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From:
CMDR. Greg Turner
To:
ComSubPac
Date:
24 March 1942
Subject: Patrol
Report, USS Permit (April 02 – Patrol # 2)
Remarks:
2nd War Patrol, USS Permit
Date: 24 March, 1942 Patrol Area: Malaysia
Sub: SS-178, USS Permit Class: P
Crew: Veteran Status: Operational
Hull Damage:
(0 %) System Damage: (0 %)
Total Patrol Time: 15
Days Repair Time: Operational
Fuel Used: 38,597 Gallons (40%) Realism Rating: 95%
Ships Sunk: 1 Tonnage: 4,010 / (1,335)
Pilots Saved: 0 Photo Recons: 0
Weather: Clear-Partly Cloudy Seas: Moderate
Patrol Mileage: 2,242
Ordnance Remaining: 0 -
Mk-14, 73 -Deck Gun Rounds
(Medals
Awarded – Bronze Star + V)
Date Time
Location Ship
Type(Class) Tonnage Status
1). 3/3/42 02:29 02-21N,
108-05E 3 X Sampans
210 SUNK
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2). 3/10/42 18:15 01-43N,
105-27E Conv Factory 4,010 SUNK
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3). 3/20/42 09:00 04-45N,
106-49E 4 X Sampans
280 SUNK
Total: 4,010
Raw / 1,335 Adjusted
Damage Sustained:
NONE
Aircraft Shot Down:
0
Commander's
Comments:
RMKS/ 1. Departed FreMantle
for my assigned patrol area off Malaysia 2 March 1942. Had 16 Mk-14 torpedo’s
on board.
RMKS/ 2. Arrived on station
Tuesday3 March 1942 at 18:42 and began patrolling for enemy shipping.
02:05 lookouts spotted 3 Sampans at a range of
8,700 yds and I closed to sink with the deck gun. At 02:28 the gun crew opened
fire from extremely close range, (between 150 yds and 55 yds) and sank all 3
within minutes. They fired 7 rounds for 6 hits and 1 miss. I returned to my
base course and continued my patrol. Per SOE at daybreak I submerged and
patrolled until dark making no contacts then surfaced at 18:45.
RMKS/ 3. Wednesday 4 March
1942 No contacts through out the night and at 16:25 dove to periscope depth.
Weather was clear with moderate seas and good visibility. Surfaced at 19:03.
RMKS/ 4. Thursday 5 March
1942 submerged at daybreak and discussed possible alternative patrol routes for
the IJN. Decided to continue patrolling the current area for a few more days
before switching areas. Surfaced at 18:49 and commenced battery charge.
RMKS/ 5. Friday 6 March 1942
dove to periscope depth at daybreak and turned in to get some rest. At 09:16
the OOD reported a SD radar contact at around 12,000 yds. As I entered the
Conn. The OOD (LT-jg Wilson) was making a
periscope sweep which revealed one aircraft bearing 310` at 9,000 yds.
Moments later the aircraft turned in our direction and I ordered the boat to
200 feet and turned 10 degrees to port. After a brief stay at depth I returned
to periscope depth and found the aircraft had departed the area. I planed up to
radar depth to be sure and had no contact on the SD radar. I handed control
back over to Lt-jg Wilson and returned to my bunk.
10:00 a routine periscope sweep resulted in the
spotting of a ships mast bearing 253` at 14,000 yds heading 018`. As I entered
the Conn the OOD was turning the boat on a reverse course to get into an
intercept position. I secured the engines at 10:09 and waited for the ship to
come to me. At 10:20 spotted a 2 ships
bearing 089` at 9,400 yds and 2 ships
bearing 082` at 9700 yds heading in my direction. For once I was in perfect
firing position. I identified 1 Standard Merchant and 1 Troop Ship in the port
column and 1 Troop Ship and 1 Tanker in the Starboard column moving at an
estimated 5.4 kts. I setup for a bowshot on the SM and a stern shot on the
Tanker. At 11:05 I fired 2 aft torpedo’s set at 34 feet at the Tanker from a
range of 1,500 yds then turned hard to port to get in position on the SM. Both
torpedo’s ran under the Tanker without detonating. At 11:08 just as I prepared
to fire on the SM the whole convoy made a course change to the east. Unsure if
the torpedo wakes were spotted or not. The convoy passed down both sides of the
Permit at very close range. One Troop ship passed within 300 yds ahead of us.
It took me a minute to get setup on a suitable target and at 11:13 I fired 2
torpedo’s at the Tanker from 1,100 yds. One prematured and the second missed
astern. Fired 2 more torpedo’s at the Tanker from 1,500 yds and watched both of
these go erratic and miss by a wide margin. With all the ships now out of
position for a good shot I turned south to reload and trail after a Troop ship
heading 180`. The second Troop ship and the Tanker headed east and the Standard
Merchant headed northeast. At 11:54 with the range to the Tanker at 11,000 yds
I surfaced for a gun action on the Troop ship.
I closed to 1,200 yds and at 12:18 opened fire. I got off 3 rounds for 2
hits and 1 miss when a lookout reported and aircraft inbound from about 11,000
yds bearing 353`. I crash dived flooding all negative tanks and was passing
through 70 feet when the aircraft over flew us and dropped 1 bomb very close to
us. Several light bulbs shattered and some paint was sent flying but no serious
damage was inflicted. I leveled off at 250 feet and waited until 12:33 then
eased back to periscope depth to have a look. I spotted the Troop ship heading
north at 6,000 yds with the aircraft providing cover for it. I dove back to 150
and trailed at 1/3 speed hoping to get another shot. With the battery down to
280 volts my time was limited. At 18:38 I surfaced and commenced searching for
the Troop ship while charging the batteries. No further contact was made.
RMKS/ 6. 7 March – 10 March
1942 no contacts of any kind were made.
RMKS/ 7. Tuesday 11 March
1942 12:41 lookouts made visual on 4 Sampans bearing 021` at 22,000 yds. I
avoided in case they had radios and was able to report our presence. With calm
seas and clear skies they would have spotted us long before we could have sank
them.
RMKS/ 8. 12 March – 18 March
1942 no contacts or sightings.
RMKS/ 9. Wednesday 19 March
1942 05:54 Just as we prepared to submerge for the day lookouts spotted a mast
bearing 302` and radar placed it at 12,000 yds. I dove to periscope depth and
closed on the contact at standard speed. After observing the mast turned into a
3 column convoy consisting of Column 1= Standard Merchant, Troop ship, Tanker,
Column 2= Troop ship, Standard Merchant, Small Freighter, Column 3= Converted
Factory, Tanker. Estimated speed was 6.1 kts. I set my tubes for the lead
Merchant at 30 feet depth. At 06:44 fired 2 aft torpedo’s (Last Aft Torpedo’s)
from 1,044 yds then turned for a bow tube shot. Both torpedo’s ran under the
target and failed to detonate. The end of run explosions alerted the convoy
which turned south helping close the gap. 06:53 fired 2-bow torpedo’s at Troop
ship column 1 set at 22 feet depth. Both torpedo’s hit but only one detonated.
I fired a 3rd and a 4th from 760 yds. One of these
prematured but the second hit just in from the bow and started a fire. I turned
south and went to 200 feet to trail and reload. 07:17 back to periscope
depth with tubes ready. Spotted 1
Tanker bearing 019` at 7,700 yds and 095` at 6,000 yds, SM bearing 173` at
11,000 yds the damaged Troop ship was bearing 175` at 2,500 yds. 3 more ships
were bearing 265` at 12,000 yds and were already hull down going over the
horizon. At 07:41 I fired a 5th torpedo at the damaged Troop ship
from 960 yds and watched it pass under the target with no effect. Fired a 6th
and a 7th with the same effect. The 8th (and my last one)
torpedo fired impacted but failed to explode. I decided to observe the ship
until dark then battle surface and finish it with the deck gun. Surfaced at
18:13 and fired only 3 rounds to sink the ship. Apparently the torpedo’s had
inflicted more damage than I thought or the gunners made a very lucky hit.
Being out of torpedo’s I set course for base. At 19:12 lookouts sighted a
Fubuki class DD heading our way and I took the boat deep to avoid it. It passed
down our starboard side in the direction of the convoy I attacked.
RMKS/ 10. 20 March 1942 No
contacts or sightings.
RMKS/ 11. Friday 21 March 1942
07:57 sighted 4 Sampans at a range of 17,000 yds. Closed on them and sank all 4
with the deck gun. Fired 9 rounds for 8 hits and 1 miss. Secured from general
quarters and returned to port with no further contacts.
CMDR. Greg Turner
CO: USS Permit, SS-178
ComSubRon 4A
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