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Post by keyboy on Jul 23, 2017 10:00:54 GMT
Patrol After Action Reports are due no later than July 30th, 2017. December 4th 1942Good morning gentlemen, I won't take up much of your time, as I know that you are preparing to get underway. We have most patrol areas covered this month; but please just ensure that if your patrol is in the China Sea, then you will need to remember that you will be in shallow waters and as a result, you will not be able to dive towards or below test depth.
With the Japanese losing two of their Battleships: Hiei. and Kirishima, Tokyo would like a trophy from the US. Make sure it isn't you and your crew. Usual China Seas reminder, but above all remember your training and use the experience of your last patrol to guide you and your crew back home next month. God speed. - Captain Lyndon Woodbury - SUBRON Commander ALL Boats have been upgraded with: SJ Radar - July 1942 and Modified MK 14 Torpedoes (Dud 1-3) - August 1942
Ships on Patrol:USS Defiant - wsmithjr USS Stingray - captbridge USS Blackfish - keyboy Currently at Sea
USS Cavalla - silentshark USS Grunt - crushedhat RefitUSS Cuttlefish - gregory smith - January 1943 USS Haddock - keyboy - January 1943 USS Pontus - gridz - February 1943 USS Seal - tamari - February 1943 USS Catfish - cajun - March 1943 --------------------------------- Special Instructions: None--------------------------------- [P1a]Patrol Assignment 1942 Jul-Dec Patrols
China Sea ( Shallow Water - Cannot exceed test depth)None SolomansUSS Defiant - wsmithjr Java SeaNone IndochinaUSS Blackfish - keyboy Indochina (M)USS Stingray - captbridge 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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Post by wsmithjr on Jul 25, 2017 3:40:55 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Defiant SS-1764 (Gar class) Commanders Name: Benjamin Sisko Patrol Assignment: Solomons Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 1 (Sanyo Maru - 2900 tons) Number of War Ships Sank: 0 Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 2900 Special Assignment Completed: N/A Refit Time: 1 month (no hull damage) Awards Requested: SCPI Gold Star, Battle Star
The crew is getting restless with our continued patrols to the Solomons and weeks of fruitless searching for shipping.
After several weeks of no contacts, we finally did make contact with a 2000-ton freighter. As we found them during the day, and it was escorted, we didn't think it was worth the risk to our sub to engage so we attempted to follow until nightfall. Unfortunately, we lost contact. I take full responsibility for not attacking when I had the chance.
More weeks of chasing shadows followed. Fortunately, we were given a second chance and several days before we would have had to return to base, we made contact with a 2900-ton escorted freighter. Again we made contact during the day but this time didn't waste our chance to attack and engaged at long range. A full spread of 6 torpedoes were fired and every last one of them missed the mark. However, the trails in the water alerted the escort who found the range for some depth charges. Several crew members were lightly injured and one of the diesel engines was damaged. Fortunately, after a few passes, we were able to evade and escape. With the engine repaired, we attempted to pursue and re-engage the contact. Luck was with us one more time as we came upon them during the night and immediately commenced an attack run at medium range while submerged. A full spread of 6 torpedoes resulted in what should have been 4 hits. However, for whatever reason, 2 of the torpedoes did not detonate. Fortunately, the ones that did sent the freighter to the bottom. Without the tell-tale torpedo trails being visible, we were able to escape the escort's detection.
The trip home was uneventful.
I'm sure the brass won't be thrilled that I used 12 torpedoes and only sunk 2900 tons, but it's better than not sinking anything. Here's hoping we find richer waters in March.
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Post by captbridge on Jul 31, 2017 6:43:09 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Stingray Commanders Name: LCDR Edward Roland Patrol Assignment: Indochina (M) Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: (Nosher Marui - 2300t) Number of War Ships Sank: 0 Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 2300t Special Assignment Completed: Yes Refit Time: +1 month Awards Requested: SCPI, Battle Star, Navy Commendation Ribbon
Traveling to our mission sector to lay mines was very quiet, too quiet, and our instincts proved us right. Once we got to our sector for mine laying we were immediately greeted by a patrolling aircraft that spotted us. We did get hit and our doctor was lightly wounded, but we were able to repair everything and get the mines laid. Our troubles didn't end there, our torpedoes must have been laying around with the old detonators because of the 16 launched, 14 hit, and only 2 detonated. The crew was very discouraged as we watched three large ships sail away totaling 23,000t. We did get to sink one little 2300t freighter, but the damage was done to the morale of the crew and the hull of our ship. As we continued home with no torps we were hoping to for a straggler ship that we could blast with our deck gun, but they were all escorted. Salt in the wound and now we are in port an extra month for refit to think about the could haves.
It was a successful minelaying mission, but the tonnage of steel that sailed away dampened all feeling of success for us this patrol.
I demand an investigation of my dice for dud rolling!!!
LCDR Edward Roland
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Post by keyboy on Jul 31, 2017 11:32:28 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Blackfish Commanders Name: Kurtis Mayfield Patrol Assignment: Indochina Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 6 - Ploko Maru (1500t), Hiyori Maru (5300t), Medan Maru (5100t), Soyo Maru (6100t), Taishu Maru (6900t) and Teiryu Maru (6600t) Number of War Ships Sank: 2 - FF Ojika (1000t) and escort (1200t) Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 33,700t Special Assignment Completed: N/A
Refit Time: Standard (+ 2 months)
Awards Requested: Navy Cross for LCDR Kurtis Mayfield Request for Presidential Unit Citation 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 3rd Officer: EXPERT
December 2nd 1942 After going from zero to hero since the last patrol, my feet were planted firmly back on the boat by missing both Christmas and the new year.
December 12th 1942 We reached the patrol point around noon and had made no enemy contact since leaving Brisbane.
December 13th 1942 The following day, just after dawn, an escorted fast frigate was spotted. After identification, I gave the order to get to within medium range and fire two fish from the aft tubes. Both torpedoes hit, but one was a dud. The Okija sunk, but that was after we were detected. After an hour of chasing we finally evaded the escorts, but not after we had taken a fair bit of hull damage and flooding and #4 electric motor had been damaged.
December 20th 1942 Lt Wilson and his crew had fixed what they could and the #4 electric motor had been completely repaired. Just after 11:00 an unescorted small freighter was spotted. After identification, I gave the order to get in close and use the pitiful deck gun to put her under. The crew acted with speed and efficiency and after two full salvoes hit, the Ploko Maru sank beneath the waves.
December 22nd 1942 At around 22:00, BB (3rd Officer - Bobby Bryant) spotted a dim light off the port 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 Hiyori Maru and it slipped beneath the waves, after the gunnery team unloaded with full salvoes from the 3” Deck Gun and a couple of fish from the aft tubes.
January 1st 1943 We had to wait for over a week for our next engagement. The sonar operators picked up a weak signal and upon investigation, we had hit upon the lead ship of a convoy. New Year’s evening presented me with a potential great start to the New Year. Lt White identified three targets; a small freighter, a large freighter and a tanker. We closed to just outside of close range and surfaced on slightly choppy waters. Half the bow torpedoes were fired at the tanker and the other half fired at the large freighter, thereby ignoring the small freighter. Once all tubes were fired, we submerged once again and tracked all the fish. All three torpedoes hit the tanker and exploded; Two fish hit amidships and the other at the stern. The Medan Maru quickly listed to port and sank very quickly, due to the extensive damage. The same success was made with the freighter and it was enough to see the Soyo Maru sink by the stern. Not only did the escorts not detect us, they were looking completely in the wrong area.
After retreating to long range, Lt Bryant kept tracking and within the hour more targets were identified; a small freighter, a large freighter and a passenger ship. The Mk14’s were behaving themselves today, so once again, we waited to get to within medium range and then launched three fish at each of the larger targets. Oh, how fortunes change so quickly. The three torpedoes hit the passenger ship, but not one detonated. Two of the three fired hit the freighter, whilst the other nearly decided to make us the target, but veered off towards the rest of the convoy. Both torpedoes detonated, striking amidships and did just enough damage to sink the Taishu Maru. The escorts attacked and as a result, we sustained more hull and flooding damage, diesel engines #2 and #3 stopped, there was a failure with the SJ radar and something was amiss with one of the forward torpedo doors. After moving to long range and staying there, contact with convoy had not been lost. Whilst the firing solution was being plotted, the chief and his team were making emergency repairs. They got #2 diesel engine up and running, but #3 was beyond repair. They couldn’t do anything about #2 forward torpedo tube, so the torpedo was unloaded from #2 and put into #6. The SJ radar was beyond repair and would need replacing
With solutions plotted for two small freighters, a large freighter and escort, I wanted to lessen the chance of detection, so the last of the forward MK14’s were aimed at the large freighter and the last of the aft fish aimed at the escort. Three of the four torpedoes hit the freighter and with only one being a dud, the resulting explosions caused the Teiryu Maru to sink. Only one of the two fish that hit the escort detonated, but it was enough to send the escort beneath the waves. Attacking whilst remaining at long range had done the trick, as this time the escorts failed to detect us, though they were close to it. With no torpedoes aboard, it was time to head home
January 21st 1943 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. Refit will be completed during February through to April.
USS Blackfish will be ready for a patrol in May 1943.
Patrol report submitted by Lieutenant Commander Kurtis Mayfield, commanding the USS Blackfish, Subron 9, Pacific Fleet.
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Post by keyboy on Jul 31, 2017 16:00:29 GMT
30th January 1943
To: Vice Admiral Thomas T. Tompkins
Submarine Squadron 9 (SUBRON 9) Report: Three US submarines set sail from Brisbane from the 1st December 1942 onwards. I submit the following results.
Submarine | Freighters Sunk | Tankers Sunk | Warships Sunk | Capital Ship Sunk | Total Sunk | Status | USS Defiant
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,900 tons | Refit | USS Stingray
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2,300 tons | Refit | USS Blackfish | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33,700 tons | Refit | Totals
| 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 38,900 tons |
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All three submarines completed a successful patrol and each will receive a Battle Star.
All three Captains completed a successful patrol and each will receive the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia.
US Submarines Lost: NonePROMOTIONSLCDR Neil Balaton of the USS Grunt promoted to the rank of CDRAWARDS AND DECORATIONS
NAVY CROSSLCDR Kurtis Mayfield of the USS Blackfish----------------------------- SILVER STAR
None---------------------------- BRONZE STARNone-------------------------------- PURPLE HEARTNone------------------------------- UNIT AWARDS Navy Unit Commendation for crew of USS BlackfishSincerely yours
Captain Lyndon Woodbury, Submarine Squadron 9 Commanding
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