/ /
IMMEDIATE /
/
From:
LCDR. Ronny Gundersen
To:
CMDR. Greg Turner
Cc:
ComSubPac
Date: May 14, 1942
Subject: Patrol
Report, USS Trigger (April 02 – Patrol # 2)
Remarks: Special Mission, USS Trigger
Date: May 14, 1942 Patrol
Area: Caroline Islands
Sub: SS-237, USS Trigger Class: Gato
Crew: Veteran Status:
Operational
Hull Damage: Light (7%)
System
Damage: None (0%)
Total Patrol Time: 12.6 Days Repair Time: 0 Days
Fuel Used: gallons 14,704 (12%) Realism
Rating: 100%
Ships Sunk: 0 Tonnage:
0
Pilots Saved: 0 Photo Recons: 0
Weather: Partly Cloudy Seas: Calm
Patrol Mileage: 1,589 Nautical
Miles
Ordnance Remaining: 6 Mk-10's, 8 Mk-14's, 95 Deck
Gun Rounds
(Medals
Awarded – None)
Date Time
Location Ship
Type(Class) Tonnage Status
1). 2 May 1942 16:45 08-20N
x 135-46E Shokaku (CV) 9,923 DAM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2). 2 May 1942 16:45 08-16N
x 135-54E Zuikaku (CV) 9,923 DAM
Damage Sustained:
1. Officers Quarters
Pressure Hull - Minor
Aircraft Shot Down:
None
Commander's Comments:
May 1. 1942. 01:33
The all new Trigger. And she's mine! Both my crew and me are eager to test her
limits. She is said to be one of the best boats around these times. She's
loaded with a mix of Mk. 10's and Mk. 14's. Three of each in the front tubes
and two of each in the aft tubes. We're ready to punch some Japanese nose.
We receive a special mission from RAdm Thomas Withers Jr., commander of the SubPacFlt.
to intercept a Japanese carrier task force. We set course to the Caroline
Islands.
May 2. 11:10
Arrived Caroline Islands. The sea is calm and the weather is partly clouded.
The TF is reported to be in position 9-04 AND, 146-30'E on a course of 183'
true. That's directly towards our position, and not very far away either.
Changing heading and speed to intercept. We're staying submerged at radar depth
to detect planes from the carriers, and to be warned if any plane comes to
close. We don't want to be detected too early now.
May 2. 14:43
A contact is reported on the SD radar. Range: 17,590 yds, closing in on us
fast. Must be a fighter from one of the carriers. At 15,900 yds the contact
turns and increases distance until contact is lost from radar. The TF can't be
far away.
May 2. 14:49
Visual contact! A carrier at 18,000 yds. Target course is 164'. Speed about 9
kts. A few seconds later a second carrier comes into view. And then another
ship, probably a CA. They are too far away to ID.
Two more ships have appeared and I set our course to 157' to delay the attack
as close to nighttime as possible. A few seconds later a third carrier appears
and a bundle of DD’s.
I can now count 14 ships in the TF: 3 CVs, 2 CA’s, 3 CL’s, and 6 DD’s. Planes
from the carriers are patrolling around the TF. When the planes closed in to
about 8 miles, we dived to 150 ft to remain undetected. At PD again I can see
that the TF has changed course to 137'. We change course accordingly. Two of
the carriers are ID'd as SHOKAKU’s. These will be my primary targets. The last
carrier is a RYUJO class. The closest carrier is now 12.5 miles away. I have
also spotted one or more support ships in the group. It's a troop ship or
converted factory ship. 1 CA is ID'd as a TONE class.
May 2. 15:41
The TF is turning again. This time to 180' My ship count is now 26. Two more
support ships have appeared, an oil tanker and another troop ship. There are
lots of DD’s around the TF now, I've counted about ten of them. Several FUBUKI’s,
ASASHIO’s, MUTSUKI’s and YUGUMO’s.
May 2. 16:28
Sonar reports low-speed screws at 239 relative. we're at a 180' course. 5
minutes later two more sonar contact is detected.
May 2. 16:35
The closest SHOKAKU is now 4.5 miles away. Will turn to 108' to initiate the
attack.
May 2. 16:45
Detected by destroyers! Fires 6 torpedoes at the closest SHOKAKU (about 2,500
yds away). 3 Mk.10s fired at a depth of 10 ft. and the 3 Mk.14s were fired at a
depth of 30 ft. Full speed ahead to use the aft torpedoes at the next SHOKAKU.
Same depth setting on these torpedoes when fired and then we crash dive. It's
really hell around us now, with DD’s closing in fast from all over and planes
circling. We could hear one explosion before the pinging got to loud to kill
all other sound. Suddenly an explosion shakes the boat violently. A depth
charge or a bomb from a plane hits us on our descent. The hit resulted in
moderate leaking in the officer's quarters. 9 or 10 DD’s are pinging us now.
We're down at amazing 364 ft! The hull is holding fine. Taking evasive action
to avoid the depth charges that are raining down on us from above. Seems they
explode above us by now. On the TDC I can see the Mk.10's hitting their target
by their disappearing on the timer, but all the Mk.14s are missing their
targets apparently as they travel some distance beyond 'hit point' and
disappears when out of fuel. The must have gone below the targets, I can't
believe we've hit with Mk.10s and suddenly missed with all our Mk.14's.
May 2. 17:18
Damage repaired
May 2. 17:38
Lost sonar contact with low-speed screws at 120', but now sonar detect 12-13 DD’s
circling around us. We try to escape, but when we're close to the circle's end
we're detected again.
May 2. 21:12
We're low on batteries. It's impossible to escape detection from the escorts.
One of the escorts is 'hitting' us with the sonar in turn as the others drop
their trash at us. We'll have to sit this one out. I think it is safe. None of
the depth charges have exploded so close as they have damaged us. Now our speed
is 0 and our depth is unbelievable 400 ft!
May 2. 21:45
They're giving up! All we can hear now is a weak, distant pinging from the last
escort. We're heading for the surface at 1/3 speed.
May 2. 21:50
On the surface again. How good it is to breath in fresh air. The sea is still
calm and it is still partly cloudy. We chase after the TF at standard speed,
heading 101'.
May 3. 02:40
Batteries fully charged. Speed is now set to flank to faster gain in on the TF.
May 3. 06:10
The sun is coming up, and with it the air patrols. We dive to radar depth and continue
our search.
May 3. 06:20
Radar reports new air contact. Maybe it is a patrolling plane from the TF? The
contact is weak at first, but closes in to 7 miles before turning. We're close
to Truk, so there is a fair possibility that this plane comes from an airfield
there. The blip appears once more and then disappears at 18+ miles and is gone.
May 3. 7:38
We can hear two distant explosions, but no plane is on the radar and no ship is
to be seen on the surface.
May 3. 18:00
On the surface again. No changes in the weather. Charging batteries at standard
speed. The TF should still be a good distance ahead of us. My plan now is to
follow the merchant route towards Ponape island. Then, if I think we have
bypassed them, we'll turn and follow the warship routes back towards Truk
Islands.
May 3. 20:26
Batteries fully charged again and we set speed to flank.
May 4. 02:13
We're now directly south of Oroluk Atoll and have turned around to follow and
search in the warship routes toward Truk. Speed is set to 2/3 to conserve fuel
and I believe we have bypassed the TF and we should come head to head with them
if they took this route.
May 4. 6:05
Diving to radar depth again and continues patrol.
May 4. 18:15
On the surface again. No planes detected during day.
May 5. 04:37
I'm sure we have lost the TF. Discontinues the search for the TF and starts
looking for the two convoys also reported to be in the area. I decide to go
north of Truk Islands and from there patrol west.
May 5. 06:00
Diving to 160 ft and continues patrolling.
May 5. 18:01
On surface again. No changes in weather.
The following days nothing interesting is detected by radar or visual. We
patrol the area around Truk, hoping the convoys will enter the harbor there.
Patrolling mostly north and east of Truk.
May 13. 1:57
Return to homeport. No happy faces to be seen on the crew, as this patrol turns
out with no sunken ships. Oh well, next time it can only be better.
Lt. Cdr. Ronny Gundersen
CO. USS Trigger, SS-237
U.S. Navy
/ SEND /