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Post by keyboy on May 9, 2017 19:13:49 GMT
Patrol After Action Reports are due no later than May 20th, 2017. December 8thAs our nation reels from the attack yesterday, we are to make preparations to strike back at the nation of Japan. You are being tasked with the attacking of their shipping.Ships on Patrol:USS Neptune - Gridz USS Grunt - crushedhat USS Blackfish - keyboy USS Seal - tamari USS Defiant - wsmithjr USS Cuttlefish - gregory smith USS Stingray - captbridge USS Catfish - cajun RefitNone Special Instructions: See belowPatrols
China Sea ( Shallow Water - Cannot exceed test depth)None SolomansNone PhilippinesNone Philippines (T)None Philippines (E) Special first patrol leaving Manilla and ending up at Brisbane. Ignore first two transit boxes, next box complete evacuation mission, then continue patrol as normal. Finish patrol at Brisbane.
USS Neptune - Gridz USS Grunt - crushedhat USS Blackfish - keyboy USS Seal - tamari USS Defiant - wsmithjr USS Cuttlefish - gregory smith USS Stingray - captbridge USS Catfish - cajun Java SeaNone IndochinaNone Important Information needed in Patrol Report
Boat Name and ID: Commanders Name: Patrol Assignment: Successful Patrol: Yes or No Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: (Include ship name) Number of War Ships Sank: (Include ship name) Capital Ships Sunk: (Include ship name) Total Tonnage Destroyed: Special Assignment Completed: Yes, No, or N/A Refit Time: Awards Requested:
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tamari
Lieutenant Commander
Posts: 38
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Post by tamari on May 12, 2017 4:02:37 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Seal SS-183 Commanders Name: Oscar Garrard Patrol Assignment: Philippines (E) Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sunk: 1 (Ganges Maru, 4400 tons) Number of War Ships Sunk: 0 Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 4400 Special Assignment Completed: Yes Refit Time: 1 month (no damage) Ready in March 1942 Awards Requested: Battle Star, SCPI, Navy Commendation Ribbon (can't get an award that doesn't exist yet)
The orders came quickly after the Japanese attacks - evacuation of VIPs with all available submarines in the Asiatic Fleet. Some of the Fleet boats were on an exercise here when all this started, so they were going with us pigboats to Australia. Seal isn't the newest boat in the fleet, but she'll give the Japanese all the fight they want and more.
We embarked our VIP and left port at night and under cloud cover - little chance of any aircraft spotting us. And we knew they were watching - and waiting.
The patrol was very uneventful, and the New Year passed by with only the radio to tell us the war was underway. And it wasn't good news for our side, so far - the Japanese seem constantly on the attack.
Finally, as Seal was about to end the patrol, and head for Brisbane, a train of ships showed themselves around 10AM on 1/4. A column of six ships was heading southwest, with no warship escort. I decided to move into position to surface near the last ship in line as they passed, and engage with the deck gun. The 3O directed accurate fire into the Maru, and she was a burning wreck in little time. The other ships did not alter course, and left us no opportunity to engage them.
We arrived in Brisbane later in the month, with no other encounters and a VIP happy to be on dry land. Hopefully our torpedoes will hit the water when we get our next patrol orders.
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Post by wsmithjr on May 13, 2017 3:45:31 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Defiant SS-1764 Commanders Name: Benjamin Sisko Patrol Assignment: Phillipines (E) Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 1 (Taikyo Maru - 5200 tons) Number of War Ships Sank: 0 Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 5200 Special Assignment Completed: Yes Refit Time: 1 month (no damage) Awards Requested: SCPI, Battle Star
The USS Defiant quickly left with its VIP and successfully avoided detection by enemy aircraft.
In the second week of the journey to Brisbane, Defiant intercepted the 3500 ton Taifuku Maru and its Escort. As it was Daylight, she tried to stalk it while awaiting nightfall but could not maintain contact to engage.
Fortune was with the Defiant as the third week of the trip she came upon a Large Freighter, also with an Escort, but this time during the Night. Not knowing the quality of the escort and not wanting to unduly endanger the VIP, Defiant submerged and launched a full salvo of Mk14s at medium range. In spite of reports of the poor quality control with the Mk14 torpedoes, all 6 torpedoes hit and 4 of them exploded quickly sending the 5200 ton Taikyo Maru to the bottom and allowing Defiant to escape the area before the obviously Green Escort could find her.
The rest of the trip was uneventful and the Defiant successfully delivered the VIP to Brisbane on schedule.
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Gridz
Lieutenant Commander
Posts: 15
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Post by Gridz on May 15, 2017 1:42:13 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Neptune SS-1875 Commanders Name: Dave Patton Patrol Assignment: Phillipines (E) Successful Patrol: Yes
Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 1 (Fukko Maru - 3800 tons) Number of War Ships Sank: 0 Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 3800
Special Assignment Completed: Yes Awards Requested: SCPI, Battle Star
Refit Time: 1 month (no damage)
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Post by crushedhat on May 16, 2017 3:46:08 GMT
18 January 1942, morning, Brisbane harbor.USS Grunt sails into port, tying up alongside the tender USS Griffith. There appear to be several civilians among the uniformed men on her deck. Standard Report FormatBoat ID: USS Grunt Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 1 Number of Non-Capital Warships Sank: 0 Capital Ships Sank: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 3,000 Special Assignment Completed: Yes Refit Time: 1 Month, ready Mar 42 Awards Requested: Combat Patrol Insignia for entire crew Battle Star for Submarine Narrative: With word of the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor the men of Grunt needed no prodding to get ready to put to sea lest they get caught in Manila. So it was that we left for our first war patrol on 8 December. Grunt started out heading down the west coast of Luzon and passing through Mindoro Straight to the Sulu Sea. En route we heard about the sinking of the British Battlecruisers Prince of Wales and Repulse as well as Germany and Italy’s declarations of war. The more immediate concern were the Japanese landings on Samar and Mindanao. With the latter we were instructed to pick up a member of the Philippine Senate and his family from near Davao before the Japanese could capture them. I’m pleased to report that we successfully evacuated the Senator and his family on the night of 13 December. It no longer being safe to return to Manila, we were ordered to take the Senator to Brisbane, Australia, doing whatever damage we could along the way without unduly risking the Senator’s life. Deciding it was worth the risk, I continued to patrol in the Celebes Sea, both in the hopes of catching Japanese invasion ships as well as remaining should another evacuation be ordered. My efforts paid off the afternoon of the 17th when we crossed paths with a small troopship (3,000 tons). The troopship being escorted by a No. 4 SC, I opted to follow until dark to minimize the risk to our high value passengers caused by the telltale wake of the Mk14s. Once darkness fell I conducted a submerged attack from medium range, firing three fish each at the troopship and its escort. There were two explosion onboard the troopship with SOM2c Glancy reporting a third, non-detonating hit. All three torpedoes fired at the escort missed, though the attack caught heer so by surprise that she was unable to locate us. My decision to attack did cause some conflict with our distinguished guest. As a consequence, and after receiving additional orders, I turned Grunt for Brisbane. I have to admit that I was as eager to get the good Senator and his family off Grunt as he was to leave. The next day we heard about the Japanese landing on Hong Kong. Grunt proceeded through the Malacca Straight and Banda Sea without incident, other thaqn the news about the fall of Hong Kong, the retreat to Bataan, and the Japanese invasion of Sumatra. The last day of 1941 while transiting the Timor Sea, admittedly I was taking the long way to Brisbane, we encountered a 5,900 ton freighter under escort by a 13-Go class Minesweeper (500 tons). For the same reasons as before, I followed till nightfall and then fired a six torpedo spread split evenly between the two targets. Every fish was either a miss or a dud! Fortunately, this escort was no more capable than her sister had been and we quietly slipped away. Two days later we heard about the fall of Manila followed by the invasion of the Durtch East Indies and Burma. I have to admit I was beginning to wonder if anyplace was going to prove safe. We spent some tense hours on 8 Jan as we slipped through the confines of the Torres Straight and then it was quiet sailing until we tied up alongside USS Griffith the morning of the 18th. I deliberately waited for daylight to enter the harbor at Brisbane, lest some nervous coastal gunner misidentify us as Japanese. The Senator and family were turned over to the welcoming committee. After a harbor watch was set, the rest of the crew were released for two weeks leave before returning to help get Grunt ready for her next patrol in March. Respectfully submitted, Neil Balaton, LCdr, USN, commanding USS Grunt
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Post by gregorysmith on May 16, 2017 7:08:11 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Cuttlefish Commanders Name: Lcdr Don Henley Patrol Assignment: Philippines (Evac) Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 2 - Yamamizu Maru#2 5200t Nanshin Maru 1400t Number of War Ships Sank: None Capital Ships Sunk: None Total Tonnage Destroyed: 6,600t Special Assignment Completed: Yes Refit Time: standard 1 month. Awards Requested: SCPI, Battle Star
Left without incident carrying our "special" cargo....plus his dog and aide de camp. After several days we encountered an escorted maru....pretty decent sized. Because of our mission, I decided to attack from long range. A spread of four garnered 3 hits...clang! clang! Those must have been the duds we heard rumors about. then....WHAM! A tremendous detonation and she sank within minutes. Must have been carrying ammo (rolled a 1 for damage....4 points. Lucky.)
Several days later, we encountered a convoy in the day. Again, I decided to play it safe, which goes against my nature. I figure I'm getting paid to sink Japanese. Regardless, despite having a very large target, I opted for a full spread against a smaller, 4,400t freighter, again from long range. 1 hit, a dud. We slunk off without further incident. I'm concerned about writing this one up.
As we passed the halfway point, the lookouts saw a ship with escort....but this time it was dusk and getting darker. Surface attack from long range..full spread against a small passenger ship. 1 hit, and it detonates! But the ship refuses to sink. We elude the escort and reload. Later that night, we reengage and sink her with yet another single detonation from 3 hits. Again eluding the escort, we continue to the south and finally see Brisbane.
Two ships (one of them quite small) for 16 torpedoes expended seems like a pretty poor return....but we DID draw blood. And we survived. Hopefully the brass won't think too poorly of Cuttlefish's patrol. I am looking forward to a patrol where I don't have to worry about getting my passenger killed.
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Post by keyboy on May 16, 2017 12:04:56 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Blackfish Commanders Name: Kurtis Mayfield Patrol Assignment: Phillipines (E) Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 5 - Ryokai Maru (4700t), Kiramasan Maru (2000t), Chiyoda Maru (4700t), Chowa Maru (2700t) and Toyo Maru #5 (2200t) Number of War Ships Sank: 0 Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 16,300t Special Assignment Completed: Yes
Refit Time: Standard
Awards Requested: Navy Cross for LCDR Kurtis Mayfield Battle Star for Sub Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia for crew
Crew Names: Crew Skill: Trained
LCDR Kurtis Mayfield Chief Engineer: Lt Larry Wilson, USN Pharmacist's Mate: PhM1c Earl Coleman, USN Executive Officer: Lt Christopher White, USN 3rd Officer: Lt (jg) Bobby Bryant, USN
December 8th 1941 After the horrific events of yesterday, it came as no surprise to all of us today that the president declared that the USA was now officially at war with Japan. The Brits, the Dutch and the Kiwi’s have all done the same and hopefully the Aussies will follow suit. With the news that Clark Field had been bombed, Subron 9 had been tasked in evacuating high ranking officials that could no longer escape the island by air. We got Admiral William G. Manning as our VIP that needed transferring to Brisbane, which wasn’t unnerving in the slightest; having onboard a high ranking US Navy Commander, scrutinising your every move and quizzing you about every decision made.
December 15th 1941 During the last week, we have received dozens and dozens of messages and there seems to be a lot of confusion as to what has taken place. What we do know for sure is: The Aussies declared war on Japan, Germany, Italy, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria declared war on the USA and we reciprocated the action, the British battleship HMS Price of Wales had been sunk by the Japanese and it looked like we had evacuated at the right time, as the Japanese already had a foothold in the Philippines after many landings in the southern islands. But more importantly, the Bears beat the Packers in the division playoff. At around 22:00, BB (3rd Officer - Bobby Bryant) spotted a dim light off the starboard bow and as a result we got in for a closer look. I had been presented with an unescorted freighter and so the gun crew were readied as we closed nearer. The ship was identified as the Ryokai Maru (4700t) and it slipped beneath the waves, after the gunnery team unloaded with full salvoes from the 3” Deck Gun.
December 21st 1941 The admiral received communication that one of his own rank had been made C-in-C of the US fleet. He was swearing quite a lot and refused to tell me his name, as it was a security clearance issue.
I was relieved to get the shout from the watch commander, after he had spotted smoke on the horizon. This was to be our first convoy attack and possible first experience of depth charges in the heat of battle. The admiral looked at me and asked “Well Lieutenant Commander, are we going to attack now?” I was not about to be pressured by the man or the rank and replied “When the times right Admiral, when the times right.”
It took for ever for the sun to set and track the convoy from a distance and not alert the escorts, it was a fine balance of caution and bravado. Then as the light went, the crew jumped to their tasks and we made our first attack. I took her to mid range and once surfaced, fired the bow torpedoes at the passenger ship and tanker and the aft torpedoes at the freighter and an escort. Two of the three torpedoes aimed at the passenger ship hit, but both failed to detonate. I thought the same result was going to happen with the tanker, but fortunately one Mk 14 detonated just below the waterline and the Chiyoda Maru slipped beneath the waves. The Kuramasan Maru was hit with both steam fish, but one was a dud, so it was fortunate it had created a large hole in the side of her, causing her to list at first and then sink slowly. Booth Mk 14’s fired at the escort missed. The Admiral appeared pleased at the result, but as soon as he caught me looking for approval, he responded with; “I think attacking the escort was a mistake there Mr Mayfield.” Unfortunately, the escort detected us and whilst our erratic movements negated some of the potential damage, electric motor #2 stopped completely. Another attack came and whilst there were explosions all around, it was yet another electric motor (#1) that had failed. After a few minutes had passed, it was evident that a third attack was not forthcoming and the escort had lost contact. Upon reaching periscope depth, it was only then that it was discovered that the periscope was not working at all. I gave it another ten minutes and gave the order to remain in contact with the rear of the convoy.
The electric motor #2 was repaired, but the other motor and the periscope were out of action until we could dock and get repaired during refit. There would be no possibility of submerged attacks for the rest of the journey to Australia.
With the convoy at long range, three small freighters had been identified and so the bow torpedoes were fired equally between the two smaller freighters and all four bow torpedoes were focussed on the largest freighter of the three. The Admiral commented “no escorts this time?” At long range, I was amazed that all four torpedoes hit, but then equally disappointed that two of them failed to detonate. Two torpedoes were enough though and the Chowa Maru sank by the stern. Of the six Mk 14 torpedoes that were fired from the bow tubes, three missed and the three fish that could have increased the tonnage sunk total, were duds. At this range the escorts failed to detect us and the Admiral responded with a positive comment “good decision Mr Mayfield, you are learning.” With Christmas almost upon us and only four Mk 14 torpedoes left on the boat, we let the convoy and its escorts move away, whilst we slowly made our way back towards our heading for Brisbane. During early afternoon of the next day we got the news that the Bears won the NFL championship.
January 2nd 1942 We had the best Christmas we could and whilst we were all thinking about our families and loved ones, things out here had got worse. The Japanese have taken various ports and Bombed Manila.
Just after dinner, contact was made and after identification; the Toyo Maru was to be our final target and its escort our final evasion on this journey. After surfacing at long range and readying the Mk14’s from the bow tubes, all four fish were targeted towards the freighter; two fish missed and one failed to detonate, so only one torpedo struck the hull, resulting in the ship listing to port and the coup de grace had been completed. Detection was avoided and once again submerged and headed for Australia with about two weeks to go.
January 19th 1942 Arrived in Brisbane, Australia, after traversing the rest of the Arafura Sea and finally getting to the Coral Sea with no enemy contact on our way to the mainland. The Admiral thanked me and my crew for delivering him safely and actually said he was impressed with our performance, considering it was our first mission. He asked me if there was anything I needed and whilst I had quite selfish thoughts, I asked him to look at the torpedoes and investigate the frequent failure to detonate. He agreed that something needed to be done and would put in a request once he had met the new C-in-C of the US fleet. I hoped we had made a friend in high places. Refit will be completed during February.
USS Blackfish will be ready for a new patrol in March 1942.
Patrol report submitted by Lieutenant Commander Kurtis Mayfield of the USS Blackfish, Subron 9, Pacific Fleet.
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Post by captbridge on May 19, 2017 22:15:43 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Stingray Commanders Name: LCDR Edward Roland Patrol Assignment: Philippines (E) Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 1 - Toshin Maru (1900t) Number of War Ships Sank: 1 - 28-GO (400t) Capital Ships Sunk: none Total Tonnage Destroyed: 2300t Special Assignment Completed: Yes Refit Time: 1 month Awards Requested: Battle Star, SCPI
Narrative
After successfully picking up the package, we had a quiet first week seeing nothing open blue sea. The crew was getting restless as we were deep into our second week of patrol, and even though the crew knew this was an extraction mission, they were getting anxious to sink some ships.....two targets were spotted on the horizon. The targets were smaller so we shadowed them planning on close-range, night surface attack. After IDing a 28-GO escort and the small freighter, Toshin Maru, we fired two at each, getting lucky with both ships lifting behind a geyser of water and quickly slipping beneath the waves. The rest of the patrol was quiet, much to the dismay of the crew, but their spirits are high from the successful extraction and the bonus ships that came with it.
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cajun
Lieutenant Commander
Posts: 13
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Post by cajun on May 20, 2017 4:14:20 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Catfish Commanders Name: Dreux Barbier Patrol Assignment: Philippines (Evac) Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 3 - F Tokiwa Maru (7000), F Aracsan Maru (6900), T Sanyo Maru (2900) Number of War Ships Sank: (Include ship name) Capital Ships Sunk: (Include ship name) Total Tonnage Destroyed: 16,800 Special Assignment Completed: Yes Refit Time: 1 month standard Awards Requested: SCPI, Battle Star, Bronze Star
After uneventful evacuation of passengers, the Catfish ran across a fast Capital Ship during the day time and tried to follow but lost contact with the boat. The Catfish then found an unescorted freighter (F Tokiwa Maru) and put the deck guns into use along with the torpedo salvos. Next encounter was a convoy with a couple of nice targets, but was only fortunate to have working torpedoes hit one of the ships. After detection and depth charging, the SD Radar took damage we couldn't repair, but we slipped away to finish off the damaged freighter Aransan Maru, which was then abandoned by the escort. Finally near the end of the patrol, we lucked into another unescorted transport, the Sanyo Maru. Once again, with the deck gun, and 1 working torpedo out of 5, we sunk the ship.
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Post by keyboy on May 20, 2017 12:36:04 GMT
30th January 1942
To: Vice Admiral Thomas T. Tompkins
Submarine Squadron 9 (SUBRON 9) Report: Eight US submarines set sail from the Philippines from the 1st December 1941 onwards. I submit the following results.
Submarine | Freighters Sunk | Tankers Sunk | Warships Sunk | Capital Ship Sunk | Total Sunk | USS Neptune | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3800 tons | USS Grunt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3000 tons | USS Blackfish | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16,300 tons | USS Seal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4400 tons | USS Defiant | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5200 tons | USS Cuttlefish | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6600 tons | USS Stingray | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2300 tons | USS Catfish | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16,800 tons |
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| 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 58,400 tons |
All eight submarines completed a successful patrol and each will receive a Battle Star.
All eight Captains completed a successful patrol and each will receive the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia.
US Submarines Lost: NonePROMOTIONSNone AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
NAVY CROSSLCDR Kurtis Mayfield of the USS Blackfish----------------------------- SILVER STAR
None ---------------------------- BRONZE STARLCDR Dreux Barbier of the USS Catfish-------------------------------- PURPLE HEARTNone ------------------------------- UNIT AWARDS None Sincerely yours
Captain Lyndon Woodbury, Submarine Squadron 9 Commanding
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