[Bubblehead1980]

TMO Update BH V2.0 testing
max difficulty, cams and contacts on for testing purposes.

March 19, 1945
USS Balao on lifeguard duty Area 7 off Kyushu in support of Task Force 58's strikes in lead up to Okinawa Invasion.


Arrived on lifeguard station SSE of Kyushu on 17 March 1945 per orders, reconnoitered the area, as carrier air strikes by TF 58 were scheduled 18-23 March before forced moved on to hit Okinawa prior to landings on 1 April .


At 0200 on 18 March, ran into three , 200 ton fishing boats sailing about 6000 yards apart. Ordered GENERAL QUARTERS BATTLE SURFACE GUN ACTION. At 0215, opened fire and sunk all three boats with 5 inch, 40mm and 20mm gunfire. Ceased fire 0224.


At dawn, submerged 10 miles of Miyazaki to patrol lifeguard station. At 1140, raised SD antenna as strike was expected to be arriving in area. At 1149 SD made a contact with large number of aircraft. Two minutes later spotted Avenger, Helldiver, and Hellcat aircraft bearing 161 about 10000 yards estimated range. Observed via periscope as some aircraft struck Miyazaki area while others continued on to inland targets.


Observed a explosion a few thousand yards off shore and soon spotted smoke markers indicating downed aircrew. Ordered General Quarters-Rescue, and closed smoke marker. At 1203, made periscope observation, and soon after spotted a Zero closing bearing 091, as scope dropped spotted tracers and gunfire, BALAO's scope was being strafed. Ordered 150 feet emergency and continued on towards location of downed flier. About one minute later, as leveled off at 150 feet, BALAO was rocked by two explosions, obviously from the aircraft. Went to 250 feet, continued course. Minor damage reported.


At 1235, returned to periscope depth, spotted a second smoke marker bearing 052 degrees. Closed original marker and spotted a aviator in the water. Closed to about 1500 yards from aviator in water and surfaced to decks awash (25 ft). Motored in for rescue about 9000 yards off the beach off Miyazaki. Observed fires burning in Miyzaki area from air strikes. At 1301, made SD contact with planes returning from strikes inland on Kyushu.


At 1306 pulled along side downed aviator, who was pulled aboard. Set course for another smoke marker observed earlier at high speed, estimated range 6 miles. At 1344 spotted a raft with several aircrew in water about 6000 yards off Miyazaki beach. Submerged to approach on the raft due to known shore batteries.

Surfaced to decks awash at 1400 about 6300 yards off Miyazaki, closed the raft. Just as pulled along side the raft, observed flashes from a shore and shell splashes in water, first one being well astern. With shore batteries firing on Balao, pulled the raft ashore. Not wanting to get tied down in shallow possible mine infested waters, opted for high speed run away from beach in lieu of submerging, dodging shell splashes by "chasing" them. At 1407, one shell splash to port was quite close, perhaps 25 yard, others were not nearly as close. As we pulled away from coast, observed several mines ahead to starboard and port, apparently were inside the defensive minefield. As closed mines , 40mm and 20mm guns were used to detonate three mines to clear a path.

At 1430 SD radar contacted a second large inbound strike wave and at 1437 spotted formation of Helldivers, Avengers, Hellcats, Corsairs, and Dauntlessness. Returned to position in area of Miyazaki and observed explosions ashore from air strikes. At 1524 received report of downed aviator North of Balao's position off Cape Togenkyo. Set course at high speed to close reported position, submerging to avoid a SD contact at 1537.

After 15 minutes submerged, surfaced and soon arrived, searching area off Cape Togenkyo. At 1613 spotted smoke marker in distance and closed at high speed, soon spotted what appear to be fishing trawler sailing towards the marker as well. Ordered GENERAL QUARTERS BATTLE SURFACE,. All guns manned, vessel was identified as a tug boat with gun forward.

From range of 7000 yards opened fire with 5 inch gun. After four missed, scored a solid hit amidships at waterline of the tug boat, which caught fire and slowed. A few shell splashes landed towards Balao, but as range closed quickly, scored three more hits with 5 inch gun on the Tug, which ceased firing, went dead in water burning and after five minutes, exploded , capsized and sunk.


Pulled along side downed aviator in water and pulled him aboard, just as two "Val" dive bombers were spotted bearing 280 flying low (below SD radar ) , with bombers close, did not dive as was in shallow possible mined waters and would not reach safe depth before planes attacked. AA guns ordered to fire at will, the aft and forward 40 MM along with deck mounted 20 MM put up a impressive flak show, flaming one Val as it entered its dive, which crashed into water. A hard turn to port avoided the bomb dropped by second Val, which exploded off starboard, causing no damage. Forward 40MM scored hits on the Val as it pulled out of her dive. While plane did not burn, it kept on flying away, did not make a second pass. Soon more SD contacts were closing, but Balao now clear of the shore, submerged to avoid.

Surfaced at 1800 and proceeded to position off Miyazaki to cover the final raid of the day, sweeping waters in area for downed air crew.
Received messages indicating TF 58 carriers, not far from Balao's position had come under attack by enemy aircraft. Enterprise CV 6, Yorktown CV-10 and Intrepid CV-11 all damaged by bombs and kamikaze attacks.


At 1901 SD detected final strike outbound from Kyushu, more fires observed burning near Miyazaki. At 2100, as night fell, observed smoke marker about 20 miles off Miyazaki, pulled along side and rescued downed TBF aircrew. With strikes concluded for the day, closed coastal areas to patrol for enemy vessels off Fuka Island near entrance to Bungo Suido.



At 0100 , SJ made contact bearing 040 27000 yards. Closed contact, which developed into multiple pips. At 6 NM called GENERAL QUARTERS-TORPEDO-SURFACE.


At 0131 visually identified a large AK and mid sized tanker with six escorts...one DE leading with five other SC PC type escorts. Convoy was Southbound about 4000 yards off shore passing between Fuka Island and Kyushu. MK 18-2 torpedoes in tubes 1,2,3,4,5,6, were made ready to fire. The screen's spacing would force to fire from longer range than desired of 3200 yards. Maneuvered just inside the screen between the port forward and port aft escorts , each about 2500 yards on each side of BALAO and fired
six MK 18-2 torpedoes set at depth of 10 feet. Four torpedoes went to the large AK with two to the smaller tanker, at 0146.

At 0148, two torpedoes hit the tanker, which erupted into a into massive fireball characteristic of a loaded tanker, three of four hit the large AK which caught fired and slowed. Meanwhile, Balao was turning away at high speed, with the PC's firing and one illuminating Balao with her searchlight. While racing away, the torpedo that missed hit the SC on far side of convoy, which exploded in massive fireball.

BALAO had soon outran the the PC's but the DE was closing fast, with BALAO's APR-1 detecting his radar emissions (Curiously, previously did not detect any, wondering if he switch it on after being alerted, i've encountered this before, rare but does happen it seems)


DE soon identified as a Matsu Class, which BALAO could not outrun. Stern tubes were made ready to fire, set minimum depth and stern brought around to set up for a "down the throat" shot on the pursuing DE. DE at 5000 yards fired star shells which illuminated skies above BALAO. At 0156 fired two MK 18-2 torpedoes from tubes 7,10 "down the throat" of the Matsu. (Torpedoes tracked properly, should have been hits but one ran deep below the hull, second (ran down the side scraping the hull, really makes long for magnetic detonators lol) .

0201: Auxiliary Subchaser 1000 tons sunk. mid sized AO unidentified sunk. Estimated 4000 tons.

DE opened fire with close shell closes, worried about radar guided gunfire, BALAO submerged, rigged for silent running and depth charge, dropping SBT-1 decoys at 75 and 125 feet, leveled off at 175 feet with just 30 feet below keel.


First pattern was close and caused damage. Most serious damage reported was to aft batteries and some flooding. DC party was formed and quickly stopped flooding with a small amount of water in aft engine room.

Follow up patterns by the DE were not as accurate, likely due to thermal layer passed at 170 feet. However, soon his "little friends", three of them arrived on scene. More decoys were deployed which distracted escorts but one stubborn PC stayed on Balao, passed above dropping usually two to three charges per run. One very close one caused damage and minor flooding in conning tower.


BALAO endured multiple other DC runs but increasing depth, thermal layer, decoys permitted a escape. At 0500 lost contact with all escorts, maintained silent running but secured GQ, as escorts were likely "sleeping". At 0511 three escorts reported moving away, likely rejoining the convoy. Balao continued silent running at depth of 350 feet to seaward.

Came to periscope depth at 0700, all clear. At SJ radar depth, detected two pips, apparently stationary astern at 12000 yards. Secured silent running , surfaced, and closed to investigate in the remaining darkness before dawn.


At 0730, spotted a large AK dead in water, with one PC type escort stationary off his port side, likely listening for BALAO. Soon developed other pips in area, spread out, no doubt searching for Balao. Turned about and backed down to fire remaining torpedoes in stern tubes. Fired tubes 8 and 9 (MK 18-2) at range of 3800 yards at 0801. Both torpedoes hit the AK, which exploded and listed hard to port. Balao raced away with the PC in pursuit but unable to close. APR-1 detected radar emissions, presumably from the DE but she was not nearby. as was off searching. Soon the PC gave up pursuit. Balao slowed to observe damaged AK and reloaded tubes.


At 0817 , AK HIYAMA MARU 7650 tons sunk. BALAO secured GQ and cleared area toward Cape Ashizuri in support of TF 58 strikes schedule to hit the Kure area, set to begin in just a few hours.