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From: LCDR. James D. Cox
To: CMDR. Greg Turner II
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: 15 May 1943
Subject: Patrol Report, USS
Swordfish, SS-193 (August 02 - Cycle VI)
Remarks: 3rd War Patrol, USS
Swordfish SUNK IN
ACTION
Date: 14 May, 1943 Patrol
Area: Aleutian Islands, (AL-1)
Sub: SS-193, USS Swordfish Class: Sargo
Crew: Veteran Status:
RESCUED
Hull Damage:
(100 %) System
Damage: (100 %)
Total Patrol Time: 1
Days Repair
Time: 0 Days
Fuel Used: About 3,000 (25
%) Realism
Rating: 95%
Ships Sunk: 2 Tonnage:
64,400 / 21,445
Pilots Saved: 0 Photo
Recons: 0
Weather: Partly Cloudy to
Overcast Seas:
Moderate to Heavy
Ordnance Remaining: 6 -
Mk-14's, 95 - Deck Gun Rounds
(Medals Awarded – Silver Star, Unit Citation)
Date Time
Location Ship
Type(Class) Tonnage Status
1).
11 May, 43 20:47 52-26N, 173-35E (BB) Kongo 32,200 SUNK
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2).
11 May, 43 20:49 52-26N, 173-35E (BB) Kongo 32,200 SUNK
Total: 64,400 Raw / 21,445
Adjusted
Damage Sustained:
Everywhere
Commander's Comments:
Arrived on Station 10 May. 1943 at 04:00 hrs.
with Heavy Overcast and high sea's, Very cold at the far end of the Alaskan
Island chain around at 52-25N, 173-35E. Started patrolling the area at 1/3
speed, making about one and a half kts. Lookout's are very cold, as there is
still a little ice in the area, but they’re doing their duty. Patrolled this
way until Noon on the 10th, went too radar depth to give the lookout's a brake
from the cold, until 18:00 hrs. when we surfaced to re-charge battery's. We
patrolled this way until the 11th of May. At sunrise, we went too radar depth.
Cookie is doing his job on this patrol with a lot of HOT
Coffee & Food for the crew. "Man, Every time! I turn around the XO, or
Cookie is handing me a cup of Joe."
11 May 1943 at Sunrise; went
too radar depth to give the lookout's a brake from the cold again. Patrolled
this way until 18:00 hrs. Came to the surface to re-charge battery's. When, At
19:30 hrs. SJ radar picked up a large target or target's at bearing of 340
degree's, heading 160 degree's at 14 kts. Raised periscope for a look-see, and
found 2 Kongo Class Battleship's heading for the Swordfish. Went to periscope
depth, and headed for the "Big Boy's." Took
several looks from the periscope to try, and find the escorts? To my surprise!
At first there were 4 DD's at about 4,500 yds. behind the "Big
Boy's." "A
question mark came to my head as to "WHY?"
are these 4 Destroyer’s "BEHIND" the
Battleship's." Moved in for a closer look on the BB's. At about
19:52 hrs. SJ radar got 7 more Destroyer Escorts behind the first four Destroyers.
At about 2,000 yds. behind them. A short time later, about 2 minute's or so we
setup the torpedo's on the "Big Boy's." as
the range was closing fast.
At
a range of 1,400 yds fired 4 torpedo's at the first Kongo Class, and 4
torpedo's at the second Kongo Class at a range of 1,200 yds. All torpedo's are
set at 21 ft. Waited for reload of torpedo's at periscope depth as the Destroyer’s
did not have a good fix on the Swordfish. As the reload came up "ready"
the Swordfish fired 3 more torpedo's into each battleship, Putting them both on
the bottom, just as the Destroyer’s got a good fix on Swordfish.
Went
to 250 ft. as fast as the Swordfish would go! Counted a total of 12 hit's in
all, with 2 premature out of the 14 torpedo's fired, when the Destroyer’s came
in for the Swordfish. One Destroyer after another came in dropping depth charge's
on us, as the Swordfish was passing 175 ft. (40 to 44 in all, maybe). It was too
much for the Swordfish's crew to handle, as one compartment after another
reported heavy damage, and flooding. After the first pass of DD's it was all
over as the 11 Destroyer’s started in for a second attack on the helpless
Swordfish and her crew. But never dropped there Can's on us. Then the
Destroyer's left the area.
The
crew was able to get the Swordfish to the surface one last time to abandon
ship, As the Swordfish made her death dive too the bottom of the North Pacific,
As she starting her eternal patrol from this War to the next. The Destroyer's
at this time, were over the horizon, as 8 of us, made it to life rafts for a
long cold night ahead. By luck, we were picked up by an American fishing boat
at 05:20 hrs. the next morning on the 12th, The fishing boat Captain radioed
the Navy to come, and pick us up in a safe area for a PBY to land at in 2 or 3
day's. The fishing boat's crew gave us Hot coffee, Food, An gave first aid to
me, and the other 7 men, with 4 of the men having broken bone's, with me having
2 broken rib's, and a deep cut on the left leg that needed to be sewn up.
The
Swordfish was gone, as well as 70 plus men with her. "Dear God, What have
I done. I made a mistake that cost 70 plus men, and the USS Swordfish to a watery
grave of eternal patrol. I just wish it was me down there with my men."
U.S. Navy
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