[Bubblehead1980]

TMO with custom mods

USS Drum SS 228

12th War Patrol

January 1945-

Departed Pearl Harbor on 31 January for Area 6 off Japan. Refueled at Saipan then proceeded to area arriving February 14 in bad weather.

With nearly all traffic now running within 5-10 NM of coast in shallows, moved in for submerged daytime patrol with periodic radar sweeps.

Contacted surface and air patrols, avoiding them.

As was heading out to sea late on 15 February to surface for nightly battery charge, SJ made contact on a convoy on a Westbound course close to shore. Surfaced and waited for nightfall to conduct night surface attack.

2300 Moved in. Convoy is three ships with eight escorts in a circle. Armed with new Mark 16 torpedoes in forward tubes, planned to fire two at each freighter from 5000 yards, close as could get after a couple of tries. due to flank escorts. Also, multiple escorts appeared to have radar according to APR-1 equipment.

Finally around 0005 hours 16 February was in firing position. Fired tubes 1 and 2 at lead freighter, belieed to be HEITO MARU . As was about to fire on the aft freighter, saw lead escort turn towards us and star shells fired, seems radar had picked us up. Turned away at high speed but escort was Matsu DE, could not outrun so while dodging gunfire lined up for down the throat shot with Mark 18 from stern tube. Subchaser type escort and aux subchaser also in pursuit firing main batteries and light cannons machine guns at DRUM. Fired Mark 18 from tube 7.Missed. Adjusting and fired on the DE which was not at just 3900 yards. This torpedo found home, causing a fire and DE to turn away. Other escorts could not catch us, eventually pulled away. The DE sunk 10 minutes later, going down by the bow. The torpedoes fired at freighter missed and impacted the beach.

Pulled ahead reloaded tubes and moved in for another shot. This came snuck through the screen from the rear, got into position to fire and fired on the rear and middle freighter with Mark 16's. While exiting the screen an escort detected us on radar as came running to our position. Alerted, freighters slowed and torpedoes barely missed ahead of targets. Again we were under pursuit by four escorts, fired Mark 18 from stern tubes but none hit. However, DRUM managed to pull away.

Reloaded again and moved in few hours later for another attack around 0500. Contemplated submerged attack since these radar equipped escorts were on their game but with just 100 feet or less under the keel, would only dive if forced to do so. Fired from longer range of 7000 yards with Mark 14 torpedoes on two freighters. During torpedo run, an SD contact appeared and was closing.as we turned away seems aircraft's radar detected us as it closed in, again escorts headed our way and ships slowed, torpedoes missed and impacted the beach. The aircraft flew in low, identified as an EMILY flying boat. 40 MM AA guns and 20 MM was manned. Aircraft made a dive and was set afire, it flew on.

Soon escorts were closing, including Matsu class DE, which as noted cant outrun. Fired Mark 14's from stern tube, which DE avoided. De was now 3000 yards off and while its main battery fired missed with some landing close, the machine gun and autocannon fire did occasionally hit DRUM causing minor damage. Fired last stern torpedo down the throat of the DE which barely evaded the fish, watched in TBT as it slid down the side of the Matsu(makes one miss the magnetic detonators)

As Matsu was getting too close, now had 5 inch foward gun manned in case was needed. As Matsu closed to 2000 yards opened fire with aft 40 MM and 20 MM.The Matsu caught fire amidships from 40 MM hits and then a large explosion, believe the HE rounds set off the torpedoes. This caused the Matsu, burning, to slow and DRUM to put distance. Two minutes later a very large explosion followed by more secondary explosions from depth charges on stern , Matsu went dead water and sunk.

Other escorts were still in chase but unable to close. Soon the EMILY returned 40 MM set it on fire again and plane made a dive dropping bombs and depth charges which landed VERY close. The close explosions caused minor hull damage. THe gunners on the EMILY strafed the DRUM diving and after the dive. Two crewman manning the after 40 MM were killed by the gunfire. Chief of the Boat was wounded, as was PO 3 look out. Both recovered. The EMILY flew on burning, assume it crash.

With dawn fast approaching, made it to deep water and away from suspect minefields and dove at dawn for day of rest after a frustrating night.


17-19 February foul weather prevented coastal patrolling. While patrolling off shore in heavy fog a fishing boat suddenly appeared. DRUM was turned hard over barely avoiding a collision. The fishing boat was armed as it opened up with machine gun/auto cannon fire. DRUM sailed out of view but after calling GQ and manning the 40 MM guns(seas were fairly calm for storm) turned back and encountered the fishing boat. 40 MM made quick work setting the boat afire.

Radar had two more contacts nearby, seems we had wondered into a trio of fishing boats. After poking around found both and sunk them with 40 mm fire.


February 20 weather cleared and resumed coastal submerged patrol in daylight. Spotted an aircraft with observation periscope at 1421 . Went to 100 feet. When came back an hour later, a plane was observed quite close and slowly circling. Sound suddenly reported warship contacts closing fast. Seems the plane had spotted us and called in a nearby coastal patrol. Turned for deep waters and rigged for silent running.

Once patrol began pinging, dropped a decoy and went ahead full and to 300 feet , just off the bottom. Escort dropped a pattern which caused damage to compressor, pumps, minor leaks in conning tower, damage to stern tubes and electric engines. However, after this both escorts stayed on the decoy and the second dropped as we found deep water and escaped at 475 feet. After being pinged and a final pattern dropped which shook the boat, patrol lost contact.

Stayed submerged rest of day surfaced at night to charge batteries and patrol.