From USS Batfish's log

[rein1705]

25 December 1943
Christmas Day.
All hands enjoyed a well prepared turkey dinner. The crew got quite a laugh out of the afternoon broadcast of "Tokyo Rose" who said that American submarine men were forced to eat "cockroaches and mice" and to pay $225 monthly rent for pigpens in Honolulu to live in. Good word of the day was to the cooks "How about some more of those 'cockroaches and mice' like we had for dinner". A moderate sea running, but with very little wind.

:rotfl2:

[rein1705]

30 December 1943
Sea has become nearly glassy, with good visibility, although the sky is pretty well covered with clouds most of the time. Continued surface patrol completely across area in southerly direction along Kobe-Truk-Saipan route. This is third day of patrolling this line with nothing except plane contacts. Intend to move westward tonight to Kobe-Palau route and patrol northward along that line. 1952(I) Picked up foreign radar on PPI bearing about 080° T. As interference became stronger concluded that is was from either SALMON or FINBACK so maneuvered to avoid. All indications pointed to an SJ like our own on very nearly the same frequency and using the PPI sweep, but now and then training directly on us. By using my PPI as a direction finder I was able to track the other boat although I could never get any ranges. For a while it appeared that he was trying an end-around run on me so I went ahead flank until I lost contact at 0143 on 31 Dec. Cannot believe that Japs have radar so much like ours. Interference was continuous between 1952(I) 30 Dec. and 0143(I) 31 Dec. Plot showed approximate course 255° T, speed 11.5 knots, which indicated that is was FINBACK (Ship contact #2.)