Lieutenant Commander Bruce Hensel
Skipper: Bruce Hensel
Cycle: 1
Subron: 5A
Boat: S-40 SS-145
Patrol_zone: Indo China
TDC: Automatic
Realism: 95%
Warships_sunk: 0
Merchants_sunk: 0
Warship_tonnage: 0
Merchant_tonnage: 13040
JANAC_tonnage: 4342
Lifeguard_duty: No
Photo_recon: No
SH_awards:
Warship_types
NONE
Merchant_types
2 Troop Transports 2 Small Freighters
Patrol_narrative
On 21 Dec 1941 at 1200 hrs sound reported low speed screws bearing
090. Upon periscope observation, four ships were sighted, two Troop Transports,
and two Small Freighters. Each ship was heading on a bearing of 180 doing
an estimated 3 knots. As we were submerged, and could only make less than
4 knots best speed, it was decided to surface and trail. Upon surfacing
at a distance of 7000 yds, flank speed was ordered, a blazing 4 knots.
At approx. 2200 yds, the trailing troopship abruptly turned 90 degrees
to port presenting a 0 degree angle. At this time1442 hrs 2 Mk 10 torpedoes
were fired, both hit amidships and the ship broke in half. Following the
sinking we immediately turned out attention to the remainder of the convoy.
At approx 1543 hrs sighted and fired on second troop ship which had slowed
for some unexplainable reason to less than 2 knots. Two Mk 10's were fired
at this time. The first, fired from 1500 yds detonated under the smoke
stack, the second failed to detonate. A third torpedo was fired and this
finished off troop ship #2. Proceeding down the coast we came across the
remainder of the convoy. Fired 2 torpedoes at first freighter at 1646 hrs,
hit at 1649, second failed to explode, fired a third and at 1651 sank the
freighter. At 1700 sighted the second freighter which appears to have stopped
dead in the water. Again fired two torpedoes, the first prematurely detonated,
and the second one hit, causing fires on board. Fired a third torpedo wich
also failed to arm, finally fired a fourth which finished the job. During
this patrol, several DD's and Cl's were sighted, but at no time could we
close on them due to either, (1) Heavy Sea State, (2) HIgh Speed for surface
ships, in excess of 25 knots, or (3) depleted charge in batteries.
Ultima actualización: 27-3-2002 Return