//IMMEDIATE//
From: LCDR Greg Turner,
(USS Lagarto SS-371)
To: ComSubRon 4
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: January 15, 1945
Re: Patrol (Nov 00 - Cycle 2)
RMKS/ 1. Arrived on station off northern Japan January 7, 1945 in the early morning hours. Had on board 24 MK 18-2 electric torpedoes. Set course for Tsugaru Strait.
RMKS/ 2. 08:53 SJ contact bearing 304` at 31,260 yds. Dove to radar depth at 09:25 and at 09:30 spotted two patrol craft at 6,200 yds. I turned out to evade and lost contact at 09:44. Set course to patrol down the coast. At 13:14 SJ contact bearing 170` at 32,840 yds. Radar reported contact was heading in my direction so I layed to and let it come to me. At 14:26 lookouts spotted 1 - Asashio class DD at 7,200 yds and I dove to radar depth. At 15:04 I identified 3 - Large Freighters, 2 - Supply, 1 - Oil Tanker, 2 - Armed Merchant Cruisers, and 1 - Standard Merchant. Fired 2 torpedoes at AMC at 700 yds. Fired 2 torpedoes at LF at 1,000 yds and fired 2 torpedoes at Tanker at 1,700 yds then dove. Only heard one explosion so that meant the other five missed. After the explosion the escorts began searching for me and found me passing 100 feet. Arrived at 402 feet at 15:12 as the depth charges started dropping. Sound reported 4 sets of high-speed screws in the are searching. With no thermal layer I was kept under constant attack until 16:03 when I jettisoned debris and went dead in the water. I drifted on the same heading and finally escaped by 17:55. The escorts dropped a total of 68 depth charges during their attack. Arrived at radar depth at 18:08 and picked up contacts at 19,000 and 25,000 yds astern. Set course 220` degrees to try and overtake the closest contact. At 18:35 lookouts spotted one ship at 4,100 yds bearing 255`. At 18:40 dove to radar depth and prepared to fire. At 18:46 fired 1 torpedo at LF at1, 200 yds. The hit broke its back and it sank in two sections.
RMKS/ 3. Surfaced at 18:48 and picked up a contact bearing 193` at 34,590 yds. Elected to head south and charge the battery. Monday January 8, 1945 SJ contact at 13:16 bearing 358` at 32,480 yds. Thirty minutes later lookouts spotted a mast at 9,100 yds. Set intercept course and the periscope watch identified 5 - Tankers, 2 - AMC, 2 - LF, 1 - TT 1 - Patrol Craft and several other vessels that were not identified. Went to radar depth at 13:48 to make my final approach. Had 3,000 yds of continuous overlap on the convoy. At 14:15-fired 2 torpedoes at a Tanker at 2,107 yds Fired 2 torpedoes at Large Freighter at 2,200 yds. Tanker exploded and the convoy turned away. Freighter avoided both torpedoes by turning hard away. Dove to 400 feet and had a great temperature gradient from 210 feet to depth. Escorts didn't make contact on me and I was back to periscope depth by 14:57. Spotted a single straggling Troop Transport trying to catch up with the convoy. Also spotted 5 escorts about 4,000 yds to the northwest searching for me. Fired 2 torpedos's at TT at 1,400 yds at 14:58 and waited to observe the results. The hits set the Transport afire and caught the escort's attention. I got a quick setup and fired a 3rd torpedo at the TT at 1,600 yds then dove as the escorts closed in. sound reported the torpedo missed. I eluded the escorts and surfaced at 16:38 after checking the radar and commenced charging the battery. Radar reported the main body of the convoy at 23,080 yds but had no contact on the straggling TT. I suspect it sunk but will claim it only as damaged. Continued south on patrol.
RMKS/ 4. January 9, 1945, 07:176 SJ contact bearing196` at 33,840 yds. Set intercept course and at 08:26 lookouts spotted mast at 10,550 yds. Dove to radar depth to make approach. One minute later lookouts spotted two merchants and three escorts. I began maneuvering and at 08:51 fired 2 torpedoes at a TT at 1,000 yds then dove. As I passed 100 feet the transport was hit and active sonar found me immediately. After passing 235 feet a thermal kept the escorts in the dark. Sound reported a ship breaking up and sinking. By 09:53 I had lost contact on the escorts and headed for radar depth. At 10:07 radar reported the escorts bearing 289` at 15,860 yds, Surfaced and resumed patrolling to the north. @0:36 SJ contact bearing 339` t 32,920 yds. Dove to radar depth with a contact at 3,300 yds. Spotted one Asashio class DD at 21:56 at 2,100 yds bearing 004`. Went to radar depth eight minutes later as the DD closed within 1,000 yds. DD circled completely around me and passed 340 yds down my starboard side and crossed ahead at 600 yds. Identified 2 - SM, 3 - LF, 2 - AMC, and 1 - TT. 22:16 fired 2 torpedoes at SM at 970 yds. Fired 2 torpedoes at TT at 830 yds and fired 1 torpedo at LF at 650 yds. Hits set SM afire but didn't stop it. One hit set the TT afire and one was a dud. Hit on the LF set it afire. At 22:18 fired a 3rd torpedo at the TT at 875 yds and sank it. Being out of bow torpedoes I had to reposition for a stern shot. At 22:22 spotted one Patrol Craft at 1,000 yds to port and one PC 2,000 yds to starboard. Also spotted an undamaged SM bearing 000` at 1,200 yds. Turned to bring the stern tubes to bear. At 22:34 the starboard PC turned toward me and found me with its active sonar. I fired one torpedo at it at 800 yds and 1 torpedo at the SM at 1,100 yds then dove. Sound reported that both torpedoes missed. Received the first depth charge at 22:26 passing 250 feet. Passed through a thermal layer at 265 feet and the PC's lost contact. I lost contact on them at 22:35 and headed for radar depth. Surfaced at 23:40 and went after a single contact at 20,000 yds bearing 200`. Being out of torpedoes I had the deck gun manned. At 00:48 lookouts spotted a SM at7, 800 yds. At 01:10 opened fire with the 5-inch gun at 1,000 yds. Fired 30 rounds for 28 hits and sank the SM. Before going down the Merchant increased speed and rammed my boat inflicting damage. I had no time to dive but did manage to move out of the way enough to lessen the damage. After making temporary repairs I set course for Pearl Harbor.
Patrol Summary:
TDC: Auto
Conditions:
Seas: Calm
Weather: Mostly Cloudy
Enemy Sunk:
1. 1 x Large Freighter 3,330 tons 40-56N x 141-29E 2. 1 x Oil Tanker 7,790 tons 35-50N x 141-34E 3. 1 x Troop Transport 7,440 tons 34-43N x 140-18E 4. 1 x Troop Transport 5,180 tons 35-38N x 141-39E 5. 1 x Standard Merchant 5,120 tons 35-40N x 141-54E
Total: 28,860 tons
Enemy Damaged:
1. 1x Troop Transport
2. 1x Standard Merchant
3. 1x Large Freighter
4. 1x Armed Merchant Cruiser
Enemy Escaped:
1. 6x Large Freighter
2. 6x Armed Merchant Cruiser
3. 4x Tankers
4.4x DD unidentified
5. 3x Patrol Craft unidentified
6. 2x Supply
7. 1x Asashio DD
Damage Sustained:
1. Forward Torpedo Room Hull - Severe
2.Fuel tanks - Critical
3.Sound Heads - Critical
4.Steering Gear - Critical
5.Radio - Destroyed
6.Crew Mess Hull - Severe
7.DC Motor 2 + 4 - Critical
Ordnance Remaining:
Torpedoes: 0
Deck Gun: 70
Comments: Request reload and refit.
LCDR Greg Turner
(USS Lagarto SS-371)
/SENDS/