TO: Submarine  Commanders, SubRon 4A

FROM: ComSubPac / ComSubRon 4A

DATE: December 1943

SUBJECT: Mission Orders (Cycle 9 November 2002)

RMKS: 1 Operation ‘Galvanic’ was a complete success and the Gilbert Islands are now secure. ONI believes that with the upcoming U.s. led amphibious invasion of the Marshal Islands, code-named ‘Operation Flintlock", Admiral Koga, CinC IJN, will withdraw to the Palau and Mariana Islands. All boats in the Caroline and Mariana island areas are to expect heavy IJN activity.

RMKS: 2 The enemy oil fields at Tarakan and Balikapapan produce oil pure enough to be utilized with out-processing. Intelligence reports that the Japanese are loading it directly from the fields into tankers, while this fuel is not a flammable as gasoline, it does contain elements that are highly volatile. A torpedo hit can start a raging, uncontrollable fire, forcing the crew to abandon ship and leave it to its fate. Tankers are now considered a ‘TOP PRIORITY’ target.

RMKS: 3 To reiterate the orders released 24 June 1943, All MK VI magnetic influence exploders are to be deactivated. Some of the commanders in the SoWesPac area have been given orders to continue using this exploder mechanism, as of this date ALL commanders are ordered to use the new firing pins being supplied by BuOrd and to set there torpedoes for contact hits MOT.

RMKS: 4 SubRons are assigned to the following areas of operation:

SubRon 1M PacFlt ~ Empire ( Southern Japan )

                   SoWesPac ~ Philippine Islands

SubRon 2M PacFlt ~ Mariana Islands ( Special Mission SM2CY9 )

                   SoWesPac ~ IndoChina

SubRon 3A PacFlt ~ Yellow Sea ( YS-3, 5 & 6 )

                  SoWesPac ~ Sulu Sea ( SS-1,2 & 3) ( Special Mission SM3CY9 )

 

SubRon 4A~

 

                    PacFlt – Yellow Sea

                    CMDR. Schow II, USS Greenling - (Yellow Sea – YS-2 - Dec 43-Feb 44)

 

                   CMDR. Gundersen, USS Pogy - (Yellow Sea – YS-4 - Dec 43-Feb 44)

 

        CMDR. Doyle, USS Steelhead - (Yellow Sea – YS-1 - Dec 43-Jan 44)

 

        CMDR. Cox, USS SeaDragon - (Yellow Sea – YS-1 – Jan 44-Feb 44)

      LCDR McBeach, USS Gato - (Yellow Sea – YS-4 – Feb 44)

 

                    SoWesPac - Malaysia

                    CAPT. Turner III, USS Jack - (Malaysia – M-1+2 – Dec 43-Feb 44)

       CMDR. Edwards, USS Angler - (Malaysia – Special Ass. – Dec 43-Feb 44)

SubRon 5A PacFlt ~ Caroline Islands ( Special Mission SM5CY9 )

                  SoWesPac ~ South China Sea

SubRon 6A PacFlt ~ Palau Islands

                   SoWesPac ~ Java Sea ( JS-6, 5 & 4 )

SubRon 7A PacFlt ~ Formosa

                  SoWesPac ~ Java Sea ( JS-1, 2 & 3 )

SubRon 8A PacFlt ~ Empire ( Northern Japan )

                  SoWesPac ~ Sulu Sea ( SS-4, 5 & 6 )

All commanders are to Acknowledge receipt of these orders.

 

Good Luck and Good Hunting

CAPT. GregTurner III                                    CO SubRon 4A                                                                                                                                                                

Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood

Commanding SubPacFlt

 

// SENDS //