/ /
IMMEDIATE / /
From: CMDR
Ethan Edwards
To: CAPT. Greg Turner III
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: 13 March 1944
Subject: Patrol Report, (cycle 10, December 2002)
Remarks: Departed port on 2 March and arrived in our
patrol area on 5 March
Date: 13 March 1944 Patrol Area: Java Sea (JS-2 & 3 ES)
Sub: U.S.S. Angler SS-240 Class:
Gato
Crew: Elite Status:
Operational
Hull Damage: Light (12%) System
Damage: 0
Total Patrol Time: 6.5 Days Repair Time: 3 days
Fuel Used: 45,506 Gallons (38%) Realism
Rating: 109%
Ships Sunk: 6 Tonnage:
105,434
raw
/ 35,109
Adj.
Pilots Saved: 0 Photo
Recons: 0
Weather: Partly Cloudy Seas: Moderate
Patrol Mileage: 240 Nautical Miles (not including transit
miles)
Ordnance Remaining: 0 - Torpedo’s, 95 – Deck Gun Rounds.
(Medals Awarded – Silver Star & Bronze Star with V)
Date Time Location Ship Type Tonnage
Status
1) 6 March 44 18:22 5-35S,
119-14E Submarine
Tender 17,000 SUNK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) 8 March 44 00:36 7-58S,
119-18E (CL) Kuma 5,832
SUNK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) 8 March 44 09:09 7-58S,
117-45E (CL) Kuma 5,832
SUNK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) 8 March 44 09:09 7-58S, 117-45E (CL) Nagara 5,570 SUNK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5) 8 March 44 17:50 7-33S,
116-02E (CV) Taihu 35,300
SUNK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6) 8 March 44 01:42 7-31S,
118-17E (BB) Fuso 35,900
SUNK
Total: 105,434 Raw / 35,109 Adjusted
Damage Sustained:
1. Forward Battery room battery damage
2. Motor Room pressure hull
3. # 4 Engine damaged
4. Fuel Tank damaged. All
damage repaired by Crew.
Aircraft Encountered:
7
Aircraft Shot Down:
0
Depth Charges:
35 to 40 (3 or 4 close enough to do damage)
Commander's Comments:
After arriving in our patrol
area we received a radio message directing us to a Special Mission off Kendari.
Message states that an IJN Submarine tender the IJN Kamoi is expected to arrive
at Kendari via the Salajar strait. We headed of the target area and after
getting in a good position we awaited the targets approach. March 6 17:51 hours
radar contact 17:59 hours we spotted a large ship moving fast, this could be
the Sub Tender were waiting for. Decided to use the stern tubes, turned lining
up a good shot. Fired three torpedoes at the target. They must have a very good
lookout as they started firing at our periscope, can’t believe they spotted it
at night with us sitting still, but it is too late as the target went up on a
ball of fire and smoke seconds later. Sunk one IJN submarine tender, resuming
patrol.
March 7, 23:12 hours, radar
contact. March 8, 00:19 hours, spotted a CL group. Fired and sunk a Kuma class
CL. Dove to avoid the escorts. Lost contact, resuming patrol.
March 8, 06:51 hours, radar
contact dead astern. Turned to investigate, 07:07 hours, air radar contact so
we dove to avoid being detected. 07:21 hours we spotted a CL group. The group
turned south and headed for the northern tip of Sumbawa. Followed the group and
as they anchored off the island we set-up on the two CL’s, range 7,000 yards.
Set all torpedoes to run on slow speed and fired. All hit and sunk a Kuma and a
Nagara class CL. Moved off as the aircraft moved closer. Stayed submerged most
of the day and than surfaced to recharge batteries. Resuming patrol.
March 8, 17:02 hours, radar
contact ahead looks like a large contact. 17:15 hours air contact so we dove to
radar depth. Radar reports 4 air contacts; this could be a CV group. 17:32
hours spotted a CV group with one large CV and 8 or 9 escorts. Set-up on the CV
and fired, sinking a Taihu (Taiho) CV. Dove to avoid the escorts but they were
on us quickly and we received a payback for sinking their CV. Several depth
charges exploded close astern doing damage to the Fuel tank, Motor room
pressure hull, # 4 engine damaged and the forward battery is damaged. We were
able to get under a thermal but were having trouble with the water intake. We
had to keep the dive planes on rise just to stay even. Finally the sound
contacts were fading so we went to periscope depth and made repairs. After
loosing the escorts we surfaced and completed the repairs to the fuel tank.
Resuming patrol.
March 9, 00:31 hours, radar
contact. Turned to investigate but the contact turned away and we lost contact.
Resuming patrol.
March 9, 04:22 hours, radar
contact dead ahead. 04:47 hours we spotted a BB group consisting of a BB and
two CA’s. The group turned and headed right at our position. We set up on the
BB and fired as it approached. 5 hits and lots of fire and smoke but it’s still
afloat. Had to dive to escape the escorts. After loosing the escorts under a
thermal we came to radar depth and the escorts were far behind but we had a
large contact to port on the radar. Surface and started to follow the contact.
The target is moving at about 3.5 knots and moving north-northeast, probably
headed for Kendari. We followed all day and finally after dark we executed an
end-around to get in front of the target. After getting in front of the target
we fired our last torpedo and sunk a Fuso Class BB. All torpedoes expended,
headed for home.
CMDR. Ethan Edwards
CO: USS Angler SS-240
U.S. Navy
/ SENDS /