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TO: Submarine Commanders, SubRon 4A

FROM: ComSubPac / ComSubRon 4A

DATE: December 1942

SUBJECT: Mission Orders cycle 5 (Dec 42, Jan & Feb 43)

RMKS: 1 Heavy losses at the "Battle of Santa Cruz" has left PacFlt with only two carriers, the U.S.S. Enterprise and U.S.S. Saratoga (both damaged), in the Pacific. With the loss of the carriers Hornet and Wasp, control of the Guadalcanal area is in doubt. Our marines continue to hole Guadalcanal and several Japanese attacks by major surface combatants have been beaten off, with known enemy losses including two BB’s, and a CV. The enemy surface fleet activity has been reduced to high-speed night runs by DD’s off loading supplies ashore.

RMKS: 2 ONI believes that Admiral Yamamoto is determined to retake Guadalcanal at ‘ALL COSTS’. All Troop Transports headed south from Empire waters are to be considered as "TOP PRIORTY" targets. Expect these convoys to be heavily escorted.

RMKS: 3 Air support by the Japanese has been increased, all boats are to be on the highest alert when running on the surface, even at night when the moon is up the IJN air force are flying patrols. " KEEP ALERT"

RMKS: 4 Orders received from Admiral Nimitz, CinCPAC, call for the submarine force to continue pressure in Alaskan waters in anticipation of a move Westward toward the Gilberts, The Mariana’s, Truk and the Marshals.

RMKS: 5 Torpedo replacement has increased only slightly. With stores of ordnance on only a slight rise, the amount of replacement torpedoes compared to the number expended remains at an uncomfortable level. It has been calculated that we are expending torpedoes at a 3 to 1 ratio, meaning that for every three torpedoes expended we are receiving one replacement from BuOrd. Torpedo conservation measures are to be continued with the MK VI exploder depth settings remaining in force.

RMKS: 6 SubRons are assigned to the following areas:

SubRon 1M - PacFlt Empire (Southern Japan)

                   - SoWesPac Indo China

SubRon 2M - PacFlt Aleutians (1 special mission)

                   - SoWesPac South China Sea

SubRon 3A - PacFlt Mariana’s (1 special mission)

                   - SoWesPac Malayysia

SubRon 4A ~

                                                                                                                                                                          

                       PacFlt  - Formosa                                                                                                                                           LCDR Cox, USS Swordfish (Formosa – F-4 – Dec 42 - Feb 43)

 

             LCDR Gundersen, USS Trigger (Formosa – F-1 – Dec 42 - Feb 43)

 

             LCDR Bearden II, USS Nautilus (Formosa – F-5 – Dec 42 - Feb 43)

 

             LCDR Hipply, USS Porpoise (Formosa – F-3 – Dec 42 - Feb 43)

 

                      SubSoWesPac – Java Sea                                                                                                                                CMDR Turner II, USS Gato (Java Sea –Special Ass. – Dec 42 - Feb 43)

 

             LCDR Edwards, USS Growler (Java Sea – JS-4+5 – Dec 42 - Feb 43)

 

             LCDR Schow, USS Tambor (Java Sea – JS-1+2 – Dec 42 - Feb 43)

     

SubRon 5A - PacFlt Caroline Islands

                  - SoWesPac Solomon’s (1 special mission)

SubRon 6A - PacFlt Yellow Sea

                   - SoWesPac Philiippines

SubRon 7A - PacFlt Palau Islands

                   - SoWesPac Sulu Sea

SubRon 8A - PacFlt Empire (Northern Japan)

-         SoWesPac Indo China

COMMENTS: All Java Sea Submarines be aware of the Minefield located at the northern entrance to Surabaya.

 All commanders are to Acknowledge receipt of these orders.

Good Hunting and God’s Speed

CMDR. Greg Turner                                                                                                                                                      CO SubRon 4A                                                                                                                                                          

Rear Admiral Robert English

Commanding SubPacFlt

 

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