/ / IMMEDIATE / /
To:
ComSubRon 4A
CC:
ComSubPac
From:
LCDR Ethan Edwards
Date:
25 June 1943
Subject:
Patrol Report, Cycle 7 (September, 2002)
Remarks:
We departed Fremantle on 3 June and arrived in the Sulu Sea on 11 June and set
course for our assigned area.
Sub: U.S.S. Growler
SS-215 Class:
Gato
Hull damage: None (0%) System
Damage: None (0%)
Crew: Elite Status:
Operational
Total Patrol Time: 17.8
Days Repair
Time: None (0%)
Fuel Used: 74,731
Gallons (63%) Realism Rating: 95%
Ships Sunk: 4 Tonnage:
129,948 / 43,273
Warships: 3 (114,298) Merchants: 1 (15,650)
Pilots Saved: 0 Photo
Recons: 0
Weather: PC / Foggy /
PC Sea:
Moderate
Patrol Mileage: 962
Nautical Miles
Ordnance Remaining: 0 - MK 14 Torpedo’s, 95 – Deck Gun Rounds.
(Medals Awarded –Navy Cross, Bronze Star)
1) 13 June 43 06:04
09-23N x 117-10E (CA)
Takao 15,780 SUNK
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2) 14 June 43 14:30
09-04N X 116-59E Oil
Tanker 15,650 SUNK
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3) 14 June 43 23:57 08-32N X 117-01E (SBB) Yamato 71,569 SUNK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) 14 June 43 02:35 09-18N x 117-05E (CV) Hiyo 26,949
SUNK
Total: 129,948 Raw
/ 43,273 Adjusted
Damage Sustained:
None
Aircraft Encountered:
3
Commander’s Comments:
After arriving in the Sulu
Sea we had to traverse the Balabac Strait between the Islands of Palawan and
Malaysia. Half way through the strait we encountered a large patrol and had to
dive and stay close to the bottom to avoid being spotted. After loosing the
patrol and exiting the strait we headed NNW to start our patrol in the deeper
water off Palawan.
June 12,
at 05:39 hrs. we spotted a CA group headed down the Palawan Passage and
maneuvered into a firing position. At 06:02 hrs we fired five torpedoes at the
first CA in the group. We had 4 hits and 1 premature torpedo, which alerted the
escorts, and we had to dive before we could see the Ca head for the bottom. We
were able to get under a thermal layer and avoid detection and finally loose
contact at about 09:30 hrs. We surfaced and resumed our patrol.
June 14,
14:09 hrs we spotted a small convoy of three ships, an oil tanker and two small
freighters. We went to periscope depth and maneuvered into a firing position.
At 14:28 hrs we fired at the lead ship and sank it with a single torpedo. We
had to dive to avoid the escorts and lost contact after a short time. Surfaced
and resumed our patrol.
June 14, 15:32 hrs we
received a radar contact off to starboard and seemed to be headed eastward
toward land. We decided to follow the contact, which seemed to be making about
21 or 22 knots. We rang up flank speed and followed. At about 19:10 hours the
contact seemed to slow down and than stop off the coast. We approached very
slowly and at 22:20 hrs we spotted a BB group anchored off the SW coast of
Palawan in a small cove. Upon or moving in closer we identified the Ships as a
BB of the Kongo class and a SBB of the Yamato class and a third capitol ship, a
CA of unknown class. There was three DD’s patrolling around the group. We moved
in and from an angle of 90` we fired all tubes at the SBB set for 13 feet and
slow speed. We moved off as the fish were on their way. Sound reported 8 hits
and 2 duds from the 10 torpedoes we fired. We raised the scope and were able to
see the Yamato class SBB in flames but still afloat. The DD’s were getting
nosey so we move further off. After looking around for a short time they headed
back and two seemed to anchor close to the burning SBB and the third went
patrolling to the North. We reloaded the tubes and moved in again. At 23:52 hrs
we fired 2 more torpedoes at the SBB and 1 prematured half way to the target
but the second hit right under the stack and blew her bottom out. As the SBB
started to sink we made our way out of there southward to avoid any DD’s
patrolling north of us. After about 2 hrs we surfaced and resumed our patrol.
June 16,
19:55 hrs we had a radar contact and headed for it. At 20:08 hrs we spotted a
CV group of two CV’s and four DD’s as escort. We submerged in front of the on
coming group and set up on the large CV in the group. At a range of 700 yards
we fired five fish forward at the target. 4 hits and 1 dud but she won’t go
down. As she passed down our starboard side we set up our last fish in the
stern tube and fired at 500 yds. We watched as the CV went up in a ball of
flame and smoke and than dove deep to avoid the escorts. After a short depth
charging we were able to evade and finally loose contact. We surfaced and
headed for home.
This was
the finest patrol yet for the Growler and I will be sad to leave her.
CO USS Growler SS-215
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