Encounter north of Rabaul Part I

[nfitzsimmons]

SS-228, USS Drum
11 November 1943
06:55
Position 4°04’ S, 152° E

Surfaced, moving at 9 kts, course 325.
Visibility approximately 800 yds, heavy rain. Seas 15-20 feet, wind approximately 30 kts from the southwest.

07:05
Single radar contact bearing 044. Range 75,000 yds.

07:07
Multiple contacts on same bearing. Appears to be a convoy. Estimated course 135.

07:15
Confirm 9 contacts in total. Two columns of three ships, with assumed escorts with one leading, one trailing to port, and third mid convoy to starboard. Confirmed course 132, heading for Rabaul. Estimated speed 11 kts.

07:16
Ordered course change to 195, flank speed. Range to target intercept point 9.5 NM.

07:25
Seas very heavy. Waves over the bridge at times. Ordered lookouts relieved every 30 minutes.

7:35
Port escort no longer visible on radar. Range to convoy now 43,000 yds.

07:45
Wind speed now 40+kts. Ordered depth to 40 ft. Good sonar contact with targets, intermittent radar contact.

07:52
Lost both sonar and radar contact with lead escort. No contact with third merchant in port column.

08:00
Now no sonar or radar contact with starboard escort.

08:10
Range to target course intercept point 15,000 yds. Range to convoy lead ship 31,000 yds. Periscope underwater frequently, reducing speed to 4 kts.

08:20
General Quarters. No radar or sonar contact with last ship in starboard column. Range to lead target 29,000 yds. Range to target course intercept 2,900 yds.

[kikn79]

Good story. Looking forward to part deux.

Chuck