USS Jack SS-259
TMO 2.5 with custom mod
100 realism. External cam off for Patrol 6, on for patrol 7.
Sixth War Patrol: 11 April-15 May 1944
Departed Fremantle, Australia at 1300 on 11 April with orders to Luzon Strait (Convoy College). Topped off fuel tanks at Exmouth Gulf on 13 April. Deciding to forgo the excitement of running Lombok Strait, decided to proceed via Timor Strait and Banda and Molucca Seas up the East coast of Philippines to enter the straits. Avoided a few patrol planes via diving.
On April 19th at 0930 SJ made contact on a convoy on a south-west course. Convoy was 70 NM off the NW tip of Halmahera. Closed in and sent contact report, ordered to attack. Closed a large NAGRA MARU freighter and fired four Mark 18 torpedoes from stern tubes at 1000 yards. All four hit, the ship slowed caught fire, took a heavy starboard listed and sunk in five minutes. Escorts hunted by were unable to locate the Jack as found a nice thermal layer, seas were choppy and was running silent at 375 feet.
Surfaced at dusk and continued for patrol area along East coast of Philippines. Numerous air patrols (day and night) required Jack to yo-yo and slowed progress.
On 22 April ran into massive storm which slowed progress. SJ contacted a small convoy appeared to be 2 ships with 3 escorts, likely heading for Lamon Bay. Due to weather conditions , did not pursue, continued towards patrol area.
Received ULTRA regarding a high priority troop convoy (Take Ichi or Bamboo No.1) carrying reinforcements for New Guinea, with scheduled stop at Manila. Convoy had departed Shanghai and transited the east coast of Formosa. that would be transited Jack's patrol area (Luzon Straits 0n 25 April. Rang up turns for 18 knots to arrive in area as weather cleared. Entered area just before noon on 24 April. Dodging several air patrols as well as a surface patrol via repeated dives.
At 1501 SJ made contact on a large convoy. The PPI scope showed a large body of 15 ships with 12 escorts, Jack had located the subject of the ULTRA. Pulled ahead of the convoy which was zigging often, went to GQ and ordered a dive when convoy zigged towards Jack, exploiting a gap in the tight screen noticed when convoy zigged.
To get closed enough for a good shot, went to 300 feet and ahead full for 6 minutes, back at scope depth, could see multiple large troop ships and large transports, some with tanks and trucks on deck in two columns, they appeared to be constant helming but maintain a speed of twelve knots. A large minelayer appeared to be convoy commander as it was in the lead. Targeted a large KOTOBUKI MARU (18000 tons) troopship for a shot from 5000 yards with Mark 14's. An aircraft was spotted through the scope and took sub to 100 feet. Back at scope depth, prepared to shoot as TDC looked great. When raised scope for firing observation, convoy had zigged away, range opening fast. Deciding a hit unlikely, withheld fire and went deep, would let convoy pass, end around for a night surface attack as sundown was approaching fast.
Surfaced and raced ahead, maintaining SJ contact and diving twice to avoid a patrol plane. Finally at 2100, after nightfall, was in position, would move in for attack.
Judging from situation, Jack could close to 4500-5000 yards for a shot. Fire a full bow and stern spread into convoy at center and likely get hits on several ships. The APR-1 RWR was receiving radar signals from a vessel in the screen (indentified as Yagumo Destroyer) so had to move in carefully to avoid giving radar a solid target.
As moved in, convoy unexpectedly zigged towards Jack, placing Jack well inside the screen and just 2200 yards from the two columns of troopships with nearing escort 2000 yards astern, his radar apparently not detecting Jack due to low profile.
Targeted a large KITRUIN MARU troopship and DAKAR MARU transport. Tanks could be made out in the DAKAR MARU's deck. Just as was about to fire, the KITRUIN MARU was obscured by a large ship as ships continued to regain position after the last zig. The the 18000 ton KOTOBUKI MARU troopship had sailed right into Jack's crosshairs (the luck!) and decided to fire four torpedoes at KOTOBUKI and two at the DAKAR MARU.
At 2124, fired all torpedoes. Moved closer and a plane to run through a gap in convoy and the screen on other side of convoy as had not closed yet after the zig. At 2126....BOOM! Four hits on KOTOBUKI MARU, which caught fire from bow to stern and slowed. BOOM two hits on DAKAR MARU. Jack was now running towards the gap when the Yamgumo DD now at 3100 yards, apparently detected Jack on it's radar, and illuminated Jack with spotlight and star shells.
Multiple heavy shells and machine gun tracers were flying Jack's way landing in waters, some machine gun/autocannon fire hit Jack's deck with no damage. The Yagumo has now trained its spotlight on Jack and was closing fast from astern. Unable to outrun her and worried about catching fire, ordered a DIVE. Jack went down and went ahead flank, heading to hide under the large ships. Went silent at 375 feet. Several Depth Charges fell, but none too close. Could tell escorts were obstructed by the mass of ships scrambling about above.
Two hours later came to scope depth and then radar depth. Convoy was moving on SSW zigging, one escort was 9000 yards away, searching, dropping occasional depth charge. A ship spotted and identified as DAKAR MARU was dead in the water at 6000 yards, thanks to the two hits made earlier. Ordered reload and closed. Fired a shot from stern tube, which sunk the 7629 ton transport at 2304. Jack surfaced, secured from GQ and raced to regain contact with the main body.
At 0300 on 25 April, regained SJ contact. Convoy was now on SW course zigging at 12 knots as before and reorganized into the two columns and escort. Jockeyed for position trying to get a shot, but was stymied by the Yagumo DD and her radar. Finally at 0500, was able to make a long range shot from 6000 yards. With torpedoes still 3000 yards from target. Yamgumo DD painted Jack with radar and closed in at flank speed, firing star shells. Went ahead flank and maneuvered to get away, trying to avoid diving. While evading the DD, suddenly BOOM! torpedo hit early, impacting one of the screening vessels. Turned out to be a Kamikaze Class Destroyer, which eventually went down by the bow.
A minute later Boom! Boom!, two hits on troopship. The KITURUIN MARU was set afire and slowed. As raced away the Yamgumo DD was now at 3900 yards but in the dark night, seemed only have a tentative location. Manned aft TBT, opened outer doors and torpedoes in stern tubes set to minimum depth, would make a down the throat shot if needed. While running at flank speed, put two degrees port rudder on , conducting a slow small turn to turn off the Yagumo's track. The Yamgumo did not turn with Jack and was soon easing off the course. With stern kept to Yagumo to present low profile the radar beam, seemed would slip away. Suddenly...BOOM! Another torpedo hit in the distance. A look showed a fresh fire burning. Seems one of the torpedoes missed the initial target but had hit an escort on other side of the screen. An Etorofu Class escort was burning and quickly sunk. The Yamgumo was now heading S while Jack was heading SE and was 4000 yards away, but Yagumo then seemed to regain contact and fire star shells at Jack, illuminating her. Soon shell splashes were landing in waters near Jack and DD was closing in at over 30 knots. Unable to evade and after a close shell splashed off port side, ordered a dive.
Jack went to 375 feet, silent running. The DD roared overhead, let a few pings go, dropped a pattern of charges, two were close, estimated at 350 feet, while Jack was at 375. The DD hunted Jack for over an hour but never regained a solid contact. At 0631 contact with DD, last heard at 9500 yards at 160 was lost. At 0730 came to scope depth, no contacts visible. At radar depth, no SJ or SD contacts. Secured from GQ, surfaced and raced to regain contact while reloading torpedoes. Jack could likely make a submerged attack before convoy was out of her area.
Thus far Jack had sunk two large troopships, one large transport, and two escorts from this important convoy.
At 1030 SJ made contact. The convoy was heading SSE at 12 knots, zigging radically. By 1230 Jack was ahead of convoy and when zigged towards Jack, dove for submerged attack. Jack had four Mark 14's remaining in bow tubes and three Mark 14's in stern tubes.
A periscope observation revealed Jack would need a speed bust to get within firing range as convoy had changed base course slightly. Went to 300 feet and went ahead flank.
Heading back for scope depth, as passed 100 feet 1251....three close explosions rocked Jack, but luckily do damage. . Apparently a patrolling aircraft had spotted Jack in the calm clear waters as she ascended to periscope depth. of South China Sea. Heading back to 200 feet. more explosions landed but none close, the plane has lost us. Reports of warships closing fast, merchants moving away indicated the convoy was aware of our approach.
Down at 375 feet two escorts closed in. One sounded like a DD(did not use external camera to evade escorts, never do, was on for screenshots) and other a subchaser type. Several patterns fell, some close. Jack was forced to 475 feet, eventually losing the escorts. Which hunted for four hours.
Finally, back at scope depth, all clear. Surfaced, but two patrol planes remained in area, causing Jack to yo-yo. Surfaced at nightfall and continued high speed pursuit but was unable to regain contact At midnight on 26 April, broke off pursuit. Final tally...two large troopships and one large transport with one destroyer and one escort sunk.
Continued patrol for next couple of days, dodging patrol planes. On 29 April located a southbound convoy in Luzon Straits. Fired three stern tubes in night surface attack, but all missed due to 1/2 knot speed error. Convoy sped up from 9 1/2 knots to 10 knots just after firing. Attempted to conduct dawn submerged attack but convoy zigged and and multiple patrol planes kept Jack from conducting end around . Jack was bombed twice when diving to avoid. no damage.
On 2 May SJ made contact with large convoy in Luzon Straits heading NNE at 11 knots. Closed in for night surface attack sneaking through the 5 vessel escort screen of the 9 ships. 6 of which were tankers of 5000-10000 tons. Target a large 10000 ton NIPPON MARU, firing four Mark 14's from 2500 yards at 0100 3 May. At 0102 all torpedoes hit, the tanker erupted into massive fireball, obviously loaded with oil bound for Japan.
The nearest escort at 2100 yards spotted Jack as she turned away and pursued firing a few star shells to illuminate. Soon it was obvious the subchaser while making 19-20 knots could knot overtake Jack. Jack continued to race away, eventually disappearing into the night. Out of torpedoes, Jack headed for Fremantle. Arriving 15 May 1944.
Seventh War Patrol: 7 June-13 July 1944.
Departed Fremantle on 13 July for NW coast of Luzon Area A2. After topping off fuel of Exmouth Gulf, headed for Lombok Strait. Encountered usual patrols at southern and northern entrances to straight, as well as PC in central area. The central patrol had radar and pursued Jack but was able to outrun it. Avoided Northern patrol and exited strait at 0112. Set course for area via Java Sea, Karamata Strait, up west coast of Borneo (real life track Jack took on this patrol, per her operation order).
No contacts during transit aside from patrol planes. Ran into storms when west of Manila. Entered patrol area on 21 June.
On 22 June made contact on a Northbound 13 ship, 4 escort convoy. Being 0800 and having Mark 18's in both bow and stern tubes, opted for submerged attack.
Closed to 1200 yards from the outer column and fired at two BIYO MARU class merchants with three torpedoes each. The wakelesss torpedoes hit home, sinking both freighters. Jack went deep and endured intense but brief depth charging with minor damage.
Back on surface, conducted end around and attacked after night fall on surface. At 2500 yards fired on large 14000 ton NOKURA MARU tanker and with four Mark 14's from bow tubes and a TAKEI MARU 3900 ton tanker with two Mark 14's. The NOKURA MARU was hit and erupted in a fireball. The TAKEI MARU was hit by two and erupted in fireball as well.
Jack was illuminated by star shells and had a DE type and escort closing from two directions stern, firing. Shells landed close at one point but was able to avoid them. The Matsu Class DE had radar and continued closing. Matsu closed to 3000 yards and kicked on spotlight. Forcing Jack to dive.
Jack was hunted for 6 hours, taking damage to pumps, control room and forward torpedo room. Pushed to 530 feet to get under the escorts sonar and charges, finally slipped away.
Surfaced after dawn and attempted to end around but planes prevented regaining contact with convoy. Remained submerged until dark to let crew rest.
Continued patrol when contacted a convoy heading NW, likely a MATA( MANILA to TOKO) convoy on 2 July. Closed and conducted submerged attack with stern tubes, firing two Mark 18's at a MADRAS MARU and KINOPOSAN MARU. Two hits in each vessels, the KINOPOSAN quickly went under. the MADRAS smoking and with a large hole amidships continued on. The escort's counter attack was prolonged but inaccurate. Jack held quiet at 380 feet and escaped, albeit after 8 hours.
Surfaced and pursued convoy for end around but storms rolled in slowing Jack, discontinued search after 12 hours. Continued to patrol but unable to locate further targets, likely due to days of stormy weather. Fuel was running low and headed for Fremantle via Mindoro Strait-Sulu Sea-Celebes Sea-Makassar Strait to Lombok Strait. Arrived at Fremantle on 13 July 1944.
Screen shots:
Attack on Take Ichi Convoy:
