/ / IMMEDIATE / /
To:
ComSubRon 4A
CC:
ComSubPac
From:
CMDR Barney Doyle
Date:
27 September 1943
Subject:
Patrol Report, Cycle 8 (October 2002)
Remarks:
We departed on 3 September and arrived in our patrol area on 11 September, we
have a load of the new MK XVIII electric torpedoes on board and are looking
forward to trying them out.
Sub: U.S.S. Steelhead
SS-280 Class:
Gato
Crew: Elite Status:
Operational
Hull Damage: 0 System
Damage: None (0%)
Total Patrol Time: 19.1
Days Repair
Time: Operational
Fuel Used: 72,954
Gallons (62%) Realism Rating: 95%
Ships Sunk: 10 Tonnage:
142,664 /
47,507
Warships: 2 Merchants:
8
Pilots Saved: 0 Photo
Recons: 0
Weather: Clear, P/C,
Foggy Sea:
Calm
Patrol Mileage: 1,230
Nautical
Miles
Ordnance Remaining: 0 - MK 14 Torpedo’s, 43 – Deck Gun Rounds.
(Silent Hunter Awards: Silver Star, Bronze Star with combat V)
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Total: 142,664
Raw / 47,507 Adjusted
Damage Sustained:
Aircraft Encountered:
2
Depth Charges:
30 to 35 counted
Commander’s Comments:
After arriving in our patrol area we stared a
standard patrol.
September 12, 19:20 hours, we picked up a radar
contact ahead and spotted a single unescorted Oil Tanker moving fast headed
south. We fired a single torpedo, which caused heavy damage to the target. We
surfaced and sunk the target with the deckgun with 3 rounds fired. Resuming
patrol.
September 12, 21:42 hours, picked up another
radar contact and turned to intercept. 21:48 hours we spotted a medium convoy
with a heavy escort. We set-up on two oil tankers and fired two torpedoes at
each. All four hit and sunk both targets. We went deep to avoid the escorts and
were able to evade under the cover of a thermal layer at 340 feet. 23:20 hours
we went to radar depth and picked up the escorts looking for us about 7,000
yards astern and several contacts ahead at 14,000 yards range. We surfaced to
follow the merchants. The targets were scattered and we headed for the closest
target and over took a Troop Transport. At 700 yards we fired a single torpedo
at the target and caused heavy damage to it. We finished it off with the
deckgun and moved off as the escorts were headed back out way. Lost contact and
resumed patrol.
September 14, 06:02 hours, we spotted a medium
convoy and maneuvered into a firing position. We dove to radar depth and set-up
on two large Oil Tankers. At 07:15 hours we fired two torpedoes at each target
sinking both. We dove deep to avoid the escort. Lost contact and came to radar
depth.
September 14, 09:35 hours sound reports
slow/high speed screw sounds and we picked several large contacts and many
smaller ones on radar. Looking through the scope we were right in front of a BB
group headed for us. We set-up on the lead BB and fired all tubes forward as we
were turning to bring the stern tubes to bear. All hit and caused severe
damage, we fired two stern tubes at the target and both hit and sunk a Fuso
Class BB. We dove deep to avoid the escorts and were depth charged for out
trouble. We were able to evade under a thermal and lost contact. Resuming
patrol.
September 15, 12:35 hours, single radar contact
headed Northeast. We believe the contact to be a IJN Sub so we surfaced to
follow. Tracked the target for 180 miles before spotting a IJN Submarine on the
surface. As we overtook the target slowly they must have spotted us as they
started to submerge and than the lookouts reported “torpedo in the water”. We
evaded the torpedo and dove to radar depth to try and track the target. We
spotted his periscope and he fired a second torpedo at our radar mast. We dove
deeper to evade and came back to radar depth. No sign of the target so we
headed on a course that the target was travelling before submerging. Finally
the radar operator announced radar contact ahead. We than spotted a IJN
submarine surfacing about 5,600 yards of the port bow. We surface to follow
again. The target was moving too fast so we decide to fire the deckgun at it
more to get him to dive than hoping for a hit. Our idea worked because he
pulled the plug and went under. We moved ahead a little further and the
lookouts spotted a “ torpedo in the water” again. We turned to evade and
submerged and headed NNE again at full speed for 30 minutes. We slowed down to
1/3 speed and raised the radar mate again. No contacts, could we have lost him?
After a little wile moving at 1/3 speed the radar operator picked up a contact
astern and a look through the scope confirmed that it was out friend again but
this time we were in front of him. We awaited his approach and at 8,00 yards we
fired a single torpedo and watched as it broke him in two. We surfaced and
after watching him go down for the final time we resumed our patrol.
September 17, 00:10 hours, we spotted a medium
convoy and maneuvered into a firing position. At 00:31 hours we fired at two
Oil Tankers and sunk them both. We dove deep to evade the escorts and finally
lost concoct with them and headed for home with all tubes empty.
The MK XVIII torpedoes all worked beautifully
but did not have the punch of the MK XIV.
CO: USS Steelhead
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