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EddieLyons · 02-24-22, 07:03 PM

25 Dec 1941 04:15
We are now visually tracking six fishing boats. Five of them are keeping to the west of the channel, with one ahead nearer the deeper part, Given their spread out disposition, they appear unconcerned about minefields. Could it be that the Japanese have none in this channel? Are they that confident in the security of their home waters? That alone would be useful intelligence for COMSUBPAC, even if we are unable to make it all the way to Hiroshima.

04:45
I have ordered ahead two thirds for a short time. We have fallen far enough behind the lead fishing boats to warrant it. So far they are holding steady on their course of about 348°. We will shortly make the first of our turns in the channel. Current course is 004°, new course, for a short leg of 5500 yds, will be 324°.

04:51
On course at 324°. Speed reduced to ahead one third to reduce closure rate on fishing boats to our west. I want to pass behind them on our next course change.

05:18
I have ordered ahead two thirds once more. On our next leg we should now pass behind the five fishing boats that are still in view. They still haven’t deviated from their course.

05:24
132°12’E, 33°06’N.
Turned to new course 282°, speed ahead two thirds.

06:01
132°08’E, 33°07’N.
Turned to new course 325°, speed two thirds ahead. We are now some 6000 yds west of the course of the fishing boats, on a diverging course. Only one remains in view -- we’ll lose sight of it soon enough. We’re on our own from here on in -- I’m surprised we have seen no sign of defences so far: no patrols, no mines, no shore emplacements.

06:35
I spoke too soon! We have spotted three fishing boats to starboard, now apparently on a converging course of about 305°. They must have changed course shortly after our last sighting. I have ordered speed reduced to ahead one third to avoid contact. Although this slows us down again, it has the advantage that I can keep them in front to pathfind any potential minefields. That’s very thoughtful of them!

09:10
132°00’E, 33°17’N.
Course 326°. I have ordered speed increased to two thirds ahead. The fishing boats are far enough ahead and all but one have crossed our bow, so we will pass astern of them again. They remain steady on their course of 305°. Are they on their way to Oita? Or Tsurusaki? Or Bepu? If so, I can expect them to make a turn to port, on a diverging course from our plotted one. But, they’ve surprised us once with a course change -- they’ll bear keeping a close eye on for the time being.

09:30
131°59’E, 33°20’N.
We are passing through the Hoyo Strait into the Seto Inland Sea. I am surprised, and grateful for it, that we have still not encountered any patrol vessels of any sort. I also have to thank our fishing boat “escort” for being most helpful thus far! Still no sign of them changing course. But we will, about 1 NM ahead!

09:45
131°58’E, 33°21’N.
We have made our turn, to a new course of 018°, two thirds ahead. We still have six fishing boats in sight, all now to port and beginning to fall behind, steady on their course of 305°.

09:50
A binocular sweep has shown two more fishing boats ahead, off the port bow. With the first light of dawn appearing, and the horizon beginning to show clearly, I’ve ordered the boat to dive to periscope depth, ahead one third to conserve battery power to the maximum. This will be slow going, but I intend to remain submerged throughout daylight hours.

09:51
We finally have a hydrophone contact! Two vessels bearing approx 245. One certainly sounds like a warship, the other perhaps not. A merchant plus escort? A periscope sweep showed only the fishing boat fleet, so our sound contact is beyond visual range as yet. Possibly in the vicinity of Bepu, given the bearing. If we weren’t on a recon op, I would be turning to track and intercept. But I’ll have to let them go. This time!

10:39
131°58’E, 33°24’N.
Hydrophone operator reports a warship bearing 225, closing at medium speed, long range. Taking a listen myself, there appears to be two warships and a merchant.

10:49
A periscope sweep shows at least one escort vessel plus up to four merchants, one of them possibly a tanker, on a course through the Hoyo Strait to exit through the Bungo Suido. Have the Japanese adopted an escorted convoy strategy? Perhaps they’re taking notice of what is happening in the North Atlantic. But, what a missed opportunity because of these damned orders from COMSUBPAC!
Plus, we’re nearly surrounded by fishing boats! It would be just our luck to get entangled in their fishing nets!

10:54
According to the Nautical Almanac, the sun should now be risen.

12:05
We’ve lost hydrophone contact with the escorted convoy. We continue deeper into the Inland Sea, probing how far we can go.

14:14
132°01’E, 33°31’N.
We have turned to new course 072°, ahead one third, remaining at periscope depth. Hydrophone contact at approx bearing 212 of a single warship. This is likely our first contact with a patrol!

14:25
Sound contact is now at bearing 205. I want to avoid using the periscope during daylight, given the number of fishing boats we have been encountering.

14:35
Sound contact now at bearing 196. It appears to be on a southerly course.

14:45
Sound contact now bearing 186, clearly showing through our own baffles. Still on a southerly course - headed out through the Hoyo Strait?

14:55
Sound contact now bearing 181, still clear through our baffles.

15:05
Sound contact still bearing 181. Clearly has changed course -- but towards or away from us? According to our charts, we have plenty of depth to play with for the next several hours at this speed, so I’m taking us a bit deeper, to 100 ft.

15:15
Sound contact now at bearing 178. Is it a bit fainter?

15:25
Sound contact now bearing 176. Definitely fainter. If he’s searching for us, he’s looking the wrong way! But I wonder if any of “our” fishing boats spotted and reported us?

15:35
Sound contact now bearing 175. Getting much fainter. The variation in bearings indicate changes in course. Is he searching? Or simply patrolling?

15:45
Sound contact very faint, at bearing 174.

16:00
Sound contact is no longer audible. Second Watch is now on duty.

19:04
Hydrophone reports a sound contact bearing 283, identified as a merchant. Another missed opportunity!

19:30
Hydrophone contact is now bearing 250, apparently on a course reciprocal to our own.

20:00
We lost the hydrophone contact at 19:55. I hope this mission to Hiroshima is worth all the missed opportunities!

20:48
132°13’E, 33°35’N.
The Nautical Almanac tells us the sun is setting. I have ordered us to periscope depth.

20:54
Hydrophone and periscope sweeps are clear. When the sky is a bit darker, we shall surface.

22:00
It’s finally dark enough, so I have ordered the boat to surface, at two thirds ahead.
We received the following Fox Traffic: HONG KONG HAS SURRENDERED TO THE JAPANESE X MANILA DECLARED AN OPEN CITY X US FORCES WITHDRAWING TO JAVA AND AUSTRALIA X MERRY CHRISTMAS X
And a Merry Christmas to you too, COMSUBPAC!

02-24-22, 07:03 PM	#20
EddieLyons Watch Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 28 Downloads: 72 Uploads: 0	Impossible mission?! (Part 3) 25 Dec 1941 04:15 We are now visually tracking six fishing boats. Five of them are keeping to the west of the channel, with one ahead nearer the deeper part, Given their spread out disposition, they appear unconcerned about minefields. Could it be that the Japanese have none in this channel? Are they that confident in the security of their home waters? That alone would be useful intelligence for COMSUBPAC, even if we are unable to make it all the way to Hiroshima. 04:45 I have ordered ahead two thirds for a short time. We have fallen far enough behind the lead fishing boats to warrant it. So far they are holding steady on their course of about 348°. We will shortly make the first of our turns in the channel. Current course is 004°, new course, for a short leg of 5500 yds, will be 324°. 04:51 On course at 324°. Speed reduced to ahead one third to reduce closure rate on fishing boats to our west. I want to pass behind them on our next course change. 05:18 I have ordered ahead two thirds once more. On our next leg we should now pass behind the five fishing boats that are still in view. They still haven’t deviated from their course. 05:24 132°12’E, 33°06’N. Turned to new course 282°, speed ahead two thirds. 06:01 132°08’E, 33°07’N. Turned to new course 325°, speed two thirds ahead. We are now some 6000 yds west of the course of the fishing boats, on a diverging course. Only one remains in view -- we’ll lose sight of it soon enough. We’re on our own from here on in -- I’m surprised we have seen no sign of defences so far: no patrols, no mines, no shore emplacements. 06:35 I spoke too soon! We have spotted three fishing boats to starboard, now apparently on a converging course of about 305°. They must have changed course shortly after our last sighting. I have ordered speed reduced to ahead one third to avoid contact. Although this slows us down again, it has the advantage that I can keep them in front to pathfind any potential minefields. That’s very thoughtful of them! 09:10 132°00’E, 33°17’N. Course 326°. I have ordered speed increased to two thirds ahead. The fishing boats are far enough ahead and all but one have crossed our bow, so we will pass astern of them again. They remain steady on their course of 305°. Are they on their way to Oita? Or Tsurusaki? Or Bepu? If so, I can expect them to make a turn to port, on a diverging course from our plotted one. But, they’ve surprised us once with a course change -- they’ll bear keeping a close eye on for the time being. 09:30 131°59’E, 33°20’N. We are passing through the Hoyo Strait into the Seto Inland Sea. I am surprised, and grateful for it, that we have still not encountered any patrol vessels of any sort. I also have to thank our fishing boat “escort” for being most helpful thus far! Still no sign of them changing course. But we will, about 1 NM ahead! 09:45 131°58’E, 33°21’N. We have made our turn, to a new course of 018°, two thirds ahead. We still have six fishing boats in sight, all now to port and beginning to fall behind, steady on their course of 305°. 09:50 A binocular sweep has shown two more fishing boats ahead, off the port bow. With the first light of dawn appearing, and the horizon beginning to show clearly, I’ve ordered the boat to dive to periscope depth, ahead one third to conserve battery power to the maximum. This will be slow going, but I intend to remain submerged throughout daylight hours. 09:51 We finally have a hydrophone contact! Two vessels bearing approx 245. One certainly sounds like a warship, the other perhaps not. A merchant plus escort? A periscope sweep showed only the fishing boat fleet, so our sound contact is beyond visual range as yet. Possibly in the vicinity of Bepu, given the bearing. If we weren’t on a recon op, I would be turning to track and intercept. But I’ll have to let them go. This time! 10:39 131°58’E, 33°24’N. Hydrophone operator reports a warship bearing 225, closing at medium speed, long range. Taking a listen myself, there appears to be two warships and a merchant. 10:49 A periscope sweep shows at least one escort vessel plus up to four merchants, one of them possibly a tanker, on a course through the Hoyo Strait to exit through the Bungo Suido. Have the Japanese adopted an escorted convoy strategy? Perhaps they’re taking notice of what is happening in the North Atlantic. But, what a missed opportunity because of these damned orders from COMSUBPAC! Plus, we’re nearly surrounded by fishing boats! It would be just our luck to get entangled in their fishing nets! 10:54 According to the Nautical Almanac, the sun should now be risen. 12:05 We’ve lost hydrophone contact with the escorted convoy. We continue deeper into the Inland Sea, probing how far we can go. 14:14 132°01’E, 33°31’N. We have turned to new course 072°, ahead one third, remaining at periscope depth. Hydrophone contact at approx bearing 212 of a single warship. This is likely our first contact with a patrol! 14:25 Sound contact is now at bearing 205. I want to avoid using the periscope during daylight, given the number of fishing boats we have been encountering. 14:35 Sound contact now at bearing 196. It appears to be on a southerly course. 14:45 Sound contact now bearing 186, clearly showing through our own baffles. Still on a southerly course - headed out through the Hoyo Strait? 14:55 Sound contact now bearing 181, still clear through our baffles. 15:05 Sound contact still bearing 181. Clearly has changed course -- but towards or away from us? According to our charts, we have plenty of depth to play with for the next several hours at this speed, so I’m taking us a bit deeper, to 100 ft. 15:15 Sound contact now at bearing 178. Is it a bit fainter? 15:25 Sound contact now bearing 176. Definitely fainter. If he’s searching for us, he’s looking the wrong way! But I wonder if any of “our” fishing boats spotted and reported us? 15:35 Sound contact now bearing 175. Getting much fainter. The variation in bearings indicate changes in course. Is he searching? Or simply patrolling? 15:45 Sound contact very faint, at bearing 174. 16:00 Sound contact is no longer audible. Second Watch is now on duty. 19:04 Hydrophone reports a sound contact bearing 283, identified as a merchant. Another missed opportunity! 19:30 Hydrophone contact is now bearing 250, apparently on a course reciprocal to our own. 20:00 We lost the hydrophone contact at 19:55. I hope this mission to Hiroshima is worth all the missed opportunities! 20:48 132°13’E, 33°35’N. The Nautical Almanac tells us the sun is setting. I have ordered us to periscope depth. 20:54 Hydrophone and periscope sweeps are clear. When the sky is a bit darker, we shall surface. 22:00 It’s finally dark enough, so I have ordered the boat to surface, at two thirds ahead. We received the following Fox Traffic: HONG KONG HAS SURRENDERED TO THE JAPANESE X MANILA DECLARED AN OPEN CITY X US FORCES WITHDRAWING TO JAVA AND AUSTRALIA X MERRY CHRISTMAS X And a Merry Christmas to you too, COMSUBPAC!