[Bubblehead1980]

FOTRS V1.8
Vickers Interiors
Nippon Maru
Nihon Kaigun
A few of my own custom mods
from TMO for FOTRS...such as torpedo defects.

First war patrol in the new FOTRS.




__________________________________________________ _
USS TRITON SS-201
REPORT OF FIRST WAR PATROL
9 DECEMBER 1941-8 JANUARY 1942
IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS AREA.



PROLOGUE

Arrived Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, T.H. evening of 7 December 1941,
from Mare Island, CA. Immediately began preparation for war patrol.
Loaded supplies and 24 MK 14 torpedoes. Ready for sea 9 December 1941.



NARRATIVE

_______________
1941
_______________


December 9
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 0 kts
Sea State| 1
Moon| None


0900| Departed Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, T.H. for assigned area.

1230| Trim Dive.

1300| Surface.


December 10
-------------
Weather| Clear. Wind 6 kts at 000
Sea State|1
Moon| Quarter


0630| Trim Dive

0700| Surface.



December 11
-------------
Weather| 9 KTS at 000
Sea State| 1
Moon| None

0630| Trim Dive.

0700| Surface.

Conducted dive, emergency, as well as simulated
gunnery, torpedo fire control drills throughout the day.
Otherwise, normal underway routine en route to assigned area.



December 12
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 9 kts at 000
Sea State| 1
Moon| None


0640| Trim Dive

0710| Surface.

Underway routine en route to assigned area.
Conducted drills.



December 13
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 25 kts at 028
Sea State| 4
Moon| None


0635| Trim Dive

0715| Surface.

Underway routine en route to assigned area.
Conducted drills.


December 14
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 23 kts at 028
Sea State| 4
Moon| Partial


0730| Trim Dive

0750| Surface.

Underway routine en route to assigned area.
Conducted drills.




December 15
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 0 knots
Sea State| 0
Moon| Partial


0730| Trim Dive

0750| Surface.

Underway routine en route to assigned area.



December 16
-------------
Weather| Clear. Wind 0 knots.
Sea State| 0
Moon| None


0750| Trim Dive

0810| Surface.

Underway routine en route to assigned area.
Conducted drills.




December 17
-------------
Weather| Clear. Wind 0 knots
Sea State| 0
Moon| Partial


0930| Dive. Per orders submerged for transit during daylight,
as was was now within 500 NM of known enemy airfield at
Kwajalein Atoll.

Following trimming of boat
and dive to test depth of 250 ft, conducted underway
procedure of continuous sound checks, rising to periscope depth
every half hour for visual observations.Returned to 90 ft during
interim between observations.



2000| Surfaced.




December 18
-------------
Weather| Clear. Wind 0 knots.
Sea State| 0
Moon| Quarter


0900| Dive. Conducted normal underway submerged routine.

2022| Surface.


December 19
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 0 knots.
Sea State| 0
Moon| Quarter


0000| Entered assigned area.
Transit time| 10 days

0910| Dive. Submerged for patrol ten miles East of
Kwajalein Atoll.

1710| Sound contact bearing 110 long range. Possible warship.
Turned to investigate.

1721| Spotted enemy destroyer, believed to be Mutsuki Class.
Favorable setup, opted for attack.

1723| GENERAL QUARTERS-TORPEDO.

1750| Target changed course, unable to attack.

1800| Secured General Quarters.

2100| Surface.


December 20
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 5 knots at 334.
Sea State| 1
Moon|


1656| Sound contact bearing 040, long range, closing.
Possible warship. Set course to close contact.

1700| Ahead Full close contact.


1720| Observation. Contact identified as Mutsuki Class Destroyer.
Likely one previously encountered.

1730| Contact plotted on course 140 at 15.5 knots.

1731| Tubes 1,2,3,4 made ready to fire.

1739| Fired Tubes 1,2,3. Range 4600 yds.
(Torpedo Attack No.1)

1739| Large explosion from bearing of torpedoes, believe
torpedo No.2 possibly prematurely detonated.

1741| Second explosion.Believe torpedo No.1 detonated
prematurely.

1820| Destroyer closing, pinging.
Set up for bow shot (down the throat)
Tubes 5,6 made ready.

1822| Fired Tube No. 5 (Torpedo Attack No.2)
Rigged for Depth Charge, Silent Running.
Ordered 250 ft, hard dive.

1824| DD passed above, splashes.

1824| DC explosions, damage reported (See Damage section)
Minor flooding in forward torpedo room.

1827| Leveled off at 250 ft.

1834| Pinging.

1850| Last ping heard.

2000| Lost sound contact with enemy.

2200| Periscope depth. All clear. Secured from
Silent Running/Depth charge. Prepared to surface.

2210| Surfaced.



December 21
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 2 kts at 004
Sea State| 0
Moon| Quarter

0004| Engineering Officer reported
batteries damaged in depth charge attack.
After repairs, unable to
gain charge beyond sixty percent capacity.


0859| Enemy destroyer spotted bearing 150 8000 yards.

0900| Dive!

0902| Rigged for Silent Running and Depth Charge.
Ordered 250 ft.

0905 Depth 250 ft.

0935| Lost Contact with enemy.

1000| Secured Silent Running/Depth Charge.

2100| Surfaced.



December 22
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 2 kts at 273
Sea State| 1
Moon|


0911| Dive. Submerged for patrol.

2110| Surface.




December 23
-------------
Weather| Clear. Wind 0 knots.
Sea State| 0
Moon| Quarter

0915| Dive. Submerged for patrol.

2200| Surfaced.


December 24
-------------
Weather| Partial Clouds. Winds 11 knots at 091
Sea State| 2
Moon| Quarter

0030| Received orders from COMSUBPAC to
patrol off Wotje and Maloelap Atolls.

0035| Set course for Wotje at 15.5 kts.

0900| Dive. Submerged for patrol 10 miles South-East of Wotje.

2200| Surfaced.


December 25
-------------
Weather| Partial Clouds. Winds 14 kts at 224
Sea State| 3
Moon| Half

0300| Arrived in area of Maloelap Atoll.

0900| Dive.

2100| Surface.




December 26
-------------
Weather| Partial Clouds. Wind 1 knot at 101
Sea State| 0
Moon| Quarter.

0900| Dive.

2100| Surface.


December 27
-------------
Weather| Partial. Winds 11 knots at 193.
Sea State| 2
Moon|

0850| Dive.

1840| Received orders from COMSUBPAC to reconnoiter/patrol
the Rongelap Atoll area.

1845| Set course for Rongelap.

2100| Surface.




December 28
-------------
Weather| Partial Clouds.Winds 10 kts at 348
Sea State| 1
Moon|Half

0000| Course 310 at 15 kts for Rongelap Atoll.


0940| Dive.

0945| Leveled off at 90 ft.

2100| Surface.




December 29
-------------
Weather| Partial Clouds. Wind 10 kts at 348
Sea State| 0
Moon|

0930| Dive.

2100| Surface.


December 30
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 9 kts at 200.
Sea State| 0
Moon| Full

0600| Destroyer spotted, bearing 001 8000 yards, closing!
OOD ordered turn off track of contact.

0605| Dive. Submerged for attack.

0607| GENERAL QUARTERS-TORPEDO.

0615| Contact identified as Mutsuki Class Destroyer.
Course 100, 16 knots. Tubes 7,8,9,10 made
ready to fire.

0617| Fired tubes 7,8 Range 1300 yards.
(Torpedo Attack No.3)

0618| Twenty to thirty yards from target,
observed both torpedoes prematurely detonate.
Alerted, the DD took evasive action, began searching
for TRITON.

0619| Rigged for Silent Running and Depth Charge.
Ordered 250 ft.


0650| Lost contact with enemy.


0730| Secured GQ, Silent Running.
Began normal patrol routine.

2100| Surface.


December 31
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 9 kts at 200
Sea State| 1
Moon| Full


0815 Dive. Submerged seven miles of Rongelap Atoll
at dawn for daytime reconnoiter via periscope.


2100| Surface.



______________________________________
1942
______________________________________


January 01
-------------
Weather| Clear. Wind 21 knots at 358.
Sea State| 4
Moon| Full

0000| New Years Day.


0058| Assignment at Rongelap completed,
Set course to area WNW of Kwajalein
to patrol the approaches to the atoll.

0100 Engineering reported unable to recharge batteries
beyond 54 percent. Batteries failing.

0930| Dive. Submerged for patrol.


1718| Sound contact bearing 349, long range.
Closing!

1719| Ordered periscope depth.

1734| Contact identified as Auxiliary Subchaser.
Avoided. Ordered 250 ft depth.

1800| Engineering reported battery
power at 40 percent. Battery failure
progressing.


2100| Surface.




January 02
-------------
Weather| Clear. Winds 24 knots at 200
Sea State| 4
Moon|



0000| After conference, weighing of options,
opted to return to Pearl Harbor. This decision
was in large part due to failing batteries.


0730| Dive.

0756| Surface.

0800| With plenty of diesel fuel, decided to
remain on surface instead of submering due to
failing batteries. Conducted
SD radar was powered on
in case of aircraft in area.
Fifty caliber machine gun was
made ready in case needed to
combat aircraft.



January 03
-------------
Weather| Clear. Wind 5 kots at 325.
Sea State| 1
Moon| Full

0900| Dive.

0930| Surface.


January 04
-------------
Weather| Clear Cloud. Winds 5 knots at 324
with light fog.
Sea State| 0
Moon| Half


0830| Dive.

0855| Surface.



January 05
-------------
Weather| Partial Clouds. Wind 7 knots at 093
Sea State| 1
Moon| None

0730| Dive.

0755| Surface.



January 06
-------------
Weather| Partial Clouds. Wind 7 knots at 081
Sea State| 0
Moon| None

0735| Dive.

0800| Surface.



January 07
-------------
Weather| Clear Clouds. Wind 5 knots at 113
Sea State| 1
Moon| None

0730| Dive.

0755| Surface.



January 08
-------------
Weather| Clear. Wind 30 knots at 254
Sea State| 5
Moon|

0750| Dive.

0820| Surface.

1830| Docked at Submarine Base Pearl Harbor,T.H.
Terminated War Patrol.


CONTACTS


Ship Contacts

NO.1
_____

DATE|1941/12/19
TIME| 1719
LAT|8-30N
LOG| 167-20E
RNG| 13000* yds
BRG|110
CRS| 090
SPD| 14 kts
TYPE|DD
HOW| Sound/Visual
REMARK|
Target canged course, spoiled
planned attack.

*Estimated range at contact.



NO.2
______
DATE| 1941/12/20
TIME| 1656
LAT| 8-51N
LOG| 167-13E
RNG| 12000 yds*
BRG| 040
CRS| 140
SPD| 15.5 kts
TYPE| DD
HOW| Sound/Visual
REMARK| Torpedo Attack No.1
Torpedo Attack No.2
* Estimated range at
contact.


NO.3
______
DATE| 1941/12/21
TIME| 0859
LAT| 8-51N
LOG| 167-13E
RNG| 8000 yds
BRG| 150
CRS| 350
SPD| 15 kts
TYPE| DD
HOW| Visual
REMARK| Encountered at dawn.
Believed same DD encountered previously.





NO.4
______
DATE| 1941/12/30
TIME| 0600
LAT| 10-43N
LOG| 166-36E
RNG| 8000 yds
BRG| 001
CRS| 100
SPD| 16 kts
TYPE| DD
HOW| Visual
REMARK| Torpedo Attack No.3

Aircraft Contacts

None.




ATTACKS


U.S.S. Triton SS-201
War Patrol One
Torpedo Attack No.1

DATE 12/20/1941
TIME 1739
LAT 8-52N
LOG 167-19E

---------------------------------------

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACK
-------------------------------


TYPE OF ATTACK| Submerged-Periscope-Day

Contacted a destroyer of the Mutsuki Class (1772 tons)
via sound. Initial plot set for firing range of 2000 yards.
Target changed course between observations resulting in firing
a spread of three torpedoes from 4560 yards.


SHIPS SUNK
None

SHIPS PROBABLY SUNK
None


SHIPS DAMAGED
None

SHIPS PROBABLY DAMAGED
None


TARGET DATA (at firing)
-----------------------------


TARGET NO.1
CLASS DD
NAME Mutsuki Class
TONS 1200
CRS 140
SPD 15.5 kts
AOB 120
RNG 4650 yds
BRG 359
TRUE BRG 80
REMARK


TORPEDO DATA TORPEDO ATTACK NO.1 (AT FIRING)
----------------------------------------------

TUBE NO.1
TYPE| MK 14-1
SERIAL NO| 20000
EXPLODER| MK 6
SERIAL NO| 4050
TRACK| 146 S
COURSE| 106
GYRO| 25
METHOD| Single Bearing
SPREAD|0
POWER|Low
DEPTH|6 ft
POA| MOT
ACTUATION| Magnetic-Contact
HIT| No
ACTUAL ACTUATION| Magnetic
ERRATIC| No
MALFUNCTION| Yes
REMARK| Prematurely detonated.



TUBE NO.2
TYPE| MK 14-1
SERIAL NO| 20001
EXPLODER| MK 6
SERIAL NO| 4051
TRACK| 146 S
COURSE| 106
GYRO| 25
METHOD| Single Bearing
SPREAD|2 degrees Starboard
POWER|Low
DEPTH|6 ft
POA| MOT
ACTUATION| Magnetic-Contact
HIT| No
ACTUAL ACTUATION| Magnetic
ERRATIC| No
MALFUNCTION| Yes
REMARK| Prematurely detonated



TUBE NO.3
TYPE| MK 14-1
SERIAL NO| 20002
EXPLODER| MK 6
SERIAL NO| 4052
TRACK| 146 S
COURSE| 106
GYRO| 25
METHOD| Single Bearing
SPREAD|2 degrees Port
POWER|Low
DEPTH|6 ft
POA| MOT
ACTUATION| Magnetic-Contact
HIT| No
ACTUAL ACTUATION|---
ERRATIC|No
MALFUNCTION| No
REMARK|
Missed, target evaded.


OWN SHIP DATA (at firing)
---------------------------

DEPTH| 64 ft
COURSE| 080
SPEED| 2 kts
ANGLE| 1-Down
SEA STATE| 0

__________________________________________________ ______________


U.S.S. Triton SS-201
War Patrol One
Torpedo Attack No.2

DATE 12/20/1941
TIME 1822
LAT 8-52N
LOG 167-19E

----------------------------------

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACK
-----------------------------------

TYPE OF ATTACK| Submerged-Periscope-Day


Destroyer closed after spotted wake of torpedo
fired in Torpedo Attack No.1. Set up for a bow
aka "Down The Throat" defensive shot.


SHIPS SUNK
None

SHIPS PROBABLY SUNK
None


SHIPS DAMAGED
None

SHIPS PROBABLY DAMAGED
None


TARGET DATA (at firing)
-----------------------------


TARGET NO.1
CLASS DD
NAME Mutsuki Class
TONS 1772
CRS 350
SPD 20-25 kts
AOB 0
RNG 600 yds
BRG 0
TRUE BRG 100
REMARK
"Down The Throat" shot.

TORPEDO DATA TORPEDO ATTACK NO.2 (AT FIRING)
----------------------------------------------

TUBE NO.5
TYPE| MK 14-1
SERIAL NO| 20003
EXPLODER| MK 6
SERIAL NO| 4053
TRACK| 0
COURSE| 091
GYRO| 0
METHOD| Single Bearing
SPREAD|0
POWER| High
DEPTH| 5 ft
POA| Bow
ACTUATION| Magnetic-Contact
HIT| No
ACTUAL ACTUATION| ---
ERRATIC| No
MALFUNCTION| No
REMARK|
Missed, unknown cause.

OWN SHIP DATA (at firing)
---------------------------

DEPTH| 64 ft
COURSE| 145
SPEED| 6 kts
ANGLE| 1-Down
SEA STATE| 0

______________________________________________


U.S.S. Triton SS-201
War Patrol One
Torpedo Attack No.3

DATE 12/30/1941
TIME 0617
LAT 10-43N
LOG 166-26E

---------------------------------------

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACK
-----------------------

TYPE OF ATTACK| Submerged-Periscope-Night

Visually contacted destroyer ahead, closing before dawn.
Turned off track for stern shot with ideal setup.



SHIPS SUNK
None

SHIPS PROBABLY SUNK
None


SHIPS DAMAGED
None

SHIPS PROBABLY DAMAGED
None



TARGET DATA (at firing)
-----------------------------

TARGET NO.1
CLASS DD
NAME Mutsuki Class
TONS 1772
CRS 100
SPD 16 kts
AOB 105 S
RNG 1300 yds
BRG 005
TRUE BRG 036
REMARK



TORPEDO DATA TORPEDO ATTACK NO.3 (AT FIRING)
----------------------------------------------

TUBE NO.7
TYPE| MK 14-1
SERIAL NO| 20040
EXPLODER| MK 6
SERIAL NO| 4090
TRACK| 44 S
COURSE| 248
GYRO| 52 R
METHOD| Single Bearing
SPREAD| 0
POWER| High
DEPTH| 5 ft
POA| MOT
ACTUATION| Magnetic-Contact
HIT| No
ACTUAL ACTUATION| Magnetic
ERRATIC| No
MALFUNCTION| Yes
REMARK|
Prematurely detonated 20-30 yards
off port side of target.



TUBE NO.8
TYPE| MK 14-1
SERIAL NO| 20041
EXPLODER| MK 6
SERIAL NO| 4091
TRACK| 44 S
COURSE| 248
GYRO| 52 R
METHOD| Single Bearing
SPREAD| 2 degrees-Port.
POWER| High
DEPTH| 5 ft
POA| MOT
ACTUATION| Magnetic-Contact
HIT| No
ACTUAL ACTUATION| Magnetic
ERRATIC| No
MALFUNCTION| Yes
REMARK|
Prematurely detonated 20-30 yards
off port side of target.


OWN SHIP DATA (at firing)
---------------------------

DEPTH| 64 ft
COURSE| 175
SPEED| 2 kts
ANGLE| 1-Down
SEA STATE| 0

_____________________________________________


WEATHER

Weather in area was mostly clear and calm, with
a few days of high winds and light fog. Weather in transit
to and from base was almosy yachting weather majority of time.


NAVIGATIONAL AIDES


No navigational aides were spotted in area, aside
from the atolls themselves. Blackout conditions
appeared to be observed on the islands.



MINES

No mines were encountered on this patrol.


RADIO

Radio function was normal throughout the patrol.



RADAR

SD radar appeared to function correctly. However,
no aircraft were encountered on this patrol.



SOUND GEAR AND CONDITIONS

Sound gear functioned well overall,
detecting contacts in excess of 10,000 yards
in some cases.


Sound conditions in area were overall satsisfactory.



THERMAL LAYERS


No thermal layers were
detected.



ANTISUBMARINE COUNTERMEASURES AND EVASION

Assigned area was patrolled by one or more Destroyers
and several small patrol craft or auxiliary type Subchasers.

Enemy destroyer encountered was equipped with active sonar
as evidenced by it's pinging. However, aside from initial
attack once TRITON was at 250 ft, enemy appeared
to have lost contact.


Evasion was conducted by rigging for silent running
and evading at test depth of 250 ft.



MAJOR DAMAGE AND DEFECTS

Damage

All damage repaired at sea unless indicated
otherwise.

1. Forward Batteries
Depth charge attack of 20 December 1941 caused serious damage
to Forward Batteries. One, possibly two depth charges exploded
forward to starboard at estimated 50-100 feet distance.

Upon completion of repairs, it was found forward batteries could not gain
full charge, with just seventeen percent of their capacity. This limited
submerged endurance and performance, with aft batteries carrying the load.

After several days, forward batteries began to fail, with recharge
capacity falling to just thireen percent.


2. Leaks-Forward Torpedo Room.

3. Torpedo Tube No.1

4. Torpedo Tube No.2

5. Torpedo Tube No.3

6. Torpedo Tube No.4

7. Torpedo Tube No.5

8. Torpedo Tube No.6

9. Sound Gear

10. Light Bulbs-All compartments

11. Glass Fixtures-All compartments


Defects

None



PERSONNEL

Crew performance throughout patrol was excellent with
strong morale in spite of trying circumstances.


HEALTH AND HABITABILITY

Conditions onboard were overall comfortable
with climate maintained and well prepared meals.
Relatively short duration of patrol also helped
maintain conditions onboard.



MILES STEAMED-FUEL CONSUMED

Pearl to Area
3,550 Miles
41,500 Gallons


In Area
3,500 Miles
36,500 Gallons


Area to Pearl
3,800 Miles
49,300 Gallons


DURATION

Pearl to Area
9 Days

In Area
11 Days

Area to Pearl
9 Days

Total
29 Days



FACTORS OF ENDURANCE

Torpedoes| 18
Fuel| 55,500 gallons
Food| 51 days
Crew| Indefinite

Major Factor in Termination of patrol|

Heavy Damage and subsuquent progressive failure
of Forward Batteries.

Assignment in area completed.



REMARKS

A key enemy outpost, there was a surprising lack of merchant shipping encountered
in the Marshall Islands, in the Kwajalein area in particular. Perhaps further
time spent in area would have located enemy shipping.

Lack of enemy air patrols was also surprising. With war now declared,
it is likely enemy will reinforce the islands.

Torpedo performance was concerning as at least
four out of six fired out of six fired prematurely detonating.
Two of these explosions were confirmed visually when
torpedoes detonated in succession just 20-30 yards from
the destroyer they were on solid track to impact. These malfunctions
cost the sinking of one, perhaps two enemy warships.

J.P. Beauregard III
LCDR, USN.