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Post by keyboy on Aug 7, 2017 11:53:23 GMT
Patrol After Action Reports are due no later than August 13th, 2017. February 4th 1943Good 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 winning the battle of Rennell Island and sinking the USS Chicago, Tokyo would like another 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 PatrolUSS Seal - tamari USS Grunt - crushedhat Currently at Sea
USS Cuttlefish - gregory smith USS Haddock - keyboy RefitUSS Catfish - cajun - March 1943 USS Cavalla - silentshark - March 1943 USS Defiant - wsmithjr - March 1943 USS Stingray - captbridge - Apr 1943 USS Blackfish - keyboy - May 1943 --------------------------------- Special Instructions: None--------------------------------- [P1a]Patrol Assignment 1943 Jan-Jun Patrols
China Sea (M) ( Shallow Water - Cannot exceed test depth)USS Seal - tamari China Sea ( Shallow Water - Cannot exceed test depth)
None SolomansNone Java SeaNone IndochinaUSS Grunt - crushedhat Philippines None 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 crushedhat on Aug 10, 2017 1:22:53 GMT
25 March 1943USS Grunt enters the harbor at Brisbane minus her SJ radar antenna and ties up alongside USS Griffith. 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: 4,400 Special Assignment Completed: NA Refit Time: 1 month, ready May 43 Awards Requested: Gold Star to Combat Patrol Insignia for entire crew Battle Star for Submarine Narrative: USS Grunt left Brisbane on 2 February for what was to prove to be another unspectacular patrol. Our 5th Combat Patrol has us sailing to the Indochina station. Enroute we heard the news that Guadalcanal had finally fallen. Two days later while transiting the Arafura Sea we were caught by a rogue wave. The boat was pooped, with the personnel on the bridge getting knocked about and as well as the antennae for both radars. Fortunately, no one was washed overboard. The same can’t be said for the radar. Lt Almay, aided by CEM Barnes and EM2c Harvey managed to bring the SD radar back on line. However, the entire antenna array for the SJ radar was lost. (this cost me 2 potential contacts). Entering the Banda Sea we heard about the drubbing the Army took in their first fight against the Germans at Kasserine Pass. The morning of the 28th off the coast of French Indochina the lookouts spotted smoke on the horizon. Sailing to investigate we found an unescorted freighter (4,400 tons) and engaged at close range with the 5” deck gun. It wasn’t long before the Maru was slipping beneath the waves. As things turned out, the lone freighter was to be our only target the entire patrol, not that it was to be our last encounter with the IJN. The night of 6 March while transiting the Bashi Channel between the Philippines and Formosa the sky was suddenly lit up by a parachute flair. Fortunately Grunt was able to crash dive before the AC could make its attack. After that, the rest of the patrol was uneventful, with Grunt tying up alongside Griffith on the 25th. The crew injured when we were pooped are almost completely recovered and the crew of Griffith should have Grunt ship shape in time for her 6gth patrol in May. Hopefully this one will be more rewarding. Respectfully submitted, Neil Balaton, Cdr, USN, commanding USS Grunt
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tamari
Lieutenant Commander
Posts: 38
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Post by tamari on Aug 12, 2017 22:05:30 GMT
February - March 1943
Boat Name and ID: USS Seal SS-183 Commanders Name: Oscar Garrard Patrol Assignment: China Sea (M) Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sunk: 6, 2 tankers, 4 freighters (Mayachi Maru, 2200 tons / Kenyo Maru, 10000 tons / Kyoko Maru, 5800 tons / Seitai Maru, 3400 tons / Shoko Maru, 1900 tons / Kotobuki Maru #7, 1000 tons) Number of War Ships Sunk: 0 Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 24300 Special Assignment Completed: Yes Refit Time: 4 months (3 systems damaged, 6 hull damage) Ready in August 1943 Awards Requested: Battle Star, SCPI, Navy Cross
Expert Executive Officer roll needed Request a Navy Unit Commendation Roll Request a NC Sub Upgrade roll to a Gato, April to receive the boat, ready in May 1943 if roll successful
The patrol started quietly, as we arrived in the East China Sea and unloaded our mines with no interference.
After some radar ghosts, at the end of February a large convoy nearly ran us over, heading north to Japan. With only 16 torpedoes, the skipper felt this was a golden opportunity to use all of them here and now. We waited and surfaced inside the convoy in the dark, as we had done a few months ago, only this time we were not detected. The main attack was on a fat tanker ahead, and 3 smaller ships were also targeted.
The tanker and one other freighter took torpedo hits, and quickly started sinking. In a repeat of what happened to the boat the last time it tried to attack a convoy, an escort lit it up and landed a shot right into an AA gun mount, taking a sizable chunk of the hull with it. Additional minor damage happened until the escorts gave up the chase.
We fixed what damage we could (the 40mm gun was at the bottom of the China Sea) and pursued the convoy. Lining up a smaller tanker, and a couple more freighters, we fired from not-so-close range this time. The tanker and another freighter were left sinking. So far, so good with the new torpedo settings. The enemy managed to cause some more hull damage before we slipped away.
A third attempt to follow the convoy was successful, but by this time it was dawn. And, lucky for the Japanese, we couldn't keep up with them to attack again at night.
Early into March, Seal found a pair of small freighters sailing alone during the day. We sank both with the deck gun, but the attack on the first target was a comedy of errors. If shells that could go off in the gun existed, we would have had a pair of them in stock. Luckily for us, the attack on the second ship did enough damage with the remaining ammo to sink her, so we didn't have to use a torpedo.
A few days later, a pair of freighters with a DD escort was spotted, and we moved to use our last four torpedoes in a night attack. Unluckily for us, we missed the escort and only damaged one freighter. And that escort was mighty angry about that torpedo, because it wouldn't leave us alone. It must have run out of DC's before finally giving up. After more, severe, hull damage, a lost diesel engine, removal of the 20mm AA, a broken periscope, and a broken finger for the Chief Engineer, we finally limped away and headed back to base.
And - managed to get spotted by a Judy in broad daylight. We submerged just in time, being unarmed and all.
And - received a radio message that the Carrier Kaga was nearby - presumably where the Judy came from - and could we maybe try to attack her? Being unarmed and all, it was quickly decided that a boarding action was unwise.
Seal dragged itself into harbor in late March, flying 6 pennants but also nearly shot to pieces.
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Post by keyboy on Aug 13, 2017 11:24:01 GMT
30th March 1943
To: Vice Admiral Thomas T. Tompkins
Submarine Squadron 9 (SUBRON 9) Report: Two US submarines set sail from Brisbane from the 1st February 1943 onwards. I submit the following results.
Submarine | Freighters Sunk | Tankers Sunk | Warships Sunk | Capital Ship Sunk | Total Sunk | Status | USS Grunt
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,400 tons | Refit | USS Seal
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 24,300 tons | Refit | Totals
| 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 28,700 tons |
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Both submarines completed a successful patrol and each will receive a Battle Star.
Both Captains completed a successful patrol and each will receive the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia.
US Submarines Lost: NonePROMOTIONSLCDR Tristan Broughton III of the USS Haddock promoted to the rank of CDRAWARDS AND DECORATIONS
NAVY CROSSLCDR Oscar Garrard of the USS Seal----------------------------- SILVER STAR
None---------------------------- BRONZE STARNone-------------------------------- PURPLE HEARTNone------------------------------- UNIT AWARDS Navy Unit Commendation for crew of USS SealSincerely yours
Captain Lyndon Woodbury, Submarine Squadron 9 Commanding
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