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IMMEDIATE / /
From: CMDR. James D. Cox II
To: ComSubRon 4A
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: 2 August 1944
Subject: Patrol Report, USS Ray, SS-271 (January 03 -
Cycle XI)
Remarks: 1st War Patrol, USS Ray
Date: 2 August 1944 Patrol
Area: South
China Sea (SC-3)
Sub: SS-271 USS Ray Class:
GATO
Crew: Green Status:
Operational
Hull Damage: Light (10%) System
Damage: Light (3%)
Total Patrol Time: 17.6 Days Repair
Time: 2
Days
Fuel Used: 60,876 Gallons (52%) Realism
Rating: 95%
Ships Sunk: 8 Tonnage:
65,530 / 21,821
Pilots Saved: 0 Photo
Recons: 0
Weather: Partly Cloudy Seas:
Moderate
Patrol Mileage: 388
Nautical Miles
Ordnance Remaining: 0 - MK 14 Torpedo’s, 65 – Deck Gun Rounds
(Medals Awarded –Navy Cross, Bronze Star + V)
1) 13 July 44 02:18 21-50N,
123-08E Armed Merchant 12,020 SUNK
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2) 13 July 44 02:41 21-48N,
123-05E Troop Transport 7,620 SUNK
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3) 13 July 44 04:25 21-48N,
122-22E Standard Merchant 5,930 SUNK
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4) 13 July 44 04:38 21-46N,
122-19E Troop Transport 7,620 SUNK
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5) 13 July 44 04:45 21-44N,
122-16E Large Freighter 3,470
SUNK
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6) 13 July 44 07:42 21-53N,
123-11E Oil Tanker 11,090 SUNK
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7) 13 July 44 07:42 21-53N,
123-11E Converted Factory 6,690 SUNK
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8) 13 July 44 07:42 21-53N,
123-11E Oil Tanker 11,090 SUNK
Total: 65,530
Raw / 21,821 Adjusted
Damage Sustained:
1). Deck Gun - Critical - None Repairable by Crew
2). Radio Room Pressure Hull - Repaired by Crew
3). Control Room Pressure Hull - Repaired by Crew
4). Conning Tower - Repaired by Crew
Commander's Comments:
Left Darwin on (Tuesday)
4th of July 1944: For the South China Sea area (SC-3).
Arrived in South China Sea Area (Wednesday Night) 12th of
July 1944 at 19:35 hrs. Started moving north on the surface, Using radar as the eyes
for the Ray.
(Thursday Morning) 13th
of July 1944.
00:30 hrs. Blip on the Radar, Range
38,000 yds, Bearing 055 degrees from the Ray, Turned Ray to bearing 055, Speed
Flank ordered.
01:15 hrs still closing on target
blip, Range is 25,000 yds, Changed course to 045 degrees on the Ray.
01:45 hrs Range to target blip is
12,500 yds. Ray still closing. Have changed speed to Standard, Ordered radar
depth for the Ray, Upped-periscope for greater visual on targets.
02:00 hrs Have a visual with
periscope on convoy. Range 7,500 yds. Ordered the Ray to periscope depth, Speed
1/3, Changed Ray's course too 235 degrees, same as the convoys. With the Ray's
stern coming in the front middle of the convoy of 1-Converted Factory Ship,
1-Standard Merchant, 1-Armed Merchant Cruiser, 1-Large Freighter, 2-Troop
Transport's, 2- Oil Tanker's, 1-Destroyer (Akizuki Class Destroyer) running
around the convoy that's in a square formation.
02:15 hrs Convoy speed is 8 kts.
Destroyer speed is 18 kts. He is on the back side of the convoy. Look's like the Ray is going to fire
at the Armed Merchant Cruiser first.
02:17 hrs.; Fired 3 stern, Mk-14's
at the Armed Merchant Cruiser, Range 2,000 yds. Stayed at periscope depth.
Heard 2 explosion's, 1- Mk-14 is a DUD Torpedo. Raised periscope to find the
AMC on fire and slowing. Setup last loaded torpedo in the stern on her, and fired.
4
stern left.
02:18 hrs AMC is heading to the
bottom as the Aft torpedo room is loading 4 more torpedo's. Stayed at periscope
depth, changed Ray's course to 180 degrees.
02:22 hrs Destroyer is coming to
the aid of the AMC's crew in the water. Ordered Ray to 200 ft., speed 2/3,
course 180 degrees.
02:27 hrs Picking up propeller
noise. Ordered Ray back to periscope depth.
02:32 hrs Raised periscope to
find the convoy still heading 235 degrees, speed is about 10 kts now. All but
the 1-Troop Transport, that's heading 170 degrees, Speed is about 12 kts. and
rising. Right at the Ray, Range is 1,000 yds. Ordered Ray to a 100 ft. fast!
02:35 hrs Troop Transport goes
right over the Ray. Ordered Ray back to periscope depth. Speed changed back to
1/3.
02:38 hrs Looked out the periscope
for the Troop Transport & the convoy.
02:40 hrs Fired 2 bow tubes;
2-Mk-14's, set for slow at the Troop Transport. Needing only 1 for the job too
put her down, as the other 1 missed.
02:41 hrs She sank at 02:41 hrs. 14 bow left
02: 42 hrs Ordered course change
for the Ray, New course is 235 degrees. 2 more of the 6 bow are racing for the
Standard Merchant. Heard 2 explosions, as the Standard Merchant is coming dead
in the water. 12 bow left
02:45 hrs Look's like the convoy
is coming to a course of 200 degrees. Fired 1 more bow Mk-14 at the Large
Freighter, and 1 more bow, Mk-14 at the other Troop Transport, Both set for
slow, As both torpedo's missed, racing on a course of about 315 degrees. Can't
find the Destroyer on the periscope at all. 10 bow left
02:48 hrs Ordered Ray to 200 ft.,
Speed standard, course of 180 degrees. As the last look in the periscope at the
convoy was coming to a course of 180 degrees. May have to do an end around on
the convoy. Still NO Destroyer in the periscope.
03:00 hrs Ordered Ray to
periscope depth. Can't find the Destroyer! But, See the tail end of the convoy
at 170 degrees, Speed is 12 kts.
03:01 hrs Ordered Ray to radar
depth. Picked up the Destroyer at 18,000 yds. Look's like he's heading on a
course of 290 degrees.
03:02 hrs Ordered Ray on the
surface for an end around on the convoy. Course 135 degrees.
03:03 hrs All Stern tubes loaded.
03:26 hrs 2 Bow tubes loaded.
03:27 hrs 2 Bow tubes loaded.
03:30 hrs 2 Bow tubes loaded.
04:15 hrs Have the Ray in front
of the Standard Merchant. Course of Merchant is 125 degrees.
04:16 hrs Ordered Ray to periscope
depth as the Standard Merchant is coming right at us. Range is 6,000 yds, speed
is 9 kts.
04:24 hrs Range to Standard
Merchant is 1,200 yds. Have 4 stern tubes loaded and 4 bow. Fired 4 stern
Mk-14's at her, getting 2 hit and 2-dud torpedo. She's going to the bottom fast
at 04:25 hrs. 4 stern, All tube in stern empty.
04:26 hrs Ordered Ray to the
surface for deck action. Speed of Ray is Standard speed kts.
04:30 hrs Opened up on the Troop
Transport too slow her down. Range 3,000 yds. Course is 125 degrees.
04:37 hrs Fired 2 Mk-14 bow
torpedo's at the Troop Transport. Range 1,400 yds.
04:38 hrs Troop Transport goes to
the bottom. 2 bow
04:40 hrs Ordered Ray's deck crew
to start firing at the Large Freighter, 2,800 yds. Course is 123 degrees.
04:44 hrs Fired 2 Mk-14 bow
torpedo's at the Large Freighter, range 1,300 yds.
04:45 hrs Large Freighter going
to the bottom. 2 bow
04:46 hrs Ordered deck gun
secured. 65 rds left.
04:50 hrs Radar has 4 blip's on
the screen. 3 in front of Ray, Range 14,000 yds. Course is 100 degrees, and 1
in back. Range 10,000 yds. Course is 090. 8 bow, 65 rds left.
04:51 hrs Ordered Ray to Full speed
for an end around, As the 1 blip in the back is coming up fast, maybe the
Destroyer. 3 blip's in front have changed course to 135 again. Ordered Ray to
135 degrees. The 3 ship's maybe coming too the old course of 235 degrees.
05:13 hrs.; 2 Bow tubes loaded.
05:15 hrs.; Ordered Ray to 200 ft.,
and standard speed as the blip in the back of the Ray is the Akizuki Class Destroyer,
Pinging away as she move's in on us at 33 kts. Range about 8,000 yds. Last look
on the radarscope showed the 3-blip's on a course of maybe 235 degrees.
05:30 hrs.; Akizuki Class Destroyer started
dropping ash can's all over the place, as she move right over us. Ray speed is
1/3 kts. 2 Bow tubes loaded also.
05:32 hrs Damage in the Radio
Room Pressure Hull, Deck Gun, Control Room Pressure Hull, Conning Tower. All
can be repaired but the deck gun. So much for running anyone down now.
05:45 hrs Escaped the ash can
pounding and the Akizuki. As the ping's are getting lighter. Course of the Ray is 235
degrees in hopes that the 3 ships may come back in the area of the Ray.
06:00 hrs Don't hear any pinging.
Ordered Ray to periscope depth, as the crew is working hard to repair the
damage to the Ray.
06:05 hrs Don't see a thing in
the periscope for 360 degrees. Ordered the Ray to radar depth.
06:08 hrs Radar is picking up 4
blip at a range of 15,000 yds. Course is about 215 degrees is my guess. Ordered
Ray to a course of 180 degrees, surface, speed standard.
06:38 hrs Convoy has come to a
course of 245 degrees, Speed maybe 12 kts.
06:50 hrs Control Room Pressure
Hull repaired, & Conning Tower repaired.
07:12 hrs Radio Room Pressure
Hull Repaired.
07:13 hrs Range to convoy is
10,000 yds. Still moving on a course of 245 degrees. Speed 11 to 12 kts.
07:30 hrs Range to 4-ship convoy
is 7,500 yds. Ray is in the right place for the attack. Ordered periscope
depth, 1/3 speed, Course 245 degrees.
07:40 hrs Everything is right,
Fired 6 bow tubes, 2 at the 1st Oil Tanker, 2 at the Converted Factory Ship,
& 2 at the 2nd Oil Tanker. Range 2,500 yds from the port side of the Ray. 6 bow
07:42 hrs All 3 ships are hit,
and sunk as the Akizuki is coming up the port side of the convoy.
07:43 hrs Ordered Ray to 300 ft.,
Speed standard as the DD was pinging away for us.
07:50 hrs Getting in to a thermal
layer at 225 ft., the Akizuki Class Destroyer lost us.
07:55 hrs At 300 ft. the Ray made
good her escape. Heading 180 degrees, speed 2/3.
08:25 hrs Last 2 bow tube
torpedo's loaded.
09:00 hrs Everything is quit on
the surface.
09:15 hrs Ordered Ray too
periscope depth for a look-see. Everything clear for 360 degrees. Ordered radar
depth.
09:20 hrs Nothing on radar. My
guess the Akizuki headed home. 2 bow left
11:00 hrs Picked up radar contact.
Bearing 315 degrees. Moved in on the contact.
11:45 hrs Found one Sampan. Headed
for periscope depth. Speed 1/3 kts.
NOON; Fired last 2 bow tubes
at her. Both missed. "His lucky day".
13:00 hrs Ordered up-periscope.
All clear top side.
13:01 hrs Ordered radar depth.
All clear on the scope.
13:02 hrs Ordered surface. Course
180 degrees. Speed standard. To Re-Charge battery’s.
15:00 hrs Heading for Home.
(Wednesday) 2nd
August 1944 Arrived at Darwin. Crew did very well on this patrol. Man it's good
to be home.
CMDR. James D. Cox II, USN
CO: USS Ray, SS-271
U.S. Navy
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