/ TOP SECRET /

TO: Submarine Commanders, SubRon 4 A

FROM: ComSubPac / ComSubRon 4 A

DATE: March 1942

SUBJECT: MISSION ORDERS (Cycle 2, April 2002)

RMKS 1) A serious shortage of ordinance will require an adjustment to pre-war attack doctrine.

RMKS 2) The following will take effect immediately:

    1. All boats are to submerge when within 500 miles of a Japanese airfield and remain submerged during daylight hours. At night surface running will be on one engine to conserve fuel. Every effort is to be made by your commanders to concentrate their attacks to night surface attacks.
    2. The standard three-torpedo spread is to be adjusted to a maximum of two torpedoes per target. Use of two torpedoes only when absolutely necessary, for Capitol Ships use according to need without being proliferate.
    3. Revised settings for torpedo depth: MK 14 torpedoes are to be set for five feet beneath keel depth, MK 10 torpedoes are to be set for contact hits MOT. Our shortage of torpedoes means that each torpedo must be used for maximum effectiveness and a minimum number of torpedoes fired. Therefore MK 14 beneath-keel explosion is essential. Deviations from this policy will not be tolerated, BuOrd informs, and I concur, that reported failures are most likely due to Faulty Maintenance, Faulty settings or Faulty Estimation of Target Range, Course or Speed. These must be rectified.

RMKS 3) Admiral Nimitz has directed a series of hit and run attacks on the islands of Kwajalein, Wake, Marcus and Rabaul. Any boats in these areas of operation will be on the alert for sudden surprise attacks by friendly air forces.

RMKS 4) ONI believes that Main IJN striking force, including 4 CV’s and 2 BB’s are staging at Palau. It is believed that the next enemy move will be the occupation of Timor in the East of the Malay Barrier or the Coral Sea.

RMKS 5) Target priorities remain the same:

    1. Capitol Ships
    2. Cruisers
    3. Troop Transports and Light transports
    4. Oil Tankers and Supply Ships

RMKS 6) SubRons are assigned to the following Areas:

SubRon 1M PacFlt – Empire (Northern Japan) with 1 special mission

                   SubAsiatic – Indo China

SubRon 2M PacFlt – Yellow Sea

                   SubAsiatic – Philippines (P-9 thru P-5)

SubRon 3A PacFlt – Aleutians

                   SubAsiatic – Java Sea (JS-1 thru JS-4)

SubRon 4A ~                                                                                                                                                                                     Special Mission                                                                                                                                                 LCDR Gundersen, USS Trigger (Special Mission – March- May 42)

                       PacFlt  - Caroline Islands                                                                                                                                LCDR Edwards, USS Plunger (Caroline Islands – Orange Sector – March- May 42)

              LCDR Schow, USS Gudgeon (Caroline Islands – Purple Sector – March- May 42)

             LCDR Cox, USS Pompano (Caroline Islands – Yellow Sector – March- May 42)

             LCDR Peters, USS Narwhal (Caroline Islands – Green Sector – March- May 42)

                      Sub Asiatic – Malaysia                                                                                                                                    CMDR Turner, USS Permit (Malaysia – March- May 42)         

SubRon 5A PacFlt – Formosa

                  SubAsiatic – South China Sea

SubRon 6A PacFlt – Palau Islands

                  SubAsiatic – Java Sea (JS-6 thru JS-4)

SubRon 7A PacFlt – Mariana Islands

                  SubAsiatic – Indo China

SubRon 8A PacFlt – Empire (Southern Japan)

                  SubAsiatic – Philippines (P-1 thru P-4)

COMMENTS: In the event of any Submarine being on station for 10 or more days without sighting the enemy, the submarines CO should contact his SubRon CO for a request for redeployment to another area.

All commanders are to Acknowledge receipt of these orders.

Good Hunting and Good Luck

CMDR. Greg Turner                                                                                                                                                      CO SubRon 4A                                                                                                                                                          

Rear Admiral Thomas Withers Jr.

Commanding PacFlt.

 

//    SENDS    //