TMO w custom mods.
USS Drum SS 228
Departed Pearl Harbor January 3rd 1944. Refueled Midway, assigned t to patrol off Wake Island and for lifeguard for airstrikes on 30 January- 9 February.
Sunk submarine approaching channel on 4 February (ULTRA alerted to arrival).
Released from lfieguard went to patrol NW of Truk. Night surface attack two ship four escort convoy 0030 17 February near Ulul Island. Sunk SEIA MARU and HAKUSIKA MARU. Dodged gunfire from escorts.
After attack raced to lifeguard station North of Truk for Operation Hailstone. Observed morning air strikes from outside reef.
SJ radar made contact with ships fleeing north channel closed to find a Katori Class CL , unknown DD, and a Aux SC fleeing north. Around 1240 SJ contact detected multiple contacts to north. In distance could see the masts of battleships. Task Group 50.9 (BB Iowa, BB New Jersey, two CA, four DD) Through periscope viewed US TG open fire on the CL, DD and SC. Observed direct hits from from Iowa main battery on CL. All three vessels quickly sunk.
Through day rescued 9 downed aircrew. Damaged large flying boat (EMILY) with 40 MM and 20 MM AA guns as it caught us on surface during rescue.
2000 released from lifeguard. Assigned to patrol off Saipan. Departed area.
19 February en route Saipan.
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