Bubblehead1980
03-16-22, 05:12 AM
Testing new construction in TMO Update, one in 1941 with Gar/Tambor
and other in 1944 with Tench Class.
I was assigned the USS Tirante in late 1944. Tirante SS 420,pulled off some legendary exploits in her short war time career (March 1945- end of war) , skipper was awarded MOH and famous Submariner/Author Edward L. Beach was her Executive Officer.
As always do before or during patrol (transit to area) I read over the actual patrol reports of boat I am assigned . In Tirante's first patrol report,
I found some excellent details in the prologue that was not commonly included. Details provide a nice shot of officer , chiefs, and crew composition,
, battle station assignments, armament, new features /innovations in the TENCH class, training etc of a late war US fleet submarine.
This is typed verbatim from the patrol's first report. Copy and paste to subsim screwed up alignment a bit but can get it.
A. PROLOGUE
________
Ship placed in commission at Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. on Nov. 6, 1944.
Lieutenant Commander G.L. STREET, USN assumed command. Ship completed on Nov. 23, 1944, and commenced training in fog, storms, and freezing weather off Portsmouth. TIRANTE's buildings did a wonderful job.
Arrived New London, Conn. on Dec. 21, 1944. Departed Jan. 8, 1945 for Balboa,arriving there on Jan. 16, 1945.Departed Jan. 26, arrived Pearl Harbor Feb. 10, 1945. Departed Pearl for Saipan on FIRST WAR PATROL
on March 3, 1945.
During the period between completion at Portsmouth and departure
from Pearl, the following training program was carried out:
Portsmouth 13 days underway O torpedoes fired.
New London 8 days underway 4 torpedoes fired.
Balboa 7 days underway 24 torpedoes fired.
Pearl 8 days underway 13 torpedoes fired.
Of note was the 9 days training period spent at Balboa with Captain J.G. JOHNS, USN, as Training Officer. Opportunity is taken here to
mention this since it is felt that many submarines officers
are not aware of the excellent facilities available there, summarized:-
(1) Plenty of targets and screens with each submarine having his own target group. ODD's were used for targets, SC's for escorts. Biggest "convoy" we attacked, 3 ODD, 7 SC. Targets were completely at disposition of the submarine. Marvelous
training for our ST and SJ operators in target discrimination.
(2) Plenty of torpedoes. We were issued 9 MK 14-3 fully read torpedoes.
Fired 6of them three times, 3 only twice each.Blimp chased torpedoes
and dropped smoke floats on them. Recovered torpedoes using g
own gear and target's boat (average time 8-15 minutes from firing
to recovery); we made them ready again, and fired them next day. Total 21 hits
for 24 shots.A very beneficial workout for all hands.
(3) Anchorage in Perlas Islands 1/2 miles from nearest operating
area.Targets, screens and subs anchored together, exchanged movies,
etc.
(4) Weather was excellent. Sea smooth to moderates. Hot in Balboa. Cool in
Perlas Islands.
(5) SubBase, Balboa, was on the opposite side of Canal from cities
of Balboa and Panama, brand new, and efficiently run.
(6) No pressure whatever on the submarines, except to get the
maximum possible training. Captain JOHNS spent practically all
his time in the operating area, rode targets, subs, and recovery
vessel, and also went fishing.
New construction innovations in this vessel are:
(1) Big motors. (2500-KW each) no reduction gears.
(2) New tank arrangement. No vent risers. Variable fuel tanks
to give additional weight compensation. Only 3 mail ballast tanks
(1,2,& 6) 2 Fuel ballast tanks (3&5). Fuel capacity,
113,000 gallons.
(3) Stowage for 28 torpedoes: 18 forward, 10 ft. 77 crew's bunks.
(4) Large magazine in control room (1300 rounds 400, 120 rounds
5" etc., and pressure proof stowages topside); pump room
under radio room. Air compressors in Forward Engine Room.
(5) ST radar and wind TBT's installed in New London. 2nd 40 MM gun
installed at Pearl, and forward escape trunk rigged as "foxhole"
to shoot a .50 cal. gun with man standing in hatch. Many topside
pressure proof stowages added. Armament now as follows: 1 5"/25 gun
aft, two 40 MM guns on bridge., one forward, one aft; one 20MM, two .50
cal on main deck, one .50 cal in foxhole, one .50, two .30 on bridge.
on bridge.
(6) One war "command circuit" from bridge to C.T. supplementing 7 MC.
B. NARRATIVE
_________
Patrols
Officers on board Age this incl. Duty Qual Battle Sta.
Lt. Comdr. G.L. STREET USN 31 10 CO Com'd A.O
Lt. Comdr. E.L. BEACH USN 27 11 XO, Nav. Com'd A.A.O.
Lt. E.G. CAMPBELL USN 29 8 Eng. Subs D.O
Lt. E. PEABODY USNR 25 1 Torp, Gun Subs T.D.C.
Lt. (jg) T.C. MARCUSE USNR 25 1 Radio,rad- - Radar,
ar, sonar. Sonar.
Lt. (jg) J.J. DONNELLY USNR 24 11 Asst.Eng. - Plot #1
Lt. (jg) R.E. RICHEY USN 23 1 Commsy - Asst TDC.
Ensign D.R. Jones USN 31 11 1st Lt. Enl. Plot#2
Ensign W.N. Dietzen USN 21 1 Und. Inst. - Recogn'n
Ensign W.E. Ledford USN 24 8 Asst Torp. Enl. Torp. Rms.
____ ____
Average 26 5.3
Patrols
CPO's Rate Age this incl.
REMLEY, D.W. CTM(PA) 28 8
CLARK, A.W. CEM(PA) 26 9
THOMAS, B.F. CMoMM(PA) 29 9
FEW, W.H. CQM(T) 28 8
FICKEL L.F. CMoMM(T) 34 2
WILLIAMS C.W. CPhM(T) 25 5
SNIDER M.R. CRM(T) 25 1
MAY, C.A. CMoMM(T) 20 4
_____ ____
Average 28 5.75
CREW (CPO's excluded) Average age 23.25. Average patrols 2.4 (this
included).
_____
and other in 1944 with Tench Class.
I was assigned the USS Tirante in late 1944. Tirante SS 420,pulled off some legendary exploits in her short war time career (March 1945- end of war) , skipper was awarded MOH and famous Submariner/Author Edward L. Beach was her Executive Officer.
As always do before or during patrol (transit to area) I read over the actual patrol reports of boat I am assigned . In Tirante's first patrol report,
I found some excellent details in the prologue that was not commonly included. Details provide a nice shot of officer , chiefs, and crew composition,
, battle station assignments, armament, new features /innovations in the TENCH class, training etc of a late war US fleet submarine.
This is typed verbatim from the patrol's first report. Copy and paste to subsim screwed up alignment a bit but can get it.
A. PROLOGUE
________
Ship placed in commission at Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. on Nov. 6, 1944.
Lieutenant Commander G.L. STREET, USN assumed command. Ship completed on Nov. 23, 1944, and commenced training in fog, storms, and freezing weather off Portsmouth. TIRANTE's buildings did a wonderful job.
Arrived New London, Conn. on Dec. 21, 1944. Departed Jan. 8, 1945 for Balboa,arriving there on Jan. 16, 1945.Departed Jan. 26, arrived Pearl Harbor Feb. 10, 1945. Departed Pearl for Saipan on FIRST WAR PATROL
on March 3, 1945.
During the period between completion at Portsmouth and departure
from Pearl, the following training program was carried out:
Portsmouth 13 days underway O torpedoes fired.
New London 8 days underway 4 torpedoes fired.
Balboa 7 days underway 24 torpedoes fired.
Pearl 8 days underway 13 torpedoes fired.
Of note was the 9 days training period spent at Balboa with Captain J.G. JOHNS, USN, as Training Officer. Opportunity is taken here to
mention this since it is felt that many submarines officers
are not aware of the excellent facilities available there, summarized:-
(1) Plenty of targets and screens with each submarine having his own target group. ODD's were used for targets, SC's for escorts. Biggest "convoy" we attacked, 3 ODD, 7 SC. Targets were completely at disposition of the submarine. Marvelous
training for our ST and SJ operators in target discrimination.
(2) Plenty of torpedoes. We were issued 9 MK 14-3 fully read torpedoes.
Fired 6of them three times, 3 only twice each.Blimp chased torpedoes
and dropped smoke floats on them. Recovered torpedoes using g
own gear and target's boat (average time 8-15 minutes from firing
to recovery); we made them ready again, and fired them next day. Total 21 hits
for 24 shots.A very beneficial workout for all hands.
(3) Anchorage in Perlas Islands 1/2 miles from nearest operating
area.Targets, screens and subs anchored together, exchanged movies,
etc.
(4) Weather was excellent. Sea smooth to moderates. Hot in Balboa. Cool in
Perlas Islands.
(5) SubBase, Balboa, was on the opposite side of Canal from cities
of Balboa and Panama, brand new, and efficiently run.
(6) No pressure whatever on the submarines, except to get the
maximum possible training. Captain JOHNS spent practically all
his time in the operating area, rode targets, subs, and recovery
vessel, and also went fishing.
New construction innovations in this vessel are:
(1) Big motors. (2500-KW each) no reduction gears.
(2) New tank arrangement. No vent risers. Variable fuel tanks
to give additional weight compensation. Only 3 mail ballast tanks
(1,2,& 6) 2 Fuel ballast tanks (3&5). Fuel capacity,
113,000 gallons.
(3) Stowage for 28 torpedoes: 18 forward, 10 ft. 77 crew's bunks.
(4) Large magazine in control room (1300 rounds 400, 120 rounds
5" etc., and pressure proof stowages topside); pump room
under radio room. Air compressors in Forward Engine Room.
(5) ST radar and wind TBT's installed in New London. 2nd 40 MM gun
installed at Pearl, and forward escape trunk rigged as "foxhole"
to shoot a .50 cal. gun with man standing in hatch. Many topside
pressure proof stowages added. Armament now as follows: 1 5"/25 gun
aft, two 40 MM guns on bridge., one forward, one aft; one 20MM, two .50
cal on main deck, one .50 cal in foxhole, one .50, two .30 on bridge.
on bridge.
(6) One war "command circuit" from bridge to C.T. supplementing 7 MC.
B. NARRATIVE
_________
Patrols
Officers on board Age this incl. Duty Qual Battle Sta.
Lt. Comdr. G.L. STREET USN 31 10 CO Com'd A.O
Lt. Comdr. E.L. BEACH USN 27 11 XO, Nav. Com'd A.A.O.
Lt. E.G. CAMPBELL USN 29 8 Eng. Subs D.O
Lt. E. PEABODY USNR 25 1 Torp, Gun Subs T.D.C.
Lt. (jg) T.C. MARCUSE USNR 25 1 Radio,rad- - Radar,
ar, sonar. Sonar.
Lt. (jg) J.J. DONNELLY USNR 24 11 Asst.Eng. - Plot #1
Lt. (jg) R.E. RICHEY USN 23 1 Commsy - Asst TDC.
Ensign D.R. Jones USN 31 11 1st Lt. Enl. Plot#2
Ensign W.N. Dietzen USN 21 1 Und. Inst. - Recogn'n
Ensign W.E. Ledford USN 24 8 Asst Torp. Enl. Torp. Rms.
____ ____
Average 26 5.3
Patrols
CPO's Rate Age this incl.
REMLEY, D.W. CTM(PA) 28 8
CLARK, A.W. CEM(PA) 26 9
THOMAS, B.F. CMoMM(PA) 29 9
FEW, W.H. CQM(T) 28 8
FICKEL L.F. CMoMM(T) 34 2
WILLIAMS C.W. CPhM(T) 25 5
SNIDER M.R. CRM(T) 25 1
MAY, C.A. CMoMM(T) 20 4
_____ ____
Average 28 5.75
CREW (CPO's excluded) Average age 23.25. Average patrols 2.4 (this
included).
_____