Date: 27 April, 1943 Patrol Area: Aleutian Islands (AI-2)

Sub: U.S.S. Steelhead SS-280 Class: Gato

Hull Damage: 0 System Damage: None (0%)

Crew: Veteran Status: Operational

Total Patrol Time: 18.4 Days Repair Time: Operational

Fuel Used: 70,417 Gallons (60%) Realism Rating: 95%

Ships Sunk: 10 Tonnage: 111,379 / 37,089

Warships: 1 (26,949 tons) Merchants: 9 (84,430 tons)

Pilots Saved: 0 Photo Recons: 0

Weather: Mostly Cloudy Sea: Heavy / Moderate

Patrol Mileage: 1,011 Nautical Miles

Ordnance Remaining: 16 – Deck Gun Rounds

(Medals Awarded – None)

Date Time Location Ship Type Tonnage Status

1) 4/15/43 00:49 51-14N x 173-46E Standard Merchant 11,780 SUNK

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2) 4/15/43 22:37 51-18N x 173-59E (CV) Hiyo 26,949 SUNK

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3) 4/17/43 02:30 51-39N x 173-57E Standard Merchant 10,010 SUNK

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4) 4/18/43 07:51 51-08N x 173-49E Standard Merchant 11,320 SUNK

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5) 4/20/43 07:54 51-14N x 173-47E Troop Transport 3,650 SUNK

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6) 4/20/43 07:55 51-14N x 173-47E Oil Tanker 11,410 SUNK

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7) 4/21/43 13:28 51-16N x 173-53E Armed Merchant 6,720 SUNK

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8) 4/21/43 13:36 51-15N x 173-53E Armed Merchant 6,720 SUNK

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9) 4/21/43 15:25 50-55N x 173-52E Oil Tanker 11,410 SUNK

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10) 4/21/43 15:25 50-55N x 173-52E Oil Tanker 11,410 SUNK

Totals: 111,379 Raw / 37,089 Adjusted

Damage Sustained:

None

Aircraft Encountered:

Depth Charges:

10 - 15

Commanders Comments:

After arriving in our assigned patrol sector on April 11 we started to patrol off the southern coast of Kiska hoping to catch a convoy or two heading to reinforce the island. We patrolled from the 11 to the 14 without a contact.

April 15, 00:20 hrs. radar contact, we turned to intercept the contact and see what it was. 00:30 hrs. we spotted a single unescorted merchant. Moved in for a closer look and found a Standard Merchant headed SSW. Since the Merchant was unarmed we decided to attack it with the Deck Gun. Ordered battle surface and the crew went to work. After firing 79 rounds the merchant went up in a ball of smoke and flame, resuming patrol.

April 15, 22:17 hrs. Radar contact almost dead astern. We turned to face the contact and moved toward it. 22:26 hrs. we spotted a CV Group consisting of a CV and a CA with about eight escorts. Ordered radar depth and awaited their approach. 22:37 hrs. fired all forward tubes at the CV and scored 5 hits and 1 dud, but we had little time to watch the CV go down because the escorts were headed our way so we dove to 400 ft. Very light depth charging with no damage to the boat. After two hours of evasive turns we finally lost contact with the escorts. Resuming patrol.

April 17, 01:50 hrs. spotted a small convoy of three ships and four escorts on an intercept course. Went to periscope depth and at 02:03 hrs. we fired three torpedoes at the lead ship. All three hit and detonated sinking a Standard Merchant. We had to go deep to avoid the escorts but they never seemed to pick us up at our depth of 400 ft. After a few hours the soundman reported all clear and we surfaced and resumed our patrol.

April 18, 07:21 hrs. radar contact. We turned to intercept and at 07:32 hrs. we spotted a small convoy. We dove to periscope depth and started the plot. At 07:50 hours we fired at the lead ship and sunk a Standard Merchantman. Dove to 400 ft. to avoid the escorts. Light depth charging with no damage to the boat. After a few hours we were able to evade and move off and finally loose the escorts. Surfaced and resumed patrol.

April 20, 07:16 hrs. lookouts spotted a medium convoy. Manuevered into a firing position and dove to periscope depth. At 07:56 hrs. we fired at the first and second ship in the left column and watched as a Troop Transport and an Oil Tanker went up in flame. Dove to 400 ft. and we received a light depth charging with no damage to the boat. Lost contact and surfaced to resume patrol.

April 21, 13:27 hrs. Spotted a large unescorted convoy of 16 ships in two columns. We set-up on the first and second ship in the left column and fired at the first ship, an AMC. It sunk almost a once. The second turned to pass the sinking ship and we fired at it and watched as it also went up in flame and smoke. We waited for the rest of the convoy to break-up and after they were a safe distance away we surfaced. The two Oil Tankers are moving at 11 knots so I ordered all ahead flank. We executed an end-round and submerged in front of the on coming tankers. At 15:24 hours we fired at the two tankers and sunk them both. With no torpedoed left and only 16 rounds for the deck gun we had to let the rest of the convoy escape. Surfaced and headed for home and warmer waters.

LCDR Barney Doyle

CO USS Steelhead SS-280

USN

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