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From: CAPT Greg Turner III
To:
ComSubPac
Date: 25 September 1943
Subject: Patrol
Report, USS Jack SS-259 (Cycle 8, October 2002)
Remarks: 2nd War Patrol, USS Jack,
Date:
25 September, 1943 Patrol
Area: Indochina (IC-1)
Sub: USS Jack SS-259 Class:
Gato
Crew: Veteran
Status: Operational
Total Patrol Time: 19
Days Repair
Time: 3 Day
Fuel Used: 78,795 Gallons (67%) Realism Rating: 95%
Ships Sunk:
6 Tonnage: 92,953 / 30,953
Pilots Saved: 0 Photo Recons: 0
Weather: Mostly Cloudy-Overcast Seas: Moderate-Heavy
Patrol Mileage:
977 Nautical Miles
Ordnance Remaining: 0 -
MK 14 Torpedo’s, 43 – Deck Gun Rounds.
(Medals
Awarded –Silver Star, Bronze
Star)
Date Time Location Ship Type Tonnage
Status
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2)
12 Sept 43 10:31 10-46N x 110-13E (DD) Kagero 2,033 SUNK
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4)
14 Sept 43 10:11 10-31N x 109-42E Oil Tanker 10,930 SUNK
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5)
14 Sept 43 10:11 10-31N x 109-42E Troop Ship 5,850 SUNK
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6)
14 Sept 43 10:14 10-31N x 109-42E Armed Merchant 10,270 SUNK
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7)
15 Sept 43 08:31 10-53N
x 112-27E (Sub) Kaidai
1,810 SUNK
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8)
16 Sept 43 05:29 10-24N
x 110-43E Std Merchant 5,910 SUNK
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9)
17 Sept 43 04:05 12-01N
x 111-28E (BB) Nagato
42,850 SUNK
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10)
14 Sept 43 10:14 10-31N x
109-42E Armed Merchant
N/A DAM
Total: 92,953 Raw /
30,953 Adjusted
Damage Sustained:
1. Crew Quarters Hull - Moderate
2. Aft Battery – Flooded = Chlorine Gas
3. DC Motor 2– Heavy
4. Conning Tower Hull –
Moderate
5.SD Radar – Heavy
Aircraft Encountered:
8
Aircraft Shot Down:
Depth Charges +Bombs:
10
DC + 20 Bombs
1 –
Enemy Torpedo
Commander's
Comments:
RMKS/
1. Departed Pearl Harbor for the Indochina Sea 2 September
1943.
RMKS/ 2. Arrived in the Indochina
Sea 11 September 1943 with a full load of 24 Mk-14 torpedo’s. The transit
burned roughly 30,000 gallons of fuel but left us plenty to patrol with.
Entered my assigned PZ of IC-1 and began searching for the enemy.
RMKS/ 3. 12 September 1943 07:25 SJ
Radar reported a contact bearing 114` at 12,800 yds. I headed north at flank
speed with heavy seas and overcast skies. 07:29 SD Radar picked up 3 air
contacts at a range of 17,000 yds. As they closed within 8,000 yds I went to
Radar depth. I watched them on radar and they were making a straight line toward
me so when the closed within 4,500 yds I crash dove and leveled off at 150
feet. 07:35 came back to periscope depth and spotted 1-Kongo class Battleship
bearing 307` at 9,000 yds making 23 kts. The BB zigged to 045` and I then
spotted 1-Mogami class CA trailing behind. Only 2 escorts were spotted,
1-Akizuki and 1-Fubuki. 07:44 spotted 2 aircraft passing down both sides of the
boat at about 400 yds. The BB group had already gained a lead on me and was
steadily pulling away with no chance of me catching them. With only a 15 degree
Angle on the Bow I elected not to waste my torpedo’s on such a long shot. 08:00
lost visual on the BB group in a rainsquall. After making sure the area was
clear of aircraft I surfaced and headed northeast.
RMKS/ 4. 09:41 while I was forward
in the Battery Room my XO called me to the bridge. SJ Radar had a contact
bearing 009` at 12,600 yds. I set an intercept course and began closing.
Suddenly my starboard lookout spotted an aircraft emerging from the low clouds
at about 2,200 yds bearing 016`. I Crash-dove as fast as possible but the
aircraft dropped a bomb very near that inflicted damage. Damage included DC
Motor 2-heavy, Crew Quarters Hull-Heavy, SD Radar-Heavy, Conning Tower
Hull-Moderate, Apparently the SD Radar was not functioning properly before the
encounter. The flooding in the Crew Quarters was pretty heavy and as I expected
within minutes the Aft battery Compartment began to fill with water. To lessen
the flooding I eased back to periscope depth and headed southwest at full
speed. 2DD’s were trailing at about 7,000 yds but slowly gaining on me. Damage
Control was working like mad and at 10:12 repaired the leak in the Conning
Tower to just a trickle. Also at this time the DD’s active sonar found us and
they began to close rapidly. At 10:17 just as I began to go deep Damage Control
reported Chlorine gas building in the Aft Battery Compartment. With both
surface and air contacts above I had little choice but to prepare to battle
surface. By 10:23 the flooding had began to overwhelm the pumps and the air
supply was extremely low and several men had passed out from the fumes. Finally
at 10:30 as the air supply became critical I raised the scope to engage the
DD’s. The Asashio was just closing within 500 yds when I fired 1 torpedo set at
4 feet with a 45-degree AOB. Seconds later I fired 1 torpedo at the Kagero DD
from 545 yds with a 30-degree AOB. To my extreme relief both torpedo’s hit and
sank the DD’s. I immediately ordered a battle surface and prepared to engage
aircraft. As I surfaced the AA crew manned the 20 MM gun but to my astonishment
no aircraft were found. I headed southeast at flank speed to clear the area and
began venting the boat. At 11:23 the Crew Quarters leak was contained and the
pumps began to gain ground. By 11:43 the Aft Battery Compartment had been
pumped dry and repairs began in there. By 14:24 both the SD Radar and DC Motor
2 was operational. I had the SD Radar put through its paces to be sure it was
functioning properly. It still had a problem and wasn’t 100%. Lookouts spotted
4 Sampans at 14:26 bearing 037` at 10,250 yds. After watching them I determined
they were just Chinese fisherman trying to make a living. I gave them a wide
berth and continued on patrol.
RMKS/ 5. Tuesday 14 September 1943
06:18 SJ contact bearing 330` at 14,200 yds and SD contact at 17,000 yds. I set
course to 095` and went to flank speed. The weather had improved a little to
Moderate seas and Partly Cloudy skies. 06:21 dove to radar depth with an air
contact at 5,200 yds. Spotted the aircraft bearing 075` closing on my position
so I went deep. The plane dropped short and no damage was sustained. I passed a
good thermal layer at 250 feet. Sonar reported low speed screws bearing about
090`. Arrived back at periscope depth at 06:43 and then up to Radar depth. No
surface contacts were picked up but an air contact was at 10,000 yds. I dove
back to 250 feet to clear the area. At 07:31 I came back to radar depth and
after checking that the area was clear I surfaced and resumed patrolling.
RMKS/ 6. 08:28 lookouts spotted a
warship bearing 195` at 14,700 yds closing. I secured the engines to let it
come to us. Over the next few minutes several ships were spotted. A convoy
consisting of 4 columns with 12 ships and at least 4 escorts. 09:22 went to
Radar depth as the convoy closed and set all torpedo depths for 18 feet. I
worked into position between the 1st and 2nd column
consisting of 2-Tankers, 2-Armed Merchants, 1-Large Freighter and 1-Troop ship.
Total count for the convoy was 2-Standard Merchants, 3-Troop ships, 3-Large
Freighters, 2-Tankers, and 2-Armed Merchants with 2-Fubuki, 1-Akizuki, and
1-Asashio DD’s spotted. At 10:11 I commenced firing torpedo’s at multiple
targets. Fired 1 torpedo at the lead Tanker Column 1 and sank it. Fired1 torpedo
at the Tanker in Column 2 and sank it. Fired 2 torpedo’s at the Armed Merchant
in Column 1, which hit then fired a 3rd to sink the AMC. Fired 2
torpedo’s at the 2nd AMC and watched both premature, then fired a 3rd
torpedo, which hit but failed to sink the ship. Fired 1 torpedo at the Troop
ship in column 2 and it prematured so I fired a 2nd torpedo, which
sank the Troop ship. All torpedo’s were fired from ranges under 700 yds. I
immediately dove and got below a thermal layer at 250 feet and easily eluded
the escorts. I escaped on a heading of 175` at 351 feet. Sound reported at
least 7 sets of High speed Screws searching the area. At 11:05 sound lost
contact and I went to periscope depth. Spotted 7 DD’s astern at 12,000 yds
searching where they lost me when I hit the thermal. I headed south and by
11:59 I had lost visual and surfaced. I
headed 319` to search for any ships of the convoy. No ships were found so I
continued patrolling.
RMKS/ 7. 19:44 SJ Radar picked up
two contacts bearing 012` at 14,400 yds. I closed on the contacts and at 19:51
went to radar depth with the contacts at 8,300 yds bearing 003`. 20:00 I
spotted 2-C type IJN submarines bearing 257` and 003` at 2,200 yds. I set up
all tubes for 16 feet depth. I waited for both subs to come into range and let
the lead sub pass aft of me at 500 yds. At 20:04 just as the setup looked
perfect both subs began to dive. I
fired 1 stern torpedo from 500 yds only to watch it pass above the diving sub.
I fired a 2nd torpedo set for 33 feet only to watch it miss to. With
the second sub closing my position I dove deep and fast. I headed to the
southeast in the same direction as the enemy subs. After a few minutes I eased
back to Radar depth to search. At 21:33 SJ Radar picked up one sub surfacing
bearing 328` at 8,540 yds. I surfaced at 21:36 and began to trail. The enemy
sub had a speed advantage over me and began to pull away. I continued to track
it by radar at flank speed. The range was out to 11,220 yds by 23:26. I slowly
began to close on the enemy sub at t is time. At 05:12 I sent off a message to
ComSubPac to relay to the USS Steelhead that I was now crossing into his Patrol
Area to the south. Finally ay 06:22 lookouts spotted the enemy sub bearing 356`
at 10,733 yds making 16 kts. With no speed advantage I decided to fire at it
with the deck gun in hopes of turning it or making it dive so I could close.
06:42 the deck gun fired from 10,100 yds. Fired 5 rounds for 5 misses but this
caused the enemy sub to turn southeast and I began to close rapidly. At 06:43
the sub dove and I continued to close on its last known track. Suddenly at
06:50 lookouts spotted an incoming torpedo from 310` at about 2,000 yds. I did
a fishtail maneuver and evaded the torpedo. I then dove to radar depth and went
silent to listen for the sub. At 07:58 SJ Radar reported a new contact bearing
168` at 14,670 yds closing our position. Unknown if this was the second sub or
not. At 08:04 I spotted the enemy sub surfacing bearing 178` at 14,100 yds. I
immediately set an intercept course. Unsure if this is the sub I fired the deck
gun on. It could have reversed its course after diving though. I closed rapidly with a great starboard
broadside shot. At 08:30 I fired 1 torpedo set at 8 feet from 700 yds only to
watch it miss just ahead of the sub. I immediately fired a 2nd
torpedo from 550 yds and watched as the sub tried to evade on the surface to no
avail. It was just starting to dive when the torpedo hit just forward of the
Conning Tower. The detonation broke the sub into 2 separate pieces and both
went down within a few seconds. No one could have survived that. After a
12-hour chase at full alert I eased the boat to 300 feet to rest the men and
give the engines a cooling down. The flank speed run had burned out a few
bearings but was well worth it. Surfaced at 18:46 and headed back to my Patrol
Zone while charging the battery which was down to 170 volts. Rough estimates
have the chase at about 175 nautical miles.
RMKS/ 8. Thursday 16 September 1943
00:47 SJ Radar contact bearing 126` at 12,870 yds.15 minutes later the
starboard lookout spotted 1-Shiratsuyu DD bearing 147` at 7,800 yds. Also
spotted a large Freighter but had to dive as suddenly 2 DD’s appeared and
headed right for us. I suspect they had radar. As we were starting down I saw
the convoy turning away to the north and active sonar hit us. I passed below a
thermal at 240 feet and leveled out at 354 feet and easily evaded the DD’s.
They dropped 6 depth charges sporadically. Sound lost contact on the DD’s at
02:25 and I was back to Radar depth 02:50. Picked up 3 contacts astern at
10,700 yds and a lone contact bearing 054` at 13,560 yds. I surfaced and headed
for the lone contact. 03:21 lookouts spotted a single Standard Merchant bearing
359` at 9,200 yds heading southwest at 15.8 kts. I closed on the surface and at
05:11 fired 1 torpedo set for 16 feet from 1,400 yds. Seconds out of the tube
it prematured badly shaking the Jack. Five minutes later I fired a 2nd
torpedo from 1,050 yds and watched it impact the ship. The SM slowed but
continued on so I ordered the gun crew to action. At 05:22 I gave the word to
open fire from about 500 yds and over the next few minutes they fired 47 rounds
for 45 hits and2 misses. The Merchant finally succumbed to the damage and sank.
RMKS/ 9. 06:30 SJ Radar bearing
308` at 12,130 yds with SD air contact at 17,000 yds. I dove to Radar depth as
the sun was up with very few clouds to hide me. Air Radar reported 3 aircraft.
Also spotted 2-Mutsuki DD’s but never saw more due to the aircraft forcing me down.
At 07:52 I made it back to Radar depth and had contact at 180` at 13,890 yds
with the aircraft at 14,570 yds. Whatever it was pulled away with ease and
eluded me. I surfaced and headed north.
RMKS/ 10. Friday 17 September 1943
03:33 SJ Radar contact bearing 195` at 12,120 yds and closing rather rapidly. I
dove to radar depth. Twenty minutes later I spotted a magnificent site, a
Nagato class Battleship and a Kongo class Battleship bearing roughly 315` at
9,400 yds. Their track had them passing right ahead of me until the zigged to
starboard and came right at me. I turned to due south and as the BB passed by
at 1,000 yds I fired all 6 of my remaining torpedo’s at 04:05 then immediately
headed deep. There were DD’s close by and one just 1,000 yds aft. The torpedo’s
impacted in quick succession and literally blew the bottom out of the BB. Then
while I was passing through 130 feet the DD’s active sonar found me and they
charged after me. I passed below a
thermal t 240 feet and changed course to due west. Leveled off at 363 feet at
2/3 speed. The DD’s dropped 7 depth charges but none of them were even close.
Sound reported 9 sets of High Speed Screws above and we could even hear the 2nd
BB pass overhead. The slow beat of the propellers was very discernable. We
continued west with ease and lost contact at 05:05. At 05:45 I came to
periscope depth then radar depth. No contacts were picked up so being out of
torpedo’s I set a course for base.
Torpedo Performance:
Hits = 17
Duds = 0
Premature = 4
Miss = 3
Deck Gun Performance:
Hits = 45
Misses = 7
CAPT Greg Turner III
USS Jack, SS-259
ComSubRon 4A
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