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IMMEDIATE / /
To: CAPT. Greg Turner III
Cc: ComSubPac
Date: 27 September 1943
Subject: Patrol Report, USS Sea Dragon, SS-194 (October
06 - Cycle VIII)
Remarks: 2nd War Patrol, USS Sea Dragon
Date: 26 September 1943 Patrol Area: Palau Islands, (PI-2)
Sub: SS-194 USS Sea Dragon Class: Sargo
Crew: Veteran Status:
Operational
Hull Damage: (10%) System
Damage: (8%)
Total Patrol Time: 23.1 Days Repair
Time: 3
Days
Fuel Used: 82,065 Gallons (82%) Realism
Rating: 95%
Ships Sunk: 7 Tonnage:
26,830 / 8,934
Pilots Saved: 0 Photo
Recons: 0
Weather: Clear to Partly Cloudy Seas:
Calm
to Moderate
Patrol Mileage: 175 Nautical Miles
Ordnance Remaining: 0 - MK 14 Torpedo’s, 0 – Deck Gun Rounds.
(Medals Awarded – Silver Star, Bronze Star + V)
Date Time Location Ship Type Tonnage
Status
1) 15 Sept 43 17:45
07-20N x 135-18E Large Freighter 3,300 SUNK
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2) 15 Sept 43 17:45
07-20N x 135-18E Troop Transport 3,750 SUNK
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3) 15 Sept 43 17:50
07-20N x 135-18E Converted Factory 7,150 SUNK
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4) 15 Sept 43 17:50
07-20N x 135-18E Standard Merchant 5,450 SUNK
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5) 15 Sept 43 18:21
07-20N x 135-20E Troop Transport 3,750 SUNK
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6) 15 Sept 43 18:41
07-14N x 135-19E Small Freighter 2,240 SUNK
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7) 15 Sept 43 19:11
07-14N x 135-11E Supply Ship 1,190 SUNK
Total: 28,830 Raw / 8,934 Adjusted
Damage Sustained:
1. Light Damage to Pressure Hull in Aft Torpedo Room,
2. Light Damage to DC Motor #2,
3. Light Damage to Periscope.
Commander's Comments:
Arrived on Station
(Tuesday) 14 Sept. 1943 at 08:53 hrs. 220 N-Miles do East of Konor Harbor in
the Palau Island's @ 08-25N, 139-44E; Started moving West, by Southwest at 2/3
kts with lookout's, looking hard for any Japanese's shipping.
Arrived Northeast of Konor Harbor on the morning
(00:30 hrs) of the 15th of September 1943. Turned the SeaDragon South, Southwest
going along the East side of the island. When radar picked up a Task Force
heading toward the SeaDragon at 03:30 hrs as I ordered the SeaDragon to head
for the target. At 04:00 hrs moved in on the Task Force, at 04:25 hrs lookout's
spotted 2-Heavy Cruiser's, 2-Light Cruiser's, and 4-Destroyer's, went to radar
depth at 04:33 hrs on this full moon early morning.
Headed to 315* @ standard
speed when the Task Force turned to a new heading of 102*. Ordered the
SeaDragon to periscope depth, and a new heading 282* @ 1/3 speed as the dawn
was coming on fast. Setup on the first Mogami Class heavy cruiser, firing 4
stern tubes's at her as I fired 4-bow tubes at the second Mogami Class heavy
cruiser. Getting 0 hit's on the first Mogami, and 0 hit's on the Mogami Class,
as the SeaDragon was heading deep (300 ft.), as fast as she could go, as test
depth is 256 ft. I guess the DD's went to go check out the explosion's of the 8
torpedo's as SeaDragon made good her escape from the area with light damage
that the crew was able to repair.
On the surface,
SeaDragon was able to re-charge her batteries, and make minor repair's.
With the
SeaDragon in good shape, at 17:00 hrs of the same day, Radar picked-up a convoy
heading 352*, speed 9 kts. Went to radar depth, and a new heading of 180*, @
1/3 speed. The sun was going down in the west as the SeaDragon went to
periscope depth, and waited for the convoy to come up. At 17:30 hrs made a
check on the convoy, and found 1-Large Freighter, 2-Troop Transport's, 1-
Converted Factory, 1-Standard Merchant, 1-Small Freighter, 3-Supply Ship's
still coming up as the hole ocean was there's, and there's alone, With NO
escort's in sight so far.
Fired 1-torpedo
on the Standard Merchant, 1-at the Converted Factory from the bow tube's, Then
fired 2-torpedo's at the Large Freighter, 2 at the first in line of the Troop
Transport's from the stern tube's, As I was surprised too find that this convoy
was NOT escorted at all.
As the first
torpedo's found their targets, 2 of the first 4 went to the bottom. (Large
Freighter, Troop Transport) With SeaDragon having only 6 torpedo's left, I gave
the order to surface for deck action, as night-fall was falling fast, and the
convoy was going in all different way's. We opened up on the convoy, Only too
slow them down to put more fish in them. First was the Converted Factory,
firing 1 torpedo at her, and Second was the Standard Merchant with 1 torpedo,
Both target's went to the bottom at 17:50 hrs when we got done. Opened up on
the second Troop Transport to slow her down, Setup 2 torpedo's up on the troop
transport, and fired the torpedo's that put her on the bottom. The Small Freighter
was next with deck guns and 2 torpedo's. The Supply Ship sank after about 15
rds in her. Everyone else had escaped, and unable to pick-up, find, or catch.
Made decision to head for home as the whole area was a blaze.
CMDR. James D. Cox II, USN
CO: USS-Sea Dragon, SS-194
U.S. Navy
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