The first war patrol of the USS Spearfish

apojacks · 11-07-07, 10:19 PM

10 December, 1941: Moored starboard side to Mechina Warf, Cavite Navy Yard, Phillipine Islands for provisions and fuel. Directive recieved from Commander Asiatic Fleet: you will sink or destroy enemy shipping wherever encountered. Have advised Commander Asiatic Fleet that Spearfish will be ready for sea at 1000 - 10 December, 1941.

11 December, 1941: At 1400 hours approximately 500 miles from Mechina Warf, encountered enemy search planes while conducting minor repairs on surface. Anti-air crews unable to shoot down to plane. Ordered Spearfish down to a depth of 100 feet to wait out search plane attack. Took minor concussion damage from depth charging. - 11 December, 1941.

15 December, 1941: At 0515 hours while patrolling Phillipine coasts spotted an old freighter, estimated 4000 tons. Engaged and sunk enemy vessel with torpedo. - 15, December 1941.

16 December, 1941: At 0110 hours while patrolling Phillipine coasts spotted a small merchant freighter, estimated 2300 tons. Engaged and sunk enemy vessel by
use of deck gun. -16 December, 1941.

17 December, 1941: At 0045 hours while patrolling along the Luzon Straight, sighted Akatsuki class destroyer. Crew ordered to battle stations and performed brilliantly. Two torpedoes shot directly into the bow of the ship took it out before they knew what hit them. At 0055 hours, spotted a small Japanese gunship. Submarine surfaced and engaged target with deck gun, sinking target only after taking some minor damage. - 17 December, 1941.

18 December, 1941: At 0700 hours, without warning, Spearfish came under attack by Japanese Zeroes and Val Dive Bombers. Submarine ordered to crash dive immediately. Original ordered depth of 100 feet. Concussion damage from exploding bombs and depth charges from causes heavy flooding, submarine levels out at 150 feet. Crew fought valiantly for three hours to keep vessel from flooding further and sinking. Nine crew members suffered light wounds from result of attack. Spearfish refused to surface, after pumping out more water for three hours, ordered an emergency ballast blow. Submarine surfaced without incident, and limped back to Mechina Warf, Cavite Navy Yard, Phillipine Islands. - 18 December, 1941.

19 December, 1941: Moored starboard side Mechina Warf, Cavite Navy Yard, Phillipine Islands for provisions, fuel, and minor repairs from skeleton crew at the Yard. Recieved from Commander Asiatic Fleet notice of awards. Lieutenant Commander ApoJacks awarded the Navy Distinguished Service medal. Purple Hearts awarded to wounded crew members. Advised Commander Asiatic Fleet that Spearfish would ship out no later than 0300 hours on 22 December, 1941, destination of Surabaja, Java to arrive no later than 25 January, 1942. - 19 December, 1941.

-Pv- · 11-07-07, 10:32 PM

Happy Hunting. Give yourself some more depth for those planes.
-Pv-

11-07-07, 10:19 PM	#1
apojacks Swabbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 13 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The first war patrol of the USS Spearfish 10 December, 1941: Moored starboard side to Mechina Warf, Cavite Navy Yard, Phillipine Islands for provisions and fuel. Directive recieved from Commander Asiatic Fleet: you will sink or destroy enemy shipping wherever encountered. Have advised Commander Asiatic Fleet that Spearfish will be ready for sea at 1000 - 10 December, 1941. 11 December, 1941: At 1400 hours approximately 500 miles from Mechina Warf, encountered enemy search planes while conducting minor repairs on surface. Anti-air crews unable to shoot down to plane. Ordered Spearfish down to a depth of 100 feet to wait out search plane attack. Took minor concussion damage from depth charging. - 11 December, 1941. 15 December, 1941: At 0515 hours while patrolling Phillipine coasts spotted an old freighter, estimated 4000 tons. Engaged and sunk enemy vessel with torpedo. - 15, December 1941. 16 December, 1941: At 0110 hours while patrolling Phillipine coasts spotted a small merchant freighter, estimated 2300 tons. Engaged and sunk enemy vessel by use of deck gun. -16 December, 1941. 17 December, 1941: At 0045 hours while patrolling along the Luzon Straight, sighted Akatsuki class destroyer. Crew ordered to battle stations and performed brilliantly. Two torpedoes shot directly into the bow of the ship took it out before they knew what hit them. At 0055 hours, spotted a small Japanese gunship. Submarine surfaced and engaged target with deck gun, sinking target only after taking some minor damage. - 17 December, 1941. 18 December, 1941: At 0700 hours, without warning, Spearfish came under attack by Japanese Zeroes and Val Dive Bombers. Submarine ordered to crash dive immediately. Original ordered depth of 100 feet. Concussion damage from exploding bombs and depth charges from causes heavy flooding, submarine levels out at 150 feet. Crew fought valiantly for three hours to keep vessel from flooding further and sinking. Nine crew members suffered light wounds from result of attack. Spearfish refused to surface, after pumping out more water for three hours, ordered an emergency ballast blow. Submarine surfaced without incident, and limped back to Mechina Warf, Cavite Navy Yard, Phillipine Islands. - 18 December, 1941. 19 December, 1941: Moored starboard side Mechina Warf, Cavite Navy Yard, Phillipine Islands for provisions, fuel, and minor repairs from skeleton crew at the Yard. Recieved from Commander Asiatic Fleet notice of awards. Lieutenant Commander ApoJacks awarded the Navy Distinguished Service medal. Purple Hearts awarded to wounded crew members. Advised Commander Asiatic Fleet that Spearfish would ship out no later than 0300 hours on 22 December, 1941, destination of Surabaja, Java to arrive no later than 25 January, 1942. - 19 December, 1941.

11-07-07, 10:32 PM	#2
-Pv- The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,434 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Happy Hunting. Give yourself some more depth for those planes. -Pv-