Evening star., 1942-07-12
IT, S. Submarine Commander Describes Raid
On Shipping in Jopon's Home Waters

The commander OF an Amerf-
can submarine in Pacific 1Ddters,
,Dho ,uds recently awarded the
Nary Cross, oiUes the tolloiDing
true picture OF one Doydge and
the results.
BY a United States Submarine
Commander as Told to Stanton
Delaplane.
We are on long-range submarine
patrol. Our new-type fleet subma-
rine is washing her black sides
through the Pacific at the pre-
scribed and censored knots, bound
for Japan.
Life goes on regularly, easily, linn
tied by the steel hull which is our
home and the regular duties of
patrol.
Lookouts are scanning the sky
constantly for aircraft. Our glasses
are sweeping the rolling blue Paci-
flc for Jap ships.
We are coming into enemy waters
soon and our routine will change.
AS commanding officer, I will de-
eide our procedure.
American submarines are now
making the longest patrols In sub
marine history. Although the Ger
man submarine men, because of
their intensive activity, seem to be
the worlds best, actually American
submarine men are making longer
and more dangerous patrols.
A new chapter of naval history
is being written under the long,
lonely surface of the Pacific.
Reach Enemy Waters.
These are enemy waters now and
we dive at dawn. usually on the
4 to 8 watch. A constant periscope
watch is maintained We break
fast at 7, on good, wholesome food,
for we are far from home and
health is one of our important
assets.
The watch changes at 8 am. and
some of the men fall into their
hunks for eight hours of sleep. We
maintain a four hours on and eight
off watch and it is up to the man
himself whether he sleeps during
the day or night. It's all the same
on submarine.
Our submarine is air conditioned
and there is none of the smells of
older type submarines which earned
them the name of "Pig Boats" :"
Our gear is new, our instruments
are the latest type designed for
our work. I have general orders,
but, in the final analysis, the pro-
cedure of our raid on the Japanese
coast is up to me.
The men on watch are at work
on the torpedoes, which are so deli
cate they require constant adjust
ment. There are minor engine re-
pairs. Our Diesels are smooth
ming and there is as little vibra-
ton as you find in riding one of
the new streamlined trains.
We eat again at IL noon and
change watch. There is relaxa-
ton period following for watch
ISLANDERS. We have sun lamp booths
for men who can't get topside at
any time. The phonograph Is grind
ing out "Give Me My Boots and
Saddles" Cowboy songs and cow
boy magazines are favorites with
the crew.
/ Night Surface gAtesl.
We cat again at $50 and at dark
we surface with rush. white Nater
pouring through our superstructure.
The officers In heavy weather cloth
ing man the bridge and begin night
surface patrol.
Over Us Is the lilnitless sky and
around us the limit,ess ocean. It
Is lonely and invfgoratif1g at the
same time The submarine pulses
on under a million stars.
My blankets are on the steel plates
of the coming tower when I turn
in for the night, leaving the officer
of the deck and lookouts on watch
/ hav, poor night adaptability, sc
cannot afford time to adjust my
eyes TO the dark by coming from
my quarters through the light. Some
people have good night adaptability
which is an asset to submarine
officer.
You know how it is when you &
into show during the Afternoon
and stumble over people while yo,
look for seat? If your adaptabilit.
is good, you recover as quickly as 4!
seconds. Some people take two O
three minutes.
If we sight anything, the Office,
of the deck will shake me out ant
will 60 to the bridge.
Inside our submarine, men are OF
watch. Some of those off watcl
have slept during the day and ar
sitting in their hunks, talking, play
ing games. playing the phonograph
getting up FOOLS on the number o
"fish"-torpedoes-we will fire, tn
time we will sight land, the tim
we will get home again.
Mountains Sighted.
1t seems that I've just gone t
sleep when some one is shaking mt
I slip on a heavy jacket and swim
up the ladder to the bridge.
1t is near dawn and ahead on tn
horizon are snow capped mountain.
I can see them clearly through tn
glasses.
This is Japan.
, We submerge for the most thrill
the natural sciences, physics. chem
! istry, geology and biology have give
$ modern man a truly informed vie
of the world.