|
Post by keyboy on Oct 7, 2016 21:20:29 GMT
Patrol Results Due no later than October 15th 2016.December 1stGentlemen, I won't take up much of your time, as I know that you are preparing to get underway. With all the changes over the past three months in regard to the Mk 14's, I can assure you that the depth Mechanism has been fully corrected and the more efficient Mk 14's will be loaded onto your boats. This should now ensure that your Mk 14 hits will actually explode more often. (MK14 dud rate is now 1-3 on D6). There have been six subs using the corrected torpedoes from Subron 9 during the past two months and the failure rate is still over 50% and this information has been passed up the line. If your success rate is higher and you are doing something different, then it is ESSENTIAL that you notify me at once.
On PatrolUSS Guardfish - tamari Currently at SeaUSS Weatherfish - nfiltr8tor USS Tiger Shark - jcook119 USS Skipjack - Silentshark RefitUSS Green Bay - keyboy - January 1943 USS Humunuku - tyo - March 1943 USS Bristlemouth - crushedhat - March 1943 USS Angelfish - privepilot - March 1943 Late and Presumed Lost Shoot me a PM and I will get you onto the next patrolUSS Nutshell - kos83 USS Stingray - haplo02 USS Triton - Falto USS Trumpet Fish - blaird Special InstructionsLCDR Marshall, as the only Narwhal class submarine in the SUBRON 9 you will be on search and rescue every time you go out, and looking for passengers to transport. PatrolsChina SeaNone MarianasUSS Guardfish - tamari EmpireNone Empire - MNone
Marshalls
None Marshalls (T)None
|
|
tamari
Lieutenant Commander
Posts: 38
|
Post by tamari on Oct 8, 2016 5:24:07 GMT
Boat ID: USS Guardfish Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters or Tankers Sunk: 4 (Nichiel Maru, 10,000 tons / Tsukikawa Maru, 4500 tons / Amato Maru, 10,200 tons / Chinzel Maru, 2000 tons) Number of Warships Sunk: 1 (Coastal Defense Frigate, 1000 tons) Capital Ships Sunk: Total Tonnage Destroyed: 27,700 Special Assignment Completed: N/A Refit Time: 2 months (1 damaged system, 1 Hull damage) (back in service April 1943) Awards Requested: Battle Star, Sub Combat Patrol Insignia, Navy Cross Upgrades Requested: 5-inch deck gun
Guardfish patrol record and notes: Third Patrol - December 1942/January 1943
As the crew, and the island of Oahu, experienced their first Thanksgiving holiday as a nation at war, we receive our patrol orders. Guardfish is to proceed to Guam and the Northern Marianas and hunt for merchant shipping, while taking any opportunity to sink Japanese warships should they present themselves.
I receive a special communication from Subron9 - they were impressed with our torpedo performance during our last patrol, and wish to know what we are doing to get it. Assuming our luck holds, I will ask Chief Engineer Baker about his prep methods when we return to Pearl.
Guardfish sets sail in the early morning of December 2nd, 1942.
We arrive in Guam waters uneventfully in mid-December, and begin our patrol.
December 17, 2140 hours - As we sit off of Guam, a small coastal defense frigate moves into our area. Normally I would hesitate to use torpedoes on such a small target, but there are two things on my mind: One, we have been practicing a second salvo attack for months. This is an ideal opportunity to put it into action, as the FF is alone and we can sink her before she can react. Two, sinking her would let the Japanese know there is a sub in the area - and it might provide attack opportunities. (Three, the Navy Cross means no +1 modifier on the second attack)
I order the crew to attempt a standard-range fore-and-aft torpedo attack on the surface. We move into position and fire - the first torpedo hits, the others go wide. The torpedo explosion is enough to quickly sink the small ship. I am not satisfied with the results, and we will continue to drill on this attack. Now we see if we have the attention of the Japanese.
1 warship sunk - Coastal Defense Frigate, 1000 tons
December 22, 0900 hours - A move to the west pays off, as we sight a fat tanker with an escort heading for Guam. I don't want to risk losing her by waiting for night, and decide to get in close and empty the aft tubes into her. We get into firing position undetected, and fire the salvo.
Only one hit, but no explosion, just a thud! Dammit! But - the Japanese ships didn't see the torpedo tracks, and continue on as if nothing happened! Well, I'm not going to let this big tanker, ID'd as the 10,000 ton Nichiel Maru, just sail away, so we try to pursue.
December 23, 0315 hours - we are able to find the ships on radar and catch them as we run on the surface as it gets dark. I am going to attempt the fore/aft salvo attack again - firing our last two aft torpedoes at the escort while firing four at the tanker. I'm going to run on the surface so we'll stay at standard range instead of getting close - I don't want the escort forcing us down before we can fire.
We miss the escort, but score 3 hits on the tanker! She goes low in the water, but this is a tough ship - she limps along. The escort tracks us down and we dive. We take one round of depth charges, and evade the escort.
December 23, 0500 - The damaged tanker heads straight for Guam, and I see an opportunity: get ahead of her and I can use the deck gun before the escort can respond. That's what we do, and it works perfectly. We hammer the helpless tanker with 4-inch shells, and she goes under. We do the same before the escort can get to us.
1 large tanker sunk - Nichiel Maru, 10,000 tons
The main periscope, which seemed a little off-kilter after the depth-charging, freezes in place. Chief Baker works his magic and gets it repaired - well done!
December 30 - we get contacts on the radar twice in the morning, but no ships - the crew thinks we might have ghosts aboard to celebrate the New Year.
We spend Midnight, January 1, 1943, on the surface off the coast of Guam in the middle of the Pacific. The cook breaks out the special meal packed for the day, and we think about all that has happened in the last year, and hope the war is over before 1944 arrives.
January 5th, 1943, 1000 hours - the radar picks up contacts, and this time they are the real deal - a couple of small freighters with escorts. I decide to try and tail them until nightfall, and we do so.
January 6th, 0040 hours - I choose a standard-range surface attack, 2 torps into each freighter. Our aft tubes are empty, so no flipping on this one.
Four hits! The torpedoes seem to go off too soon against the first one, and she doesn't look too badly hurt. The second freighter is engulfed in a tremendous explosion. This seems to attract the escorts, and they do not move to attack.
January 6th, 0830 hours - we follow the damaged freighter and its escorts. We'll try to follow her until nightfall, and do so.
January 6th, 2245 hours - we'll run on the surface and fire two more fish at her from standard range. Both explode early, and attract the attention of the escorts. Dammit all to hell! A short round of depth charging shakes up the ship, but we evade further attack. We are close to Guam now, and I decide I have to let the freighter go. Fixed torpedoes my... We discover the next day that the 20mm AA gun is missing.
1 freighter sunk - Tsukikawa Maru, 4500 tons
January 10th, 1400 hours - more radar contacts! A small freighter and a big old tanker, with escorts. We'll try to tail them into the night.
January 10th, 2215 hours - I decide to use our last 5 fish at these two, three into the tanker, two into the freighter. I'm going to risk getting in close and run in on the surface, as I want the best shots at these two ships. We get into firing position undetected.
All five torpedoes hit, and all five go off! One seems a bit early, but the rest do the job - both tankers stop and start to settle. The escorts head straight at us...
We get hammered for a short while, and a couple of the crew bump heads on the bridge, but they aren't seriously hurt. We get out of the area quickly and evade any further attacks.
2 ships sunk - Amato Maru, 10,200 tons / Chinzel Maru, 2000 tons
February 1st, 0900 hours
We hang around Guam for a few more days, hoping a lone ship might present itself for a gun attack, but we sight no more enemy ships. The trip home is smooth, and we arrive at Pearl with five more Japanese ships on our record. Guardfish took enough damage in the tower that we'll be home until April to get it repaired.
Record of conversation between CO Lt. Cmdr. Lindsay and CE Lt. Baker upon return to Pearl Harbor:
CO: Okay, Baker, you know about the torpedo problem - Subron9 wants to know why we are having better results. What are you doing to them? CE: Doing, sir? I ain't doing anything to them. CO: Don't play dumb with me! Unless you want an Admiral chewing your ass, you had better start coming clean - now! CE: Uh, well sir, um - is this off the record? CO: NO, THIS IS NOT OFF THE RECORD! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO OUR TORPEDOES! CE: Well, um, er - you see, sir, I have a friend of a friend at Pearl, and he told me something we we got here back in May... CO: Go on... CE: Well, sir, I was told that the magnetic doohickeys weren't worth a warm bucket of piss, and would turn them off if he were on a boat. Well, we were headed for Midway in such a hurry that I thought it was worth a try, so I've turned them off. CO: You. Have turned off. The magnetic detectors. On all our torpedoes on all our patrols? CE: Um, yes sir. I didn't think you would mind, since we are getting hits. I know that's not by the book, sir, but I didn't think you'd be asking about it. CO: *shakes head* Dammit Baker, you knew what kind of trouble this could get you, and more importantly, get ME into by unauthorized modifications of our fish. The only thing that's going to save both our asses it that it's working - and we still might get busted to seaman. CE: I know sir, and I'm sorry, sir - I didn't think anyone would care as long as we sink ships. CO: I hope you are right, Lieutenant. I hope you are right. Dismissed.
|
|
|
Post by keyboy on Oct 8, 2016 19:01:20 GMT
|
|