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Bubblehead1980 · 08-31-20, 09:46 AM

TMO

Departed September 26th 1942 for third patrol, second out of Brisbane. Last patrol helped support Guadalcanal invasion and witnessed disaster of Battle of Savo Island.

Assigned to patrol off Shortland Islands in the New Georgia Sound (The Sot) to interdict "Tokyo Express" making near nightly supply runs to Guadalcanal using Destroyer.

Arrived in Area on 30 September, patrolled submerged off entrance to the bay off southern Bougainville. Noon radar sweep revealed multiple SD contacts, via periscope spotted them visually in distance. Likely air raid heading Guadalcanal from Rabaul. Counted 19 G4M Betty Bombers, 9-15 A6M Zeke fighters.

1500 on October 1st, patrolling between Choiselil and Vella La Vella submerged sound reported high speed screws. Periscope observation revealed masts of destroyers in distance. Went to GQ, a line of nine Destroyers moving at 33 knots, the Tokyo Express. heading to make nightly drop off. Closed to 1000 yards before forced to fire. Fired two Mark 14's , two at a Mutsuki Class DD and two at a Fubuki class DD. All four prematurely exploded 300-500 yards from targets. One DD turned to hunt for us, others proceeded on.

Repeated torpedo failures caused to miss in two other attacks on Tokyo Express on Otober 3rd and 6th. Sunk a tanker off Shortland Island on Oct 8th. Final two torpedoes, fired on a DD patrolling the channel between Bougainville and Choiselil. Both prematurely exploded. Went deep and endured depth charged causing flooding. DD hunted us for 12 hours before giving up, Headed for Tulagi to rearm and refuel, since early in patrol.

While at Tualgi moored by sub tender. An air raid approached. Immediately got under way but "Val" dive bombers arrived overhead while still in shallow water. AA guns along with other ships and shore based opened fire. PO 1/c Lentz downed a "val" dive bomber as it dove on the Pollack.Bomber slashed down 50 yards or less from port side.OOD and lookout injured slightly.

Once in deeper water submerged to 100 feet to ride out

air raid.Surfaced after all clear, tanker in Tulagi Harbor on fire and sinking.Departed morning of October 11th for patrol area. While en route, received alert of IJN Task Force heading down "The Slot" positioned myself between New George and Santa Isabel. That evening SJ radar made contact with IJN force moving at high speed, 30+ knots.

Unable to close for shot but observed as US Task Force intercepted, "Crossing the T" . Casualties on both sides, enemy force was stopped from reaching Guadalcanal.This was the Battle of Cape Esperance. Rescued survivors in life raft from US DD sunk as well as IJN survivors after dawn.

Now October 3th, off Shortland again on patrol...

08-31-20, 09:46 AM	#15
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 6,922 Downloads: 550 Uploads: 42	TMO Departed September 26th 1942 for third patrol, second out of Brisbane. Last patrol helped support Guadalcanal invasion and witnessed disaster of Battle of Savo Island. Assigned to patrol off Shortland Islands in the New Georgia Sound (The Sot) to interdict "Tokyo Express" making near nightly supply runs to Guadalcanal using Destroyer. Arrived in Area on 30 September, patrolled submerged off entrance to the bay off southern Bougainville. Noon radar sweep revealed multiple SD contacts, via periscope spotted them visually in distance. Likely air raid heading Guadalcanal from Rabaul. Counted 19 G4M Betty Bombers, 9-15 A6M Zeke fighters. 1500 on October 1st, patrolling between Choiselil and Vella La Vella submerged sound reported high speed screws. Periscope observation revealed masts of destroyers in distance. Went to GQ, a line of nine Destroyers moving at 33 knots, the Tokyo Express. heading to make nightly drop off. Closed to 1000 yards before forced to fire. Fired two Mark 14's , two at a Mutsuki Class DD and two at a Fubuki class DD. All four prematurely exploded 300-500 yards from targets. One DD turned to hunt for us, others proceeded on. Repeated torpedo failures caused to miss in two other attacks on Tokyo Express on Otober 3rd and 6th. Sunk a tanker off Shortland Island on Oct 8th. Final two torpedoes, fired on a DD patrolling the channel between Bougainville and Choiselil. Both prematurely exploded. Went deep and endured depth charged causing flooding. DD hunted us for 12 hours before giving up, Headed for Tulagi to rearm and refuel, since early in patrol. While at Tualgi moored by sub tender. An air raid approached. Immediately got under way but "Val" dive bombers arrived overhead while still in shallow water. AA guns along with other ships and shore based opened fire. PO 1/c Lentz downed a "val" dive bomber as it dove on the Pollack.Bomber slashed down 50 yards or less from port side.OOD and lookout injured slightly. Once in deeper water submerged to 100 feet to ride out air raid.Surfaced after all clear, tanker in Tulagi Harbor on fire and sinking.Departed morning of October 11th for patrol area. While en route, received alert of IJN Task Force heading down "The Slot" positioned myself between New George and Santa Isabel. That evening SJ radar made contact with IJN force moving at high speed, 30+ knots. Unable to close for shot but observed as US Task Force intercepted, "Crossing the T" . Casualties on both sides, enemy force was stopped from reaching Guadalcanal.This was the Battle of Cape Esperance. Rescued survivors in life raft from US DD sunk as well as IJN survivors after dawn. Now October 3th, off Shortland again on patrol...