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AMMENDMENT TO ORDERS

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TO:            SUBMARINE COMMANDERS / SUBRON 4A

FROM:       COMSUBPAC / COMSUBRON 4A

DATE:        DECEMBER 1941

SUBJECT:  MISSION ORDERS ( March cycle 1)

RMKS 1)      The Japanese Military forces have attacked the United States Naval base at Pearl Harbor. The U.S. Fleet has been severely damaged by this sneak attack. All Commanders are ordered to commence unrestricted submarine warfare against all Japanese Merchant and Military units.

RMKS 2)      As directed by the CNO, the 'London Treaty Agreement' on submarine warfare restrictions has been renounced by the United States Government. You shall interpret this order to mean that when attacking Japanese vessels you are NOT required to surface, obtain the vessels surrender, and put the crew and passengers in lifeboats before sinking the vessel. Instead, upon ascertaining that it is a Japanese - Flag or Japanese controlled vessel, you may shoot on sight.

RMKS 3)      There are NO U.S. or allied vessels besides yourselves currently, or soon to be, operating North of Manila in the Philippines or North of the Gulf of Thailand in Indo China.

RMKS 4)      The MK VI Magnetic Exploder has been issued to all ' Fleet ' subs carrying MK XIV torpedoes. This Exploder is a secret technologically advanced device that is expected to produce High Sinking Ratios when used properly, that is, set to explode beneath the enemy vessels keel. Therefore ALL SUBMARINES SO EQUIPPED ARE DIRECTED TO SET THEIR TORPEDOS TO FOR A RUNNING DEPTH AT 10 TO 20 FEET BENEATH THE KEEL DEPTH OF THE VESSEL BEING ATTACKED!   Thus, for a target with a draft of 20 feet, the torpedo running depth should be set to 30 to 40 feet.

RMKS 5)      Because of the ' High Effectiveness ' of this exploder and a possible shortfall in torpedo inventory, if possible sink Merchant ships with ONE torpedo, use TWO only if necessary. For Capitol Ships, use the number of torpedo’s as the situation demands without being profligant.

RMKS 6)      Target priority is as follows:

                    1) Capitol Ships and Cruisers

                    2) Loaded Troop Transports

                    3) Light forces, Transports, Supply ships & Auxiliaries

                    4) Oil Tankers

RMKS 7)       SubRons are assigned to the following areas:

SubRon 1M ~ PacFlt - Caroline Islands 

                     Sub Asiatic - Philippines

SubRon 2M ~ PacFlt - Formosa

                     Sub Asiatic - Indochina

SubRon 3A ~ PacFlt - Empire ( Northern Japan )

                    Sub Asiatic - Philippines ( P1 thru P4 )

SubRon 4A ~

                        PacFlt - Palau Islands

LCDR Edwards, USS Plunger (Palau Islands – PI-2  – Dec 41- Jan 42)

 

 LCDR Schow, USS Gudgeon (Palau Islands – PI-1 – Dec 41- Jan 42)

 

LCDR Cox, USS Pompano (Palau Islands – PI-2 – Jan 42- Feb 42)

 

LCDR Staubach, USS Gar (Palau Islands – PI-2 – Feb-42)

 

LCDR Gundersen USS Bonita (Palau Islands – PI-1 – Jan 42- Feb 42)

 

LCDR Peters USS Narwhal (Palau Islands – PI-1 – Feb 42)

 

                    Sub Asiatic - South China Sea

CMDR Turner, USS Permit (South China Sea – SC-2 – Dec 41- Feb 42)

 

LCDR Bearden, USS Seawolf (South China Sea – SC-3 – Dec 41- Feb 42)

SubRon 5A ~ PacFlt - Empire ( South Japan )

                    Sub Asiatic - Indochina

SubRon 6A ~ PacFlt - Empire ( Northern Japan )

                    Sub Asiatic - South China Sea

SubRon 7A ~ PacFlt - Empire ( Southern Japan )

                   Sub Asiatic - Philippines ( P5 thru P9 )

SubRon 8A ~ PacFlt - Caroline Islands

                    Sub Asiatic - Indochina

 COMMENTS: In the event of any Submarine being on station for 10 or more days without sighting the enemy, the submarines CO should contact his SubRon CO for a request for redeployment to another area.

All commanders are to Acknowledge receipt of these orders.

Good Luck and Good Hunting, Hit'em Hard

CMDR. Greg Turner

CO SubRon 4A

RAdm Thomas Withers Jr.

SubPacFlt

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