AAR: SS-69 Angelfish
Tambor Class
Date of patrol start: 02/03/1942
Date of patrol end: 22/04/1942
Boat ID: SS:69 USS Angelfish
Successful Patrol: Yes
Number of Freighters or Tankers Sunk: 4 / 1 Betty
Capital Ships Sunk: 0
Total Tonnage Destroyed: 14,400
Special Assignment Completed: N/A
Submarine Damage:
Batteries Destroyed
AA Gun Destroyed
Dive Planes Inoperative
Hull Damage
Electric Motors #2 & #3 Damaged, but repaired at sea.
One Crew LW
3rd Officer Casey Straub was KIA
Torpedo / shells expended:
25 3” shells
24 MK14 torpedoes.
13 hits / 6 duds
Refit Time: 3 months
Awards Requested:
Battle Star (1)
Combat Patrol Insignia
Silver Star
Purple Heart for Casey Straub (Posthumous)
Patrol Description:
On a clear, warm Monday, March 2nd, the USS Angelfish set off on her second patrol of the war. With the bad taste of her first patrol still in their mouths, the crew was determined that this patrol would be a success. After we cleared Pearl, we started our drills and became quite adept at anti-aircraft and repairing damage.
The first two weeks were as expected. A lot of ocean and not much to see.
On Monday the 16th, at 10:30hrs the lookout noticed a stream of smoke. We rang up flank speed, and for the first time laid eyes on the enemy! We found 2 freighters with a destroyer tagging along. Because this was daylight, I set up a submerged approach to about medium range. After our first patrol and based on the scuttlebutt about duds, we held nothing back! We unleashed all 6 forward torpedoes. We fired 4 at the larger ship and two at the smaller. Of the 4 we fired at the larger ship, later id’d as the Matsue Maru (7100t), 3 hit. One was a dud. The two that hit appeared to do minimal damage. Of the 2 we fired at the smaller ship, later id’d as the Sappora Maru (2900t), one hit and the explosion broke her in half and she sank in less than 3 minutes. The destroyer attempted a halfhearted search for us that we easily escaped. Because of the damage we did to her, the Matsue was easy to follow. Just after 20:13, we noticed the destroyer accelerate and head for port. This left an excellent opportunity for us to practice our gunnery skills. We fired approximately 10 rounds of 3” shells and the Matsue sank quietly.
Just 3 days later, near Bonin Island, on Thursday the 19th at 8:35, we spotted a single ship with her escort. We again attacked from medium range submerged and let loose a spread of 4 torpedoes from the stern tubes. We heard 2 dull thuds, with no explosions. DAMN! The escort approached, but again we outmaneuvered them. We followed the freighter until the escort peeled off and then closed to gunnery range. We fired 15 shells at her and saw no damage! My 3rd Officer, Casey, was livid with the gun crew, but he was manning the machine gun on the conning tower.
As we swung our bow towards her to let the forward torpedoes go, we sighted a Betty bomber approaching! Casey was wide awake and waiting for him! He actually poured a stream of lead into the cockpit of the Betty and it crashed just short of us! We all cheered like madmen! While we were distracted by this plane, the freighter escaped into a rain squall.
On Monday the 23rd, we entered Japanese waters. I invited the whole crew up, a few at a time, to see the famous Mt. Fuji for themselves. Everybody was awe inspired. We got down to business pretty quick.
On the 24th at 10:40, we spotted 2 ships, again with escort. As per usual, we were at medium range, submerged. I again fired four torpedoes at the larger of the two ships, (Kochi Maru 2900t) and two at the smaller one, (Toshin Maru 1900t).
We heard two hits on the Kochi, one of which exploded and damaged her slightly.
We also heard both hits on the Toshin, and saw one huge explosion. The Toshin virtually disappeared in the blast. The escort was again unable to track us.
We followed the Kochi until 21:48, at which time we decided this Frigate was not going to leave. We again approached to medium range and fired 2 torpedoes, both of which appeared to run deep and failed to hit.
This time, we were found and we suffered our first depth charge attack. This Frigate must have been pissed at us! He found us and labeled us with at least 5 hits! Our #2 electric motor was damaged, our dive planes were jammed beyond repair and we later found our AA gun mounts were crushed. He came back and found us again, causing heavy flooding and jamming a torpedo door. I ordered us lower. Below crush depth, we crept in silent running. Again he found us and destroyed our battery array and more flooding. Deeper, I whispered. Finally, after 2 hours, we were able to escape. Damage control did what they could, but we now had weak batteries and no dive planes or AA guns.
We re-acquired the Kochi at 2:20 on Wednesday the 25th. The frigate, later id’d as the Iki (900t), was still there! I admit. I was mad and took a chance, but I would be damned if I was going to let this freighter escape! I made the approach and let loose of two torpedoes at the Kochi and 2 at the Iki! Both shots at the Kochi hit and exploded, leaving her sinking by the bow. One torpedo hit the Iki, but failed to explode.
The Iki found us again and let us have it. We heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the wardroom area followed by a scream of pain. Our doc, Shawn, responded and found that the last hit had sprung some bolt heads that were like bullets flying! One had hit a crewmember in the leg, but two had hit 3rd Officer Casey Straub in the head and chest. He was dead when Shawn got to him.
After some more pounding, but not much more damage, we crept away.
We had two torpedoes left in the stern when we came upon a pair of escorted ships. It was 19:10 on Wednesday the 8th of April when we attacked. I fired both torpedoes at the larger of the two ships, but my optics must have been jostled, because they both missed. The escort barely changed course, so we sped away.
The return to Pearl was saddened by the at sea burial of Casey, but at least he was a single man. No family to notify.
The Angelfish returned to Pearl on Wednesday the 22nd of April 1942. We flew four merchant pennants for 14,800 tons.
This time, we can hold our heads up at the bars and maybe somebody can buy US a drink for a change.
Signed:
Lt. Commander, Charles Frank