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TG626 · 02-12-14, 01:38 AM

FF12-10/A16-3

CONFIDENTIAL
050502 NOV 1942
From : CDR T. E. Thompson
To : ComSubPac
Report from USS Drum (SS228)
Patrol area : East China Sea

The following ships/aircraft have been destroyed
Number of Warships sunk : 2
Number of Merchants sunk : 3

Total Warship tonnage : 5402
Total Merchant tonnage : 30773

Total Gross tonnage : 36175

271359 OCT 1942
Aircraft destroyed! G4M Betty
Long 162° 10' E, Lat 22° 10' N

292026 OCT 1942
Ship sunk! Small Old Split Freighter, 2429 tons
Long 146° 53' E, Lat 22° 32' N

301007 OCT 1942
Ship sunk! Akizuki Destroyer, 2701 tons
Long 143° 23' E, Lat 22° 53' N

301018 OCT 1942
Ship sunk! Akizuki Destroyer, 2701 tons
Long 143° 23' E, Lat 22° 53' N

301023 OCT 1942
Ship sunk! Large Old Passenger Carrier, 9579 tons
Long 143° 24' E, Lat 22° 53' N

301039 OCT 1942
Ship sunk! Huge European Liner, 18765 tons
Long 143° 24' E, Lat 22° 54' N

Torpedoes fired : 15
Torpedo impacts : 11
Torpedo misses : 2
Torpedo duds : 0
Torpedo premature explosions : 2

Patrol narrative:

While enroute to our patrol station we encountered a lone Betty. While I am generally hesitant to engage air targets, this one made an unexpected change in course which brought it directly over head. The gunnery crew made short work of it, and it never even had a chance to drop any ordinance.

Our next encounter was a sonar contact to the northeast. We dove to periscope depth and moved to intercept. Upon finding a lone old split freighter, we positioned ourselves for an attack.

The first torpedo detonated prematurely, while the second found its mark. With the freighter now crippled, we surfaced and finished her off with the deck gun. Again, my gun crew displayed exemplary performance.

It was at this point in the patrol that the new radar proved its worth. We dected several returns to the northwest. As it was foggy with limited visibility I elected to move to intercept on the surface.

This was a mistake as we soon found ourselves taking fire from a destroyer. I cannot entirely fault the radar operator, or equipment, as it seemed to appear out of nowhere.

I ordered a crash dive and evasive maneuvers. Is short order we found ourselves in position to fire and sank the destroyer.

This attracted another destroyer, which were also able to strike as it rushed to the scene.

At this point the third destroyer cut and ran, abandoning it's charges. The we surfaced and transmitted a report, an upon receiving orders to sink the transports we did so in textbook fashion.

We are now returning to Midway to refit.

02-12-14, 01:38 AM	#4592
TG626 Lieutenant Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: USS Seal - Somewhere in the Pacific Posts: 268 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 3	FF12-10/A16-3 CONFIDENTIAL 050502 NOV 1942 From : CDR T. E. Thompson To : ComSubPac Report from USS Drum (SS228) Patrol area : East China Sea The following ships/aircraft have been destroyed Number of Warships sunk : 2 Number of Merchants sunk : 3 Total Warship tonnage : 5402 Total Merchant tonnage : 30773 Total Gross tonnage : 36175 271359 OCT 1942 Aircraft destroyed! G4M Betty Long 162° 10' E, Lat 22° 10' N 292026 OCT 1942 Ship sunk! Small Old Split Freighter, 2429 tons Long 146° 53' E, Lat 22° 32' N 301007 OCT 1942 Ship sunk! Akizuki Destroyer, 2701 tons Long 143° 23' E, Lat 22° 53' N 301018 OCT 1942 Ship sunk! Akizuki Destroyer, 2701 tons Long 143° 23' E, Lat 22° 53' N 301023 OCT 1942 Ship sunk! Large Old Passenger Carrier, 9579 tons Long 143° 24' E, Lat 22° 53' N 301039 OCT 1942 Ship sunk! Huge European Liner, 18765 tons Long 143° 24' E, Lat 22° 54' N Torpedoes fired : 15 Torpedo impacts : 11 Torpedo misses : 2 Torpedo duds : 0 Torpedo premature explosions : 2 Patrol narrative: While enroute to our patrol station we encountered a lone Betty. While I am generally hesitant to engage air targets, this one made an unexpected change in course which brought it directly over head. The gunnery crew made short work of it, and it never even had a chance to drop any ordinance. Our next encounter was a sonar contact to the northeast. We dove to periscope depth and moved to intercept. Upon finding a lone old split freighter, we positioned ourselves for an attack. The first torpedo detonated prematurely, while the second found its mark. With the freighter now crippled, we surfaced and finished her off with the deck gun. Again, my gun crew displayed exemplary performance. It was at this point in the patrol that the new radar proved its worth. We dected several returns to the northwest. As it was foggy with limited visibility I elected to move to intercept on the surface. This was a mistake as we soon found ourselves taking fire from a destroyer. I cannot entirely fault the radar operator, or equipment, as it seemed to appear out of nowhere. I ordered a crash dive and evasive maneuvers. Is short order we found ourselves in position to fire and sank the destroyer. This attracted another destroyer, which were also able to strike as it rushed to the scene. At this point the third destroyer cut and ran, abandoning it's charges. The we surfaced and transmitted a report, an upon receiving orders to sink the transports we did so in textbook fashion. We are now returning to Midway to refit. __________________ T. E. Thompson, LTCDR Commanding Officer, U.S.S. Seal (formerly S-40 (SS-145)) Last edited by TG626; 02-12-14 at 02:26 AM.