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Captain's Log
USS S-40
SS-145

8 Dec 41 - Departed Cavite Naval Base with orders to patrol the Luzon Strait 07:00.

11 Dec 41 - Enemy vessel spotted 00:13. Sounded battle stations and dove to periscope depth. Vessel identified as merchantman, approximately 4000 tons, making 9 knots. Plotted attack course with 87 degree AOB. Fired one torpedo at 1000 yards which impacted just aft of smokestack. Her stern settled low in the water and came to a complete stop. After surveying immediate area with observation scope, surfaced the boat and engaged with deck gun. Fired four rounds of AP into her stern at 700 yards. Secondary fires started and she sank by the stern 01:04. Secured from battle stations and returned to course.

11 Dec 41 - Aircraft spotted 08:22. Sounded battle stations and crash dove to 165'. No attack detected. Secured from battle stations and surfaced the boat 09:31.

11 Dec 41 - Aircraft spotted 15:30. Sounded battle stations and crash dove to 180'. No attack detected. Secured from battle stations and surfaced the boat 16:35.

13 Dec 41 - Enemy vessel spotted 15:11. Sounded battle stations and dove to periscope depth. Vessel identified as merchantman, approximately 4000 tons, making 9 knots. Plotted attack course with 90 degree AOB. One torpedo fired at 850 yards, impacting amidship. Detonation caused secondary explosions and superstructure on fire. Ship sank 15:42. Returned to course

13 Dec 41 - Enemy warship detected 22:46. Sounded battle stations and dove to periscope depth. Vessel identified as Mutsuki class destroyer screening a small convoy of four merchantmen transiting the Luzon Strait at 9 knots. Disengaged and plotted parallel course. Secured from battle stations, surfaced the boat and went to flank speed.

14 Dec 41 - Reacquired convoy 02:35. Sounded battle stations and dove to periscope depth. Dove to 195' at 1 knot as lead destroyer passed above. Surfaced to periscope depth and fired three torpedoes at three different merchantmen ranged 700, 1100 and 2000 yards. Torpedo one and three impacted simultaneously, causing secondary fires and both merchantmen stopped dead in the water. Torpedo two impacted 7 seconds later causing massive secondary explosions and vessel sank almost immediately. Fired one torpedo each at damaged vessels. Both torpedoes impacted resulting in both vessels sinking rapidly. Dove to 185' and disengaged at 4 knots. No depth charge attacks launched. Secured from battle stations and surfaced the boat 05:30. Returned to course.

14 Dec 41 - Aircraft spotted 08:00. Sounded battle stations and crash dove to 155'. No attack detected. Secured from battle stations and surfaced the boat 09:15.

14 Dec 41 - Enemy warship detected 18:48. Sounded battle stations and dove to periscope depth. Vessel identified as Shiratsuyu class destroyer screening a battleship task force at 11 knots: 9 Shiratsuyu class destroyers, 2 Kongo class battleships, 1 Takao class heavy cruiser and 1 Mogami class heavy cruiser. Plotted parallel course, surfaced the boat and went to flank speed. Remained within visual range of destroyer screen. At 23:02, dove to 182' and plotted attack course of 90 degrees AOB. Passed under destroyer screen, surfaced to periscope depth and fired three torpedoes at second Kongo in line at 650 yards range. All three torpedoes impacted, battleship capsized and sank 23:37. Fired one torpedo at Takao class heavy cruiser at 700 yards. Torpedo impacted amidship causing secondary explosions and significant fires on superstructure. Cruiser began zig zagging at 11 knots. Dove to 197' and pursued at flank speed while final torpedo was being loaded. Two salvos of six depth charges launched. All exploded aft or shallow, causing no damage. Surfaced to periscope depth and fired final torpedo at Takao class cruiser at 00:05 at 1400 yards range. Torpedo impacted port side aft. Cruiser sank by the stern to amidship then capsized 00:08. Dove to 197', plotted course back to Cavite Naval Base and disengaged at 4 knots. Secured from battle stations and surfaced the boat 01:38.

15 Dec 41 - Enemy vessel detected. Sounded battle stations and dove to periscope depth. Vessel identified as small passenger carrier. Invasion force detected: 7 Fubuki class destroyers, 3 Mogami class heavy cruisers and 8 small passenger carriers. Force making 2 knots 6 miles off-shore. Reported contact. Ordered to disengage and return to base. Dove to 197' and passed under task force at 4 knots. Secured from battle stations and surfaced the boat 16:14. Returned to course.

16 Dec 41 - Docked at Cavite Naval Base 11:37.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...eenShot035.jpg
Sydney Maru sinks

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...eenShot002.jpg
Haruna capsizes

Confirmed Kills:
Medium Freighter Hiyoshi Maru - 4012 tons
Medium Freighter Sydney Maru - 5412 tons
Medium Freighter Hidaka Maru - 5497 tons
Medium Freighter Konzan Maru - 5497 tons
Medium Freighter Misaki Maru - 4474 tons
Kongo class Battleship Haruna - 32000 tons
Takao class Heavy Cruiser Takao - 15870 tons

Awards
2 Distinguished Service Medals
1 Silver Star

Author's Note: This is by far the most historically satisfying patrol I've done yet. The battleship task force was the IJN Second Fleet Main Force almost exactly - cut the number of destroyers in half and both heavy cruisers were Takao class. It was in the right place, just at the wrong time - it was a week early. It should have been off the north coast of Borneo. The composition of the invasion force was all wrong - too many heavy cruisers, not enough light cruisers and destroyers and was also a week early but the fact that I found an invasion force is astounding to me. December 15th, about 6 miles off the coast of Alaminos for those of you who want to try to find it.