/ /
IMMEDIATE / /
From: CAPT.
Greg Turner III
To: ComSubPac
Date: 15
March 1944
Subject: Patrol Report, USS Jack SS-259 (Cycle
10, December 2002)
Remarks: 4th War Patrol, USS
Jack,
Date: 15 March 1944 Patrol Area: Java Sea (JS-5+6)
Sub: USS Jack SS-259 Class:
Gato
Crew: Elite Status: Operational
Total Patrol Time: 16.8 Days Repair Time: 11 Day
Fuel Used: 49,263 Gallons (42%) Realism
Rating: 109%
Ships Sunk: 6 Tonnage: 39,020 / 12,877
Pilots Saved: 0 Photo Recons: 0
Weather: Mostly Cloudy Seas: Moderate
Patrol Mileage: 949 Nautical Miles
Ordnance Remaining: 0 - MK 18-1 Torpedo’s, 0 – Deck Gun Rounds.
(Medals Awarded –Bronze Star + V)
Date Time Location Ship Type Tonnage
Status
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) 8 March 44 10:40 02-27N
x 108-10E Oil Tanker 14,740 SUNK
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) 9 March 44 07:12 03-09N
x 108-44E Large Freighter 3,100 SUNK
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5) 10 March 44 10:37 00-41N x 108-15E Std
Merchant 7,520 SUNK
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6) 10 March 44 15:47 00-11N x 106-59E Small
Freighter 2,000 SUNK
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7) 10 March 44 15:47 00-11N x 106-59E Std
Merchant N/A DAM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8) 11 March 44 21:38 00-11N x 106-59E (CL)
Furutaka
N/A DAM
Total: 39,020 Raw / 12,877 Adjusted
Damage Sustained:
1. Motor Room Hull - Moderate
2. Aft Battery Room Hull – Moderate
3. DC Motors 3+4 – Moderate
4. Fuel Tanks – Moderate
5. Crew Mess Hull – Severe
6. Tubes 3+4 Outer Doors – Moderate
Aircraft Encountered:
5
Aircraft Shot Down:
Depth Charges / Bombs:
13 / 8
Commander's Comments:
RMKS/ 1. Departed Pearl Harbor early 3 March 1944 en route to my patrol area in
the Java Sea.
RMKS/ 2. Arrived on station 6 March
1944 via the Sunda Strait with a full load of the new Mk-18-1 Electric
Torpedo’s. The trip to get on station only used about 10,500 gallons of fuel so
we had plenty left to patrol with.
RMKS/ 3. Tuesday 7 March 1944 10:07
SJ Radar contact bearing 339` at 30,800 yds. This was just north of Kepulauan
Kangean. This patrol area was assigned to the USS Bashaw but I decided to check
out the contact. At 10:27 lookouts spotted 2 Destroyers bearing 343` at 17,000
yds. Radar agreed that is was just a patrol so I turned to course 049` at flank
speed to clear this area. I returned to base course at 11:05 only to run head
on into the patrol again at 11:25. I turned northeast and passed around them to
the north with the coast of Borneo in sight.
RMKS/ 4. 15:29 lookouts spotted 3
Sampans at 04-41S x 113-42E. I bypassed and continued toward my patrol sector.
RMKS/ 5. 19:01 entered my patrol
sector. 21:38 SJ contact bearing 124` at 29,000 yds. I went to battle stations
and closed the contact. 22:40 lookouts spotted several ships bearing 044` at
about 7,000 yds. I went to flank and commenced trying to end around them. Identified
2-Shiratsuyu DD’s and 3-Armed Merchants. By 00:35 I had the convoy on my port
aft quarter at 5,700 yds so I turned in and dove to periscope depth to attack.
I misjudged the convoy’s speed and before reaching a firing position they had
passed ahead and began opening the range. After they opened out to 7,000 yds I
surfaced and began a second end around. 03:46 went to Radar depth with the
convoy bearing 077` at 7,200 yds. I continued to lead the convoy and by 05:50
had them on my port forward quarter at 5,000 yds closing for an optimal attack.
I also spotted a previously unseen Oil Tanker. And decided to fire on it first.
06:03 fired 2 torpedo’s at the Tanker from 1,800 yds set at 16 feet. Sound
reported the first torpedo hit but failed to explode. I saw the second torpedo
impact and it detonated forward of the stern. 06:04 fired 3 torpedo’s at the
closest Merchant at 2,200yds. All 3 hit and severely damaged the ship but I was
on my way to depth to evade the escorts. Passed through a good thermal layer at
200 feet and leveled off at 232 feet with only 17 feet of water beneath my
keel. Heard only 4 distant depth charges explode so the wake less torpedo’s
have confused the escorts and they can’t find me. Heard 3 sets of high-speed
screws passing astern and at 07:17 my sound operator lost contact on them. I
went to Radar depth and picked up contacts astern. Four contacts bearing 170`
at 15,000 yds, one bearing 193` at 9,500 yds, and one contact bearing 241` at
15,700 yds. I surfaced and headed for the contact bearing 241`. 07:41 I spotted
the damaged Merchant bearing 350` at 15,000 yds making 7.1 kts on a course of
150 degree’s. I passed around the ship with ease and at 08:04 went to Radar
depth 4,500 yds ahead to commence my attack. 08:20 fired 1 torpedo from 820 yds
and watched it impact in the engine area. The ship stopped and began sinking by
the stern at once. A few survivors could be seen jumping over the side but no
lifeboats were employed. I got a bearing from my radar and headed for the other
single contact now bearing 205` at 33,000 yds. I surfaced and put 2 engines on
charge while I closed with the other 2. Closure rate was estimated at 250 yds
per minute. 09:40 lookouts picked up smoke and then spotted the burning Tanker
bearing 001` at 17,500 yds making 2.1 kts on a course of 254` true. Closed
until 10:39 at which time the Tanker fired at me and I went to Radar depth. The
shell landed about 200 yds to port and didn’t cause any damage. 10:52 fired 1
torpedo from 1,400 yds and watched as it broke the Tanker in half and started a
very large fire. This action took place just north of Gantung. The last
any of us saw of the Tanker was of its bow floating and slowly sinking and the
aft half had sunk at once.
RMKS/ 6. Wednesday 8 March 1944
21:54 SJ contact bearing 045` at 28,000 yds. The bells of St Mary’s chimed as I
set an intercept course. 22:41 lookouts spotted 1-Fubuki class DD bearing 047`
at 6,700 yds. I continued this track and by 23:42 had a clear picture of what
was before us. Convoy was moving at 12 kts on a course of 344` true with One
Std Merchant bearing 001` at 8,800 yds, One troop ship bearing 356` at 8,200
yds, One Tanker bearing 004` at 8,100 yds, Second Tanker bearing 011` at 7,900
yds, One Factory ship bearing 025` at 8,200 yds, Second Factory bearing 346` at
7,800 yds and One Small Freighter bearing 012` at 7,200 yds. The main group had
passed ahead so I setup on the training ships. The DD was last seen about 7,000
yds to my port heading away. I assigned one lookout to that area to search solely
for that DD. I setup on the Lead Tanker and at 23:58 fired 2 torpedo’s at it
from 2,800 yds set at 20 feet. Also fired 2 torpedo’s at the lead Factory ship
from 2,400 yds with the same depth setting. Both torpedo’s MISSED the Tanker
but both Torpedo’s hit the Factory ship setting it afire. I fired a 3rd
torpedo at the Factory from 1,600 yds and it MISSED. The aft end of the convoy
began breaking formation but the lead ships continued on course. I trailed the
Freighter and at 00:02 fired 1 torpedo from 1,300 yds. It went right under the
target because the depth setting was too deep. I shifted to the damaged Factory
ship and at 1,900 yds I had the gun crew take it under fire. Fired 18 rounds
for 15 hits and 3 misses when they found us and began firing back. They got off
2 rounds before we went under to radar depth. Both the rounds were high and
landed well astern. I fired a 4th torpedo from 1,800 yds and it was
heard to hit. A look through the scope showed a large cloud of smoke and fire
engulfing the sinking ship. It is doubtful due to the fire that anyone
survived.
RMKS/ 7. Thursday 9 March 1944
02:23 SJ contact bearing 018` at 30,200 yds. Skies were mostly cloudy and the
seas were moderate. Closure rate was 514 yds per minute at flank speed. 03:49
the starboard lookout spotted 1-Kagero class DD bearing 029` at 7,600 yds. I
went to Radar depth two minutes later. 04:07 I identified 1-Large Freighter,
1-Armed merchant, 2-Std Merchants, 1-Troop, 1-Factory and 1-Small Freighter
between 6,000 and 6,500 yds making 6.1 kts on course of 284`. Two DD’s were at
200 degree’s and 300 degree’s respectively. Suddenly ay 02:21 the DD’s went
active with there sonar and I headed deep. I passed through a thermal at 204 feet
and leveled off at 234 feet just as the DD’s began dropping charges to port.
None to close but they did shake things up. With only 15 feet of water under
our keel a close one could easily force us into the bottom. Only 5 depth
charges were dropped but the DD’s continued to shadow us until at 05:29 I
entered deeper water and was able to get well below the thermal layer. The DD’s
shortly thereafter reversed their course and moved off. My soundman lost
contact on them at 05:59 and I headed for radar depth. 06:17 Radar had one
contact bearing 008` at 16,200 yds and multiple contacts bearing from 093` to
141` at 15,000 – 19,000 yds. I surfaced at 06:19 and went after the single
contact. Closure at Std speed was 134 yds per minute so I increased to flank and
began closing at 314 yds per minute. 06:44 I spotted a Large Freighter bearing
014` at 13,000 yds on course for Gantung. When the range closed to 4,000 yds I
had the gun crew take it under fire. Fired 41 shells for 31 hits and 10 misses.
Most of the hits were to the super structure but enough found the waterline to
sink the ship. I turned to course 014` and cleared the sinking area.
RMKS/ 8. 07:17 SJ Radar picked up
contact bearing 003` at 28,400 yds. I closed at Std speed with a closure rate
of 556 yds per minute. 07:31 the SD radar came alive with a contact at 17,000
yds. With the sun being up I decide to make a trim dive to balance the boat
before attacking. Passed a thermal at 174 feet and leveled off at 200 feet.
Made necessary corrections to the ballast to adjust for the expended ordnance
and weight then went back to Radar depth. 08:25 spotted 1-DD and 2 mast bearing
330` at 15,000 yds. I turned to 083` and went to 150 feet to close at full
speed. This should prevent any aircraft from spotting my wake. 08:40 Radar
depth for a check. Spotted 2-Armed Merchants, 3-Large Freighters, 2-Tankers and
3-Small Freighters bearing from 280` to 310` at about 12,000 yds. I went back
to 150 feet on course of 115` at flank speed. 09:00 Radar depth where I spotted
2-Asashio class DD’s then I went back to depth to continue closing. Continued
at Standard speed until 09:44 when I came shallow and spotted 2 additional
escorts (1-Yugumo + 1-Akizuki). The convoy passed outside of me from the start
and finally at 09:55 I secured from trailing due to a low battery (98 volts).
Closest range was 6,200 yds. I stayed submerged until dark then surfaced and
commenced charging the batteries. Upon surfacing SJ Radar had contacts bearing
220` at 30,270 yds and a single contact bearing 277` at 32,900 yds. I headed
for the lone contact at best possible speed due to the battery charge but it
pulled away and Radar lost it.
RMKS/ 9. While still charging at
21:05 SJ Radar picked up contact bearing 020` at 9,300 yds. Unsure why contact
wasn’t made at longer range. 21:19 lookouts spotted 1-Mutsuki apparently
searching the area for us. I came to course 163 and put all 4 engines online to
clear this area. At 21:55 I put 2 engines back on charge and continued on.
RMKS/ 10. 23:22 SJ had another contact.
This one bearing133` at 32,000 yds. After tracking this contact for some time
Radar reported it appeared to be paralleling us with a rather large zigzag
pattern. I secured the battery charge and put all 4 engines back on propulsion.
Finally at 02:59 lookouts reported an ISE class Battleship bearing 018` at
9,400 yds. Moments later the sighted a second BB (Kongo) and a Mogami class
Heavy Cruiser trailing the ISE. Spotted 3 escorts also (1-Asashio,
1-Shiratsuyu, and 1-Kagero). The zigzag pattern was ranging from course 040` to
265`. I was hoping to get ahead due to the extreme zigzag pattern. 03:22 dove
to Radar depth as the DD’s turned toward me from 4,000 yds. This was apparently
just part of there leg because they didn’t close my position. With the battery
low I secured tracking at 07:13 and let Radar observe their course as they
pulled away then surfaced and commenced charging the batteries again.
RMKS/ 11. At 09:17 Radar reported
that what they thought was the BB Task Force suddenly began closing in our
direction. I came to course 055`. After several confusing minutes the Tracking
party concluded this WASN”T the Task force but a separate contact heading our
way. At 09:58 a DD was spotted bearing 006` at 13,300 yds. At 10:01 several
mast were spotted dead ahead and I dove to radar depth to continue closing and
get setup. At 15,000 yds I spotted 2-Yagumo DD and behind them came 2-Std
Merchants and 2-Unidentified ships. I made ready the stern tubes and waited for
the range to close. One of the DD’s passed close astern and continued on
course. One final check revealed the total count of the convoy at 6-Merchants
(2-Std, 2-Supply, 2-Small Freights). 10:36 I fired 2 stern torpedo’s at the
lead Std Merchant from 550 yds. Both hit and slowed the ship but failed to sink
it. I fired a 3rd torpedo from 620 yds, which sank this ship. Fired
1 torpedo from astern at the second Std Merchant form 420 yds, which hit and
caused damage. After firing on the second ship I headed deep. I passed through
a thermal at 175 feet and leveled off at 222 feet with 25 feet under my keel.
Sound reported 5 sets of High Speed Screws. I slipped away to the north and by
11:55 had eluded the escorts. Lost sound contact at 12:15 and came to Radar
depth at 12:29. Picked up one contact bearing 267` at 21,300 yds and 5 contacts
bearing 294` at 26,160 yds. I surfaced and set out after the lone contact
bearing 267`. At flank speed my closure rate was only 220 yds per minute. At
13:49 lookouts spotted a Small Freighter bearing 001` at 13,900 yds making 6.9
kts on course 316` true. It was trailing the main body so I trailed after it
awaiting dark to attack. At 15:10 with the main body at 29,000 yds bearing 350`
I elected to engage the Small Freighter with the deck gun. At 15:39 opened fire
from 2,600 yds. Fired my remaining 36 rounds for 27 hits and 9 misses. After
securing the deck gun I fired 1 stern torpedo from 1,500 yds set at 8 feet and
sank the ship stern first. I set course to 139` at flank to get clear of the
area.
RMKS/ 12. 16:09 SJ Radar picked up
yet another contact. This one bearing 251` at 33,300 yds. 16:33 SD Radar picked
up 2 air contacts at 16,000 yds and I went to radar depth on course of 319`
then adjusted course to 350`. SJ reported 6 surface contacts and SD had 2 air
contacts. The air contacts were closing my general area but upon visual
inspection I couldn’t spot them due to the cloud cover. Suddenly SD radar
reported the air contacts closing rapidly and I ordered the boat deep. While
passing 95 feet the aircraft dropped 2 bombs apiece, which inflicted damage to
my boat. The Crew Mess Hull was severely damaged which resulted in heavy
flooding to that room. Torpedo tubes 1+2 Outer Doors were moderately damaged.
Active sonar was heard closing from several directions so I headed deep.
Leveled off at 235 feet heading due west. Then came to 200` true. Damage crews
patched the hull in the Crew Mess by 18:13 and the pumps were able to empty the
flooded bilges. Both aircraft made another pass and dropped 2 more bombs each
but these didn’t inflict any damage as they were well to starboard. By 19:17
contact had been lost on the surface craft and I headed for radar depth at
19:55. SJ had 1 contact bearing 117` at 30,700 yds. I surfaced and headed west
to complete repairs. While surfaced the damage crew repaired the torpedo doors
and had them functioning by 22:40. I decided to give the crew a rest and turned
south to check that area at daybreak.
RMKS/ 13. Saturday 11 March 1944
10:38 SJ contact bearing 040` at 34,800 yds. 11:12 spotted 1-DD (Uni) and 1
anchored Small Freighter off the port of Gantung. I bypassed these vessels (per ROE) and continued southeast.
RMKS/ 14. 16:39 SJ
contact bearing 005` at 31,800 yds + SD contact at 17,000 yds on two aircraft.
I went to Radar depth to avoid the aircraft. 17:05 I spotted a Cruiser Task
Force on course of 036` true making 24 kts. Identified 1-Akizuki DD, 1-Mogami
CA, 1-Nagara CL, 1-Yubari CL and 2-Unidentified escorts. At 17:30 just as I was
fixing to fire a spread at the Mogami the escorts spotted my scope and headed
my way firing. I shifted my aim to the Yubari and let go 3 torpedo’s right as I
dove, as it was closest. Torpedo depth was set for 12 feet for the CA and
wasn’t reset for the Yubari so sadly all 3 passed inches under its keel without
detonating. I had barely begun to dive when an aircraft over flew my position
and dropped a bomb almost on top of the USS Jack. Light bulbs shattered and men
were tossed about. Damage reports were as follows: Motor Room Hull – Moderate,
DC Motors 3+4 – Moderate, Aft Battery Room Hull – Moderate, Fuel Tanks –
Moderate and Leaking. I ordered the main damage control party to the Battery
Room. By 17:41 the Aft Battery Room was flooding badly and I was fearful that
Chlorine Gas would be produced. A thermal layer at 190 feet saved us because
after passing below it no further contact was made by the enemy. Damage control
got the Pressure Hull leaks sealed and had the Battery Room pumped out by
18:08. By 18:39 DC Motor 3 was operating again so I came up to Radar depth to
take a look in the dark. SJ had a contact astern at 1,500 yds moving away to
the north. I turned south to clear the area and made ready to surface and begin
repairs to the Fuel tanks. Surfaced at 20:21 and SJ Radar reported one contact
bearing 120` at 30,800 yds opening out. By 20:31 what repairs could be made to
the Fuel Tank were accomplished. We lost roughly 5,000 gallons of Fuel from the
damage.
RMKS/ 15. 20:46 SJ
contact bearing 125` at 24,000 yds. I came about with 2 stern torpedo’s left.
21:06 lookouts spotted2 DD’s bearing 330` at 7,200 yds and I went to radar
depth. Periscope observations over the next few minutes revealed another
Cruiser task force. Identified 1-Nagara CL, 1-Furutaka CL, and 1-Mogami CA with
2 escorts (1-Kagero, 1-Yugumo). The Cruisers zigzag pattern moved them away
from me and I surfaced to regain contact. 21:34 just as I was loosing hope of
getting in a firing position the task Force zigged right at me. I went to Radar
depth and setup my last torpedo’s for 10-foot depth. 21:38 fired 2 torpedo’s
(Last ones) at the Furutaka CL from 700 yds then went deep. Both torpedo’s were
heard to hit and explode but no sinking could be heard. Passed a thermal at 190
feet and leveled off at 230 feet at 21:41 with 19 feet under the keel. Only 4 sporadic
depth charges were dropped but not close to us. I was evading to the south when
sound reported 8 sets of High Speed Screws passing down our starboard side. I
came about to course 010` and pulled away at 2/3 speed. Lost sound contact at
23:28 and stayed deep until 01:49 when I came to Radar depth to check the area.
No contacts were picked up so I surfaced and set course for Pearl Harbor.
Torpedo Performance:
Hits = 18
Duds = 1
Premature = 0
Miss = 5
CAPT. Greg Turner III
USS Jack, SS-259
ComSubRon 4A
/ SEND /