To: ComSubPac

/ /   IMMEDIATE   / /

 

From: LCDR Ethan Edwards

 

To: ComSubRon 4A

 

CC: ComSubPac

 

Date: 20 March, 1943

 

Subject: 3rd War Patrol Report, USS Growler (August 2002 - Cycle 6)

 

Remarks: We departed Fremantle on 3 March and headed for our assigned patrol area, arrived in our patrol sector on 7 March and started a standard patrol.

 

Date: 19 March 1943                                              Patrol Area: TF-42 (Solomon Islands –SI 1+2)

Sub: U.S.S. Growler SS-215                                Class: Gato

Hull Damage: Light (5%)                                      System Damage: None (0%)

Crew: Elite                                                               Status: Operational

Total Patrol Time: 10.54 days                             Repair time: 1 day

Fuel Used: 54,068 Gallons                                   Realism rating: 95%                                 

Ships Sunk: 10                                                       Tonnage: 107,080 / 35,658

Warships: 3 (43,620 tons)                                    Merchants: 7 (63,460 tons)

Pilots Saved: 0                                                        Photo Recons:  0

Weather: Clear / Partly cloudy                            Sea: Calm

Patrol Mileage:  1,683 Nautical Miles

 

Ordnance Remaining: 6 - Deck Gun Rounds

 

(Medals Awarded - None)

 

  Date                      Time         Location                     Ship Type(Class)              Tonnage       Status

 

1) 3 March 43          20:34         07-00S x 154-26E          Oil Tanker                          9,640          SUNK

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2) 12 March 43         04:46         07-01S x 154-27E          Troop Transport               10,130          SUNK

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3) 12 March 43         04:56         07-01S x 154-27E          Troop Transport               10,130          SUNK

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4) 12 March 43         07:00         07-01S x 154-39E          (CA) Mogami                    13,440          SUNK

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5) 13 March 43         23:21         07-03S x 153-55E          (CA) Myoko                      14,980          SUNK

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6) 13 March 43         23:25         07-04S x 153-56E          (CA) Tone                        15,200           SUNK

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7) 14 March 43         11:53         07-01S x 154-20E          Oil Tanker                        7,960            SUNK

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8) 14 March 43         11:55         07-01S x 154-20E          Oil Tanker                        7,960            SUNK

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9) 14 March 43         20:46         07-01S x 154-06E          Armed Merchant              7,130            SUNK

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10) 15 March           06:12         07-01S x 153-55E          Standard Merchant        10,510            SUNK


 

 Total: 107,080 Raw / 35,658 Adjusted

 

Damage Sustained:

 

Light Hull Damage (5%)

 

Aircraft Encountered: 

                   5

 

Depth Charges:

         5 - 10

 

Commander’s Comments:

 

On March 8 at 20:19 hours we had a radar contact and turned to intercept. 20:28 hours we spotted a small convoy. We manoeuvred into the front of the convoy and went to radar depth. 20:33 hours we fired at an Oil Tanker and sank it. Convoy scattered and we resumed patrol.

 

March 08 thru the 12 we spotted many CA and CV groups but were unable to gain a firing position on them.

 

March 12, 04:53 hours, spotted a medium convoy. 04:56 hours fired at first and second ships in left column, sinking two Troop Transports. Went deep to avoid the escorts, lost contact at 05:13 hours, resuming patrol.

 

March 12, 06:48 hours, spotted a CA group. 07:00 hours we fired at and sunk a Mogami class CA, dove deep to avoid the escorts. Lost contact at 08:36 hours and resumed patrol.

 

March 13, 23:20 hours, spotted a CA group and manoeuvred into a firing  position. Fired at the two CA’s in the group and sunk both. Went deep to avoid the escorts. At 03:00 hours went to periscope depth and spotted two CL’s circling where we sunk the CA’s  but the escorts were to close to make an attack so we moved off. Finally lost contact and resumed patrol.

 

March 14, 11:28 hours, spotted an unescorted medium convoy, course 270 degrees true. Turned to course 90 degrees and went to periscope depth and awaited their approach. 11:55 hours fired one stern tube and one forward tube at two Oil Tankers sinking both. Aircraft overhead so we could not surface and peruse.  Resuming patrol.

 

March 14, 20:20 hours, spotted a single unescorted merchant. We decided to attack with the deck gun, 89 rounds later the Armed Merchant Cruiser sank and we resumed patrol.

 

March 15, 05:48 hours we picked up a radar contact. We moved to intercept and at 06:02 hours we spotted a medium convoy and went to radar depth. 06:12 hours fired at a Standard Merchant and sank it. We dove deep to avoid the escorts and after a light depth charging with only minor damage we were able to evade and finally at 09:10 hours we lost contact. We surfaced and headed home.

 

 

LCDR Ethan Edwards

CO USS Growler SS-215

 

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