TMO 2.5 w custom mods
100 difficulty, cams off map contacts on.
USS Drum SS-228
Sixth War Patrol
7 June-26 July 1943
Assigned area: Truk-Rabaul shipping lanes South of Truk, north of Bismark Sea, New Ireland, Admiralty Islands.
(A) Prologue
Returned from fifth war patrol on May 6, 1943. Normal refit by U.S.S. FULTON at Brisbane, Australia. Ready for sea, June 7, 1943.After six successful patrols ,Executive Officer LT Irving T. Ryan detached for new construction, LT Benjamin Roderick P. Digby assumed the role of Executive Officer.
Mission: DESTROY ENEMY VESSELS in Truk-Rabaul shipping lanes.
(B) Narrative
7 June-
0900- Departed Brisbane, Australia for patrol area.
1300-Trim dive.
8-10 June-
Conducted diving, attack, and emergency drills.
11 June
0350-In the Solomon Sea at 8 S 154 14 E lookouts spotted enemy destroyer, turned out to be part of a task force. SJ radar failed to detect them until was just 6000 yards away. Task Force on course 285 est 20 knots. Turned to avoid being sighted and began shadowing. General Quarters. The weather was difficult to put it mildly with heavy swells, wind, and cloud cover, but combined with moonlight provided a glow to the sea an odd light to the night sky. This made moving into firing position difficult for Drum.
0425-Task force is one CA, one CL, 5 DD. Course 283 17 knots. Unable to close to ideal range due to heavy seas limited Drums speed to 18 knots.Opted for long range shot on surface. Contact report sent to CTF-72
0340-Received reply from CTF-72 X ATTACK AND DESTROY X
0439-Task force zigged slightly towards Drum, closing the range. Give this, opted for submerged for attack.
0446 - ATTACK NO.1 - Fired six MK 14 torpedoes. Four at TAKAO CA believed to be the MAYA and two at AGANO CLASS CL. Range:4100/3800 AOB:42/52 POA:MOT (both)
Torpedo depth set to 12 feet due to heavy sea state.
0447- heard four premature detonations of torpedoes.
0448-Two torpedoes hit AGANO CL under forward turrets causing large explosions. Vessel quickly engulfed in flames and began to sink. One torpedo impacted the in the bow of the MAYA. Drum was already in a turn for follow up shot with stern tubes.
0449-Pinging. DD closing. Fired four torpedoes from stern tubes range 2900 yards AOB 110 depth 12 feet.
0450-Agano Class CL 6652 tons sunk 8 S 154 05 E. Three premature explosions heard and observed.
0452-Torpedo impacted amidships of CA as it attempted to comb the wake. Large explosion and fireball. DD at 800 yards closing fast. Ordered 300 ft, rigged for depth charge and silent running.
0503-Depth charges but none close. Heavy seas proved an obstacle to enemy ASW efforts.
0600-Lost sound contact with all vessels. Last contact had DD's moving away at high speed.
0800-Periscope depth. Now daylight, observed the CA dead in the weather, decks submerged with the superstructure protruding from the water. Obviously a wreck, but stubbornly refusing to sink, left behind by others. Drum began closing, increased depth to 200 feet to avoid a large enemy flying boat.
0830-Fired two torpedoes to finish off CA. One went into circular run forcing Drum deep. Second impacted but failed to detonate, audible thud heard on sound at time of impact but no explosion.
0836-Back at periscope depth. Fired two more torpedoes rang 600 yards, both impacted. The first torpedo detonated forward magazine setting off large explosions. Ship burning and begin to quickly sink.
0838-Takao Class Heavy Cruiser 9850 tons sunk 7 59 S 154 03 E.
0840-Secured GQ went deep to reload torpedoes and remain submerged for rest of day.
0915-Sound contact warship bearing 040 closing fast. Ordered periscope depth.
1013-Enemy destroyers possibly arriving to hunt for Drum in area of the previous attack.
2100-Surfaced and set course for Milne Bay to reload before proceeding to patrol area.
12 June -
1000-1700-Reloaded torpedoes and topped fuel at Milne Bay. Departed at 1715.
At 1800 Observed a large explosion, apparently a patrol craft wondered into the mine field or struck a loose mine. No survivors observed.
15 June-
0922- 1'3 N 152 54 E- Submerged to avoid closing aircraft at 180.After leveling at 170 feet, three large depth charge explosions.
1240-Surfaced.
16 June-
0603- During morning trim dive to 90 feet, sound detected possible submerged submarine bearing 092 degrees, possibly making an attack approach on Drum prior to trim dive. General Quarters. Drum went to silent running and began approach on contact.
0736 Sound has submerged submarine bearing 013 closing at low speed.
0837-ATTACK NO. 2 Fired one torpedo on sound bearings. Est range 2000 AOB 85. torpedo Depth 50 feet. Drum went to 200 ft. Torpedo missed. Sub continued on. Drum went to 300 feet.
1400-All clear
1450-Surfaced.
19 June-
0300- Received ULTRA. Large loaded tanker departing Woleai 0800 20 June. Plot should Drum could arrive off Woleai by 0500 20 June at 18 knots from present position. Set course for position 40 NM S of Woleai.
20 June-
1000-SJ contacts bearing 355 9 NM.
1002-Smoke spotted on horizon. General Quarters
1007-Large tanker with one escort spotted 060. Est course speed 200 at 16 knots. Contact report sent to CTF-72. Position 6 51 N 143 56 E 50 NM S of Woleai.
1008-Went to 300 feet for high speed run to close range.
1017-Convoy zigged to east according to sound.
1029-Periscope depth. Bearing 000 range 1700 yards Otori Class torpedo boat...trailing is large GENYO MARU class tanker 11800 tons.
1033-ATTACK NO. 2- Fired four MK 14 torpedoes range 1400 yards AOB 80 Torpedo depth 15 feet. POA MOT. Target course is 170 14.5 knts. Two premature explosions.
1035-Two torpedoes impacted amidships, setting off massive explosion, obviously the tanker was loaded with fuel. Ship left a flaming wreck, dead in water, sinking.
1038-GENYO MARU 11800 tons sunk 6 52 N 143 56 E. Otori closing fast. Drum to 300 feet, rigged for depth charge and silent running.
1043-Pinging.
1045-DC explosions. Over the new several hours the escort hunted and laid several patterns but the attack was ineffective. Sonar conditions were ideal, so this was surprising.
1600-Lost sonar contact.
2100-Surfaced.
22 June-
0701-SJ contact bearing 270. 9 NM.
0819-Contact is Otori Class TB, possible the escort from the 20 June tanker sinking. Avoided contact.
23 June-7 July-
Continued patrol but made no contacts, except daily patrol aircraft which were never visually sighted. On 25 June received orders to deactivate magnetic features on torpedoes. All torpedoes switched to contact exploders.
8 July-
1507- SJ contact 326 9 NM.
1535-Submerge for attack on enemy TF.
1555- ATTACK NO. 4 Fired four torpedoes at Aoba Class CA. Range 3400 yards AOB 80 Torpedo depth 8 ft. POA MOT. target course/speed 025 17 knots. Lead CA is Takao class, led by Asashio DD. Unknown DD trailing.
1557-Torpedo 1 hit vessel amidships but failed to detonate, audible on sound and observed through periscope, confirmed dud. The alerted CA was expertly conned to comb the wakes of remaining torpedoes, with a hard turn to port with full power, causing torpedo 2 just miss the stern. The CA's turn continued to the same course as the approaching torpedoes, torpedo 3 passed down the starboard side at just a few feet, even close enough could have brushed the hull of the CA, as did torpedo 4 on the port side. Following orders from 24 June, magnetic features on all torpedoes were disabled. However, in this instance they likely would have lead to two hits as they passed along side at close enough range to trigger magnetic detonators.
1603-Pinging.Depth charge explosions.
1621- One close depth charge caused serious damage to Drum. Drum was at 375 feet. See Damage section for details.
1650-Lost sound contact with escorts. Once again, it appears those escorting task forces or fast moving convoys do not hunt to destroy an enemy submarine, but merely to hold the sub down while their charges escape. Also possibly they thought Drum was destroyed.
2100-Surface.
9-19 July- patrolled, no contacts.
19 July- Fuel situation necessitated began trek home with a stop at Milne Bay.
23 July-
1500-Arrived Milne Bay, refueled, departed 1900.
24 July- While transiting Jomard Passage, an RAAF PBY attacked Drum in a case of mistaken identity. The SD radar for unknown reasons did not detect the aircraft until was just 5 NM away. A crash dive was ordered and several explosions rocked Drum as she passed 146 feet. The bombing caused minor damage overall. See damage section .
26 July-
1500-Drum docked at Brisbane. Patrol terminated.
(C) Weather
The weather during was overall pleasant but there were periods of storms with heavy seas, cloud cover, and rain.
(D) Tidal Information
In the patrol area, 2° S. currents of one-half knot setting east to southeast were experienced at times.
In the area, westward of the Solomon Islands, from 10° S. to the pass between New Ireland and Buka, currents of 1.0 to 1.5 knots setting southeasterly were encountered.
(E) Navigational Aids
None sighted.
(F) Attack Data
Number of torpedo attacks: 4
Number of gun attacks:0
Number of torpedoes expended:23
Vessels sunk by torpedo:
Date: Time: Type/Class/Name Tonnage: Location:
6/11/1943 0450 Agano Class CL 6652 8 S 154 05 E
6/11/1943 0838 Takao Class CA 8650 7 59 S 154 03 E
6/20/1943 1038 GENYO MARU AO 11800 6 52 N 143 56 E
Vessels sunk by gunfire:
None.
(H) Anti Submarine Measures and Evasive Tactics
Compared to past patrols, the enemy ASW was mostly inefficient. The Otori Class torpedo boat, a class which has a nasty reputation among submariners, proved to be ineffective and not persistent during the 20 June counter attack.
The ASW efforts in the attack of 11 June were hindered by the heavy seas. However, their giving up quickly has been something have encountered last few patrols, as escorts and DD's in particular tasked with guarding warships or important fast transports tend to put the efforts in to keep a submarine deep and unable to track or attack their charges, provided the fast moving vessels times to get away before they speed up to rejoin. This is different than when attacking a slow or moderate speed convoy.
The counter attack of 8 July was more determined, forcing Drum deep to get under the enemy's sonar and charges in ideal sonar conditions. However, they again gave up far too soon to rejoin their charges. Drum was damaged but by no means eliminated.
Enemy air patrols were consistent with previous forays into the area, with SD contacts in the morning, most evenings, occasionally during the day.
Only one surface patrol was encountered, this was after the Solomon Sea attack on 11 June. The Otori encountered on 22 June south of Truk heading for Rabaul is believed to the escort of the tanker sunk on 20 June, en route to the destination.
(I) Major Defects and Damage
Drum suffered serious but manageable damage from a close depth charge on 8 July. Drum was at 375 feet and moving in a "burst" of speed at 9 knots as a enemy DD was overhead. Approximately a minute after last of a series of splashes were heard, four DC explosions occurred, followed by two more. The seventh and last, apparently landed close to Drum just aft of amidships at an unknown but close range and depth.
Most serious damage was a leak in the crew berthing area. The damage control team went into action and leak was stopped with minimal amount of water taken on. However, this put Drum out of trim an did sink to 430 feet before using additional speed helped stabilize the depth. The flooding was stopped and water pumped out.
The conning tower suffered leaks in air and water lines, which were repaired. The starboard prop shaft was damaged along with after batteries. All damage repaired within 48 hours.
Drum suffered additional damage from a "friendly fire" incident with an RAAF Catalina in the Jomard Passage on 24 July.
As Drum passed 140 feet, a series of explosions rocked here. Air and water lines throughout boat but including conning tower began to leak. Periscopes, sonar and sound gear, TDC, SJ radar, all damaged.
Upon surfacing, discovered the fore, aft, and aft deck 20 MM guns damage as well as the 4 inch 50 cal gun. Inspection revealed minor hull damage as well.
Defects-
Torpedo reliability remains an issue. Of twenty-three torpedoes expended, over half were defective with prematurely exploding torpedoes , duds, and a circle runner.
Defective torpedoes on 8 July most certainly costs Drum the sinking at a minimum serious damage of an enemy heavy cruiser as had it exploded properly, the ship would not have been able to so precisely maneuver to avoid the other three.
The order to deactivate the magnetic influence exploders on torpedoes dated 24 June was happily received. It is hoped that with these features deactivated. The occurrence of duds is concerning but likely related to the faulty exploders.
No known depth control issues were noticed with torpedoes on this patrol.
(J) Radio
Radio function as excellent throughout patrol.
(K) Radar function was mediocre to poor on this patrol, especially compared to previous patrols. The SJ failed to detect enemy task force before lookouts visually spotted it at 6000 yards on 11 June. At times it seemed to have trouble maintaining contact at distance more than 6 NM .
The Improved model of the SD radar, which worked great the previous patrol failed to detect an aircraft at the usual 12-15 NM on 15 June, instead detecting at 6 NM. This resulting the Drum being bombed but was able to submerge in time. A second failure on 24 July did not detect the RAAF Catalina until it was 5.5 NM away., resulting in a delayed dive and damage from a bombing.
(L) Sound Gear and Sound Conditions
Sound conditions were generally satisfactory for most of patrol. The excellent performance detected the submerged enemy submarine during the routine morning trim dive at a greater distance than originally thought.
(M) Thermal layers
Thermal layers were encountered at 191, 201, 155, 85, and 315 feet during the patrol.
(N) Health and Habitability
Crew health and morale remained excellent through the patrol. However, morale and rest levels did decline as patrol went on with no contacts aside from pesky aircraft. Torpedo failures and enduring counter attacks certainly do no improve heath of the crew. . No crew were injured during the patrol.
(O) Miles Steamed - Fuel Used
Brisbane to Area 1965 Miles 17405 Gallons
In Area 5565 Miles 38483 Gallons
Area to Brisbane 1951 Miles 19823 Gallons
Total 9481 Miles 75711 Gallons
(P) Duration
Days Enroute to Area 9
Days in Area 33
Days Enroute to Brisbane 8
Days Submerged 4
(Q) Factors of Endurance Remaining
Torpedoes 15
Fuel 17694 Gallons
Provisions 0
Water 14 days
Personnel 0
Limiting Factor This Patrol: Fuel and Orders of Commander TF-72.
(R) Comments
A successful patrol with two major enemy warships and major oil tanker sunk. However, torpedo performance cost the destruction or at least serious damage of another enemy cruiser. The Drum was also once again endangered by a circular running torpedo. The deactivation and hopeful replacement of the magnetic exploders gives hope these issues are resolved by Drum's next patrol.
The lack of merchant contacts in the latter half of the patrol was unusual for this area, it is possible the Truk-Rabaul area shipping lanes have been changed.
Agano class CL explodes from torpedo hits 11 June 1943
Takao class CA exploding after coup de grace morning of 11 June 1943.
After evading escorts all night, coming back to periscope depth in the morning, finding the crippled CA hull down, decks awash but stubbornly afloat, dead in water after two torpedo hits five hours before.
11800 ton loaded GENYO MARU tanker exploding after two torpedoes impacted.
8 July 1943. One dud(lower right hand corner), CA was expertly conned after the dud hit, one missed far to port due to the turn, other two came so close down sides the scraped lol. This was after magnetic features disabled, so no hits. Magnetic exploders likely would have went off being so close to target.
This has patrol left contacts for map on, but had external camera off.