKS/ 2. Friday February 9,1945 02:20 SJ contact bearing 184` at 33,410 yds with moderate sea's and overcast skies. After getting the contacts bearing and course I set an intercept course. 03:53 lookouts spotted a rather large convoy and identified 2-Tankers, 1-Armed Merchant, 1-Converted Factory, 1-Small Freighter, and 2-Standard Merchants. Convoy was coming up my astern so I layed to and let it come to me. At 04:05 I commenced firing torpedo's. Fired 2 torpedo's at the lead tanker from 520 yds (SUNK). Fired 2 torpedo's at the Armed Merchant from 800 yds, which set the vessel afire but didn't sink it. I fired a 3rd torpedo into the AMC from 725 yds (SUNK). 04:10 fired 2 torpedo's at the 2nd Tanker from 550 yds. One hit set the ship afire but the second torpedo was a dud. Fired a 3rd torpedo from 610 yds but it missed ahead as the ship slowed. Fired a 4th torpedo from 600 yds (SUNK). 04:17 fired 1 torpedo at a Standard Merchant from 1,000 yds, which was a dud. Shifted target to a Troop ship and fired 1 torpedo from 800 yds set at 13 feet (SUNK). I turned the boat south to go after the remaining ships.
RMKS/ 3. 04:23 spotted the remaining ships and identified 2-Standard Merchants, 1-Large Freighter, 1-Small Freighter, 2-Converetd Factory, and 2-Supply ships. No escorts were spotted. 04:35 fired 1 torpedo at a Standard Merchant from 620 yds. It impacted the target but was a dud. 04:37 fired a 2nd torpedo from 600 yds, which detonated on target but didn't slow the ship. 04:51 fired 1 torpedo at the Large Freighter from 550 yds (SUNK). 04:54 fired 2 torpedo's at a Standard Merchant from 640 yds (SUNK). Continued to maneuver to gain a better firing position and at 05:21 fired 2 torpedo's at a 2nd Standard Merchant from 700 yds (SUNK). 05:26 fired 1 torpedo at a Converted Factory ship from 2,000 yds, which caused massive damage and also fired 1 torpedo at a Small Freighter from 600 yds (SUNK). 05:31 surfaced due to a low battery and continued to trail the remaining ships while reloading.
RMKS/ 4. I closed within gun range and at 05:37 opened fire with the deck gun on the damaged Converted Factory ship from 2,800 yds. Fired a total of 22 rounds for 19 Hits and 3 Misses, which sent the ship down (SUNK). 05:43 shifted fire to a Small Freighter at 2,700 yds. Fired 14 rounds for 12 Hits and 2 Misses (SUNK). At 05:45 fired a single torpedo at a Supply ship bearing 007` from 800 yds then turned the deck gun on it. The torpedo missed ahead. Fired 11 rounds for 11 Hits and sent the ship to the bottom (SUNK). 05:58 opened fire with the deck gun on a Converted Factory ship from 2,100 yds. Fired 21 rounds for 20 Hits and 1 Miss. After observing no real damage from our gun attack I fired 1 torpedo from 1,900 yds, which hit the bow and caused massive fires forward. After watching the ship awhile I fired a 2nd torpedo from 1,540 yds, which sunk the ship (SUNK). 06:10 dove to periscope depth to fire my last stern tube at a Small Freighter from 1,900 yds then turned for a bowshot on the same ship. 06:21 fired a 2nd torpedo from 1,300 yds, which sank the SF (SUNK).
RMKS/ 5. Surfaced and spotted a radar contact bearing 128` at 13,190 yds. I headed for the contact and at 07:48 lookouts spotted 1-Standard Merchant making 16 kts. Continued to close and at 08:38 opened fire with the deck gun from 4,100 yds to try and slow the ship. The SM turned south heading right across my bow. 08:41 fired 2 torpedo's from 2,800 yds, which set the ship afire but failed to stop it. Fired a 3rd torpedo from 1,900 yds and it missed ahead as the ship slowed. Fired a 4th torpedo from 1,300 yds and it done the job (SUNK). With no ships remaining and radar showing no contacts I headed east out of the immediate area.
RMKS/ 6. Wednesday February 10,1945 00:01 SJ contact bearing 082` at 33,350 yds. Dove to radar depth at 00:15 with the contacts at 12,500 yds bearing 278`. 00:36 I spotted a (B) class IJN Submarine bearing 302` at 2,700 yds making 17 kts. After a quick setup at 00:40 I fired 2 of my last 3 torpedo's at the sub from 1,500 yds (SUNK). Also fired my last torpedo at a 2nd IJN Submarine at 2,680 yds moments after firing on the 1st sub. The 2nd sub evaded by turning to port after seeing the 1st sub hit by my torpedo's. Being out of torpedo's I dove to 400 feet to evade any remaining subs. At 01:33 I surfaced and set course for Pearl harbor.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions: Enemy Sunk:
Total: 95,234 tons
Enemy Damaged: Enemy Escaped:
1. 2 x IJN Submarines
Damage Sustained: Torpedo Performance:
Duds - Premature - Misses - Hits Aircraft Encountered: Depth Charges Received: Ordnance Remaining:
Torpedoes: 0 Comments: With only one convoy encountered I believe the Japanese are pulling out of the Philippines for good. I believe the Submarine Group we encountered was being used to ferry out troops or plunder for the Empire. The crew of the USS Tirante performed flawlessly. Request refit and reload
CAPT. Greg Turner II
Seas: Moderate
Weather: Overcast
1.
Feb 9,1945, 04:05, Tanker, (15,180 tons), 16-37N x 124-24E
2. Feb 9,1945, 04:06, Armed Merchant, (4,790tons), 16-37N x 124-24E
3. Feb 9,1945, 04:19, Troop Ship, (9,740 tons), 16-37N x 124-24E
4. Feb 9,1945, 04:11, Tanker, (15,180 tons), 16-37N x 124-24E
5. Feb 9,1945, 04:52, Large Freighter, (3,510 tons), 16-38N x 124-24E
6. Feb 9,1945, 04:55, Standard Merchant, (9,730 tons), 16-34N x 124-24E
7. Feb 9,1945, 05:21, Standard Merchant, (9,730 tons), 16-33N x 124-24E
8. Feb 9,1945, 05:27, Small Freighter, (2,150 tons), 16-30N x 124-24E
9. Feb 9,1945, 05:42, Converted Factory, (5,410 tons), 16-28N x 124-25E
10. Feb 9,1945, 05:50, Supply, (1,240 tons), 16-27N x 124-25E
11. Feb 9,1945, 05:52, Supply, (1,240 tons), 16-27N x 124-25E
12. Feb 9,1945, 06:06, Converted Factory, (5,410 tons), 16-23N x 124-25E
13. Feb 9,1945, 06:22, Small Freighter, (2,150 tons), 16-22N x 124-24E
14. Feb 9,1945, 08:46, Standard Merchant, (7,210 tons), 16-51N x 124-15E
15. Feb 10,1945, 00:41, SUB (B) Type, (2,564 tons), 16-51N x 124-21E
None
None
-3 -------- 0 ---------- 4 ------- 21
0
0
Deck Gun: 128
CO USS Tirante
CO SubRon 12A