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IMMEDIATE / /
To:
ComSubRon 4A
CC:
ComSubPac
From:
CMDR Barney Doyle U.S.S. Steelhead
Date: 9 January 1944
Subject:
Patrol Report, Cycle 9 (November 2002)
Remarks:
We departed Midway on December 9, 1943 and arrived in the Yellow Sea area on
December 17. We headed for our assigned area of YS-1.
Sub: U.S.S. Steelhead Class:
Gato
Hull damage: Light
(17%) System
Damage: None
Crew: Elite Status:
Operational
Total Patrol Time: 30.2
Days Repair
Time: 4 Days
Fuel Used: 112,686
Gallons (97%) Realism Rating: 95%
Ships Sunk: 14 Tonnage:
110,750 / 36,880
Warships: 1 (no tonnage) Merchants: 13
Pilots Saved: 0 Photo
Recons: 0
Weather: P/C, M/C, O/C Sea: Moderate, Heavy, Moderate
Patrol Mileage: 409
Nautical Miles
Ordnance Remaining: 0 - MK 14 Torpedo’s, 35 – Deck Gun Rounds.
(Medals Awarded –Navy Cross, Bronze Star + V)
1) 18 Dec 43 02:30 34-08N,
124-49E Std
Merchant 15,050 SUNK
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2) 18 Dec 43 02:33 34-08N,
124-49E Armed
Merch 6,800 SUNK
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3) 18 Dec 43 02:34 34-08N,
124-48E Troop
Ship 9,570 SUNK
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4) 18 Dec 43 02:42 43-10N,
124-48E Supply 2,090 SUNK
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5) 18 Dec 43 03:18 34-00N,
124-45E Supply 2,090 SUNK
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6) 19 Dec 43 14:51 36-22N,
124-39E Troop
Ship 7,490 SUNK
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7) 19 Dec 43 14:51 36-22N,
124-39E Troop
Ship 7,490 SUNK
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8) 21 Dec 43 08:38 38-26N,
122-13E Tanker 10,800 SUNK
9) 23 Dec 43 12:36 39-30N,
120-50E Troop
Ship 5,020 SUNK
10) 23 Dec 43 12:36 39-30N,
120-50E Std
Merchant 13,320 SUNK
11) 23 Dec 43 12:37 39-30N,
120-50E (DD)
Akizuki N/A SUNK
12) 23 Dec 43 12:41 39-30N,
120-50E Armed
Merch 10,040 SUNK
13) 26 Dec 43 04:04 37-53N,
124-01E Tanker 7,670 SUNK
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14) 26 Dec 43 12:41 37-53N,
124-01E Std
Merchant 13,320 SUNK
Total: 110,750
Raw / 36,880 Adjusted
Damage
Sustained:
1. Number
4 Engine (repaired)
2. Conning
Tower hull (repaired)
3. Radar,
(repaired)
4. Forward
Battery (repaired)
Aircraft
Encountered:
None
Commander’s Comments:
After arriving in the Yellow Sea we headed NNW to our assigned patrol area of YS-1.
December 18, 00:22 hours, we received a radar
contact and turned to intercept. 00:50 hours we spotted a medium unescorted
convoy consisting of five ships, headed
NNW. We completed an end-around to get in front of the targets. At 02:10 hours
we submerged in front of the convoy and awaited its approach. We fired at and
sunk an Oil Tanker, an AMC and a Troop Transport with torpedoes. We surfaced
and chased the two Supply Ships and sunk both with the deckgun. Resuming
patrol.
December 18, 14:19 hours, radar contact. Looks
like five to six ships with five escorts. 59 feet of water under the keel,
decided to let it pass. Correction there are eight not five escorts, considered
this to be too much of a risk to the boat and crew so we turned away. Lost
contact at 17:58 hours and resumed our trip northward.
December 19, 09:33 hours, astern of us at about
137`. Air radar contact so we dove to radar depth. Air contact moved off and we
lost contact so we surfaced and started an end-around to try to get in front of
the targets. 13:30 hours we spotted a large convoy, no escort’s insight,
started to move in. 13:59 hours we spotted a single escort at the rear of the convoy confirmed by
radar. Went to radar depth and awaited their approach. Fired at and sunk two
Troop Transports. Minor depth charging, minor damage. We were able to evade the
single escort and lost contact with him, maybe he was more interested in
returning to the convoy than us or it could have been the debris we released
that fooled him. Resuming our patrol.
December 21, 08:38 single contact, sighted a
single Oil Tanker moving fast headed for Port Arthur. Single torpedo and he’s
on the way to the bottom. Resuming our patrol.
December 23, 12:03 hours, spotted a medium
convoy in two rows headed right for us. We were on the port side of the convoy
as it approached with a single large escort coming up between the convoy and
us. Decided to start to turn and than fire the forward tubes at two ships in
the far column. And than as the stern tube bear we will fire at a target in the
near column. Fired at a Troop Transport and a Standard Merchant with the
forward tubes and as the stern comes around we fired at a AMC. Hit and sunk
both the TT and the SM but the darn DD got in the way of the stern shot took
one for good measure. The second and third torpedoes hit the AMC causing severe
damage. Since the DD was sinking we decided to surface and finish of the AMC
with the deck gun. Opened up with the deck gun and sunk the target. We turned
to follow the remainder of the convoy but received a radar contact that
aircraft were detected. We broke off the attack and dove before the aircraft
could spot us in the shallow water.
Lost contact and resumed our patrol.
December 26, 03:45 hours, radar contact. we got into a firing position ahead of the contact. Spotted a large convoy and decided to attack on the surface since it is pitch black out tonight. Radar shows what looks like two escorts both on the far side. We picked out two targets on the outer row and fired sinking a Oil Tanker and a Standard Merchant and moved off on the surface with the escorts never picking us up. No torpedoes left and fuel very low, time to head home.
CO USS Steelhead
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