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Post by blaird on Aug 5, 2016 13:31:46 GMT
Patrol Results Due no later than August 18th 2016.May 1stGentlemen, I won't take up much of your time, as I know that you are preparing to get underway. On PatrolUSS Skipjack - Silentshark USS Bristlemouth - crushedhat USS Stingray - haplo02 USS Tiger Shark - jcook119 Currently at Sea:USS Trumpet Fish - blaird USS Weatherfish - nfiltr8tor RefitUSS Humunuku - tyo - May 1942 USS Green Bay - keyboy - June 1942 USS Triton - Falto - June 1942 USS Angelfish - privepilot - August 1942 Late and Presumed Lost Shoot me a PM and I will get you onto the next patrolUSS Nutshell - kos83 Special InstructionsLCDR Piccard and LCDR Marshall, as the only Narwhal class submarines in the SUBRON 9 you will be on search and rescue every time you go out, and looking for passengers to transport. PatrolsChina SeaUSS Skipjack USS Stingray EmpireUSS Bristlemouth MarshallsUSS Tiger Shark MarianasNone MidwayUSS Guardfish
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tyo
Lieutenant Commander
Posts: 24
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Post by tyo on Aug 6, 2016 16:55:26 GMT
Sir, there should be a correction to the above information. USS Humunuku cut short her mission and is in port undergoing refit. She will be ready to sail June 1942.
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Post by jcook119 on Aug 7, 2016 16:33:42 GMT
Boat ID: Tiger Shark Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 1 Warships Sank: 1 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 21900 Special Assignment Completed: N/A Refit Time: 1 month Awards Requested: Battle Star, Navy Cross Torpedoes Fired\Hit\Exploded: 16\8\3
May 2rd - Set sail from Pearl this morning, crew is in good spirits. I think the rescue we made last patrol got them over their intial bad luck and made them feel good again.
May 21st - The first couple of weeks of our patrol have been slow, no enemy contact. That all changed this evening. Just before dusk we spotted lights in the distance, and moved to intercept. Getting in as close as we dared, we realized that we had found an enemy flattop and a few escorts. We shadowed them for about 3 hours, waiting until the screening ships were in the best position, then made our move. We fired a full spread at her, and it sounded like most of them hit. Sonar only reported 2 explosions, but they were solid hits. We made high speed out of there, and managed to get away cleaner than the pants those Jap escort captains were wearing! Sonar ID'ed that carrier as the Chuyo, once we get back to port we'll check intel and see if he's right.
May 29th - Ran into a small convoy this morning around 8:15 AM. We had firing solutions on 2 large freighters and a small passenger ship. I was feeling lucky, so we fired 2 fish at each target. We hit one of the large freighters with one torp, but it was another damned dud. Better luck with the small ship, one torp impacted amidships and sent her under. Once again, we managed to escape before the escorts could find us.
June 15th - It's been quiet for the last couple of weeks, except for the crew whooping it up. But this moring we ran into another small convoy. Since we were low on forward torps, I decided to fire a spread from the rear tubes this time. 2 each at a large tanker and a small passenger ship. 1 of the 4 torps hit, but failed to explode. We made our getaway before the escorts could respond.
June 30th - Sailed back into Pearl this afternoon. Dean lost a bet with Vasquez, so drinks are on him tonight. I am making an appointment to see the Flotilla Commander tomorrow morning about these Mk14 torpedoes. These things are about as reliable as a three-legged mule. I guess when the brass says they want us to make a "dent" in enemy shipping, they really meant a dent instead of a gaping hole! Are we buying these from the Japs or something?
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Post by silentshark on Aug 7, 2016 19:28:25 GMT
USS Skipjack Patrol Assignment: China Sea Successful Patrol: Yes Freighters or Tankers Sank: 4 Warships Sank: Capital Ships Sank: Total Tonnage Destroyed: 13,600 Special Assignment Completed: Refit Time: 1 Month, ready for patrol in August 1942 Awards Requested: Silver Star for LCDR John Osbourne Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia for crew Battle Star for Sub ________________________________________________________________
May 3rd, 1942 - The USS Skipjack sails from Pearl Harbor to begin her 2nd war patrol.
June 2nd, 1400 hrs - After a long journey across the Pacific Ocean and many days patrolling the China Sea, Skipjack encounters a lone japenese freighter.
Wanting to conserve torpedoes, Osbourne moves into close range and orders an attack with the 3 inch deck gun.
After many shell hits, the 2800 ton freighter, Nichinan, begins her descent to the bottom of the shallow China Sea.
June 7th, 1200 hrs - Once more an unescorted freighter is discovered and attacked with the deck gun of the USS Skipjack.
The 900 ton Shingetsu quickly sinks from the assault.
June 12th, 1700 hrs - Through the periscope, Osbourne carefully observes two escorted enemy freighters and decides to wait until nightfall to engage.
June 12th, 2200 hrs - From medium range, submerged and under the cover of darkness, Osbourne fires a full spread of six Mk14 steam powered torpedoes to sink the 4700 ton freighter Kokuyo and damage 5200 ton freighter Yamamizu.
The Japanese escorts are unable to locate Skipjack.
Deciding to play it safe, Osbourne remains submerged and moves to long range before firing four more Mk14 at the damaged Yamamizu.
All four torpedoes miss !
The enemy ships do not spot the torpedo's steam bubble trails in the darkness and are unaware of the second attack.
Determined to sink the damaged freighter, Osbourne orders his boat into medium range and prepares for a third attack.
June 13th, 0100 hrs - From below the surface and at medium range, Osbourne fires four Mk14 at the Yamamizu and sinks her.
The escort ships are unable to detect the USS Skipjack and she silently leaves the scene at speed of 4 knots.
June 25th, 1942 - The undamaged USS Skipjack cruises into Pearl Harbor to end another successful patrol.
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tamari
Lieutenant Commander
Posts: 38
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Post by tamari on Aug 16, 2016 4:19:13 GMT
Boat ID: Guardfish Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 2 (Anyo Maru, 9300 tons, Nittatsu Maru, 2900 tons) Capital Ships Sank: Total Tonnage Destroyed: 12,200 Special Assignment Completed: N/A Refit Time: 2 months (3 damaged systems) (back in service Sept. 1942) Awards Requested: Battle Star, Sub Combat Patrol Insignia Upgrade requested: 5-inch gun and 40mm/20mm AA mount
Guardfish patrol record and notes: First Patrol - May/June 1942
Our sub, rushed to Pearl Harbor in the first wave of new Gato-class boats, does not have to wait long for its first patrol. We are handed orders to deploy to the Midway area, and patrol for Japanese warships that may attempt an invasion. No extended shore leave for us after the trip from the Canal!
The Tender Turtle swaps out our 3" gun for a 4-incher from an old S-boat - a sign to the crew that Subron9 takes the threat to Midway seriously. After stocking the new ammunition and re-provisioning the boat, Guardfish gets underway at 02:00 Hawaii Time on May 22th, 1942, LCDR Lindsay commanding.
In Transit to Midway: We only see friendlies as we move up the island chain. After a quick stop at Midway, we move to our patrol area to the West.
On patrol, May 30th, 1942. So far, just the open ocean. A weather front is moving in, and if I were Yamamoto, I'd bring my fleet in under it. Catalinas are flying constantly from Midway now - I just hope our "Strawberry" doesn't think we are an I-boat.
June 3rd, 0220 hours. Contact! A night sighting, the 9300 ton passenger boat Anyo Maru with a DD escort - the edge of a large fleet! Probably pressed into service as a transport would be my guess. After reading AARs from previous patrols, we are aware of the torpedo problems with the Mark 14. I have let the crew know that I intend to get as close as possible to get hits, and hope some of them go off.
We slip quietly into position, and the DD does not react. I order a four-fish spread from our forward tubes - all hits, but 3 duds! And the fourth only does minor damage. Frack.
And that DD moves in and starts lobbing DCs at us. Luckily, none get very close and our only damage is a short in an electric motor. We evade the DD and surface. The Destroyer is nowhere in sight! However, the Maru has turned west, trailing smoke. A perfect opportunity for a surface gun attack! I'm glad we got that 4-incher installed now. Ordering the Chief to fix the motor (which he does) and reloading of the forward tubes, I order Battle Stations Surface and close on the Maru to fire at point blank range.
The XO's gunnery is superb, and we hammer the Maru until she rolls over and sinks. We briefly consider taking some POWs, but spot the DD inbound before we can get close enough to pick anyone up. We presume the destroyer will rescue as many as possible, and once it is safe to do so, we will radio the position back to Midway to rescue any survivors.
1 ship sunk - Anyo Maru, 9300 tons
June 4th, 1030 hours. We shadow the invasion force, and isolate a small freighter, the Nittatsu Maru, and it's DD escort. Given the situation, an apparent attack on Midway, we decide to engage her in daylight rather than risk losing contact waiting for nightfall. We fire three torpedoes out the aft tubes at medium range, hoping that one goes off and putting us in a better position to evade if necessary.
This time, we are greeted with the sound of two explosions - and then a third, gigantic one. After waiting to be sure the DD was not in the area, we risked a peek through the periscope. All that remained of the Maru was wreckage - and no sign of survivors. After a few moments of taking in what had happened, we resumed course to shadow the Japanese fleet. (3 torpedoes hit, one critical, and only one dud. The normal torp did 4 damage, and the crit torp did 1 + 3 damage, for 8 total into a 2-point freighter. Yikes.)
1 ship sunk - Nittatsu Maru, 2900 tons
June 5th, 0100 hours We caught up with the invasion fleet and closed on a new target - the Renzan Maru and her escort. She looks like a supply ship, not a transport. We have 11 torpedoes on board, so we decide to go Medium again and fire 4 from the forward tubes, so as not to risk losing her if detected. We move in on the surface.
Only 2 hits, and 2 duds. Clank. The DD shifts position and we are unable to get another shot at the freighter. We continue to shadow the invasion fleet.
June 5th, 0300 hours As daylight approaches, the only reasonable attack left to us is on a tiny supply boat, the Koho Maru at under 1000 tons. We decide to risk the wrath of Subron9 and fire our final two forward torps at her - *any* ship sunk may mean better chances for our troops at Midway. We catch her escort on the opposite side and decide to go close for a surface torpedo run.
The fish hit the water, and...bonk, bonk. Dammit! And the Maru starts signaling the DD with lights - she must have seen us, and we crash dive!
Guardfish shakes as the destroyer drops charges. The 3rd officer reports the dive planes are jammed! Boom boom boom! Electric motor #3 goes down. BOOM BOOM BOOM (12 to hit for the escort) Electric #2 shuts down as water sprays on it (flooding) mixed with diesel fuel (fuel tank hit) and the port-side forward torp doors are stuck - but we are out of torps anyway forward. The depth charging continues as the chief struggles to contain the flooding to a standstill.
As the CO started to consider a deep dive to try and evade this DD, it moves off, to the relief of the crew. Perhaps it fell out of formation and needed to catch back up to the fleet. Whatever the reason, we wait until we are sure of safety and assess our damage.
The electric motor splashed with water and diesel is shot, but the other one is repairable. The chief is able to reach the fuel tank and stop the leaking, but the dive planes and torpedo doors are too far down to get to and remain jammed. The radio is busy with chatter, and the fighting is continuing closer to Midway. After reporting our situation, Pearl orders us home.
June 10th, 1942 The boat sails into Pearl Harbor. The radio traffic makes it sound like we won something big at Midway, but we won't find out until we get ashore. The Chief estimates it will take until late August to repair our damage, as we need drydock time to fix the damage up forward and a new electric motor. Overall, a successful mission that almost got too exciting.
Close Log, First Patrol, USS Guardfish
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Post by crushedhat on Aug 17, 2016 18:01:24 GMT
31 May 1942, Pearl HarborUSS Bristlemouth ties up alongside the tender, USS Turtle. The submarine's hull shows extensive damage and her deck gun is missing. The men mustered on deck seem fewer than should be there, but stand proudly beneath the battle flag which sports four new trophies. Boat ID: USS Bristlemouth Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sank: 4 Number of Non-Capital Warships Sank: 0 Capital Ships Sank: 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 26,100 Special Assignment Completed: NA Refit Time: 2 Month, ready August 42 Note: Due to hull damage requires extra month for refit, however patrol lasted only one month due to expenditure of all torpedoes and inoperable deck gun. Awards Requested: 3rd Battle Star for Sub 2nd Gold Star to Submarine Combat Patrol Insignia for crew Purple Heart for WIA & KIA Silver Star for LCdr Kyle Robinson Narrative: Bristlemouth left Pearl Harbor the morning of 4 May bound once more for the Japanese Home Islands. After the previous dismal patrol there, everyone on board was determined to do better this time, and we did, though not without paying the price. While in transit we heard the news of the clash between the USN and IJN in the Coral Sea. Thus, when on the 15th near Midway Island the lookouts spotted an unidentified aircraft I decided to exercise the better part of valor and crash dived. Either we were successful or the plane was friendly as no bombs fell. Off the Bonin Islands the night of 20 May, we encountered a large convoy headed east. I brought Bristlemouth into medium range on the surface and fired torpedoes at tow large freighters. Mindful of our fish’s past performance, or lack thereof, I fired all six bow tubes at one freighter then swung about and let loose the stern tubes at the other. It turned out to be a wise move, half the torpedoes either missing or being duds. Still, we were rewarded with the sinking of both targets, 7,500 tons and 6,700 tons. Our joy was short-lived as a Natsuhima class ML bore down on Bristlemouth. The Japanese skipper seemed to know his business, keeping us down for two hours, damaging the #2 diesel, the dive planes, the hull, and inflicting extensive flooding that resulted in the deaths of several crewmen. Once the depth-charging ended we surfaced and pumped out the flooded areas, made what repairs we could, and went in pursuit of the rest of the convoy. We caught up to the convoy later that night and again launched a surface torpedo attack form medium range using both bow and stern tubes. This time the fish were spread among four targets, several being smaller, in the hopes of crippling those not sunk. This time there were no misses, but six of the fish malfunctioned. Of those that worked, one sent a small (1,900 tons) troop ship to the bottom while two other targets were damaged. We were again detected and a 28-GO class escort kept us down for another two hours, inflicting more hull damage and wrecking the deck gun. (I understand larger deck guns are becoming available and request one as a replacement.) On the surface again, and knowing the quarry was injured, we sped off in pursuit. We found the large freighter (10,000 tons) proceeding on her own and closed to short range to finish her off with our remaining four torpedoes. Once more, 50% were either misses or duds, but the other two fish did the trick and one more Maru slipped beneath the waves. Out of torpedoes, and with the deck gun inoperable, Bristlemouth had no means of inflicting further damage upon the enemy. Therefore, I decided to end the patrol early and return to Pearl Harbor. The trip home was without incident and Bristlemouth tied up to Turtle on 31 May. While the patrol lasted only one month, the hull damage will require a stay in drydock and Bristlemouth won’t be ready for sea again until August – hopefully with upgraded deck and AA guns. We’ll also need replacements for the injured and dead. Respectfully submitted, Kyle Robinson, LCdr, USN, commanding USS Bristlemouth
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Post by keyboy on Sept 29, 2016 18:22:48 GMT
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