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Post by keyboy on Oct 15, 2017 11:15:50 GMT
Patrol After Action Reports are due no later than October 22nd, 2017. October 3rd 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 losing Lae, 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 and Mk 18 Torpedoes (Dud 1-2) - September 1943
Torpedo Loads as of September 1943: Maximum Load of 24 Torpedoes - 16 x Mk14 and 8 x Mk18 - May adjust the mix by +/- 4
Ships on PatrolUSS Grunt - crushedhat USS Haddock - keyboy USS Defiant - wsmithjr USS Redfin - captbridge Currently at Sea
USS Rover - silentshark USS Flasher - lars USS Cuttlefish - gregory smith RefitUSS Catfish - cajun - November 1943 USS Blackfish - keyboy - November 1943 USS Silversides - tamari - November 1943 --------------------------------- Special Instructions: None --------------------------------- [P1a]Patrol Assignment 1943 Jul-Dec Patrols
China Sea ( Shallow Water - Cannot exceed test depth)USS Redfin - captbridge SolomansUSS Defiant - wsmithjr MarshallsNone Marshalls (R)USS Grunt - crushedhat Marshalls (L)USS Haddock - keyboy Marianas (W)None MarianasNone Philippines (T)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 Oct 17, 2017 3:03:47 GMT
21 November 1943USS Grunt enters the harbor at Brisbane and ties up alongside the USS Griffith. Standard Report Format
Boat 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: 10,100 Special Assignment Completed: Yes Refit Time: 2 months due to Hull damage, ready Feb 44 Awards Requested: Gold Star to Combat Patrol Insignia for entire crew Battle Star for Submarine Narrative: We left for our 7th war patrol on 2 October, headed for the Marshall Island chain. En route, we were instructed to swing through the Gilberts and recon the situation around Tarawa and Makin Islands. The recon took place over several days between 13-17 October. As per instructions, the disposition of defenses was radioed back rather than waiting for Grunt to return. Our primary mission complete, we continued on to patrol among the Marshalls, which proved to be devoid of much activity. Our only contact occurred 7 November, shortly before our supply situation would force a return to Brisbane. Patrolling near Kwajalein we encountered two ships with multiple escorts heading for the island. One vessel appeared to be a small freighter (1,100 tons). The other was a large (10,100 ton) troop ship. There was a Sokutun class Minelayer on our side of the two Marus. Given the problems torpedoes have been exhibiting, I decided to fire all six bow tubes at the troopship. It turned out to be the right decision as of the six fish fired one missed and three were duds. Still, the two that properly functioned proved sufficient to the task. I will simply say that the garrison at Kwajalein will be one regiment short. The escorts, lead by the Sokutun, gave us a pounding, damaging the hull and jamming half the bow torpedo tube doors. Finally escaping, we found the torpedo doors damaged beyond repair. Still, we had the other three tubes as well as the rear ones so I gave chase. However, the small freighter had managed to slip safely into the harbor. We stayed in the area a few more days until supplies dictated otherwise, but no further targets presented themselves. Turning for home, we were a day out from Brisbane when we heard about the landings on the islands we had been sent to recon. I hope our efforts helped. Grunt tied up alongside Griffith on the 21st. With the hull damage the crew will have another extended stay to enjoy the Australians’ hospitality. Grunt should be ready for the 8th war patrol in February 1944. Respectfully submitted, Neil Balaton, Cdr, USN, commanding USS Grunt
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Post by wsmithjr on Oct 17, 2017 3:54:26 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Defiant SS-1764 (Gar class) Commanders Name: Benjamin Sisko Patrol Assignment: Solomons Successful Patrol: No Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 0 Number of War Ships Sank: 0 Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: N/A Special Assignment Completed: N/A Refit Time: 1 month
Personal log - Nov 1943
Subron knows I don't like the Solomons. I'm sure they sent us here because of our last patrol. They're not helping their own cause and it's not like it's my fault their torpedoes don't detonate. I had high hopes for this patrol given the promise of more reliable torpedoes. I wouldn't know because we just spent 2 months and couldn't find a Japanese tanker to save our lives. We proved ourselves when they sent us to the Java Sea. Heck, I would've taken the China Sea this time as well. Heaven help us if they send us to the Solomons again ... if Subron bothers sending us anywhere.... Hopefully they'll remember that Silver Star they gave me.
[Patrol dice: 11, 11, 5/8, 10, 11, 10 <sigh>]
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Post by keyboy on Oct 20, 2017 16:54:11 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Haddock Commanders Name: Tristan Broughton III Patrol Assignment: Marshalls - Lifeguard Mission Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 3 - Tainan Maru (5400t), Sakae Maru (2900t) and Mikage Maru (2800t) Number of War Ships Sank: 1 - escort (1200t) Capital Ships Sunk: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 12,300t Special Assignment Completed: Yes
Refit Time: Standard
Awards Requested: Tristan Broughton III - Request for Silver Star and Navy Commendation Ribbon Battle Star for Sub Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia for crew
Crew Names: Crew Skill: Trained
LCDR Tristan Broughton III Chief Engineer: Lt Bobbie Fountain, USN Chief Engineer: EXPERT Pharmacist's Mate: PhM1c Lanny Merriman, USN Pharmacist's Mate: EXPERT Executive Officer: Lt Forest Burnett, USN 3rd Officer: Lt (jg) Franklyn Mccord, USN
October 4th 1943 Left Brisbane for our first lifeguard mission in the Marshalls patrol area
October 14th 1943 Arrived at patrol point and had zero contact with the enemy since leaving Brisbane.
October 16th 1943 After two days of searching for the crashed bomber, a life raft was spotted off the starboard bow, which we retrieved. Unfortunately, only one crew member had survived in the elements for the three days and was in poor shape. Merriman organised the transit of the airman to the sub and immediately put a treatment plan into action.
October 30th 1943 It was a fortnight later later, during the evening of the 30th, when some dim lights were observed off the port bow and after investigation, two small escorted freighters were identified. Once surfaced at long range range, all bow tubes were fired; with two fish aimed at each of the small freighters. After positioning the boat the aft tubes were fired; two fish made their way towards the escort and a single Mk 14 was targeted at the two freighters, just in case the dud situation got out of hand. All four bow fired torpedoes hit their targets, with the larger freighter suffering from two detonations and the crew jumping overboard as the Sakae Maru had a hole in the side of the hull and had started to list to the port side. Only one detonation was detected hitting the smaller freighter, which caused enough damage to bring the ship to a stop. It was at this point that we waited in anticipation for the sound of detonating torpedoes fired from the aft tubes. The Sakae Maru was already sinking beneath the waves when the torpedo just missed its impact point and continued out to Sea. The Mikage Maru was less fortunate, as the Mk 14 torpedo hit it at a perfect 90 degree angle and exploded, causing the ship to break apart. Only one torpedo hit the escort, but that was enough to sink it before it had a chance to go on the offensive. We avoided detection easily, probably as a result of catching the little group by total surprise.
November 9th 1943 Just over a week later, during the morning of the 9th, smoke was observed off the starboard bow and after investigation a large cargo ship was followed. As we surfaced at close range, the deck gun crew jumped into action and unloaded with full salvoes. This was their most accurate attack since we entered the war and finished it quickly and the Tainan Maru was no more. 2nd LT Bill Winters was up and about on his feet and had a much better colour, so we continued our patrol for a further two days before we headed for home.
November 22nd 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. Safely got the 2nd LT to dry land and hopefuuly feeling a lot better than he did when we picked him up.
USS Haddock will be ready for a new patrol in January 19434.
Patrol report submitted by Commander Tristan Broughton III of the USS Haddock, Subron 9, Pacific Fleet.
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Post by captbridge on Oct 24, 2017 5:04:27 GMT
Boat Name and ID: USS Redfin Commanders Name: CMD Edward Roland Patrol Assignment: China Sea Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 5 - Shoko Maru (5400t), Kamogawa Maru (6400t), Taiman Maru #1 (6900t), Nichiei Maru (5400t), Taiu Maru (2200t) Number of War Ships Sank: ML Kokome (500t), ML Sokutun (700t) Capital Ships Sunk: None Total Tonnage Destroyed: 27,500t Special Assignment Completed: N/A Refit Time: 1 month Awards Requested: SCPI, Battle Star, Navy Star, Medal of Honor, PUC/NUC
Our transfer to Pearl Harbor for myself and the crew was cautiously optimistic. It was strange to go to a port where we were nowhere near the ocean, we were in the Great Lakes to pick up our boat. The 8th sub to come off the line in a small town in Wisconsin, the Redfin. It's not so strange to think anymore as we ran some tests on our new home...what a boat! I had heard murmurs about how the Manitowoc-built subs were the best in the Navy, well, they are correct. This ship is tight and we had no write-ups to report before giving it back to them. We took official delivery in New Orleans after they barged it through Chicago and down the Mississippi. That whole process is quite the marvel, but I digress.
The patrol started off somewhat slow as we found a small group of three ships about three weeks into the patrol. Small group, but large ships. How we ran into a green escort crew still baffles us, but the green crew combined with the more reliable torpedoes, it wasn't long before we were sailing away with three ships sinking to the bottom of the ocean. A couple weeks went by and the crew was getting concerned as this is normally a busy patrol area being so close to the mainland, but it eventually picked up. In our sixth week we ran across another three ships, though this time with a veteran escort crew. Still didn't matter as we used the same technique as we did with the first group and got into close range without being detected. Being that close we targeted all three ships and were able to sink all three once again. The crew was elated at the success rate of the torpedoes and there is growing confidence that we have turned a corner with our torpedo issues. As we were about to head home, a gift came sailing into view as a lone large freighter was begging to be sunk. How this ship was by itself, we'll never know as it was easy target practice for our gun crew.
Seven ships! We can hardly believe it, especially with not a scratch to report on our beauty. I know that won't last, but we'll take it while we can.
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Post by keyboy on Oct 24, 2017 9:04:41 GMT
30th November 1943
To: Vice Admiral Thomas T. Tompkins
Submarine Squadron 9 (SUBRON 9) Report: Four US submarines set sail from Brisbane from the 1st October 1943 onwards. I submit the following results.
Submarine | Freighters Sunk | Tankers Sunk | Warships Sunk | Capital Ship Sunk | Total Sunk | Status | USS Haddock | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12,300 tons | Refit | USS Grunt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10,100 tons | Refit | USS Defiant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 00 tons | Refit | USS Redfin | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 27,500 tons | Refit | Totals
| 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 37,600 tons |
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Three of the four submarines completed a successful patrol and will receive a Battle Star.
Three of the four Captains completed a successful patrol and will receive the Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia.
US Submarines Lost: NonePROMOTIONSNone AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
MEDAL OF HONORCDR Edward Roland of the USS Redfin------------------------------ NAVY CROSSNone----------------------------- SILVER STAR
CDR Tristan Broughton III of the USS Haddock---------------------------- BRONZE STAR None-------------------------------- NAVY COMMENDATION RIBBON CDR Neil Balaton of the USS Grunt CDR Tristan Broughton III of the USS Haddock------------------------------- PURPLE HEART None------------------------------- UNIT AWARDS Presidential Unit Citation for crew of USS RedfinSincerely yours
Captain Lyndon Woodbury, Submarine Squadron 9 Commanding
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