U.S.S. BLOWER (SS-325) — war patrol report SS-325_BLOWER.pdf

— page 1 —
START OF REEL
JOB NO. [HANDWRITTEN: F-108]
[HANDWRITTEN: AR 94-78]

1.0
1.1
1.25
1.4

2.8
3.15
3.5
4.0

2.5
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6

OPERATOR [HANDWRITTEN: HARRIS]

DATE [HANDWRITTEN: 23 May 78]

THIS MICROFILM IS
THE PROPERTY OF
THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT

[SEAL: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA]

MICROFILMED BY
NPPSO-NAVAL DISTRICT WASHINGTON
MICROFILM SECTION

REEL TARGET, START & END
NAVEXOS 3968

— page 2 —
[HANDWRITTEN: BLOWER (SS-325)
WW II PATROL FILE
ALL MATERIAL ON THIS REEL IS DECLASSIFIED
FOR DECK LOG AUGUST 1944 - DECEMBER 1945
CONSULT NATIONAL ARCHIVES WHICH HAS CUSTODY.

J.A. KOONTZ]

— page 3 —
2

Office of Naval Records and History
Ships' Histories Branch
Navy Department

HISTORY OF USS BLOWER (SS 325)

The keel of the USS BLOWER (SS 325), a 1,525 ton submarine
of the BALAO class was laid July 15, 1943 in the Victory Yard of the
Electric Boat Company, New London, Connecticut. Approximately nine
months later, on April 23, 1944, the submarine was launched into the
Thames River, at New London, Connecticut, with Mrs. Richard F.
Johnston, wife of Captain Richard F. Johnston, USN, acting as sponsor.

The USS BLOWER became a part of the U. S. Navy on August 10,
1944 when she was accepted and placed in commission by Captain C. W.
Styer, USN. At the commissioning ceremonies Lieutenant Commander J. H.
Campbell, USN, assumed command of the new vessel and ordered the first
watch set.

Like other ships of her class, the BLOWER carried ten 21-inch
torpedo tubes; was 311 feet, 9 inches in length; 27 feet 3 inches abeam;
and was designed for a surface speed of over 20 knots. For additional
armament the SS 325 carried one 5-inch .25 caliber gun and one 40-
millimeter anti-aircraft machine gun. She was manned by 10 officers
and 71 enlisted men.

The BLOWER underwent her period of shakedown exercises in the
waters off New London, with short trips to Newport, Rhode Island, and a
week's operation off Narragansett Bay. On September 17, 1944, the
SS 325 was ordered to Key West, Florida, for sonar training in connec-
tion with the Sound School there. On October 10th, 1944, the vessel
took departure for the Panama Canal and at 5:45 a.m. the following day,
while passing through a heavy rain squall, the PC 1145 collided with
the BLOWER. The extent of the submarine's damage was a hole in the bow
buoyancy tank, several smashed spots in the superstructure, and a
sheared blade on the starboard propeller; the PC 1145 had her bow
smashed back to the first water-tight bulkhead. Neither ship suffered
any personnel casualties.

On October 12th the BLOWER returned to Key West for repairs
and, after eight days in drydock, orders came to proceed to New London
for further repairs. She arrived in New London on October 25th and
following a period in the yards, sailed for Pearl Harbor, T. H., via
the Panama Canal, on November 13th. The submarine arrived at Panama
seven days later and, following another training period which lasted
until November 29th, made transit of the Canal and sailed for Pearl
Harbor. She arrived in Hawaiian waters on December 16, 1944, and after
a month's training in that area the BLOWER left Pearl Harbor for
Saipan. One night was spent at Saipan for fueling and on January 29,
1945, she departed on her first war patrol.

The SS 325's first war patrol lasted for forty-eight days and
was spent in the area between Hainan and French Indo-China, off Tourane.
On February 13th, while in a scouting line of submarines formed to
intercept a Japanese task force, a battleship and two cruisers were

— page 4 —
- 2 - (BLOWER)

sighted. The BLOWER made a submerged approach on the battleship but
was unable to gain position for a torpedo attack. Later, when back on
station, several other ships were sighted but again no attacks could be
executed. After traversing the South China Sea and the Java Sea, the
ship proceeded to Fremantle, West Australia, for refit. She arrived on
March 20, 1945, and refitting was begun by the Relief Crew of Division
182. No combat insignia was awarded for this patrol.

The BLOWER's second war patrol started on April 14th when the
submarine sailed for Lombok Straits to patrol an area at the south end
of Makassar Straits. Several small ships were sighted at the beginning
of the patrol but no attacks were made and about May 8th the patrol
area was changed to the vicinity of Cape Varella. This also proved
uneventful and the remainder of the patrol was spent off the French
Indo-China coast with two assignments to lifeguard duty. On May 24,
1945, the BLOWER arrived at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, closing her
second uneventful war patrol which had lasted 40 days. This time her
refitting was done by a relief crew of Division 262 from the USS
ANTHEDON. During the refitting period, on June 6, 1945, Lieutenant
Commander N. P. Watkins, USN, relieved Commander J. H. Campbell, USN,
as commanding officer of the BLOWER.

The SS 325 started on her third war patrol on June 20, 1945,
but due to radio difficulties she was forced to return for repairs.
On June 23rd, with these repairs completed, the sub left Subic Bay for
patrol, this time in the Siam Gulf near Pulo Tengol. On July 9th two
small enemy submarine chasers were sighted in the afternoon and kept in
sight until darkness had set in. The USS BLUEFISH then joined the
BLOWER in attacking the two Japanese ships. The BLOWER fired three
torpedoes which, unfortunately, appeared to go under the target, but
the BLUEFISH sank her target-ship in the attack.

On July 15th the SS 325 made a torpedo attack on an "I" class
Japanese submarine. Five torpedoes were fired accomplishing two hits
but no damage was done to the enemy vessel as the torpedoes were
apparently duds. This Jap vessel was later sunk by the BLUEFISH.
After this encounter the patrol area was shifted to the Java Sea near
Batavia. During transit, one sailboat was stopped and inspected but
the crew was Javanese and nothing of interest was found. On the night
of July 21, 1945, the BLOWER made transit of the Sunda Straits and the
patrol was continued along the south coast of Java enroute to Fremantle,
West Australia. July 28th found her in Fremantle with relief crew
Number Six from the Submarine Base carrying out the refitting. This
third war patrol had lasted 35 days and though sailboats had been
sighted everywhere, they were not lucrative targets. No combat
insignia was awarded for this patrol.

When the war came to an end, the USS BLOWER was still in
Fremantle preparing for her fourth war patrol. On the 29th of August,
1945, the ship was ordered to proceed to Guam, via Sydney, Australia.
On September 3, 1945, after a three day stay in Sydney, departure was
made for Guam. The BLOWER reached her destination on September 16th,
where she took part in operational training exercises. On January 21st,
1946, the submarine proceeded to Pearl Harbor, T. H., and thence to the
United States, arriving at San Diego, California, on January 30th.

— page 5 —
- 3 - (BLOWER)

The BLOWER remained on the West coast until October 14, 1946
when she got underway for Asiatic-Pacific waters once more. The sub-
marine arrived in Pearl Harbor seven days later and on October 24th
departed westward, in which area she operated until the end of the year.
During the ensuing two months, she touched at Yokosuka, Japan, November
5th; Guam, November 11th; Saipan, November 17th; Guam, November 19th;
Saipan, December 1st; Pagan Island, December 4th; Guam, December 5th,
9th; Guam, December 19th; and returned to Pearl Harbor
on January 3, 1947.

The ship returned to San Diego, California, on January 9th
and remained in the San Diego-San Francisco area until July 1948,
participating in operations off the west coast on May 18-22, 1947;
May 28 - August 18, 1947; and April 20-21, 1948. The BLOWER left San
Francisco July 9th, 1948, for Seattle, Washington, arriving on the 11th
after which she participated in operations in the vicinity from the
13th to the 17th of July. She sailed from Seattle on July 19th,
arrived at Anacortes, Washington, on the 26th, and next conducted
operations in the Whidbey Island area until July 30th when she moored
at Bremerton, Washington.

On the 2nd of August, 1948, the submarine departed from
Bremerton for the Aleutian area arriving at Kodiak, Kodiak Island, on
August 6th and at Nome, Alaska, on the first of September. She con-
ducted operations at sea off Nome on 2-13 September, 1948 and arrived
at the Pribolof Islands on the 15th. The BLOWER touched at Kodiak
again on the 18th and the following day proceeded to San Diego,
California, arriving on September 25, 1948. The ship remained in these
waters, conducting operational exercises from time to time, until
February 12, 1950 when she departed for the Canal Zone. She arrived
at Balboa, Canal Zone, on February 21st, made transit of the Panama
Canal and then left Coco Solo, Panama on the 23rd. In early March 1950,
the USS BLOWER was moored at the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Though the USS BLOWER (SS 325) was awarded no battle stars on
the Asiatic-Pacific Area Service Ribbon for her war patrols during
World War II, she earned the Navy Occupation Service Medal for her
activities in the Pacific occupational areas from November 5th to 8th,
1946.

Compiled: March, 1950
Stencilled: 17 March 1950.

— page 6 —
September 5, 1942

USS BLUE

THE BLUE, destroyer, was authorized by an Act of Congress on
March 27, 1934. She was built at the Navy Yard, Norfolk, Virginia.
Her keel was laid on September 25, 1935. She was launched on May 27,
1937, with Miss Kate Lilly Blue of "Bluefields", Marion, South Carolina,
sister of Rear Admiral Victor Blue for whom the ship was named,
serving as her sponsor. The BLUE was commissioned August 14, 1937.

The BLUE was named in memory of Rear Admiral Victor Blue, U.S.N.,
who was born in Richmond County, N. C., on December 6, 1865 and died
on January 22, 1928. When nearly eighteen years of age he was
appointed to the Naval Academy on September 6, 1883. In 1898 at the
outbreak of the War, he went to sea duty in the Atlantic Fleet.
While on duty with the Fleet, off the Cuban Coast, he twice penetrated
the enemy's country in the vicinity of Santiago, Cuba, and obtained
valuable information concerning the location of the Spanish Fleet
commanded by Admiral Cervera, information which led to the eventual
destruction of that fleet in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, on
July 3, 1898. For this heroic deed he was given the Special
Meritorious Medal and advanced five numbers in rank by the President
of the United States. In 1913, while still only a commander, he
received the unusual assignment to duty, for an officer of that rank,
of Chief of Bureau of Navigation. He continued in that duty until
August 1916. During the World War period he was in command of the
TEXAS and after the war in 1918 returned again to duty as Chief of
Bureau of Navigation. For his war service in command of the TEXAS,
a unit of the American Battleship detachment sent abroad to work with
the British Grand Fleet, he received the Distinguished Service Medal with
the following citation: "for exceptionally meritorious service in a
duty of great responsibility in command of the USS TEXAS, operating in
the War Zone in association and cooperation with the British Grand
Fleet".

******

— page 7 —
[HANDWRITTEN: 1st COPY]
U.S.S. BLOER (SS 325)
% Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, Cal.
19 March 1945

325/A16
Serial (033)
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L [STAMP: DECLASSIFIED]
From: The Commanding Officer.
To: The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. FLEET.

Via : (1) The Commander Submarine Division, ONE EIGHTY TWO.
      (2) The Commander Submarine Squadron, EIGHTEEN.
      (3) The Commander Submarines, SEVENTH FLEET.
      (4) The Commander-in-Chief, SEVENTH FLEET.

Subject: U.S.S. BLOER, Report of War Patrol Number One (1).
Enclosure: (A) Subject report.
           (B) Track Chart (ComSubsSevenFlt only).

1. Enclosures (A) and (B), covering the first war patrol of this
ship conducted in waters off the East Coast of Indo China during the period
17 January 1945 to 19 March 1945, is forwarded herewith.

[SIGNATURE: J. H. Campbell]
J. H. CAMPBELL.

[STAMP: DECLASSIFIED-ART. 0445, OPNAVINST 5510.1C]
[HANDWRITTEN: BY OPROC DATE 5/24/72]
[STAMP: DECLASSIFIED]

[STAMP: 114702]
[STAMP: 18 APR 1945]
[STAMP: FILMED]

— page 8 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

PROLOGUE

Keel laid July 15, 1943. Launched April 23, 1944. Commissioned August
10, 1944 with Lieut. Comdr. J. H. CAHILL, U.S.N. in command. After usual
shakedown training in New London area, departed September 17, 1944 for Key West
where services were given to Fleet Sound School. Departed Key West October 10,
1944. Returned Key West October 10, 1944 for emergency repairs. November 13,
1944, departed New London for Panama. Conducted extensive training in Panama area
in company with U.S.S. PIPER and U.S.S. SNECT. December
1, 1944 arrived Pearl Harbor. Voyage repairs, including complete renewal of an
auxiliary engine, alterations and miscellaneous work were completed by Squadron
Four and the Submarine Base. Training exercises for new construction submarines,
in addition to special exercises, were invaluable in putting the final touches on
this vessel for its maiden trip.

NARRATIVE

17 January 1945

0330 W: Underway for first war patrol from Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T.H.
0430 W: Joined up with escort. Escort patrolling ahead.
0430 W: Formed column with escort patrolling ahead.
1600 Changed zone time to William.
1930 W: Escort departed for Pearl.
2155 W: Radar contact on group of friendly ships, range 22,500 yards. Avoided.

18 January - 21 January 1945

Made daily trim and training dives.

22 January 1945

Crossed International Date Line, omitted January 22 from the calendar.
Made daily trim and training dives.

23 January 1945

Made daily trim and training dives.

25 January 1945

0035 K In position Lat. 20 23 N, Long. 164 55 E, sighted Jake type aircraft,
evidently from Wake. Range 7 miles (Aircraft contact A Submerged
to avoid detection.

0720 K Surfaced.

- 14 03301

— page 9 —
N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
0 K In position Lat. 19 50 N, Long. 162 06 E. Sighted possible periscope.
    Maneuvered to avoid on the surface.

27 January 1945
    Heavy seas. Omitted daily training dive.

28 January 1945
0450 J In position Lat. 17 37 N, Long. 149 43 E. OOD sighted unidentified
        patrol bomber (aircraft so high that range 10 miles by S.D. Submerged.
1021 J Surfaced.
1743 J Sighted and spoke the U.S.S. SEA DOG.

29 January 1945
0209 J Radar contact range 12,000 yards.
0213 J Sighted surfaced submarine on opposite course. Appeared to be one of
        our own so maneuvered to avoid. Am sure it is one of the group ahead
        of us, but what it is doing on that course I don't know.
0300 J Made land fall on Saipan Island.
0700 J Joined escort, with U.S.S. PILOTFISH and U.S.S. FINBACK.
0800 J U.S.S. RASHER joined formation.
1426 J Moored starboard side to U.S.S. RASHER, nested alongside U.S.S.
        FULTON in Saipan Harbor.

29 January 1945
1618 I Underway.
1647 I Joined escort LCI 1054 in company with U.S.S. PILOTFISH, U.S.S. FINBACK
        and U.S.S. RASHER.
2235 I LCI 1054 left formation.
2245 I U.S.S. PILOTFISH, U.S.S. FINBACK, U.S.S. RASHER left formation.

30 January 1945.
0130 I Made radar contact on small vessel. Identified as friendly patrol
        vessel. Avoided.
1135 I Exchanged recognition signals with friendly Ventura patrol bomber.
        Range 6 miles.

(2) 2 -

— page 10 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

January 1945

045 I SD contact 21 miles. (Aircraft contact #3) not sighted. Did not dive.
        Position Lat. 15 15 N, Long. 136 50 E.

1230 I SD contact 26 miles. Closed to 10 miles. (Aircraft contact #4)
        Not sighted. Submerged. Position Lat. 15 14 N, Long. 136 10 E.

1323 I Surfaced.

1 February 1945

153 I Sighted unidentified plane range 7 miles, altitude 5 degrees.
        Submerged to avoid detection. Position Lat. 15 14 N, Long. 131 06 E.
        (Aircraft contact #5).

2 February 1945

0645 I SD contact 37 miles. Not sighted. Did not dive. (Aircraft contact #6)
        Position Lat. 15 05 N, Long. 126 52 E.

0717 I Sighted friendly PBM range 21 miles. Did not submerge. (Aircraft
        contact #7) Position Lat. 15 06 N, Long. 126 48 E.

1113 I Sighted empty life raft. No visual markings. No occupants.

3 February 1945

0630 H SD contact 22 miles. Not sighted. Position Lat. 17 02 N, Long.
        122 55 E. (Aircraft contact #8)

0830 H Made trim dive.

0910 H Surfaced.

1945 H APR contact. SD contact 25 miles. Closing to 8 miles. Submerged.
        (Aircraft contact #9) Position Lat. 18 24 N, Long. 122 40 E.

4 February 1945

        Made calm trim dive.

5 February 1945

1050 H APR contact. SD range 37 miles. (Aircraft contact #10). Range closed
        to 10 miles. Submerged. Position Lat. 21 05 N, Long. 116 03 E.

1114 H Surfaced.

1530 H APR contact. SD contact 6 miles, closing. Submerged. (Aircraft contact
        #11) Persistent devil. Position Lat. 21 02 N, Long. 115 55 E.

1640 H Surfaced.

- 3 -

— page 11 —
--N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

1 February 1945
00 H APR contact. SD contact 20 miles, closing. (Aircraft contact #12)
 Position Lat. 17 14 N, Long 112 22 E. Submerged.
205 H Surfaced.
532 H Surfaced. Passed into control of ComTaskForce 71. Patrolling assigned
 area.
00 H Converted #4 M.B. tank from Fuel ballast to main ballast tank.

2 February 1945
 Having received no orders and in view of forth coming operations,
 believe I should keep my presence in this area undetected. Hence will
 be doubly cautious about aircraft sightings.
0643 H Submerged.
1040 H Surfaced.
1150 H SD contact range 13 miles closing. (Aircraft contact #14). Submerged.
 Position Lat. 17 40 N, Long. 110 47 E.
1125 H Surfaced.

3 February 1945
0642 H Submerged.
0947 H Surfaced.

9 February 1945
0635 H APR contact. SD contact 7 miles (Aircraft contact #15) Submerged.
 Position Lat. 18 35 N, Long. 111 47 E. Conducting submerged patrol.
1000 H Surfaced.
1045 H APR contact. SD contact 26 miles. (Aircraft contact #16) Avoid on the
 surface. Position Lat. 18 30 N, Long. 111 04 E.

10 February 1945
0207 H Received new patrol area from C.T.F. 71. Proceeded to new area.
0815 H Made land fall on Hon Ong Island.

- 4 -

— page 12 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

11 February 1945
0843 H Submerged. Conducting submerged patrol.
1910 H Surfaced.

12 February 1945
0633 H Submerged.
1905 H Surfaced.

13 February 1945
0642 H Submerged.
1920 H Surfaced.
2200 H Received orders to join BENGALL and GUITARRO on attack line.

14 February 1945
0700 H Joined U.S.S. BENGALL and U.S.S. GUITARRO on attack line.
0725 H Made trim dive.
0800 H Surfaced. Started retiring along enemy task force line of advance
        at 12 knots.
1000 - Numerous HF contacts on various frequencies.
1110 H
1115 H Radar contact at 33,000 yards bearing 110 degrees (T). Believed to be
        a plane.
1130 H BENGALL submerged.
1150 H Sighted two objects in haze bearing 180 degrees (T) range about
        20,000 yards. SJ did not pick them up. Submerged.
1151 H Battle Stations. Objects not in sight at 60 feet.
1155 H Momentarily sighted four twin engine plane bearing 185 degrees T. Range 6
        miles. Tentatively identified it as a search Liberator, as I knew
        air strike was scheduled between 10 and 14 hours today; and I only
        had a quick glimpse as it disappeared into the haze, however, I could
        not be sure that it was not Jap air cover so had to run at 80 feet
        between looks.
1203 H Sighted foremast of two Jap battleships and one unidentified ship.
        (Ship contact #1) Later identified as a Tone Class CA. Angle on the
        bow 60 degrees port and range about 18,000 yards. Went to optimum
        approach course and full speed. The situation appears to be this.
        The battleships are in column with the cruiser astern. They probably
        have air cover, but our heavy bombers are liable to strike anytime.

- 5 -

— page 13 —
-C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

They are headed directly for the BENGALL's position. Depending on
how the BENGALL attacks, they will either head back at me or away.
So all I can do is close and run in the line of advance at maximum
speed. Looking every five or six minutes.

1230 H
A submariner's dream and dispair. Two Ise Class BB's and one Tone
Class CA, in column, angle on the bow 90 degrees port, range 10,000-
yards. If they zig toward I may get a shot on the cruiser. Johnny,
now is the time. Hit them.

1235 H
Two explosions. That's either Johnny, or the air, getting in an
attack. Up for a look.

1238 H
Something has happened. The column has scattered. While I was deep
they evidently zigged 90 degrees towards me, and are now zigging away.
The cruiser is going to go between me and the BB. Changed depth to
100 feet on the fish. I am going to gamble. I decided to set depths
shallow enough to hit the cruiser. If it is an air strike they are
evading and all I can do is to assume a mean course and speed. If
BENGALL made an attack they will be zigging on short legs. Range to
BB 3600 yards and he is zigging away. All I can do is wait and pray.

1240 H
Slight zig towards. Hold everything.

1242-50 H
Last look. Angle on bow on cruiser 85 degrees port, range 1800.
Battleship directly behind, range about a thousand yards greater,
5 degrees spread. Hope first will catch cruiser and other five plus
one aft will get battleship. Torpedo run is almost three minutes
if they are zigging about every two. Luck alone will tell about this
one. Hope my gamble pays off.

1243-00 H
Fire one.

1243-15 H
Fire two.

1243-24 H
Fire three.

1243-45 H
Fire four.

1243-55 H
Fire five.

1244-05 H
Fire six.

Not a sensation. Trying to hold depth, but the boys forward really
hold the poppets and we are about 16,000 pounds heavy. Unable to
hold it, unable to see, unable to get around. Discretion is the
better part of valor, going down.

Sound has the first torpedo and the cruiser!

1245-19 H
First explosion. Sound's remark. "They met Captain!" Sound tracked
them directly into the cruiser.

- 6 -

— page 14 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

246-02 H Second exploding plots out for a run of about 2800 yards. Could be
the battleship.

246-30 H A good explosion. This one hit the battleship I am sure. Sound's
bearing on the battleship and the torpedo surged just as the explosion
came. That one plots out at 3100 yards and I know that is where the
battleship is. The set up is checking very nicely with sound bearings.
I believe my gamble paid off. I am sure of one hit on the cruiser and
one hit on the battleship and, possibly another. The depth set was
probably too shallow for the battleship, but then I honestly did not
think it would come within range. I was probably at fault in making
that assumption. But any hit should damage. I was lucky to even get
a shot into them. Numerous explosions. Is an air strike going on?
I am having my troubles. Both sound training motor grounded out. I
will know better next time.

1330 H Periscope depth: Taskforce in sight bearing 020 (T) range 20,000 yards.

1345 H Surfaced, course 090 degrees all ahead full, making 16.5 knots into
the seas, and radar cannot find task force. Sent out contact report.

1405 H Slight oil streaks. Two separate and distinct oil streaks. Following
them.

1415 H Streaks leading in direction 345 degrees (T).

1500 H Sea breaking oil slicks up. Not so definite now. General direction
North. Visibility about 14,000 yards and radar acting up. BASHAM
and FL. should be able to put in an attack tonight. They should
have my contact report.

1530 H Assumed task force will have to come left to avoid Paracel reefs, so
searched on course 330 degrees. No contact. In retrospect I can only
say that the fast backfield at least got a hit. And for the first
time I bemoiled the fact that I did not have Mk XIV's forward.

1530 - Continuing search along enemy's most probable line of advance.
2100 H No contact.

14 February 1945

0735 H Submerged.

0947 H Surfaced.

1056 H Sighted unidentified two engine bomber (Aircraft contact #20), range
10 miles. Submerged. Position Lat. 16 25 N, Long. 110 35 E.

1345 H Surfaced. Set course to return to patrol area.

- 7 -

— page 15 —
-C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

5 February 1945

500 H Radar contact bearing 000 degrees (T), range 14,000 yards (Ship contact
     #2). In in a very poor tactical position. Have a little over an hour
     of darkness, am fifteen miles from the beach. Northeast of entrance
     to Tourane. Commenced tracking. Impossible to get ahead. Target
     group has developed into two small maru's (estimated) and three
     escorts headed directly towards Cape Tourane. Speed twelve. Escorts
     in sight at 5000 yards, targets not visible at 8700 yards.

0530 H Range to beach seven miles. Range to targets 9000 yards. Still a
     slim chance.

0545 H One escort must be suspicious. He is forty five hundred yards distant
     between me and the targets. Hairs in my hair.

0600 H That does it! When about two miles from Cape Tourane, convoy turned
     south. They are not going into Tourane after all. Now have half
     an hour to try to get down south and ahead of them to make a periscope
     approach.

0658 H Surfaced. Broad daylight and no chance now. Still need another hour's
     running south to close coast and get ahead. Submerged. That was a
     tough break.

1224 H Sighted four motor patrol bomber. Identified as Nevis. (Aircraft
     contact #21) Position Lat. 15 47 N, Long. 108 45 E.

1918 H Surfaced. Started night patrol between Hainan and Cape Tourane.

6 February 1945

0702 H Submerged to conduct submerged patrol off Tourane Bay.

1223 H Sighted four engine flying boat. Believed to be P3Y. Lat. 16 30 N,
     Long. 108 35 E.

1918 H Surfaced. Tourane was empty today. Will patrol approaches from
     North again tonight.

7 February 1945

0710 H Submerged. Conducting patrol off Tourane Bay.

1913 H Surfaced.

8 February 1945

0725 H Submerged.

1130 H Sighted two patrol vessels, five miles off Tourane Harbor. (Ship
     contact #3.)

- 8 -

— page 16 —
-C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

1520 H         Sighted "Jake" type aircraft distance two miles (aircraft contact #23)
               Position Lat. 16 16 N, Long. 108 17 E. My guess is that something
               is coming out tonight. There is a lot of A/S activity here now.

1909 H         Surfaced. Took position on most logical intercept line to north.
               If tankers leave they will probably follow this route.

2200 H         Received message forming pack with GUITARRO. If convoy left Tourane
               for north tonight they did not come this way. Sent rendezvous to
               GUITARRO.

19 February 1945

0700 H         Rendezvous with GUITARRO off Culao Ro. Instructed GUITARRO to close
               coast and to take patrol off Tourane Bay. I would run in on the surface
               midway between Cape Batangan and Tourane. Thus if any departures
               from Tourane, Dabney will let me know and if the plane sights anything
               either north or south, I will be in position to intercept them.

0830 H         SJ radar contact at 30 miles. Position Lat. 15 17 N, Long. 109 30 E.
               Believe this is our search plane. No signals. Contact closed to
               eleven miles. No transmissions. Contact opened out and lost.

0900 H         Proceeding to rendezvous with GUITARRO off Tourane.

1000 H         I am disgusted. Received information saying our sector search plane
               sighted two tankers and three escorts at 1245. I was twenty miles
               ahead of the contact and to the east guarding the communication
               channels no more a peep from the plane. They also sighted a D.E.
               at the same time. The D.E. plots almost on my position and the
               GUITARRO was six miles west of me. Something is haywire. Believe
               the plane called one of us a D.E.

2000 H         Trying to raise GUITARRO. I want to know if she made contact with
2400 H         the convoy this afternoon. She was in beautiful position. Meanwhile
               proceeded on intercept course between Tourane and Hainan.

2230 H         In Harry Dodge's area must leave.

2250 H         Single unidentified pip. Range 4700 yards. Not sighted. SJ
               interference. Challenged with SJ. Decided to avoid. My reason, I
               am in another boat's patrol area; it is a single pip; it is patrolling
               parallel to my estimated convoys track from Hainan to Tourane. It
               could probably be either the DDLL or the GUITARRO. Avoided and
               proceeded to own patrol area and rendezvous with GUITARRO. Later
               developed this contact was GUITARRO.

20 February 1945

Still unable to raise GUITARRO. He has not shown up at the rendezvous
nor answered my signals. Will proceed to south, close inshore to Cape
Batangan. He is supposed to guard surface today.

- 9 -

— page 17 —
-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

20 February 1945

0048 H         Submerged for patrol off Cape Batangan.
0540 H         Visibility down to 4000 yards. Surfaced.
0606 H         Sent new rendezvous point to GUITARRO.
1800 -         Trying to communicate with GUITARRO.
2400 H

21 February 1945

               Decided to take dawn intercept point on tankers hit by GUIVAN
               yesterday.
0650 H         Submerged.
0731 H         Sighted fleet of fishing boats.
1515 H         Sighted unidentified plane (aircraft contact #25). Probably part of
               the patrol for tanker and DD coming up the coast. If they don't arrive
               in another three hours I will probably be able to get in a night
               attack. They have to pass this point to get north. Currents tricky as
               the devil here now, however.
1924 H         Surfaced. No further contacts. Assume convoy anchored for night.
               Making surface patrol off Cape Batangan. Sent rendezvous message to
               GUITARRO.

22 February 1945

0657 H         Submerged off Cape Batangan for submerged patrol. Rendezvous not
               effected with GUITARRO. From plane reports of yesterday I deduce that
               tanker will pass Cape Batangan about 1500 today. I intend to patrol
               just north of Batangan and catch them as they come around. Am about
               three to five miles off the beach.
1337 H         Sighted Betty type aircraft (Aircraft contact #26) range 5 miles,
               elevation 1/2 degree. This should be advance air cover.
1452 H         JP contact bearing 200 degrees (T).
1453 H         Sighted "Jake" type aircraft (Aircraft contact #27) range 5 miles,
               elevation 1/2 degree.
1506 H         Sighted mast of tanker and two escorts, with three planes overhead,
               range seven miles. Angle on bow 50 starboard. Commenced approach
               (Ship contact #4).
1530 H         What a set up. One tanker, evidently carrying the emperor! One
               destroyer and three DE's and three planes. Try and get in on this one.
               The destroyer is ahead and the three DE's are on the starboard side,
               bow, beam, quarter. The air patrol is very good. They are less than
               1/2 mile from the beach.

- 10 -

— page 18 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

1545 H All my planning for naught. I counted on at least having a thirty -
        seventy break. I can't get close enough for an XVIII's.

1623 H Secured from battle stations. Unable to close range, will trail and
        try to get ahead tonight. I can't beat a 2 knot current, air cover
        and 90 feet of water. For the first time in about two weeks the day
        is clear as a bell. Not a cloud in the sky and with planes, I am up
        salt creek.

1700 H What are they going to do? Anchor in Tourane tonight or shoot across.
        Will play the shooting across angle, and be north of Tourane if they
        cut in the morning and try again. What luck!

1900 H Surfaced - proceeding maximum speed to intercept point between Tourane
        and Hainan.

1930 H Passed floating mines Lat. 15.40 50 N, Long. 108 50 E.

2230 H Signal from GUITARRO. He is off Tourane. Says no ships there. So
        they did not stop.

23 February 1945

0300 H Discontinued search for convoy. Have sent rendezvous point to
        GUITARRO for dawn but no receipt.

0600 H At rendezvous. No GUITARRO.

0830 H Sighted sector search plane. Exchanged calls.

1130 - Sighted numerous mines, evidently in the water a long time, very rusty
1300 H in vicinity Lat. 15 50 N to 15 40 N, Long. 109 12 E. Sank one with
        gun fire.

1715 H Trim dive.

1745 H Surface.

2330 H Contacted GUITARRO. Exchanged information. Sent coordinated patrol
        plan to GUITARRO by line. Expect to concentrate around Cape Batangan.
        Submerged boat in close; surface boat twenty to thirty miles to north
        and off beach. Study of traffic seems to indicate that shipping
        passes Batangan about 15 to 16 hours and arrive at Tourane about 19
        to 21 hours. BLOWER will take submerged patrol on even days and
        GUITARRO on odd days.

24 February 1945

0050 H Submerged.

0200 - Maneuvering to avoid fishing fleet all morning. About twenty sailing
0330 H vessels.

- 11 -

— page 19 —
T-N-R-I-D-E-M-T-L

1430 H Sighted Sally patrol bomber (Aircraft contact #28) Lat. 15 11 N,
Long. 109 04 E.

1510 H Sighted Kiki type float plane (Aircraft contact #29) Lat. 15 12 N,
Long. 109 05 E.

1525 H Sighted reconnaissance type plane (Aircraft contact #30)
Lat. 15 13 N, Long. 109 00 E.

1530 H CO reported ship making 18 kts in greasy. The current off the Cape
here is almost 2 kts.

1600 H Battle stations. Sighted tops of escort vessel and stack of small
tanker with "Umanosaki" in 1st position in line. (Ship Contact
#5). Is this a reflection of the land? Or one of efficient air
coverage.

1700 H Closest range 7500 yds. Directly against the current. In order to
make an attack I will have to come down with the current. I can
not get into position. Closest contact was at 7500 yds. I can
could be in contact with the convoy off the Cape. It is in
perfect spot to intercept but with the current it doesn't force him
down.

1715 H Discontinued approach. This is twice I have planned an intercept
point and been frustrated, once by air contacts and now by fishing
fleet and current.

1930 H Surfaced. Sent contact report to GUITARRO. Received one from her
that she was attempting to intercept tanker coming up outside route.

2030 H Hard floating mines. Maneuvered to avoid. There are plenty of mines
in this area. Too many.

25 February 1945

0750 H Ran into mine field. Conducting surface patrol awaiting contact
report from search plane.

0835 H Sighted search plane 15 miles astern. Exchanged calls via voice.
(Aircraft contact #31) Lat. 15 40 N, Long. 109 15 E.

1017 H Sighted twin engine bomber Sally type (Aircraft contact #32) range
for 10 m. Submerged. Lat. 15 40 N, Long. 109 20 E.

1416 H Surfaced.

1450 H Contact GUITARRO. Learned she had also been driven down at 1230 H.
by aircraft. Also learned that she arrived in contact with convoy
in time to see her blow up ship.

- 12 -

— page 20 —
-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

0000 H Decided to make sweep close inshore around Cape Batangan to see if
         any ships anchored close inshore. No contacts.

26 February 1945

0620 H Submerged. Conducting submerged patrol 3 miles off Cape Batangan.

0755 H Sighted zero type float plane with twin floats (Aircraft contact #33)

0830 H JP reported screws bearing 220 T. Battle stations.

0838 H Sighted four ships range about 8000 yards with plane covering.
         Closing for approach. (Ship contact #6).

0845 H Ships in line of bearing, pinging. Plane is making wide sweeps.
         Ships look exactly like anti-sub vessels sighted off Tourane; and
         appear to be making an A/S sweep. Had Executive Officer check set-
         up. He also identified ships as four trawler type A/S vessels with
         high crows nest. No target worth shooting at in this contact.
         Maneuvered for over an hour avoiding. There are two surmises. One
         is large convoy may be following up the coast; or our sweep through
         these waters last night was detected and they are looking for us.

1210 H Sighted our search plane going up coast.

1917 H Surfaced.

1923 H Sighted small vessel range 6000 yards. Looked exactly like A/S
         vessel of this morning. Avoided.

2000 H Received message from GUITARRO, she was chasing contact reported by
         plane at 1230. Believe plane contact incorrect, unless it started
         from some place between Batangan and Tourane. Nothing passed
         Batangan except the A/S sweep this morning. I know that, and I
         could see them, very plainly. This area is sort breaking. Only
         small stuff gets this far. Lots of air-surface A/S measures, and
         last but not least, all those floating mines, appearing when you least
         expect them.

27 February 1945

0200 H Rendezvous with GUITARRO. She sent message to show she had contact
         with small vessels entering Cape Tourane Harbor. She departed for
         submerged patrol off Cape Batangan.

0700 H Conducting surface patrol.

1120 H SD contact 12 miles - not sighted. Believe our search plane.
         (Aircraft contact #34) Lat. 15 35 N, Long. 109 18 E.

- 13 -

— page 21 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

1400 H To date we have yet to hear from our search plane. At various
times we have heard the plane in the Sugar Area but never ours.
This is embarrassing and disheartening for at least twice we have
been within twenty miles of the sightings and know nothing about it.

2000 H At rendezvous awaiting GUITARRO.

2130 H Received HOTI's contact report of two tankers, three escorts and three
planes. If they maintain course and speed we can contact by midnight,
and GUITARRO should have seen them by nineteen hundred. That is
probably why I haven't heard from him.

2315 H At intercept point and falling back along convoy's line of advance.
As a matter of interest this is the second time we have gone through
this area of floating mines in less than 100 feet of water at night
to try to intercept a convoy. Try that sometime for thrills and
chills.

26 February 1945

0300 H Have covered the convoy track for various speeds 10 knots and above.
No contact. Have decided to go to the north in most part of my area
off Cap Chonmay Est and await daylight. If they take departure any
time to or from Cap Tourane to Cap Chonmay Est, I will be in position
to intercept. From all past information the most logical routes take
departure from one or the other.

0400 H Sighted submarine distance six miles. This is probably BRILL.
Attempted to exchange calls by SJ. No success. Each returned to our
own areas.

0650 H Heavy fog. Am in position five miles off beach. Cruising on surface

0800 H Sky completely overcast, range about ten miles on horizon. Dived to
conduct submerged patrol.

1111 H QB heard echo ranging, two sets vicinity of Cap Tourane. This must
be the convoy. Unable to sight with periscope. Tracked by sound
past Cap Tourane into bay.

1250 H Sighted two tankers, two escorts coming out of Tourane Bay. (Ship
contact #7)

1300 H Looks like we guessed this one correctly. Speed 10 knots, course
300. Am in perfect position to intercept when they swing north from
Cap Chonmay Est to Hainan.

1400 H Damn! They turned west along the coast. Now its a stern chase into
BRILL's area. Will surface and make an end around. Trusting the
overcast to keep us from being sighted. The sea is like glass and it
will be a gamble. I am right next to the beach and when I surface
they can't help but see me.

- 14 -

— page 22 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

10 H      Surfaced. All ahead flank.
455 H      Sighted twin engine bomber (Sally)(Aircraft contact #35) 1/2 degree
           elevation, range 6 miles, closing like a bat out of Hados. Submerged.
           Thus ended another try. Lat. 16-23 N, Long. 108 12 E.
1500 H     One bomb.
1904 H     Surfaced. Proceeding to rendezvous with GUITARO.
2100 H     Received message detaching GUITARO from pack and adding BASHAW.

March 1945

0000 H     Conducting surface patrol north of Culeo Re.
1255 H     SD contact 25 miles. Not sighted; believe our search plane (Aircraft
           contact #36) Lat. 16 19 N, Long. 109 08 E. Heard search plane calling
           us on VHF. Answered but he never heard us. Called him on area
           frequency. No reply. Heard plane call CAVALLI on area frequency.
           Board CAVALLI receipt for message. Asked CAVALLI for message on area
           freq. It was a contact to the south of us and CAVALLI gave it to us
           as received from plane.
615 H      Sighted another floating mine.
620 H      Exploded mine with 40 M.M. gun fire.
2045 H     Exchanged calls with R.A.M. Directed her to make submerged patrol
           off Tourane tomorrow.
2230 H     Maneuvered to avoid fishing fleet.

2 March 1945

           Conducting surface patrol.
0947 H     SD contact 25 miles closing.
0952 H     Sighted twin engine bomber, unidentified, range 10 miles. Submerged.
           (Aircraft contact #37). Lat. 16 32 N, Long. 109 10 E.
1137 H     Surfaced.
1538 H     SD contact 23 miles. Contact closed to 6 miles. Not sighted.
           Submerged. (Aircraft contact #38).
1700 H     Surfaced. Proceeding with rendezvous with BASHAW.

- 15 -

— page 23 —
O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

220 H Effected rendezvous. Exchanged information and patrol plans via line.
        Sent BASHU to patrol intercept route between Tourane and Hainan
        tonight while I take southern approaches.

3 March 1945

0455 H Sighted fishing craft. From now until we
        submerged at 0635, saw all about twenty fishing vessels, maneuvering
        to avoid being seen.

0635 H Submerged. Off Cape Tourane. Heavy fog. The weather the past
        three days has been very bad, very fog along the shore and
        visibility about twenty to thirty miles out.

1925 H Surfaced. Visibility good. Cape Tourane seems to have
        a new communication station. Last night and tonight strong signals
        while we are close to Cape Tourane on 152 and 190 KCS.

4 March 1945

0925 H SD contact 15 miles, not sighted. Challenged by voice. No reply.
        Contact closed to 10 miles. Submerged (Aircraft contact #39) Lat.
        16 04 N, Long. 108 27 E.

1130 H Surfaced.

137 H SD contact 15 miles, closed to 12 miles. Exchanged calls with
        search plane. For some time communications excellent. Told him
        we had been forced down. Received much information on shipping
        further south.

1300 H Received FOS's report of large transport off shore. Proceeding to
        intercept.

1438 H Sighted floating mine. Lat. 16 22 N, Long. 109 08 E.

1530 H SD contact 10 miles. Tentatively identified as Novis.
        Proceeding to intercept. (Aircraft contact #40)
        Lat. 16 24 N, Long. 109 21 E.

1700 H Search plane contact. No contact. Informed no ship I was inter-
        cepting in search I ship.

1730 H Sighted floating mine. Lat. 16 22 N, Long. 109 22 E.

210 H Sighted unidentified patrol bomber range 8 miles. (Aircraft contact
        #41). Lat. 16 24 N, Long. 109 28 E.

2000 H Received message from BASHU saying tanker had entered Tourane.
        Directed him to patrol off Tourane tonight and I would patrol North.
        Also directed him to take station twenty to thirty miles from
        Tourane, in sector bearing 20 to 50 degrees true tomorrow morning and
        I would take submerged patrol off harbor at daylight. This seems to
        me to be the best way to lick this leaving Tourane problem.

        - 16 -

— page 24 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

March 1945

0500 H Entered heavy fog.

0630 H Fog is surface fog only. It is a bank about 200 feet high with
breaks overhead of unlimited visibility. Surface visibility of 4000
to 5000 yards.

0655 H Submerged closing Tourane harbor.

0735 H QB picked up pinging bearing 255 T. Surface visibility 5000 yards.
Cam to normal approach course by sounds.

0750 H Sighted new PC type escort, range 4000 yards angle on bow 90 degrees
stbd. Have another saw of pinging at 345 degrees T.

0757 H Sighted large tanker and PC type escort angle on bow 50 degrees stbd,
range 6,000 yards. This one is a dead duck. Planning is paying off.
(Ship contact #3)

0805 H With range 4500 yards, tanker zigged 60 degrees away giving me a 120
degree track and a torpedo run way beyond my fish. If circumstances
were other than they are I would fire anyway and hope for a hit.
But I decided against firing because I have stationed the B.A.S.H.
in a position directly on their track at a range from 15 to 27
miles. If I fire now and miss I will alert the tanker and escorts
and they will probably maneuver radically and thus cause the
BASH to miss them completely. I have their position, course and
speed, so will surface and give BASH the dope. Thus, he will
be able to dive in a perfect attack position.

0825 H Surfaced. Sending message. Within plain sight of two sail boats.
Taking up chase at flank speed.

0833 H BASH has message.

0835 H SD contact 6 miles. I was afraid of this. A/C contact. Range 3
miles, closing. Not sighted, down I go. (Aircraft contact #2).
Lat. 16 25 N, Long. 108 24 E. Closing on enemy base course 030 degrees.
BASH should be in attack within next hour and one-half.

1010 H Two distinct explosions bearing 040 (T), dist about 15 or 20
miles. Good old BASH!

1015 H Feeling confident that Simpson had gotten in, I decided to reverse
course to Tourane to intercept slow speed convoy reported by plane
approaching Tourane.

1030 - Heard distant depth charging. I know BASH got in now. The most
1300 H remarkable thing of this mornings approach was the JP, usually the
most reliable sound gear, did not even have the target until the
range closed to 4500 yards. Bad sound conditions.

- 17 -

— page 25 —
-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

0950 H         Sighted Mavis type flying boat, range 4 miles. (Aircraft contact #43)
               Lat. 16-24 N, Long. 108 14 E.

1920 H         Surfaced.

2000 H         Received message from BASHAM reporting sinking. With my fuel down to
               29000 gallons decided to leave the area in the morning. Sent message
               to that effect, told BASHAM good-bye and headed out.

6 March 1945

               Enroute Fremantle.

1428 H         Sighted patrol plane, range 15 miles, identified as Liberator.
               Did not dive.

7 March 1945

1400 H         Submerged. It is now necessary to run with Safety Tank dry in order
               to submerge. Believe approximately 20 tons of ballast will have to
               be removed in order to compensate for additional weight taken on at
               Pearl.

1430 H         Surfaced.

8 March 1945

               Surface running at most economical speed.

9 March 1945

1400 H         King Neptune and Court boarded BLOWER, and due homage was paid him
               by all hands. Pollywogs regretted many actions.

1700 H         King Neptune departed.

10 March 1945

0632 H         Submerged for transit of Karimata Strait.

1906 H         Surfaced.

11 March 1945

1658 H         Sighted unidentified aircraft, range six miles. Submerged to avoid
               detection.

1835 H         Surfaced.

- 18 -

— page 26 —
- - - I - I - D - E - N - T - I - A - L

12 March 1945
0744 H Sighted British submarine. Unable to exchange calls.
2045 H Radar contact on small craft patrolling northern entrance of
Lombok Strait. Avoided.
2135 H Exchanged calls with U.S.S. HERRING in Lombok Straits.

13 March 1945
0022 H Completed transit of Lombok Straits.

14 March 1945
Underway on surface, proceeding Onslow.

15 March 1945
0030 H Sighted and spoke U.S.S. SCORPION.
0300 H Exchanged calls with U.S.S. [UNCLEAR: HACH].
0340 H Commenced six hour battery discharge.
2030 H Exchanged calls with U.S.S. CROAKER.

16 March 1945
0219 H Completed six hour battery discharge.
0807 H Sighted Australian Corvett J246 and exchanged calls.
0909 H Anchored in Onslow anchorage.
1130 H Underway. Shifted berth to alongside Jetty at Onslow.
1300 H Commenced fueling ship.
1445 H Completed fueling ship. Received 15,732 gallons of Navy standard
diesel fuel oil.
1710 H Underway for Fremantle.

17 March 1945
Underway on surface for Fremantle.

- 19 -

— page 27 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

18 March 1945
1400 H Submerged.
1430 H Surfaced.

19 March 1945
0600 H Joined escort H.M.S. LISMORE. Proceeded Fremantle.
0800 H Conducted sound tests, over the degaussing range.
     Berthed alongside U.S.S. EURYALE.

- 20 -

— page 28 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

(C) WEATHER

Except for four days in the later part of February the weather off
Cape Tourane, French Indo China was unfavorable. The sky was 90 to 100 per
cent overcast with north easterly winds from 15 to 40 knots. The few clear
calm days, during the full of the moon, were accompanied by low lying fog in the
early mornings and evenings.

(D) TIDAL INFORMATION

Within twenty miles of Cape Tourane, French Indo China, during the
month of February, a constant set of 135° T with a drift of 1.3 knots was
experienced. Between Cape Batangan and Culco Ro it was 145° T, 2.2.knots.

From twenty to sixty miles off the coast the current was easterly
about one knot.

(E) NAVIGATION AIDS

The light houses at Cape Tourane, Cape Batangan and Culco Ro,
although extinguished, furnished excellent landmarks for daylight piloting.
It was observed that their readings were still the same as described in the
Light List.

- 21 -

— page 29 —
SHIP CONTACTS

No. | Time    | Lat.    | Type(s)             | Initial | Est. Course | How Con-
    | Date    | Long.   |                     | Range   | Speed       | tacted
----||||||
1   | 1200    | 15 58 N | 2 Battleships       | 20,000  | C 000       | High
    | 13 Feb. | 110 56 E| 1 Heavy Cruiser     |         | S 18        | Peris-
    |         |         |                     |         |             | cope
2   | 0500    | 16 20 N | Convoy of: 2 AO's   | 14,000  | C 205       | SJ
    | 15 Feb. | 108 27 E| and 3 DE's          |         | S 12        |
3   | 1430    | 16 14 N | 2 A/V vessels       | 12,000  | C 130       | Peris-
    | 18 Feb. | 108 21 E|                     |         | S 10        | cope
4   | 2250    | 16 23 N | Unknown             | 4,000   | C 265       | SJ
    | 19 Feb. | 108 35 E|                     |         | S 10        |
5   | 1506    | 15 14 N | 1 AO, 1 DD & 3 DE's.| 15,000  | C 340       | JP
    | 22 Feb. | 108 57 E|                     |         | S 12        |
6   | 1550    | 15 12 N | 1 AO and 1 DE       | 12,000  | C 340       | JP
    | 24 Feb. | 108 58 E|                     |         | S 9         |
7   | 0638    | 15 17 N | 4 trawlers          | 9,000   | C 340       | JP
    | 26 Feb. | 109 02 E|                     |         | S 9         |
8   | 1240    | 16 17 N | 2 AO and 2 escorts  | 16,000  | C 340       | JP
    | 28 Feb. | 108 12 E|                     |         | S 10        |
9   | 0750    | 16 25 N | 1 AO and 2 PC       | 8,000   | C 030       | CB
    | 5 Mar.  | 108 23 E|                     |         | S 14        |

- 22 -

— page 30 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

AIRCRAFT CONTACTS

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
CONTACT NUMBER
DATE | Jan 25 | Jan 27 | Jan 31 | Jan 31 | Feb 1 | Feb 2
Time (zone) | 0635 | 1450 | 0945 | 1230 | 1153 | 0645
Position: Lat. | 20 23 N | 17 33 N | 15 5 N | 15 14 N | 15 14 N | 15 05 N
Long. | 124 22 E | 129 43 E | 136 50 E | 136 10 E | 131 06 E | 126 52 E
Speed | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14
Course | 260 | 250 | 270 | 270 | 260 | 270
Trim | Surf | Surf | Surf | Surf | Surf | Surf
Minutes Since Last On Radar Search | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0

CONTACT NUMBER
Type | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1
Probable Mission | Jake | Pat. | Pat. | Pat. | Pat. | Pat.
How Contacted | Sight | SD-Sight | SD | SD | Sight | SD
Initial Range | 7 | 15 | 21 | 26 | 7 | 37
Elevation Angle | 25 | 5 | - | - | 5 | -
Range & Relative Bearing of Plane | 7.11. | Unk | ND | ND | Unk | ND
Was it Detected | 130° | | | | |
S/M | | | | | |

(State of Sea) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1
(Direction (Rel) | - | 065 | 170 | 170 | 170 | 090
Visibility (miles) | 20 | 20 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 30
(Height in Ft. | 1000 | 1500 | 1000 | 1000 | 800 | 1000
Clouds: (Percent | 5 | 60 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 70
(Overcast) | - | - | - | - | - | -
(Bearing (Rel) | - | - | - | - | - | -
Moon: (Angle | - | - | - | - | - | -
(Percent | - | - | - | - | - | -
Illum | - | - | - | - | - | -

Type of S/M Camouflage on this patrol: Gray.

- 23 -

— page 31 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
) AIRCRAFT CONTACTS

CONTACT NUMBER                                7         8         9         10        11        12
Date                                          Feb 2     Feb 3     Feb 3     Feb 5     Feb 5     Feb 6
Time (Zone)                                   0717      0810      1945      1355      1530      1210
PositionL Lat.                                15 06 N   15 02 N   18 24 N   21 05 N   21 02 N   19 14 N
          Long.                               126 40 E  122 55 E  122 40 E  116 03 E  115 55 E  112 22 E
Speed                                         14        10        11        13        13        13
Course                                        275       020       000       200       250       180
Trim                                          Surf      Surf      Surf      Surf      Surf      Surf
Minutes Since Last
SD Radar Search                               0         0         0         0         0         0

Number                                        1         1         1         1         1         1
Type                                          PB2Y      -         -         -         -         -
Probable Mission                              Pat.      Pat.      Pat.      Pat.      Pat.      Pat.
How Contacted                                 SD & SightSD        SD        SD        SD        SD
Initial Range                                 21        26        25        29        7         29
Elevation Angle                               -         -         -         -         -         -
Range & Relative
Bearing of Plane
When it Detected
S/M                                           ND        ND        ND        ND        U.R.      ND

C Sea: (State (Beaufort)                      1         4         4         5         5         3
C      (Direction (Rel)                      090       350       040       190       160       200
H Visibility (Miles)                          30        1/2       1/4       2         3         3
D      (Height in Ft.
I Clouds: (Percent                            1000      100       100       600       600       600
I Overcast)
C      (Bearing (Rel)                        70        100       100       100       100       100
Moon: (Angle                                  -         -         -         -         -         -
S      (Percent                              -         -         -         -         -         -
Illum                                         -         -         -         -         -         -

Type of S/M Camouflage on this patrol: Gray.

- 24 -

— page 32 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

) AIRCRAFT CONTACTS

| | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| :| :----- | :----- | :----- | :----- | :----- | :----- |
| Date | Feb 6 | Feb 7 | Feb 9 | Feb 9 | Feb 13 | Feb 13 |
| Time (Zone) | 1450 | 1150 | 0635 | 1645 | 1205 | 1430 |
| Position: Lat. | 18 45 N | 17 40 N | 18 35 N | 18 30 N | 15 50 N | 16 00 N |
| Long. | 112 08 E | 110 47 E | 111 17 E | 111 04 E | 110 49 E | 110 45 E |
| Speed | 13 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 17 |
| Course | 180 | 010 | 270 | 270 | 000 | 345 |
| Type | Surf | Surf | Surf | Surf | Sub | Surf |
| Minutes Since Last | | | | | | |
| SD Radar Search | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | Number | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Type | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Probable Mission | Pat. | Pat. | Pat. | Pat. | 4 Eng. Bomb. | Pat. |
| How Contacted | SD | SD | SD | SD | Por. | SD |
| Initial Range | 20 | 13 | 7 | 26 | 4 | 30 |
| Elevation Angle | - | - | - | - | 2 | - |
| Range & Relative | | | | | | |
| Bearing of First | | | | | | |
| Visual | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Type of Flight | - | - | - | - | - | - | ND | ND | ND | ND | ND | ND | Sea: (State (Beaufort) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| (Direction (Rel) | 260 | 250 | 110 | 120 | 000 | 015 |
| Visibility (Miles) | 15 | 2 | 1/2 | 1/2 | 8 | 9 |
| (Height in | | | | | | |
| Clouds: (Ft. | 1000 | 1000 | 500 | 500 | 1000 | 1000 |
| (Percent | | | | | | |
| Overcast) | 50 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| (Bearing (Rel) | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Moon: (Angle | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| (Percent | | | | | | |
| Illum | - | - | - | - | - | - | Type of S/M Camouflage on this patrol: Grey. | | | | | | |

- 25 -

— page 33 —
-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

AIRCRAFT CONTACTS

| CONTACT NUMBER | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Feb 13 | Feb 14 | Feb 15 | Feb 16 | Feb 18 | Feb 19 |
| Time (Zone) | 0900 | 1100 | 1230 | 1225 | 1525 | 0800 |
| Position: Lat. | 16 30 N | 16 25 N | 15 47 N | 16 30 N | 16 18 N | 15 37 N |
| Long. | 110 40 E | 110 38 E | 109 45 E | 108 39 E | 108 17 E | 105 30 E |
| Speed | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Course | 300 | 200 | 170 | 040 | 200 | 200 |
| Trim | Surf | Surf | Sub | Sub | Sub | Surf |
| Minutes Since Last | | | | | | |
| On Radar Search | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Type | UND | BAKER | HMAS | HMAY | JAKE | UND |
| B Probable Mission | Pat. | Pat. | Pat. | Pat. | Pat. | Pat. |
| C How Contacted | SD | Sight | Per. | Per. | Per. | SD |
| D Initial Range | 80 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 25 |
| E Elevation Angle | 36 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | - |
| F Range & Relative | | | | | | |
| G Bearing of Plane | | | | | | |
| H When it Detected | | | | | | |
| S/M | ND | ND | ND | ND | ND | ND |

| | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea: (State (Beaufort) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| (Direction (Rel) | 030 | 095 | 100 | 100 | 270 | 040 |
| Visibility (Miles) | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 10 |
| (Height in | | | | | | |
| Clouds: (Ft. | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Percent | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 90 | 90 |
| Overcast | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| (Bearing (Rel) | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Moon: (Angle | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| (Percent | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Illum | - | - | - | - | - | - |

Type of S/M Camouflage on this patrol: Gray.

- 26 -

— page 35 —
-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L-

AIRCRAFT CONTACTS

|             | 31      | 32      | 33      | 34      | 35      | 36      | Date        | Feb 25  | Feb 25  | Feb 26  | Feb 27  | Feb 28  | Mar 1   |
| Time (Zone) | 0835    | 1215    | 0755    | 1131    | 1455    | 1255    |
| Position: Lat.| 15 50 N | 15 40 N | 15 19 N | 15 35 N | 16 23 N | 16 13 N |
|          Long.| 109 15 E| 109 20 E| 109 03 E| 109 18 E| 109 15 E| 109 08 E|
| Speed       | 11      | 11      | 3       | 11      | 17      | 11      |
| Course      | 180     | 090     | 270     | 270     | 340     | 310     |
| Trim        | Surf    | Surf    | Sub     | Surf    | Surf    | Surf    |
| Minutes Since Last SD Radar Search | 0       | 1       | 0       | 0       | 0       | 0       | Number      | 1       | 1       | 1       | 1       | 1       | 1       |
| Type        | UED     | SALLY   | ZETO    | UED     | SALLY   | UED     |
| Probable Mission| Pat.    | Esc.    | Esc.    | Pat.    | Esc.    | Pat.    |
| How Contacted | SD      | Sight   | Per.    | SD      | Sight   | SD      |
| Initial Range | 20      | 4       | 5       | 12      | 7       | 25      |
| Elevation Angle | -       | 1/2     | 2       | -       | 1/2     | -       |
| Range & Relative Bearing of Plane | ND      | ND      | ND      | ND      | ND      | ND      |
| When it Detected S/M | ND      | ND      | ND      | ND      | ND      | ND      | (State (Boat for)) | 1       | 1       | 2       | 1       | 0       | 1       |
| (Direction (Rel)) | 000     | 270     | 090     | 270     | 0       | 090     |
| Visibility (Miles)| 4       | 4       | 10      | 20      | 20      | 10      |
| (Height in Ft) | 500     | 500     | 1000    | 2000    | 2000    | 1000    |
| Clouds: (Percent Overcast) | 100     | 100     | 90      | 50      | 100     | 75      |
| (Ceiling (Rel)) | -       | -       | -       | -       | -       | -       |
| Moon: (Angle) | -       | -       | -       | -       | -       | -       |
| (Percent Illum.) | -       | -       | -       | -       | -       | -       |

Type of S/M camouflage on this patrol: Gray.

- 28 -

— page 36 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

F) AIRCRAFT CONTACTS.

| | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
| :| :----- | :----- | :----- | :----- | :----- | :----- |
| 1. CT NUMBER | | | | | | |
| 2. Date | Mar 2 | Mar 2 | Mar 4 | Mar 4 | Mar 4 | Mar 5 |
| 3. Time (Zone) | 0947 | 1537 | 0925 | 1630 | 1910 | 0835 |
| 4. Position: Lat. | 15 32 N | 16 15 N | 16 07 N | 16 22 N | 16 24 N | 16 25 N |
| 5. Long. | 109 10 E | 109 00 E | 108 50 E | 109 22 E | 109 23 E | 108 24 E |
| 6. Speed | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 16 |
| 7. Course | 270 | 000 | 270 | 270 | 090 | 030 |
| 8. Trim | Surf. | Surf | Surf | Surf | Surf | Surf |
| 9. Minutes Since Last | | | | | | |
| 10. Radar Search | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11. Number | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 12. Type | UNK | UNK | UNK | UNK | UNK | UNK |
| 13. Probable Mission | Pat. | Pat. | Pat. | Pat. | Esc. | Esc. |
| 14. How Contacted | SD | SD | SD | SD | SD | SD |
| 15. Initial Range | 14 | 23 | 14 | 18 | 6 | 6 |
| 16. Elevation Angle | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 17. Range & Relative | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 18. Bearing of Plane | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 19. When it Detected | - | - | - | - | 1 | - |
| 20. S/M | HD | HD | HD | HD | UNK | ND | 21. Sea: (State (Beau- | | | | | | |
| 22. fort) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 23. (Direction (Rel) | 120 | 030 | 110 | 110 | 300 | 000 |
| 24. Visibility (Miles) | 12 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 2 |
| 25. (Height in | | | | | | |
| 26. Clouds: (Ft. | 1000 | 1000 | 1200 | 1200 | 1200 | - |
| 27. (Percent | | | | | | |
| 28. Overcast) | 50 | 75 | 50 | 50 | 60 | 100 |
| 29. (Bearing(Rel) | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 30. Moon:(Angle | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 31. (Percent | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 32. Illum.) | - | - | - | - | - | - |

Type of S/M camouflage on this patrol; Gray.

- 29 -

— page 37 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

) AIRCRAFT CONTACTS

CONTACT NUMBER                                43         44
Date                                          Mar 5      Mar 11
Time (Zone)                                   1650       1700
Position: Lat.                                16 24 N    05 20 S
          Long.                               108 14 E   111 00 E
Speed                                         3          12
Course                                        330        170
Trim                                          Sub.       Surf.
Minutes Since Last SD Radar Search                       1

Number                                        1          1
Type                                          Navis      UNK
Probable Mission                              Pat.       UNK
How Contacted                                 Per.       Sight
Initial Range                                 5          5
Elevation Angle                               2          1
Range & Bearing
of Plane When
Detected S/M                                  ID         UND

(State (Beau-                                 1          1
Sea: (for                                     1          1
(Direction(Rel)                               030        270
Visibility (Miles)                            10         10
(Height in
Clouds: (Ft.                                  1000       1000
(Percent
Overcast)                                     60         60
(Bearing (Rel)                                -          -
Moon: (Angle                                  -          -
(Percent
Illum.)                                       -          -

Type of S/M camouflage on this patrol: Gray.

- 30 -

— page 38 —
S-E-C-R-E-T                                                              C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

S. DLC ER                                 TORPEDO ATTACK NO. 1          PATROL NO. 1
Time: 1225(H) Date: 13 February 1945 Lat. 15-50-00 N, Long. 110-50-00 E.

                                      Target Data - Damage Inflicted

Description: One Ise Class BB - 29,900 Tons ONI 41-42.
             One TONE Class Cruiser - 14,500 Tons Page 17-18 ONI 41-42.
Ships Sunk: None.
Ships Damaged: * 1 Tone Class Cruiser and 1 Ise Class BB.
Probably Sunk: None.
Damage determined by: Timed torpedo hits and oil streaks on surfacing.
Target draft: BB 28' Course 000 T Speed 18 kts. Range 2000 (at firing)
             Cruiser 14'7" Course 000 T, Speed 18 kts. Range 1750 (at firing).

                                        Own Ship Data

Speed 3.2 Course: 070 T. Depth: 60' Angle 1-1/2° down (at firing)
Type attack: Submerged; periscope.
Tubes Fired: No. 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 and 6.
Track Angle: 120° port.
Gyro Angle: 00° L.

                 10'       10'       10'       10'       10'       10'
Depth Set        10'       10'       10'       10'       10'       10'
Power            High      High      High      High      High      High
Hit or Miss      Hit       Prob.Hit  Hit       Miss      Miss      Miss
Arctic           No        No        No        No        No        No
Mark Torp.       18-2      18-2      18-2      18-2      18-2      18-2
Serial No.       57327     57342     57318     57375     57376     57332
Mark Exploder    Mk.4 Mod 7 Mk.4 Mod 7 Mk.4 Mod 7 Mk.4 Mod 7 Mk.4 Mod 7 Mk.4 Mod 7
Serial No.       17120     16562     16591     17295     17121     17314
Actuation Set    Contact   Contact   Contact   Contact   Contact   Contact
Actuation Actual -
Warhead          18        18        18        18        18        18
Serial No.       540       1213      973       600       710       673
Explosivo        TPX       TPX       TPX       TPX       TPX       TPX
Firing Interval  10 sec.   10 sec.   10 sec.   10 sec.   10 sec.   10 sec.
Type Spread      2-1/2 L   1-1/2 L   1/2 L     1/2 R     1-1/2 R   2-1/2 R
Sea Cond.        (2)       (2)       (2)       (2)       (2)       (2)
Overhaul Activity Pearl Harbor, T.H.

Remarks: Sound bearings were tracked, torpedoes running hot, straight and normal. One timed hit
for torpedo #1. Sound bearings of cruiser merging into explosion. One possible timed hit for
second torpedo fired, and one definite timed hit for third torpedo
fired, plus sound bearings. Sound bearings of battleship's screws merging into torpedo explosion for third torpedo.
Two definite oil slicks observed and slicks followed for over an hour
after surfacing.

                                        - 31 -

— page 39 —
-C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

(J) MINES

No minelaying activities were conducted during this patrol.
However, many floating mines were sighted in the area and the
mine field existing between Hon Ong Island and Culao Ro Island
is a possibility is advanced. The sighting of floating mines in this
vicinity and all other floating mines were well to the eastward.

(J) ANTI-SUBMARINE MEASURES

On 18 February 1945, two patrol vessels working in conjunction with
a type-float plane patrolled for four hours off Tourane Bay. Again on
26 February 1945, an anti-submarine sweep was made off Cape Batangan by four
trawler type patrol craft, with a zero type plane with twin floats, working in
conjunction with them. Daily air patrols out of Tourane are believed routine,
and all steel ships, Bettys, Jakes, Sandys and Levis type flying boats. Normal
evasive tactics were used to evade these sweeps and searches.

(K) MAJOR DEFECTS AND DAMAGE

(1) PITOMETER LOG: The pitometer log was out of commission on three occasions
during the patrol and each failure was a result of material and construction
used in the piping, mufflers and tubing from the sword arm to the unit. The
Commanding Officer is of the opinion that the design of this construction is
inherently wrong and should be corrected.

(2) MASTER GYRO: While the master gyro was never out of commission, difficulty
with low vacuum was experienced throughout the patrol. At and near the equator
it was necessary to increase the latitude correction to 30 degrees to eliminate a
24" vacuum. Subbase, Pearl Harbor, removed the gyro on two occasions in an
attempt to remove the cause of this difficulty, however, it still exists.

(3) D.R.A.I.: The D.R.A.I. gave erratic performance due to the longitude disc
sticking or slipping on rapid speed changes. Though this equipment has been
worked on continually during the patrol, the cause of this trouble has not yet
been discovered.

(4) SJ AND ST R.DAR: Discussed in Radar Section.

(5) QC AND QB SOUND GEAR: Discussed in Sound Section.

(6) Wardroom Pantry Ice Box: The operation of the wardroom pantry icebox was
entirely unsatisfactory throughout the entire patrol. It is believed that the
trouble is caused by overloading the plant. Ships force has been unable to
remedy the trouble and a complete overhaul is required.

(7) MAIN ENGINES: The performance of the main engines was exceptional. A broken
head stud on #4 main engine was renewed. The cause of this failure is believed
to be vibration, as this is a failure common to this type of engine.

Three conn rod bearings and four injectors on #1 and #2 main engines were renewed.
This is considered normal as these engines have had over 2000 hours of operation
without overhaul. On the occasion of installing two new injectors, however, each

- 32 -

— page 40 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

iled as soon as load was applied to the engine. These injectors were new
and had been checked by the Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, just prior to
departure for patrol.

(2) 5" GUN: Both pointer and trainer seats on the deck gun carried away in the
first heavy sea encountered. The break occurred at the brazing which joins
the bracket to the adjustable slide. It is believed that additional bracing
will be required for the slide to prevent a repetition of this failure.

(3) A source of grave concern and great worry to the Commanding Officer is the
abnormal vibration of this ship submerged. At any submerged speeds greater
than 80 RPM's, the vibration is so pronounced and the noise induced by that
vibration so loud as to constitute a grave military hazard. Every means should
be used to determine the cause of this vibration and to eliminate the source of
these vibration noises.

(L) RADIO

Reception of the Submarine Schedule from VLQ was generally satis-
factory on 9250 and 12640 kilocycles. We were unable to receive 4370 or 16150
kilocycles due to weak signal strength. From experience it is believed that
reception on both the better frequencies caused abnormal, occasional relay trouble
on the frequency was annoying when the other frequency was covered by interference.
Jamming seemed indiscriminate but not consistent enough to be termed international.
We were able to pick up all messages by the second transmission through inter-
ference.

TIME (GCT)   | FREQ. USED          | SIGNAL
||
0000 to 0600 | 12630               | Weak
0600 to 1200 | 12630 & 9250        | Good
1200 to 1800 | 9250 or 12630       | Good on one freq.
1800 to 0000 | 9250 shifting to 12630 | Good to no signal about
             |                     | 2200

DLFACK COMMUNICATIONS were generally good after experience taught a few
lessons. The SD antenna was used because it apparently loaded correctly while
the other antenna showed high grounds. It was found that the SD antenna output
was either insufficient or its pattern unsatisfactory. After shifting back to
the normal antenna, transmission difficulties were greatly decreased. The shift
to the alternate frequencies improved transmissions since, being somewhat higher,
they were easier to use with our antennae.

RADIO CHUNGKING (NKN) SCHEDULES:

NKN was copied regularly. During daylight the skeds on 12465 kcs.
were loud and clear. The sked on 4155 kcs. at 1800 GCT was usually heavily
covered by interference. The jamming experienced was either random keying or a
steady tone which remained for the duration of the schedule. Messages could be
received through this. If the 1000 GCT skeds. were sent an hour or two later
it would be possible, for boats which can only surface at sunset, to copy.

- 33 -

— page 41 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

IP TO SHOW COMMUNICATIONS were good. Traffic was cleared through NDP4, VHC,
F3, Z4N and VHC, Hobart were particularly
hort. In other cases unnecessary transmitting was done due to failure of the
shore stations to authenticate their answers to the call up promptly.

VHF equipment proved unsatisfactory. We were unable to establish any communications
except by receiving on the APR and then only when another boat was around 500
yards away.

(D) RADAR

SD. The operation of the SD radar generally was very good during this
patrol. It was keyed at intervals of one minute for a period of about fifteen
seconds during daylight. During night operation the SD was left in a standby
condition with plate voltage off. It was keyed only upon an APR contact or on
suspicion.

The maximum range on aircraft was 37 miles and 43 miles for a land
contact.

The difficulties were experienced. The first was an inability to
focus the cathode ray tube. The focus control was replaced and the trouble was
apparently cleared. However, a reoccurrence at a later date indicated the trouble
was not located and a charred spot was found on the insulation below the base of
the cathode ray tube. The second trouble was in the high voltage plate switch
which had to be replaced. As no spare was provided, the protection of the
circuit breaker was discarded and a switch from the SJ spare was used.

SJ. It is the opinion of the Commanding Officer that the SJ radar
installation on this vessel has been, from the time of commissioning, a lemon.
Due to the faulty operation of this equipment, favorable attack positions could
not be obtained on at least three occasions. Two battleships and one cruiser
were not picked up at the sighting range of 20,000 yards. The maximum range
obtained on a surface vessel was 14,000 yards on a five ship convoy. The major
difficulties and attempted remedies are stated below.

New 717A tubes and a new crystal were installed when the ring time
dropped. A loose tap on an RF coil in the S.O. box was corrected after the
tubes in the IF strip were replaced to remedy a loss of grass. Three tubes
were replaced in the APC circuit. An error in replacing a glass 6H6 in this
circuit with a 717A one caused the cathode resistors of U3 to burn out. A new
magnetron had to be installed and a retuning job was done. The very poor
magnetron were found at this time. The grid capacitor of V3-2 was found shorted
and replaced when a large number of stops appeared on the scope. Two 3A4
tubes were replaced when F9 was blown. F9 was again blown several days later
and the 836 tubes in the H.V. rectifier were replaced.

The magnetron blower motor impeller was tightened when another
attempt was made to remedy the intermittent loss of grass. At this time the
elaborate connection at the B.O. box "IF OUT" terminal was replaced completely
with Jones plugs and coax. The source of this trouble has not yet been found and
the grass still drops to about one third normal height for periods of several
seconds to a minute or two at infrequent intervals.

- 34 -

— page 42 —
-C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
[HANDWRITTEN: #1]

ailed as soon as load was applied to the engine. These injectors were now
being checked by the Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, just prior to
departure for patrol.

(8) 5" GUN: Both pointer and trainer seats on the deck gun carried away in the
first heavy seas encountered. The break occurred at the brazing which joins
the bracket to the adjustable slide. It is believed that additional bracing
will be required for the slide to prevent a repetition of this failure.

(9) A source of grave concern and great worry to the Commanding Officer is the
abnormal vibration of this ship/submarine. At any submerged speeds greater
than 80 RPM's, the vibration is so pronounced and the noise induced by that
vibration is so loud as to constitute a grave military hazard. Every means should
be used to determine the cause of this vibration and to eliminate the source of
these vibration noises.

(L) RADIO
[HANDWRITTEN: NRL]
[HANDWRITTEN: CRD]
Reception of the Submarine Schedule from VIXO
was generally satis-
factory on 9250 and 12640 kilocycles. We were unable to
receive 4370 or 16150 kilocycles due to weak signal strength. From experience
the frequency drift both the better frequencies seemed abnormal.
(Occasional relay trouble) The frequency was annoying when the other frequency was
covered by interference. We managed to pick up all messages by the second transmis-
sion through inter-ference.

TIME (GCT) | FREQ. USED | SIGNAL
||
000 to 0600 | 12630 | Weak
0600 to 1200 | 12630 & 9250 | Good
1200 to 1800 | 9250 or 12630 | Good on one freq.
1800 to 0000 | 9250 shifting to 12630 | Good to no signal about
            |             | 2200

LIFTRICK COMM. ANTENNA were generally good after experience taught a few
lessons. The SD antenna was used because it apparently loaded correctly while
the other antenna output showed high grounds. It was found that
was either insufficient or its pattern unsatisfactory.
The normal antenna transmission difficulties were greatly
to the alternate frequencies improved transmissions since, being somewhat higher,
they were easier to use with our antenna.

RADIO CHUNGKING (NKN) SCHEDULES:

NKN was copied regularly. During daylight the skeds on 12465 kcs.
were loud and clear. The sked on 4155 kcs. at 1800 GCT was usually heavily
covered by interference. The jamming experienced was either random keying or a
steady tone which remained for the duration of the schedule. Messages could be
received through this. If the 1000 GCT skeds. were sent an hour or two later
it would be possible, for boats which can only surface at sunset, to copy.

- 33 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 4-XTRA-]
[HANDWRITTEN: 34]

— page 43 —
-C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L [HANDWRITTEN: Blown # 1]
[HANDWRITTEN: NRC]
[HANDWRITTEN: CRD]
[HANDWRITTEN: 2-XTRA-1]

SHIP TO SHORE COMMUNICATIONS were good. Traffic was cleared through NDF4, VHC,
and VCC on 4235 and 8470. Operators at Radio Hobart were particularly
alert. In other cases unnecessary transmitting was done due to failure of the
shore stations to authenticate their answers to the call up promptly.

VHF equipment proved unsatisfactory. We were unable to establish any communications
except by receiving on the FM set and then only when another boat was around 500
yards away.

(10) RADAR

SD. The operation of the SD radar generally was very good during this
patrol. It was keyed at intervals of one minute for a period of about fifteen
seconds during daylight. During night operation the SD was left in a standby
condition with plate voltage off. It was keyed only upon an APR contact or on
suspicion.

The maximum range on aircraft was 37 miles and 43 miles for a land
contact.

The difficulties were experienced. The first was an inability to
focus the cathode ray tube. The focus control was replaced and the trouble was
apparently clear ed. However, a reoccurrence at a later date indicated the trouble
was not located and a charred spot was found on the insulator below the base of
the cathode ray tube. The second trouble was in the high voltage plate switch
which had to be replaced. As no spare was provided, the protection of the
circuit breaker was discarded and a switch from the SJ spares was used.

SJ. It is the opinion of the Commanding Officer that the SJ radar
installation on this vessel has been, from the time of commissioning, a lemon.
Due to the faulty condition of this equipment, favorable attack positions could
not be obtained on at least three occasions. Two battleships and one cruiser
were not picked up at the sighting range of 20,000 yards. The maximum range
obtained on a surface vessel was 14,000 yards on a five ship convoy. The major
difficulties and attempts to reduce are stated below.

New 717A tubes and a new crystal were installed then the ring time
dropped. A loose tap on an RF coil in the B.C. box was corrected after the
tubes in the IF strip were replaced to remedy a loss of grass. Three tubes
were replaced in the IF circuit. An error in replacing a glass 6L6 in this
circuit with a metal one caused the cathode resistors of U3 to burn out. A new
magnetron had to be installed and a retuning job was done. Two very poor
magnetrons were found at this time. The grid capacitor of V13.2 was found shorted
to ground at this time. A large number of steps appeared on the scope. Two 5U4G
tubes were replaced and the 836 tubes in the H.V. rectifier were replaced.
The magnetron blower motor impeller was tightened and another
attempt was made to remedy the intermittent loss of grass. At this time the
elaborate connection at the B.O. box "IF OUT" terminal was replaced completely
with Jones plugs and coax. The source of this trouble has not yet been found and
the grass still drops to about one third normal height for periods of several
seconds to a minute or two at infrequent intervals.

- 34 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 35]

— page 44 —
P-024-R-I-D-D-M

1. f
Faulty V2 in the indicator circuit was replaced when the sweeps
did not start at the proper place. The AFC was completely out and caused missing
a battleship and cruiser which were picked up by the high periscope. Hand
tuning was employed from this time on. A faulty TR tube which was lost at Pearl Harbor was changed to include removal
of the 300 V and 450 V supplies to the transmitter. With these supplies on the
knocker circuit a loud 1500 cycle note obscured the received signals. Excellent
results were obtained after this change was made.
Trouble with the air conditioning blower caused a large amount of inter-
ference on the CRO screens. This was very erratic which made it somewhat
difficult to locate.

M.D.R
The SF installation on this vessel has never been satisfactory. The
nominal ring time is 1000 yards and the maximum ever obtained was 2400 yards.
This was obtained by Western Electric Company Engineers.
Difficulty was experienced in maintaining a crystal current that
would remain steady for a few hours. The method of looking into the E.O. tube in
the scope and in adjusting its insertion in the wave guide is not satisfactory. Due
to unknown causes a great number of crystals and 5021 tubes were used. No
fundamental fault has been found in the gear but it is believed such a fault
exists. The SF was not used on this patrol because of its condition.

BN AND ABK
This equipment was very seldom used and is apparently satisfactory.

APR - SPA
The APR and SPA were employed constantly during the patrol and gave
satisfactory service. No trouble was experienced with the APR. Three troubles
were experienced with the SPA, all in the cathode ray tube circuit. The
high voltage transformer burned out and was replaced with the spare. At other
times two 3BP1 cathode ray tubes were replaced.

- 35 -

— page 45 —
-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

APR CONTACTS
DATE | TIME | SHIP'S POSITION | PRMO. | PULSE | PULSE WIDTH | SKETCH | REMARKS
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
2 Feb. | 1355 | 21 05 N, 115 03 E | 153 | 950 | 8-10 | (drawing) |
9 Feb. | 2235 | 16 26 N, 110 45 E | 197 | 1200 | 7 | (drawing) |
13 Feb. | 0942 | 15 24 N, 110 56 E | 200 | 1195 | 7-1/2 | (drawing) | Weak Signal
" | 1050 | 15 38 N, 110 56 E | 200 | 1200 | 10-15 | (drawing) | Apparent variation
| | | | | | | of power
" | 1058 | 15 40 N, 110 58 E | 200 | 600 | 6 | (drawing) |
14 Feb. | 1418 | 15 57 N, 110 59 E | | 920 | | |
1 Mar. | 2145 | 16 02 N, 109 16 E | 151 | to | 8-12 | (drawing) |
| | | | | 950 | | |
1 Mar. | 1600 | 16 21 N, 108 34 E | 149 | 1000 | 9 | (drawing) |
2 Mar. | 0955 | 15 35 N, 109 21 E | 145 | 1000 | - | (drawing) |
2 Mar. | 1920 | 16 08 N, 109 00 E | 147 | 500 | | | Pulse composed of
| 0032 | 16 06 N, 108 46 E | to | to | 5 | (drawing) | Freq. 4KC band width
| 0845 | 16 06 N, 109 00 E | 151 | 550 | | | Shape varied with
| | | | | | | | tuning
| 2025 | 16 14 N, 108 23 E | 190 | 1050 | | |
4 Mar. | 1305 | 16 26 N, 108 50 E | to | to | 4-7 | (drawing) |
| | | | 191 | 1150 | | |
3 Mar. | 2113 | 16 14 N, 108 23 E | 173 | 500 | 8 | (drawing) |
4 Mar. | 0520 | 15 59 N, 109 25 E | 175 | 225 | | |
| 2310 | 16 19 N, 108 44 E | 149 | 500 | 5 & 2 | (drawing) | Broke into oscil.
| | | | | | | | lasting up to 25
| | | | | | | | s.c. or [UNCLEAR: r.c.]
7 Mar. | 1520 | 14 18 N, 111 04 E | 153 | 1150 | 9 | (drawing) |
12 Mar. | 0815 | 06 13 S, 116 00 E | 217 | 540 | | (drawing) |
12 Mar. | 2240 | 08 37 S, 115 39 E | 193 | 1100 | 4 | (drawing) |
13 Mar. | 1130 | 15 42 N, 110 56 E | 200 | 1250 | 8-9 | (drawing) |

- 36 -

— page 46 —
-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

(B) SOUND GEAR AND SOUND CONDITIONS.

     Sound conditions on station were generally poor, mainly due to shallow
water noise. However, operation of the QC-2 equipment was good.

     Both training motors were grounded out when excessive water was taken in
through the poppet valves while firing torpedoes. The port motor was replaced
with the bath rotor. It is believed slight misalignment of extra horsepower is
causing binding and vibration in the training of the port projector. The
armature and field coils were washed thoroughly with fresh water
and baked. This eliminated grounds and afforded satisfactory operation.

     JP equipment proved particularly valuable. Ships were picked up at
excellent ranges on nearly every contact. The maximum range at which screws
were heard was an estimated 20,000 yards.

(C) DENSITY LAYERS

     The following tabulation shows the density layers encountered:

TIME | DATE | LAT. | LONG. | DEPTH | TEMP. | BOTTOM TEMP. | REMARKS
     |      |      |       |       |       |              |
2300 | 2/6/45 | 17 10 N | 111 47 E | 170 | 75° | 130 | 72° Sharp break
2300 | 2/7/45 | 18 14 N | 110 55 E | 240 | 72° | 400* | 65° Gradual
2300 | 2/8/45 | 18 30 N | 111 35 E | 280 | 72° | 350* | 66° Gradual
2330 | 2/12/45 | 15 02 N | 111 56 E | 180 | 77° | 380* | 63° Sharp (69 ) to
     |        |         |         |     |     |      | 250' then Gradual
0500 | 2/13/45 | 15 50 N | 110 50 E | 220 | 75° | 400* | 61° Sharp (64 ) to
     |        |         |         |     |     |      | 320' then Isobal.
1600 | 3/1/45 | 15 50 N | 109 06 E | 0 | 72° | 200* | 66° Perfect Isobal.

* Indicates bottom of gradient was not reached.

- 37 -

— page 47 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

) HEALTH, FOOD AND HABITABILITY

(1) HEALTH: The health of officers and crew was excellent. One officer was
laid on the sick list for three days due to a leg injury suffered when the
ship was inundated on 7 February 1945.

(2) FOOD: The food was uniformly good for the entire patrol.

(3) HABITABILITY: The habitability was good. However, the ventilation in the
forward part of the ship can definitely stand improvement. The addition of an
air conditioning unit in the forward battery and a booster blower in the control
room would do much to solving this problem. The chief objection of the entire
patrol is the terrific odor of the sanitary tank. Investigation should be made
for means to alleviate this condition.

(4) PERSONNEL

Officers and crew were exceptionally capable and cooperative. Personnel act-
ed and reacted as an experienced war unit throughout the patrol. This in
spite of the fact that 52 men and 6 officers were experiencing their first taste
of submarine warfare. Due to the confidence of the crew in themselves and their
boat, this sixty day patrol passed with no strain.

At the beginning of the patrol there were 36 unqualified men on board.
There is no unqualified man. His competency was shown and it is guaranteed
that every man qualified is worthy of that signal honor.

(a) Number of men on board                                78
(b) Qualified at start                                    42
(c) Number of unqualified men making
    first patrol                                          36
(d) Qualified at end                                      58
(e) Number of men advanced in rating
    during patrol                                          2

(5) MILES STEAMED - FUEL USED

Pearl Harbor to area - 5050 miles - 78,379 Gals.

In area                                5630 miles - 58,780 Gals.

Area to Fremantle                      3507 miles - 40,508 gals.

(6) DURATION

Days enroute Pearl Harbor to area - 19
Days in area                             28
Days enroute area to Fremantle           13
Days submerged                           20

- 38 -

— page 48 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

(A) AMOUNT OF ENDURANCE REMAINING

PATROL DAYS | FUEL | PROVISIONS | PERSONNEL FACTOR
No. | Gals | Days | Days
16 | 4,210 | 20 | 20

Limiting factor of this patrol - Fuel and provisions of operation order.

(B) RADAR COUNTER MEASURES

No radar equipped escorts were encountered and there was no indication
of homing on our SJ or SD transmissions.

(C) REMARKS

The communications both on and from surfaced submarines
inaugurated were unsatisfactory. Communications on VHF were over
4. biddings. Primary frequencies were too low for effective communication
as operators in the submarine were not familiar with the [UNCLEAR: equipment/procedures].
To obtain excellent results were obtained. On 4 March
1945 we had a pleasure of attempting to vector our search plane to intercept
or put himself in "vying" out of Toummo, but though he
quickly, due to low visibility and the submarine was not
effected. It is a pleasure to work with that type of pilot.

It is suggested that it be made to ComSubForCe Seventy One Patrol Op-Ords
be made by this ship and be provided to these areas from Pearl. This ship had
none of the information contained in the next and it is believed it would have
better the patrol of the Commanding Officer had such information

— page 49 —
SUBMARINE SQUADRON EIGHTEEN
                                                                dpw
C/S-18/A16-3/(00)                               Care of Fleet Post Office,
Serial: 0230.                                   San Francisco, California.
                                                20 March 1945.

FIRST ENDORSEMENT: to
U.S.S. FLOUNDER (SS251) -
Report of First War Patrol.

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

From:           The Commander Submarine Squadron EIGHTEEN.
To:             The Commander in Chief, UNITED STATES FLEET.
Via:            (1) The Commander Submarines, SEVENTH FLEET.
                (2) The Commander SEVENTH FLEET.

Subject:        U.S.S. FLOUNDER (SS251) - Report of First War
                Patrol.

1.      This first patrol of the FLOUNDER was also the
first patrol in command for Commander J.H. CAMPBELL. It was con-
ducted off the coast of INDO-CHINA. One attack was made.

        Attack #1, on 13 February, was a day periscope attack on an
enemy task force of two ISE class battleships and one TONE class
cruiser. Six electric torpedoes were fired at the TONE at a range
of 1800 yards and an overlapping BB about a a thousand yards beyond.
Two timed hits were obtained, possibly three, assuming ranges were
correct, these hits were the third torpedo hitting the cruiser and
the fourth hitting the battleship. Depth control was lost due to
excess water through the poppets, preventing witnessing the results.
After returning to periscope depth forty-five minutes after firing,
the task force was still in sight and upon surfacing, two oil
streaks were seen. It is highly significant that no escorting des-
troyers were seen protecting this task force.

2.      Five other convoys were sighted, four of which
were escorted tankers. Attack position could not be attained on
any of these however. It is interesting to note that three of
these tanker convoys were first picked up by the JP Sound Gear and
one by the QB Sound Gear, all during daylight.

3.      The material condition after one patrol is not
what should be expected. The commanding officer states that the
vibration submerged at speeds above 80 r.p.m. is excessive. The SJ
and ST Radars did not function properly during the patrol. The
FLOUNDER will be sound tested submerged prior to refit and every
effort made to reduce the vibration. This, with the overhaul of
all four main engines may delay the refit of the ship. The refit
will be conducted by the U.S.S. EURYALE (AS22) and Submarine Divi-
sion ONE EIGHTY-TWO Relief Crews.

                                                [STAMP: 4 03301]
                                - 1 -

— page 50 —
SUBMARINE SQUADRON EIGHTEEN

F05-18/A16-3/(00)                                                    dpw
Serial: 0230.                                               Care of Fleet Post Office,
                                                            San Francisco, California.
FIRST ENDORSEMENT: to                                       20 March 1945.
U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) -
Report of First War Patrol.

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

Subject:        U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of First War
                Patrol.

4.
        The squadron commander welcomes the officers and
men of the BLOWER to this force and congratulates them on the damage
inflicted on the enemy.

                                                            [SIGNATURE: Stanley P. Moseley]
                                                            STANLEY P. MOSELEY.

                                    - 2 -

— page 51 —
FE24-71/A16-3
UNITED STATES NAVY
14/ar
Serial 0568
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L [HANDWRITTEN: (line through text)]
SECOND ENDORSEMENT to:
USS BLOWER Conf. Ltr.
A16 Serial 033, dated
19 March 1945. Report
of First War Patrol.

21 March 1945

From: The Commander Submarines, SEVENTH FLEET.
To: The Commander in Chief, UNITED STATES FLEET.
Via: The Commander, SEVENTH FLEET.

Subject: U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of First War Patrol -
Comment on.

1. The First War Patrol of the BLOWER, under the command
of Commander J. H. CAMPBELL, U.S.N., was spent in the areas of the
SOUTH CHINA SEA southeast of HAINAN ISLAND and off the Coast of
INDO-CHINA.

2. On 13 February, BLOWER joined the BERCALL and GUITARRO
on a scouting line. At 1150 (H); an enemy Task Force previously
reported was sighted in the haze, and BLOWER dived to commence her
approach. She fired six torpedoes at the formation, range 1800 to
3100 yards, and immediately thereafter lost depth control. While
BLOWER was struggling to gain control she heard several indeterminate
explosions which were presumed to be hits. The enemy formation was
under constant surveillance by aircraft who report no evidence of an
attack at this time. BASHAW later observed and tracked this Task
Force at undiminished speed. In view of these reports and the
total lack of any counter-measures following the timed explosions,
no damage to this Task Force is assessed. This estimate is subject
to future revision should fresh data indicate that the attack was
successful. The presence of oil slicks is considered inconclusive.

3. From 15 February to 5 March BLOWER patrolled the
INDO-CHINA Coast in the general area of TOURANE. During this period
a total of five contacts on convoys of various sizes were made, but
BLOWER was unable to close any of these contacts for attack.

4. The Award of the Submarine Combat Insignia is not
authorized for this patrol.

5. The Force Commander welcomes the BLOWER to these
areas and congratulates the Commanding Officer, Officers and Crew
upon the completion of this arduous patrol during which valuable
experience was gained.

[STAMP: 4 03301]

JAMES FIFE. [SIGNATURE: Eliot H. Bryant]
ORIGINAL COPY. ELIOT H. BRYANT,
Chief of Staff.

- 1 -

— page 52 —
The provided image is a scan of a document, likely a report or a letter, from the United States Navy. It appears to be a "SECOND ENDORSEMENT" related to a "Report of First War Patrol" for the USS BLOWER (SS325).

Here's the transcription:

FE24-71/A16-3
Serial 0568

UNITED STATES NAVY
21 March 1945

14/ar

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

SECOND ENDORSEMENT to:
USS BLOWER Conf. Ltr.
A16 Serial 033, dated
19 March 1945. Report
of First War Patrol.

Subject: U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of First War Patrol -
Comment on.

— page 53 —
UNITED STATES FLEET
COMMANDER SEVENTH FLEET

A16-3(8) (F-3-4/bc)
Serial: [HANDWRITTEN: 01539]
[STAMP: 4 03301]
[HANDWRITTEN: 15 APR 1945]

CONFIDENTIAL

THIRD ENDORSEMENT to:
CO U.S.S. BLOWER conf.
ltr., serial 033, dated
19 March 1945.

From: Commander Seventh Fleet.
To : Commander in Chief, United States Fleet.

Subject: U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of First War
Patrol.

1. Forwarded.

[SIGNATURE: R. H. CRUZEN]
By direction.

— page 54 —
[STAMP: DECLASSIFIED]
SS325/A7
Serial (027)

[HANDWRITTEN: 1ST copy]

U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325)
% Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, Calif.
24 April 1945

From: The Commanding Officer, U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325).
To : The Commander in Chief, UNITED STATES FLEET.

Via : (a) Commander Submarine Division TWO SIXTY TWO.
      (b) Commander Submarine Squadron TWENTY SIX.
      (c) Commander Submarines SEVENTH FLEET.
      (d) Commander SEVENTH FLEET.

Subject: U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of Second War Patrol.

Enclosure: (A) Subject Report.
           (B) Track Chart (ComSub7thFlt only).

1. Enclosure (A), covering the second war patrol of this ship
conducted in the Java Sea and South China Sea areas, during the period 14
April 1945 to 24 May 1945, is forwarded herewith.

[SIGNATURE: J. H. Campbell]
J. H. CAMPBELL.

[STAMP: DECLASSIFIED ART. 0445, OPNAVINST 5510.C]
[HANDWRITTEN: BY OP-09B9C DATE 6/24/72]

[STAMP: DECLASSIFIED]

[HANDWRITTEN: 128714]

— page 55 —
C*O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
A.
PROLOGUE

Arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 19, 1945 upon
completion of first war patrol. Refit conducted by U.S.S. EURYALE. Lieut. Comdr.
R. E. BUTTS, USN and Lieut (jg) R. W. FIELDING, USNR detached. During refit
directional antennae for APR were installed, Loran equipment installed, complete
overhaul of all four main engines, and excellent overhaul of both radars
accomplished. 11 tons of topside ballast removed. Lieut. Comdr. G. B. KING, USNR
and Lieut. H. N. HANSEN, USNR and Lieut (jg) C. V. KING, USNR reported aboard for duty
normal post refit training under administration of Commander C.C.
BURLINGAME. On 12 April 1945 commenced loading period.

B.
NARRATIVE.

14 April
1400 I Lieut. Comdr. George E. NEELY, USNR, reported aboard for temporary
additional duty.
1406 I Underway from alongside U.S.S. CLYTIE, Fremantle, W.A. for second
war patrol.
1518 I Fired long range target practice.
1600 I Commenced practice approaches on escort H.M.A.S. J204.
2100 I Released escort, set course for Exmouth Gulf.

15 April
Made daily training dives, held emergency drills, fire control
problems, and test firing of guns.

16 April
Made daily training dives.

17 April
0830 I Moored port side to U.S.S. COUCAL, Exmouth Gulf, W.A.
0835 I Lieut. Comdr. G. E. NEELY, USNR left the ship. Temporary duty
completed.
0910 I Commenced fueling ship.
1200 I Completed fueling ship having received 12,920 gallons.
1209 I Underway from U.S.S. COUCAL.

18 April
Made daily training dives.

- 1 -

— page 56 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

19 April
0117 I Exchanged calls with U.S.S. LAMPREY.
        Made daily training dives.

20 April
        Made daily training dives.

21 April
0306 I Commenced transit of LomBok Straits.
0600 I Completed transit.
0644 I Submerged.
2035 I Surfaced. Position Lat. 07 31 S, Long. 116 38 E.

22 April
0045 I Received information forming wolf pack with U.S.S. BESUGO and U.S.S.
        PERCH. U.S.S. BLOWER ComWolf.
0100 I Sent patrol stations to BESUGO and PERCH.
0723 I Submerged.
0732 I Sighted sailboat.
0759 I Surfaced.
0800 I Position Lat. 05 51 S, Long. 115 22 E.
1000 - Sighted numerous sailboats.
1300 I
2000 I Position Lat. 05 09 S, Long. 112 34 E.
2052 I Rendezvous with U.S.S. BESUGO, Position Lat. 05 00 S, Long. 112 10 E.
        BESUGO reported she had not received my message of last night and had
        not heard or seen PERCH. Directed BESUGO to proceed to her patrol
        station. Patrolling on station.
2340 I SJ contact 11750 yards. Radar interference.

23 April
0000 I Twin engine plane sighted distance two miles, coming in. Submerged.
        No bombs. (Aircraft contact #1 Position Lat. 05 00 S, Long 112 07 E.
0442 I Surfaced. Patrolling on station. Lat. 05 00 S, Long. 112 00 E.

        - 2 -

— page 57 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

0705 I Proceeding to new patrol station. Lat. 04 13 S, Long. 115-40 E.
1620 I Sighted sailing vessel.
1622 I Sighted two more sailing vessels.
1640 I Submerged.
1948 I Surfaced.
2000 I Position Lat. 05 46 S, Long. 114 21 E.
2100 I Received word from BESUGO of her attack.

24 April
0045 I SJ contact.
0047 I SD contact 2 miles (Aircraft contact #2 Position Lat. 05 38 S, Long.
        115 31 E). Submerged.
0135 I Surfaced.
0230 I Sent new patrol stations to BESUGO and PERCH.
0600 I On station. Have positioned pack at twenty mile intervals along
        interception of east - west routes from Macassar and Borneo and
        north - south route from Borneo and Java. Position Lat. 05 32 S,
        Long. 116 40 E. Patrol Area 2450- 1159
0859 I Submerged for submerged patrol.
1935 I Surfaced.
2000 I Proceeding to new patrol station, position Lat. 05 29 S, Long 116 16 E.
2100 I BESUGO detached from pack.

25 April
0720 I Sighted and spoke U.S.S. BESUGO.
0816 I Sighted float biplane, distance four miles - Submerged. (Aircraft
        contact #3, Position Lat. 06 08 S, Long. 114 38 E.)
1130 I Sighted float biplane (Aircraft contact #4 Posit. Lat. 05 57 S,
        Long. 114 37 E.
1131 I Sighted float biplane. Went to 130 feet - depth of water 150 feet.

- 3 -

— page 58 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

1200 - Bombed and depth charged by specially equipped planes. Some close
1400 I but the majority not to accurate. During entire time BLOWER was at
        130 feet, using evasion tactics.

1430 I Periscope depth.

1945 I Surfaced.

2000 I Position Lat. 05 48 S, Long. 115 07 E.

26 April

0257 I Radar contact 15,000 yards, bearing 045 (T). Commenced tracking.
        Position Lat. 05 28 S, Long. 116 43 E.

0305 I Radar picked up second target. Targets tracked at 4 knots in
        northerly course. Commenced end around.

0322 I One target turned toward, range 15,500 yards, course 270 (T) and
        increased speed to 19 knots.

0325 I BLOWER started breezing away.

0335 I Range 12750 target opened fire with three gun salvo. On target -
        this boy had nice radar ranges. Submerged. One splash 200 yards over
        two splashes 75 yards short.

0340 I Comment: This escort's radar gave weak signals on APR at
        about 210 KCS. Signals so weak that it was not believed that they
        were from escort until he opened fire.

0359 I Target started depth charging - Range 5000 yards. Continued to try to
        close for submerged attack.

0400 I Unable to obtain favorable firing position due to maneuvers of target
0500 I conducting search.

0530 I Target (tentatively identified as A. (7-12) minesweeper) departed to
        northwestward at 17 knots. This is towards PERCH'S position.

0540 I Surfaced.
        In retrospect we were lucky. I had convinced myself that my targets
        were sea trucks and was moving forward preparatory to closing to gun
        range. If the Nip had not been so hasty he would have had me in a
        tight spot. I had intended to close to 6000 yards and open fire. In
        the moonlight his size was very deceptive and his slow speed had me
        fooled. After submerging I was never able to close him closer than
        5000 yards.

- 4 -

— page 59 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

0645 I Submerged.
1745 I Sighted PERCH on surface.
1804 I Surfaced and closed PERCH. McCall informed me my AM had worked him
        over plenty about noon and put his radar and attack periscope out of
        commission.
1830 I Decided to attempt to hunt him down.
2000 I Position Lat 05 41 S Long. 116 36 E.
2300 I Discontinued search. Decided to close PERCH'S position in case he
        assistance with no radar.

27 April
0000 I Thoroughly expected shipping tonight. Probably our contact last night
        diverted them. The escort knows there are at least two subs here now.
        Shifted scene of operations East ninety miles, to position Lat. 06 10 S
        Long. 112 30 E.
0701 I Submerged.
1855 I Surfaced.
2000 I Position, Lat., 06 21 S, Long., 116 00 E.

28 April
0700 I Submerged.
1910 I Surfaced. Took up assigned patrol station as directed. Sent patrol
        station to PERCH. Decided to patrol between my station and station
        originally assigned BESUGO.
2000 I Position, Lat., 0610 S Long., 116 19 E.

30 April
0650 I Submerged. During the day sighted numerous small native sailboats.
1938 I Surfaced. During the night avoid numerous small sailboats. Maintaining
        station.
2000 I Position, Lat., 06 04 S Long., 114 44 E.

1 May
0705 I Submerged. Conducting submerged patrol on station.
1915 I Surfaced. Again small sailboats tonight.

- 5 -

— page 60 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

2 May
0708 I Submerged.
1910 I Surfaced.
2000 I Position Lat. 05 33 S, Long. 114 58 E.
1926 I Sighted float type aircraft, range five miles, heading in. Submerged.
          Aircraft contact #5, Position Lat. 05 35 S, Long. 114 56 E.
2005 I Surfaced.
2130 - Numerous small sailboats in area. These boats like the poor are
2330 I always with us!

3 May
0701 I Submerged.
1920 I Surfaced. Two sailboats in sight. All these sailboats are between
          15 and 45 miles of Great Masalembo Island.
2000 I Position Lat 05 30 I, Long. 114 50 E.

4 May
0227 I Exchanged calls and information with U.S.S. BRILL.
0700 I Submerged.
1845 I Surfaced. Decided no reinforcements headed for Tarakan so decided
          to shift patrol to intercept point of east-west: north-south traffic.
2000 I Position Lat. 05 35 S, Long. 115 15 E.

5 May
0200 I Patrolling junction of routes in Lat., 04 48 S, Long., 116 07 E.
0702 I Submerged.
1920 I Surfaced. Sailboat in sight. They are even up here. Would certainly
          like to practice with the 40 MM's.
2000 I As PERCH departs tonight decided to return to my assigned patrol
          station off Great Masalembo. Position, Lat., 05 40 S, Long.,116 19 E.

6 May
0200 I More sailboats.
0710 I Submerged.

- 6 -

— page 61 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
6 May (Cont')

0800 I         Position, Lat., 05 45 S, Long., 114 18 E.

1920 I         Surfaced. Set course to shift areas as directed. Analysis of traffic
               this area: During the four days allowed to patrol the most favorable
               traffic routes, one day and night a 60 mile front was covered with
               three boats; the next three a forty mile front with two boats. Only
               contact was one patrol vessel, probably enroute to pick up a convoy.
               It is believed east-west traffic swings north of Doang Doangang;
               north of Lime Islands, north of Mata Siri; and then if headed to Java
               west of Arends Islands and Great Masalembo. North-South traffic hugs
               Borneo Coast to Selatan then south; west of Great Masalembo. It is
               believed a pack could be profitably employed between 4° 30' and 5° 30'
               South, 116° 117° East; instead of between 5° 00' and 5° 30' as I
               spaced them. Unfortunantely my pack did not function as a unit for a
               sufficient period of time to test this theory.

7 May

1010 I         S-D contact 30 miles. Avoid on surface.

2000 I         Position Lat., 02 21 S, Long., 109 03 E.

2300 I         Exchanged calls with U.S.S. HARDHEAD.

8 May

0800 I         Enroute rendezvous with U.S.S. BAYA.

0915 I         Sighted two sailboats.

2000 I         Position Lat., 02 59 N, Long., 106 57 E.

9 May

0400 I         At rendezvous awaiting U.S.S. BAYA in Lat., 05 00 N, Long.,105 00 E.

0428 I         Exchanged calls and information with U.S.S. BRILL.

0430 I         Proceeding to eastern edge of area. Dog two.

1000 I         Exchanged positions and arranged rendezvous with U.S.S. BAYA.

1055 I         Sighted U.S.S. PERCH. Exchanged calls.

1145 I         Sighted U.S.S. BAYA.

1230 I         Received mail from U.S.S. BAYA. What a commentary on the vaunted Jap
               air power in the South China Sea. Three fleet submarines within five
               miles of each other; two exchanging mail and movies, and one proceeding
               unconcernedly on its way.

                                       - 7 -

— page 62 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

9 May (Con't)
1500 I Submerged for trim and training.
1845 I Surfaced.
2000I Position, Lat., 05 00 N, Long., 107 05 E.
2235 I Exchanged calls with U.S.S. CAVALLA.

10 May
0800 I Proceeding to new patrol area. Charlie four.
1500 I Submerged for trim and training.
1924 I Surfaced.
2000 I Position, Lat., 08 46 N, Long., 109 16 E.

11 May
0800 I In new area. Charlie Four. Am remaining in southern part until CAIMAN
        departs tonight. Position, Lat., 10 56 N, Long., 110 50 E.
1015 I S-D contact five miles. Search plane; Exchanged calls on area
        frequency. (Aircraft contact No. 6 ).
1045 I Submerged for trim dive.
1256 I Surfaced.
2000 I Position, Lat., 10 46 N, Long., 109 52 E.

12 May
0100 I Received message from CAIMAN stating she had left area.
0600 I On station for life guard services. Lat.,12 12 N, Long., 109 30 E.
0940 I Bombers passed over head enroute target. Bombers picked up at 15
        miles on S-J altitude 10 degrees, tracked in to range of 5 miles.
        (Aircraft contact No. 71)
1200 I Bombers departed target.
1642 I SD radar contact 14 miles; not sighted. No signs of recognition.
        Contact closed to 6 miles. Submerged. (Aircraft contact No. 8)
1958 I Surfaced.
2000 I Position, Lat., 12 06 N, Long., 110 25 E.

- 8 -

— page 63 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L [HANDWRITTEN: 9-0]

13 May
0800 I On station for life guard duties. Lat.,12 15 N, long., 109 30 E.
0950 I Sighted PBY rescue plane, range 19 miles. SJ has him. Performance
        of SJ on picking up these planes is remarkable. Frequently SJ has
        made the first contact. (Aircraft contact No. 9)
1000 I Bombers passed over headed for target. (Aircraft contact No. 10.)
1200 I Bombers and PB Y departed area. Position Lat., 12 17 N, Long., 109 33 E.
1210 I Numerous sailboats and junks in sight. Submerged to investigate.
1400 I Closed three junks and sailing vessels. All apparently manned by
        Chinese, no signs of deck cargo. Allowed all to proceed unmolested.
1835 I Surfaced.
2000 I Received instructions to coordinate patrol with CAIMAN in area.
        Charlie four.
2200 I Sent patrol station to CAIMAN. I am taking area from Camranh Bay to
        Cape Varella and he takes area from Cape Padaran to Camranh Bay.

14 May
0730 I About twenty sailing vessels in sight, proceeding down coast.
0830 I Submerged off Cape Varella to run close in submerged patrol. During
        the day passed many junks close aboard. All manned by Chinese.
1920 I Surfaced. Position, Lat., 12 06 N, Long., 109 39 E.

15 May
        During night avoid numerous sailing vessels.
0700 I Conducted surface patrol fifteen miles off Indo-China Coast. Lat.,12 45N
        Long., 109 40 E.
2000 I Position, Lat., 12 28 N, Long., 109 46 E.

16 May
0701 I Submerged off Cape Varella to conduct submerged reconnaissance of
        Vanfong Bay and Nhatrang Bay.
1600 I Completed reconnaissance of Bays from two miles out. Both bays filled
        with sail boats and junks. As many as thirty sail boats in sight at
        one time. No shipping present.
1945 I Surfaced.

                                        - 9 -
                                                                [HANDWRITTEN: 736]
                                                                [HANDWRITTEN: 10]

— page 64 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

2000 I Position Lat. 1226 N, Long. 109 37 E.

17 May
0700 I Conducting surface patrol off Indo China Coast. Position Lat 12 35 N,
        Long. 109 40 E.
1045 I Sighted search aircraft. (Aircraft contact #12 Position Lat. 12 25 N,
        Long. 109 49 E.)
2100 I Exchanged calls with U.S.S. LIZARDFISH, who passed thru my area
        unannounced.

18 May
0700 I Conducting surface patrol off Cape Varella and Hon Lon.
1100 I Sighted search aircraft. Unable to establish communications.
1200 I Investigated cargo junk. No cargo.
2000 I Position Lat. 12 41 N, Long. 109 42 E.

19 May
0700 I Conducting surface patrol off Cape Varella.
1030 I Sighted search planes. Unable to establish communications.
1045 I Exchanged recognition signals by flashing light with search plane,
        which passed 50 feet overhead. They are damn big and look bigger
        when they are headed in on you.
1115 I Exchanged signals with second search plane. Took pictures of planes
        and sailboats close aboard.
2000 I Position Lat. 12 08 N, Long. 109 43 E.

20 May
0557 I Submerged off Cape Varella for close inshore patrol.
0900 I Throughout entire day maneuvered among sailboat fleet. As many as 75
        boats in sight at one time.
1100 I Took pictures of trestle and highway, believe this may be bombardment
        target later.
1130 I Sighted two B-24 search planes.
1200 I Inside Vung Ro - only sailboats.
1939 I Surfaced.

- 10 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 936]
[HANDWRITTEN: //]

— page 65 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

2000 I Position Lat. 12 36 N, Long. 109 51 E.
2300 I Received life guard station - proceeding to station. Lat 10 30 N,
        Long. 108 30 E.

21 May
1000 I On station for lifeguard duty off Pulo Cecir de Mer.
1100 I Investigated island from range of 2500 yards. No signs of radar or Jap
        installations of any sort.
1130 I Sighted search plane.
1300 I Sighted search plane.
1830 I Departed life guard station - No business.
2000 I Position Lat. 10 30 N, Long. 109 20 E.

22 May
0800 I Conducting surface patrol off Cape Varella.
1300 I Sighted search plane.
1930 I Departed patrol area for Subic Bay.
2000 I Position Lat. 12 54 N, Long. 110 45 E.

23 May
0830 I Enroute Subic Bay from Patrol Area.
0845 I Sighted search plane.
1330 I Made trim dive.
1345 I Made battle surface, test fired all guns and pyrotechnics.
1445 I SD contact 40 miles, closed to 18, not sighted.
2000 I Position Lat. 14 16 N, Long 116 22 E.

24 May
0730 I Joined with escort U.S.S. JACCARD (DE 355).
1200 I Moored alongside U.S.S. ANTHEDON.

-11-

— page 66 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

C. WEATHER

     The weather in the Java Sea area was excellent during the entire patrol
and generally excellent off the Indo-China Coast.

D. TIDAL INFORMATION.

     Tides encountered in both patrol area were normal and in accordance
with coast pilots. During a North transit of Lombok Strait 0200 - 0400 on
21 April (low water at Ampenan 0126 21 April) a 2.2 knot south and southwest
set was experienced.

E. NAVIGATIONAL AIDS.

     No navigational aids were sighted in the Java Sea area and only
unlighted lighthouses on Hon Lon and Cape Veralla in the Indo China Area.

F. SHIP CONTACTS.

NO. | TIME     | LATITUDE  | TYPE     | INITIAL | EST.COURSE | HOT CON* | REMARKS
    | DATE     | LONGITUDE |          | RANGE   | SPEED      | TACTED   |
----|||||||
1   | 0257 I   | 05 - 26 S | AM       | 15,600  | 020        | Radar    | Escort opened fire
    | 26 April | 116 - 14 E| Unident. |         | 4 kts.     |          | at 12750 yards
    |          |           |          |         |            |          | using radar ranges
    |          |           |          |         |            |          | Forced down.

-12-

— page 67 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

G. AIRCRAFT CONTACTS

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONTACT NO. | | | | | |
| DATE | 4/23 | 4/24 | 4/25 | 4/25 | 5/2 |
| S TIME | 0000 | 0045 | 0816 | 1120 | 1926 |
| U POSIT LAT. | 05 00 S | 05 38 S | 06 08 S | 05 57 S | 05 35 S |
| B POSIT LONG. | 112 07 E | 115 31 E | 114 38 E | 114 37 E | 114 56 E |
| H SPEED | 10 kts | 17 kts | 12 kts. | 2 Kts. | 13 Kts |
| A COURSE | 010 | 085 | 230 | 050 | 050 |
| R TRIM | Surf. | Surf. | Surf. | Sub. | Surf. |
| I MIN. SINCE | | | | | 1 |
| N LAST SD | | | | | |
| E RADAR SEARCH | 60 | 60 | 60 | — | NUMBER | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| A TYPE | Unk | Unk | Pete | Pete | Rufe |
| I PROB. MISS. | Unk | Unk | Unk | Unk | Unk |
| R HOW CONTACTED | Sight | SJ | Sight | Per. | Sight |
| C INITIAL RANGE | 2 Mi. | 5400 | 4 Mi. | 4 Mile | 5 Mi. |
| R ELEV. ANGLE | 2 deg. | Unk | 3 deg. | 1/2 | 7 Deg. |
| A WHEN | 5 Mile | ND | Unk | 2-1/2 | Unk |
| F DETECTED (RANGE) | | | | | |
| T SUBMARINE (BEAR.) | 120 | 225 | | 270 | C SEA: (STATE (BEAUFORT) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| O (DIRECTION REL.) | 120 | 040 | 090 | 070 | 045 |
| N VISIBILITY (MILES) | 8 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 15 |
| D (HEIGHT IN FT.) | 50 | 8000 | 6000 | 6000 | 10000 |
| I CLOUDS: | | | | | |
| T (PER. OVERCAST) | 40 | 40 | 30 | 20 | 40 |
| H BEARING (REL.) | 270 | 290 | 20 | 20 | |
| O MOON: (ANGLE) | 60 | 60 | | | |
| N (PERCENT ILLUM.) | 70 | 75 | | | |
| S | | | | | |

-13-
[HANDWRITTEN: 936]
[HANDWRITTEN: H]

— page 68 —
CONFIDENTIAL
CONTACT NO. | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
DATE | 5/11 | 5/12 | 5/12 | 5/13 | 5/13
S TIME | 1015 | 0850 | 1642 | 0950 | 1000
U POSIT LAT. | 10 47 N | 12 13 N | 12 06 N | 12 11 N | 12 11 N
B POSIT LONG. | 110 10 E | 109 47 E | 109 20 E | 109 48 E | 109 48 E
M SPEED | 12 Kts. | 12 Kts. | 12 Kts. | 12 Kts. | 12 Kts.
A COURSE | 270 | 260 | 090 | 090 | 270
P TRIM | Surf. | Surf. | Surf. | Surf. | Surf.
I MIN. SINCE
N LAST SD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
E RADAR SEARCH

NUMBER | 1 | 3 plus | 1 | 1 | 3
A TYPE | PB2Y | B-24 | Unk | PBY | B-24
I PROB. MISS. | Search | Bomb | Unk | Dumbo | Bomb
R HOW CONTACTED | SD | SD | SD | SD | SD
C INITIAL RANGE | 5 Mi. | 24 Mi. | 14 Mi. | 26 | 28
R ELEV. ANGLE | 15 Deg. | 10 Deg. | Unk | 3 Deg. | 2 Deg.
A WHEN (RANGE) | 5 Mi. | 8 Mi. | ND | 20 Mi. | Unk
F DETECTED
T SUBMARINE(BEAR.) | 180 | 135 | | 030 |

C SEA: (STATE (BEAUFORT) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1
O (DIRECTION REL.) | 330 | 030 | 300 | 270 | 090
N VISIBILITY (MILES) | 20 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 20
D (HEIGHT IN FT.) | 10000 | 8000 | 9500 | 20000 | 20000
I CLOUDS:
T (PER. OVERCAST) | 30 | 90 | 40 | 30 | 30
H (BOTTOM (REL.)
I OON: (ANGLE
N (PERCENT ILLUM)
S

-14-
[HANDWRITTEN: 936]
[HANDWRITTEN: 15]

— page 69 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

|             | 11    | 12    | 13    | 14    | 15                 | 16    |
||-------|-------|-------|-------||-------|
| CONTACT NO. |       |       |       |       |                    |       |
| DATE        | 5/15  | 5/17  | 5/19  | 5/20  | [HANDWRITTEN: 5/21]| 5/22  |
| S TIME      | 1100  | 1052  | 1017  | 1230  | [HANDWRITTEN: 1042]| 1257  |
| U POSIT LAT.| 12 10 N | 12 25 N | 12 13 N | 12 53 N | [HANDWRITTEN: 10 27 N]| 12 43 N |
| B POSIT LONG.| 109 42 E | 109 49 E | 109 49 E | 109 28 E | [HANDWRITTEN: 109 56 E]| 109 45 E |
| K SPEED     | 12 Kts. | 12 Kts. | 12 Kts. | 12 Kts. | [HANDWRITTEN: 12 Kts]| 12 Kts |
| A COURSE    | 000   | 180   | 180   | 270   | [HANDWRITTEN: 270]| 180   |
| I TRIM      | Surf. | Surf. | Surf. | Sub.  | [HANDWRITTEN: Surf.]| Surf. |
| MIN SINCE   |       |       |       |       |                    |       |
| LAST SD     |       |       |       |       |                    |       |
| RADAR SEARCH| 60    | 1     |       | 1     |                    |       |

|             | 1     | 2     | 1     | 1     | 1     | 1     |
||-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| NUMBER      |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| TYPE        | B-24  | B-24  | B-24  | B-24  | B-24  | B-24  |
| PROB. MISS. | Search| Search| Search| Search| Search| Search|
| HOW CONTACTED| Sight | Sight | Sight | Per.  | SD    | SD    |
| INITIAL RANGE| 15 Mi.| 20 Mi.| 16    | 10    | 14    | 19    |
| ELEV. ANGLE | 1/2 Deg.| 1/2 Deg.| 1/2   | 2     | 2     | 3     |
| WHEN (RANGE)| ND    | ND    | ND    | ND    | ND    | ND    |
| DETECTED    |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| SUBMARINE(BEAR.)|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|
| SEA: (STATE(BEAUFORT)| 1     | 2     | 2     | 2     | 2     | 2     |
| (DIRECTION REL.)| 330   | [HANDWRITTEN: 150]| 300   | 230   | 000   | 000   |
| VISIBILITY (MILES)| 30    | [HANDWRITTEN: 8 Mi.]| 9     | 8     | 9     | 8     |
| (HEIGHT IN FT.)| 8000  | 6500  | 6000  | 6000  | 6000  | 5000  |
| CLOUDS:     |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| (PER. OVERCAST)| 40    | 90    | 80    | 20    | 20    | 20    |
| BEARING (REL)|       |       |       |       |       |       |
| MOON: ANGLE |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| PERCENT ILLUM|       | 80    | 80    | 20    | 20    | 20    |

-15-

— page 70 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

| | 17 | 18 | 19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact No. | | | |
| Date | 5/23 | 5/23 | 5/23 |
| S Time | 0830 | 0845 | 1510 |
| U Posit Lat. | 13 12 N | 13 15 N | 13 43 N |
| B Posit Long. | 113 52 E | 114 01 E | 115 21 E |
| M Speed | 15 Kts. | 15 Kts | 15 Kts |
| A Course | 070 | 070 | 070 |
| R Trim | Surf. | Surf. | Surf. |
| I Min. Since | | | |
| N Last SD | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E Radar Search | Number | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| A Type | B-24 | Unk | Unk |
| I Prob. Miss. | Search | Search | Unk |
| ? How Contacted | SD | SD | SD |
| C Initial Range | 14 Mi. | 14 Mi. | 40 Mi. |
| R Elev. Angle | 4 deg. | | |
| A Range (Range) | ND | ND | ND |
| P Detected | | | |
| T Submarine (Bear.) | C Sea: (State (Beaufort) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| O (Direction (Rel) | 150 | 150 | 150 |
| N Visibility (Miles) | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| D (Height in ft.) | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 |
| T Clouds: | | | |
| (Per. Overcast) | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| (Bearing (Rel.) | | | |
| G Moon: (Angle) | | | |
| N (Percent Illum) | | | |
| S | | | |

-16-

— page 71 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

H. ATTACK DATA

No attacks made.

I. MINES

No minelaying operations conducted.

J. ANTI-SUBMARINE MEASURES AND EVASION TACTICS.

Anti-Submarine measures in the Java Sea were quite active. On the
night of 22 April, S-J radar made contact at 11750 yards with radar interference.
This interference was not picked up on APR. At 0000 (I) 23 April a twin engine
bomber was sighted, range two (2) miles coming in low. It was bright moonlight.
Submerged to avoid detection. On 24 April at 0047 (I) moon full, S-J made
contact at 12000 yards, at 0047 (I) S-P contact at 2 miles, submerged. At
0816 (I) 25 April while speaking U.S.S. BESUGO on S-J sighted float biplane,
distance four (4) miles headed in. Submerged. At 1130 (I) sighted two float
biplanes. Increased depth to 130 feet. From 1200 to 1400 (I) bombed and
depth charged by float planes. Believe these planes especially equipped and
working out of Surabaya. At 0257 (I) 26 April made S-J contact at 15000 yards,
followed by sight contact. While tracking and range was 15,500 yards, target
turned towards and increased speed from 4 to 19 knots. At 0335 (I) range to target
had closed to 12750, target opened fire with three gun salvo. There had been weak
APR indications around 210 degrees not strong enough to measure. Fall of shot
indicate escort had radar ranges. BLOWER submerged. Escort continued to close
range when he slowed down and commenced depth charging. Believe he distrusted
radar ranges and commenced depth charging on sound contact on BLOWERS wake. On
2 May at 1926 (I) shortly after surfacing from all day submerged patrol, sighted
float type aircraft range five miles, headed in, submerged. Thus it can be seen
that during bright moonlight, Jap aircraft is exceptionally active, and escorts
have very good radars.

K. MAJOR DEFECTS AND DAMAGE.

No major defects were experienced during this patrol. The following
machinery derangements occurred during the patrol.

(a) Main Engine Head Studs: Three (3) broken head studs on #4 main engine.
This is a repetition of the casualty which has occurred on the after
engines since commissioning. Total studs to fail to date - eleven (11).

(b) Main engine injector filters: On three different occasions these
filters failed and pieces of the copper mesh jammed the injectors
necessitating renewal. On commissioning all engines had the stack
washer type of filter and this casualty was never experienced. During
the last refit period, incident to the overhaul of the main engines,
all stacked washer type filters were replaced with the formed copper
type of washer. Based on the results of this patrol it is recommend-
ed that the use of the formed copper filter be discontinued, and that
they be replaced with the stacked washer type.

-17-

— page 72 —
POSITION             | FREQ. | PULSE | PULSE  | SKETCH
                     |       | RATE  | WIDTH  |
|-------|-------||
3°26'S 115°50' E     | 210   | 500   | 3.75   | [Sketch: wave pattern] Sweeping every 3 to 4
                     |       |       |        | and 1/2 minutes.
3°58'S 109°50'E      | 155   | 750   | 3      | [Sketch: wave pattern] Rapid sweep.
3°27'S 109°30'E      | 145   | 750   | 2-1/2  | [Sketch: wave pattern]
2°49'S 108°26'E      | 150   | 500   | 2      | [Sketch: wave pattern]
1°01'S 108°13'E      | 214   | 300   | 3      | [Sketch: wave pattern] Irregularly
                     |       |       |        | intermittent
7°13'N 106°53'E      | 230   | 200   | 9      | [Sketch: wave pattern]
11°52'N 109°53'E     | 165   | 500   | 6      | [Sketch: wave pattern]
3°00'N 110°08'E      | 150 - | 1250  | 3      | [Sketch: wave pattern] All over dial-saturation
                     | 210   |       |        | at 150 and 210

-18-

— page 73 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

O. DENSITY LAYERS.
In the Java Sea Area no density layers were encountered. In the Indo-China
Area a 3 degree temperature break was frequently encountered at periscope depth.

P. HEALTH, FOOD and HABITABILITY.
The food and habitability of the ship was better than on the previous patrol.
The ship was comfortable at all times and the food tastily and well prepared. The
health of the crew was not up to par. Two men were placed on the binnicale list
with severe attacks of appendicitus. They were treated with ice pads and sulpha
drugs and responded nicely. Lieut. V. F. BORUM, USNR was isolated with a case of
mumps and lost en days on the sick list. Almost immediately on his recovery DEGEN,
R. L., CRM, USN came down with mumps. For a time the ship looked like an isolation
ward. Colds and sore throats were much more prevelant than on the last patrol.

Q. PERSONNEL.
The performance of duty by officers and men was excellent. The Commanding
Officer regrets that no opportunity was given them to demonstrate their full
capabilities under an attack. Their reactions when fired upon on the night of
26 April was in keeping with the highest tradition of the Navy and a source of
gratification to the Commanding Officer.

No. unqualified men at start of patrol. 23 No. men on board 79
No. unqualified men at end of patrol. 14
No. men making first patrol. 10
No. men advanced in rating. 0

R. MILES STEAMED - FUEL USED.
Fremantle to Area 2122 miles 25830 gals.
In area 7761 miles 83720 gals.
Area to Subic 631 miles 9420 gals.

S. DURATION.
Days enroute to area 7
Days in area 31
Days enroute to Subic 2
Days submerged. 17

T. FACTORS OF ENDURANCE REMAINING.
Torpedoes Fuel Provisions Personnel Factor
22 11,516 30 days 20 days

Limiting factor this patrol - Operation Order.

-19-
[HANDWRITTEN: 936]
[HANDWRITTEN: 20]

— page 74 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

U. REMARKS.
     In accordance with paragraph 4(c) of ComSubsSeventhFlt Conf. Ltr.
FE24-71/L13-1, Serial 0243 of 2 February 1945, directives contained in paragraphs
4(a) and (b) have been complied with.

-20-
[HANDWRITTEN: 936]
[HANDWRITTEN: 21]

— page 75 —
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

L. RADIO.
All radio equipment with the exception of the V.H.F. functioned satisfactorily.
Reception of the VIXO schedule was made difficulty at times by periodic fading.
Best reception was had on the 9 m.c. band at night and the 12 m.c. band during
daylight, with no jamming experienced.

Reception of NPT1 was generally good on the 4 and 9 m.c. bands. These bands
were effectively jammed on May 15 and 17 between the hours 1800 and 2300 G.C.T.
The jamming was accomplished by means of a loud CW signal, keyed with a speed key,
sending the repeated calls NPN and 8XC. On May 14 and 15 atmospherics prevented
any reception between the hours 1000 and 1500 G.C.T.
No transmission difficulties were experienced.
After excellent performance during the training period, the VHF failed to per-
form satisfactorily on patrol. On one occasion only was reception possible, and
in this instance the search plane was directly overhead at an altitude of 50 feet,
and this reception was only momentary. Planes VHF could be heard several times on
the APR but communications were never affected. The equipment appears to be normal
in all respects.

M. RADAR.
The performance of the SJ was outstanding throughout the patrol. Sailboats
picked up at 9000 to 12000 yards. Submarines from 12000 to 14000 yards, land
echos up to 150000 yards; and its performance in picking up aircraft, up to 15
degrees elevation, considerably before SD is considered remarkable. The Commanding
Officer heartily thanks go to the personnel of the U.S.S. EURYALE for a splendid
overhaul of this equipment.
The equipment was operative at all times and only minor tube failures were
experienced.
SD. The performance of the SD is considered only average. Average plane
contacts were made at about 20 miles. Renewal of several tubes necessitated
returning the equipment to 112 Mcs instead of 117 Mcs as was formerly the case.
ST. The ST radar still has a marked frequency drift which is not satisfactory.
This tendency to drift causes the Commanding Officer to hesitate using this equip-
ment for radar search at night. If this fault could be overcome, it is believed
that this equipment would be ideal for night search.
While no opportunity was had to use the ST during an attack, ranges were taken
with it at various times to insure that it was in proper operating condition.
Ranges of 5000 yards were obtained on submarines, and 20000 yards on land.
These ranges were obtained with two feet of scope out.

IFF. The IFF equipment appeared to operate satisfactorily. However, no
responses were obtained during lifeguard services. The ABK was triggered several
times during these strikes.

N. SOUND GEAR AND SOUND CONDITIONS.
Sound conditions during the first part of the patrol in the Java Sea were
bad due to shallow water. Conditions in the South China Sea were good without
exception.

-21-
[HANDWRITTEN: 22]

— page 76 —
FC5-26/A16-3
Serial ( 0118 )

CONFIDENTIAL
FIRST ENDORSEMENT to
USS BLOWER (SS325) Report
of Second War Patrol.

From:
To :
Via :

Subject:

1.
The second war patrol of U.S.S. BLOWER under command of
Commander J.H. Campbell, U.S. Navy, commenced at Fremantle, W.A., on
14 April, 1945, and terminated with her arrival in Subic Bay on 24
May, 1945. The patrol was conducted in the Java Sea and off the
east coast of French Indo China. Of the 34 days spent north of the
Malay Barrier 17 were submerged, the last two days were enroute to
Subic. The first part of the patrol was coordinated with BESUGO and
PERCH under command of the Commanding Officer, U.S.S. BLOWER. During
the latter part of the patrol three days were spent on lifeguard station
no rescues were made.

2.
In a normally productive area only one contact was
made. The two vessels contacted by radar included one escort tenta-
tively identified as an AM which forced BLOWER under by accurate gun-
fire and attack position could not be reached. Lack of contacts can
probably be attributed to the comparatively larger portion of time
spent submerged.

3.
On return from patrol BLOWER was clean and in good
material condition. Health and morale of officers and crew was good.
A normal refit will be conducted by ANTHEDON and Submarine Division
TWO SIXTY TWO relief crew.

4.
The Squadron Commander welcomes BLOWER to SUBIC and
regrets her lack of opportunity to inflict damage on the enemy.

SUBMARINE SQUADRON TWENTY-SIX
Rn
Care of Fleet Post Office,
San Francisco, California,
29 May 1945

The Commander Submarine Squadron TWENTY-SIX.
The Commander-in-Chief, UNITED STATES FLEET.
(1) The Commander Submarines, SEVENTH FLEET.
(2) The Commander SEVENTH FLEET.

U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of Second War Patrol.

[SIGNATURE: B. E. Bacon, Jr.]
B. E. BACON, Jr.

[HANDWRITTEN: 936]
[HANDWRITTEN: 23]

— page 77 —
F24-71/A16-3
Serial 080-A
[HANDWRITTEN: CONFIDENTIAL]
ENDORSEMENT to:
USS BLOWER Conf. ltr. A9
Serial 027, dated 24 April,
1945. Report of Second War
Patrol.

From: The Commander Submarines SEVENTH FLEET.
To: The Commander in Chief, UNITED STATES FLEET.
Via: The Commander SEVENTH FLEET.

Subject: U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of Second War
Patrol - Comment on.

1. The remarks of the Commander Submarine Squadron
TWENTY-SIX regarding the Second War Patrol of the BLOWER under the
command of Commander J. H. CAMPBELL, USN, are concurred in.

2. More time could have been profitably spent on the
surface in the JAVA SEA. While it is very true that a submarine
should make every effort to conceal its presence when on or near the
predicted track of shipping reported by our aircraft, it is felt
that surface patrolling in the open sea should be resorted to until
such time as there are indications that enemy aircraft are active
enough in the area to possibly spot the submarine and route traffic
around it.

3. The award of the Submarine Combat Insignia for this
patrol is not authorized.

[SIGNATURE: J. M. WILLS]
[STAMP: ORIGINAL COPY.]

DISTRIBUTION:
Cominch (3) Direct CTG-71.8 (2)
Vice Opnav (2) Direct ComSubRon-22 (2)
Vice Opnav Op-23c (1) ComSubRon-26 (2)
ComlstFlt (1) ComSubRon-30 (2)
Com2ndFlt (1) DivComSubRon-22 (1 each)
Com7thFlt (2) DivComSubRon-26 (1 each)
ComSubslstFlt (30) DivComSubRon-30 (1 each)
ComSubs2ndFlt (4) S/M School, N.L. Conn. (2)
CTF-71 (7) Comdt. NYD, Puget Sound (1)
CTG-71.5 (2) SubAd, Mare Island (2)
S/Ms 7thFlt (1)

J. B. MILLER,
Flag Secretary.

UNITED STATES NAVY
12/hr
13 June 1945.

THIS REPORT WILL BE DESTROYED PRIOR TO
ENTRY INTO ENEMY CONTROLLED WATERS.

7 01774

— page 78 —
A16-3(8)(F-3-C/bo)
Serial: oxxxx

CONFIDENTIAL
THIRD ENDORSEMENT on:
CO, USS BLOWER (SS325)
Conf. ltr., serial 027,
of 24 April 1945. Report
of Second War Patrol.

From: Commander Seventh Fleet.
To : Commander in Chief, United States Fleet.
Subject: U.S.S. BLOWER (SS 325) - Report of Second
War Patrol.

1. Forwarded.

Copy to:
ComSubs7thFlt
ComSubRon 26
CO, USS BLOWER (SS325) UNITED STATES FLEET
COMMANDER SEVENTH FLEET
REG. NO [HANDWRITTEN: F-1493]
R.S. NO [HANDWRITTEN: 7 U1771]
REG. SHEET NO [HANDWRITTEN: 92]

[HANDWRITTEN: 29 JUN 1945]

[SIGNATURE: J. H. Long]
J. H. LONG
By direction

— page 79 —
[HANDWRITTEN: 1ST COPY]

SS325/A4-3
Serial (037)

U.S.S. ELOER (SS 325)

F Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, Cal.
28 July 1945

From: The Commanding Officer.
To : The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet.
Via : (1) The Commander, Submarine Division THREE HUNDRED TO.
(2) The Commander, Submarine Squadron TWENTY.
(3) The Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet.
(4) The Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet.

Subject: U.S.S. ELOER (SS325) - Report of Third War Patrol.

Enclosure: (A) Subject Report.
(B) Track Chart.

1. Enclosure (A) and (B) covering the Third War Patrol of this vessel
conducted in the Pulo Tenggol and East Java Sea areas during the period 20 June
1945 to 28 July 1945 is forwarded herewith.

[SIGNATURE: H. P. ATKINS]
H. P. ATKINS.

[STAMP: DECLASSIFIED-ART. 0445, OPNAVINST 5510.1C]
[HANDWRITTEN: BY Q-0989C DATE 5/24/72]

[STAMP: DECLASSIFIED]

[HANDWRITTEN: 138724]

— page 80 —
CONFIDENTIAL
57639
A. PROLOGUE

ELORR arrived Subic Bay from her second war patrol on May 24, 1945. The
ship was given a normal refit by the ANTHEDON and the relief crew of Submarine
Division 262. Lieut. Comdr. Alexander, relief commanding officer. Officers and
crew received two weeks rest and recuperation at Camp Coe, and returned aboard
June 8, 1945 to commence post refit trials and training.

N. P. ATKINS, Lieut. Comdr., U.S.N. relieved J. H. CAMPBELL, Comdr., U.S.N.
as Commanding Officer of this vessel.

Lieut (jg) H. E. WOOD, U.S.N. was detached and Ensign J. R. SEIKERT, U.S.N.R.
reported aboard. Lieut. E. F. LATHROP, U.S.N.R. relieved Lieut. Comdr., C. B.
KING, U.S.N.R. as Executive Officer. Eighteen men were transferred and replace-
ments received.

During the training period the ship was given a sound survey and all
deficiencies corrected. Electronics and cavitation tests proved satisfactory.
Numerous day and night rehearsal approaches were conducted. Three exercise
torpedoes were fired and hit. Nine rounds of 5"/25 Cal. ammunition were ex-
pended during training firing. All automatic weapons were fired and performance
was satisfactory.

Training was conducted under the supervision of Capt. T. Illingham, U.S.N.
Commander Submarine Division 262.

BLOWER ready for sea 20 June 1945.

Officers on board:                                          File No.   No. Of
                                                                       Patrols.

Lieut. Comdr. Nelson P. ATKINS, U.S.N. - Commanding.        78674      7
Lieut. Edward F. LATHROP, U.S.N.R.                          87439      5
Lieut. Giles F. BUNN, Jr., U.S.N.                           85701      3
Lieut. LeRoy EDLESON, U.S.N.                                165454     3
Lieut. Wallington F. BORUM, U.S.N.R.                        161383     3
Lieut. Herbert N.H. HANSEN, U.S.N.R.                        110399     3
Lieut (jg) Frederick O. DOUGLAS, U.S.N.R.                   227729     3
Lieut (jg) Claude V. KING, Jr., U.S.N.R.                    270741     2
Lieut (jg) Charles J. REIDL, U.S.N.                         319478     3
Ensign John R. SEIKERT, U.S.N.R.                            357929     1

Chief Petty Officers on board:

CRA. FOOT, Edward R., CEM(T)(AA), 311 31 73, U.S.N.         6
DEGEN, Richard L., CRM(T), 375 96 11, U.S.N.                6
KLUG, Max F., CMoMM, 311 04 69, U.S.N.                      5
LYLE, Frank E. CMoMM(T), 300 06 65, U.S.N.                  9
MYERS, Carl W., CTM(AA)(T), 386 11 87, U.S.N.               7
RICHOMOND, T.W. "T" "W", CEM(AA)(T), 660 07 18, U.S.N.R.    3

— page 81 —
NARRATIVE:

20 June

1400 Underway in company with CAPITAINE in accordance with CTF 71 Op-Ord
     CO-45 of 19 June 1945 enroute Subic Bay to patrol area. U.S.S.
     PRATT (DE 363) escort.

1624 Dived in submarine operating area. Providing services to U.S.S.
     PRATT. Stop bolt linkage on #5 tube broken.

1805 Surfaced. Put man into forward trim tank to repair linkage.

1930 Repair completed. Set course 257 T at s/s on three main engines
     enroute point Bond. Conducting radar tracking drill.

2310 Released escort.

21 June

     In close company with CAPITAINE conducting radar tracking drills.

0856 Battle Station - Gun Action. Fired 9 rounds of 5/25 caliber ammunition
     and 8 rounds 40 MM ammunition at point of aim target.

0910 Commenced radar tracking drill.

1200 Position Lat. 14 02 N, Long. 116 11 E.

1559 Dive for training.

1702 Surfaced. SJ radar and VHF out of commission.

1800 Sent BLOWER first to CTF 71, released CAPITAINE and reversed course
     for Subic to effect repairs.

22 June

1200 Position Lat. 14 44 N, Long. 119 18 E.

1300 Rendezvoused with escort (DE 367) U.S.S. PRATT (S.C. #1)

1653 Moored starboard side to ANTHEDON for fuel and repairs.

23 June

0800 Underway for patrol area, having completed repairs and fueling.
     DE 363 escort.

1200 Position Lat 14 44 N, Long. 119 12 E.

1311 Released escort.

- 2 -

— page 82 —
CONFIDENTIAL
1630 Dive.
1700 Surface.
24 June
Enroute area making training dives and conducting drills.
1200 Position Lat. 13 59 N, Long. 115 30 E.

25 June
1200 Position Lat. 12 04 N, Long. 115 19 E.
1455 SD contact 20 miles. Unidentified (A.C. #1)

26 June
Conducting drills and training.
1200 Position Lat. 9 32 N, Long. 109 54 E.

27 June
1200 Position Lat. 6 52 N, Long. 106 49 E.
1250 Sighted "Privateer" distant about 15 miles (A.C. #2.)
Entered and started exploring ar..

28 June
0755 Sighted Pulo Tenggol, distant 28 miles.
0931 Sighted large sailboat and dove to avoid detection while exploring
Pulo Tenggol and mainland.
1200 Position Lat. 5 07 N, Long. 103 15 E.

29 June
Conducting surface and submerged station patrol North of Pulo Tenggol
to cover possible traffic inside and outside of the island.
0815 Dive.
1200 Position Lat. 5 02 N, Long. 103 33 E.
2015 Surfaced.
2315 Directed BLUEFISH to station North of Pulo Tenggol.

- 3 -

— page 83 —
CONFIDENTIAL

30 June
1035 SD contact 12 miles. (A.C. #3.)
1041 Dive. Plane closed to 8 miles not in sight. No friendly indications.
1129 Surfaced.
1200 Position Lat. 4 24 N, Long. 103 55 E.
1201 SD contact 30 miles (A.C. #4.)
1210 Sighted PB4Y2 distant 15 miles.
1222 Sighted unidentified plane distant 20 miles (A.C. #5)
1304 Sighted B-24 search plane distant 14 miles (A.C. #6). Plane closed
     and exchanged calls and information on VHF.
2235 Radar contact 13,800 yards, with SJ interference. Exchanged calls
     and recognition signals with BLUEFISH (S.C. #2.)
2305 Rendezvous with BLUEFISH to pass patrol information and to reduce
     radio traffic. BLUEFISH to patrol North of Pulo Tenggol. BLO ER
     to the south of the island, patrolling two days on surface and two days
     submerged, in attempt to completely cover possible routes inside and
     outside of Pulo Tenggol and yet remain undetected.

1 July
0300 Very weak APR contact at 150 mcs, faded immediately.
     Patrolling on surface south of Pulo Tenggol.
0910 Sighted what appeared to be a lifeboat at 12,000 yards. Commenced
     closing range to identify object which proved to be a lifeboat.
0930 Manned after 40 MM and held target practice on the boat. Expended
     11 rounds of 40 MM ammunition. One hit. Range 1000 - 1500 yards.
     The practice was justified by the caliber of the shooting. Terrible.
0945 Closed target to close aboard and let Gunnery Officer have a go at it
     with grenades. Result - Sore arm. No damage. All in all a very
     sorry exhibition, so secured, leaving lifeboat bloody and sinking.
     Resumed patrolling line south of island.
1200 Position Lat. 4 28 N, Long. 103 51 E.
1215 Sighted PB4Y2 (A.C. #7.), distant 18 miles.

- 4 -

— page 84 —
CONFIDENTIAL
0722 Live, patrolling line 5 miles to 10 miles off Tg. Laboha.
1200 Position Lat. 4 32 N, Long. 103 37 E.
2040 Surfaced.
2140 APR cont ct 158 mgs. Faded.
2210 Radar contact with BLUEFISH distant 18,000 yards.
2330 Rendezvous with BLUEFISH.

3 July
0500 SJ radar picked up land at 140,000 yards.
0752 Submerged to patrol off Tg. Laboha. Numerous sailboats in sight, but
     desire to remain undetected for the present unless one looks part-
     icularly inviting.
1200 Position Lat. 4 32 N, Long. 103 37 E.
2140 Surfaced.

4 July
     Patrolling on surface 5 - 20 miles off Tg. Laboha.
0500 Rendezvous with BLUEFISH to lay out plan for investigation of aircraft
     report (CTF 71 Serial JIG). Plot of position showed ships anchored in
     the mountains. At 0700 started approaching coast. Sighted numerous
     sailboats. Approach to 11,000 yards of coast and had a good look at all
     possible anchorages and inasmuch as no ships were sighted zoomie position
     must have been correct. BLUEFISH closed coast to southward but sighted
     nothing.
0900 Set course for Pulo Tenggol to resume patrol.

- 5 -

— page 85 —
**CONFIDENTIAL**

1200 Position Lat. 4 32 N, Long. 103 43.E.

1235 Dove for Dinah which came out of haze at about 4 miles (A.C. #8)

1750 Periscope sighted bearing 175 degrees true, range about 800-1000 yards.
     Position 4 23 N, Long. 103 43 E. Maneuvered to avoid possible attack.
     Inasmuch as sightings positively identified as periscope by three
     lookouts, quartermaster and O.O.D., cannot see why attack did not
     come. Too close.

1810 Moved patrol line further out to seaward. Sent contact report to
     BLUEFISH.

5 July

0300 Radar contact on unidentified object south of Pulo Tenggol (S.C. #3).
     Was definitely not part of island or surrounding rocks. Tracked
     object at speed of 1 - 2 knots, then target stopped and remained
     stationary. I believe whatever we have has anchored, so at

0400 decided to take a flier inasmuch as BLUEFISH was not in vicinity
     and fired on Mk 14-3 torpedo in low power at range of about 5000
     yards. No results noted. The night was very black and I didn't want
     to close the island any closer due to rocks and poor charts.

1125 Sighted possible periscope in Lat. 04 30 N, Long. 104 20 E. Avoided
     on surface.

1135 Started south to patrol vicinity Singapore, in company with BLUEFISH.
     Attempted to contact Martin brothers to ascertain their position and
     to coordinate activities in this area.

1200 Position Lat. 4 30 N, Long. 104 25 E.

1832 Sighted BLUEFISH (S.C. #3)

1900 Passed Anamba Is. distant 25 miles.

1910 Received position report from SLEUTH, but no word from SOLENT.

1930 Received SOLENT position.

2220 Radar contact 4000 yards turned away and started tracking. Target showed
     course of 065 degrees T, speed three. Later identified as sailboat and
     continued to position.

- 6 -

— page 86 —
CONFIDENTIAL

0100 On station patrolling.
438 Contact report from SLEUTH.
0445 SLEUTH reported attacking, with negative results, large enemy submarine.
0500 SLEUTH lost contact. I did not dare close less I interfere with SLEUTH.
0515 Commenced search to northward inasmuch as minefield in vicinity precluded
     any chance of escape in that direction.
0545 Ordered BLUEFISH back to patrol area. As soon as I was clearing to
     northward about 0700 ordered SOLENT out to eastward and SOLENT to
     patrol submerged until 1200.
0715 Started to clear area to northward, returning to area off Pulo Tenggol
     with BLUEFISH having decided that area was too crowded. Enemy must
     have come in from the north in order to pass both BLUEFISH and BLO ER.
     SLEUTH was evidently detected during attack because target avoided
     torpedoes. Poor communication between BLO ER and SOLENT kept the air
     busy for some time. SOLENT using altogether too much routine procedure
     such as asking for signal strength repeatedly. Total results of nights
     venture not very impressive.

1000 APR contact 160 mcs. See section M.
1200 Position Lat. 3 08 N, Long. 105 12 E.
2120 Rendezvous with LOGGERHEAD (S.C. #4), received mail and at
2150 Commenced return to patrol line.

1 July
0419 SJ out of commission.
0650 Exchanged visual recognition signals with BLUEFISH.
0755 SJ back in commission.
0803 Dive to spend day in routine work and to conserve fuel.

- 7 -

— page 87 —
CONFIDENTIAL

1200 Position Lat. 4 53 N, Long. 103 59 E.
2038 Surfaced and commenced patrol around Pulo Tenggol.
2236 Sighted white light just to northward of island and c/c to investigate.
2250 SJ contact on three pips at 19,000 yards 293 degrees T putting targets
     between us and island. Commenced tracking at the same time closing
     range inasmuch as pips are very small. Tracked and then
     ran into a blind wall. TDC and plot checked targets on course 040 T
     speed 8 knots.
0350 All contacts disappeared at a range of about 9,000 yards. Closed to
     6,000 yards generated range and could not regain contact. The size
     of the pips did not increase in size as we closed the range so we are
     still at a loss as to the character of the contact. Continued search
     until

6 July
0015 Changed course to 135 T to take station in southern part of area and
     coordinate patrol with BLUEFISH.
1200 Position Lat. 3 04 N. Long. 105 15 E.
1445 Commenced submerged patrol.
1908 Sighted masts of two ships bearing 330 T range 5 - 6 miles (S.C. #4-5).
1910 Commenced approach but angle on the bow showed targets on course about
     170 degrees T. Identified targets as two sub-chasers.
1915 Targets changed course to right to 210 T so changed to parallel and wait
     for dark to make a surface approach in company with BLUEFISH. Target
     speed 9 knots, ships in column. We adjusted course and speed to keep
     them in sight.
2024 Surfaced and started trailing at two engine speed. Tops barely in
     sight through high scope. No radar contact.
2030 Sent contact report to BLUEFISH.
2150 With BLUEFISH on port bow range 3000 yards sent amplifying report and
     commenced attack.

- 8 -

— page 88 —
CONFIDENTIAL
2210 Targets changed course to put us astern so took position as trailer
     from a stern and coached BLUEFISH on. Range at this time 3100 yards.
     Target had more than zero angle on the bow,
     so did not think it advisable to show more than zero angle on the bow,
     and target is approaching suspected minefield or had
     around advisable at this time. At

2215 BLUEFISH appeared to go to radar depth, but he did not appear to be in
     position. Target either had a way through suspected minefield or had
     to change course to about 200 degrees T shortly. I believe this is
     what BLUEFISH also foresaw from his position, so at

2220 when range had opened to 5700 yards and we had a nice black background
     changed course to 200 T to make end around to a position on new track
     as if he came to it and also clear BLUEFISH. I am still a little
     skittish about minefield and BLUEFISH position makes it necessary to
     draw well to the southward. At

2328 received report that BLUEFISH attacking, and shortly thereafter "attack
     completed - results negative". Tracked BLUEFISH coming south about
     3 - 4 miles northwest of us, and then he turned in to attack again.
     This time we saw sparks fly from the direction of the targets and
     BLUEFISH reported sinking one.

9 July
0003 In position and getting set for attack as soon as BLUEFISH is clear.
     He came down on our starboard bow and when range was 4000 his angle on
     the bow zero at eighteen knots, he sent "am attacking" and did not
     change course. I wasn't too sure who he was attacking so got the hell
     out of there. At

0040 He changed course and I reversed to start attack as soon as he finished.

0050 Received attack completed and started in. Target on steady course 200
     at speed 9 knots. At

0110 fired three Mk 18's from forward on 110 port track with depth of two
     feet, range 3700 yards. No hits. First torpedo broached badly.

0115 Commenced pulling clear and directed BLUEFISH to come up on VHF for gun
     attack. Directed him to take station 1000 yards astern of me.
     Target is still on same course at same speed, at

0129 started in for gun attack. Closed target to 2500 yards and took
     position on bow with BLUEFISH on quarter of target - due to position
     of guns, and pointers could not see target. They finally picked him
     up and were ready to commence fire when at

0200 target must have sighted us for he turned tail and minefield or no he
     started over the hill. BLUEFISH gunners could not see him and as soon
     as he turned ours lost him so at

- 9 -

— page 89 —
CONFIDENTIAL
0225 secured the guns and decided to call it a night. Mainly in view of
      our indefinite position and the proximity of unhealthy ground to the
      west.
1100 Dive to take the day easy and conserve fuel while covering possible
      routes between Anamba Is. and Singapore.
1200 Position Lat. 3 40 N. Long. 105 13 E.
2059 Surfaced. Patrolled off Djemadja Island.

10 July
0734 Dive. Patrolling along routes between Anamba Is. and Singapore.
1200 Position Lat. 2 46 N, Long. 105 54 E.
2100 Surfaced and set course 210 T on two engines having decided to spend a few
      days inside of minefield in company with the BLUEFISH, to cover all
      possible traffic entering or leaving Singapore by the eastern approach.

11 July
0305 Exchanged recognition signals with BLUEFISH.
0630 Dive to conduct submerged patrol.
1200 Position Lat. 1 28 N, Long. 105 00 E.
2120 Surfaced, obtained approximate position from night horizon sights and
      exchanged information with BLUEFISH.

- 10 -

— page 90 —
CONFIDENTIAL
2226 SJ contact 105 T range 11000 yards (S.C. #6) Commenced tracking and
     found target on steady course 210 T at about 5 knots. Thought at first
     we had a sailboat but pip was large, strong and steady. From the
     position course and speed it appeared that the ship was on course and
     speed calculated to reach the light at Lat. 01 17 N, Long. 104 25 E at
     daybreak so sent contact report to BLUEFISH and commenced attack at

2311 having worked around to southeast of target for improved background,
     sighted target at about 7,500 yards and it appeared to be either a
     large escort or medium AK, a sizeable ship, so at

2323 Fired three Mk 18's, depth 3 feet, sea flat calm, on a 100 port track.
     First two torpedoes leapt clear of the water and chased each other off
     in a direction not that of the target. Porpoising merrily as they went.
     After firing closed range to 2700 yards and could not make out target
     details clearly, but at one instant I thought I saw a sail, and I'm
     afraid it might be a sailboat. If he was he is the grand daddy of them
     all. So with that thought in mind and our torpedo performance on the
     last two attacks, decided against any more torpedoes and definitely
     against a gun attack lest we disclose our position to more valuable prey.

2345 Commenced return to our patrol line when we picked up BLUEFISH range
     10,000 yards bearing 070 T and at the same time received a contact report
     from him. Changed course to 080 T and went to flank speed tracking
     BLUEFISH who appeared to be on course 075 T speed 18 knots. At

2355 received negative contact from BLUEFISH.

12 July

0015 Commenced reforming patrol line which by this time was well scattered
     over the ocean. I am not very happy about the navigational set-up and
     the Navigator is alternating between prying to that sometimes fickle
     God D&I and shaking its positions to the chart.

0300 Received CFF 71 serial 77 and set course 045 T to patrol along approved
     Singapore - Hong Kong trade route while standing westward to join CHARR
     to whose wolf pack we had been ordered.

0810 Radar picked up Pulo Repon and we have cleared the minefields.
     Praised be the DR&I. At

0824 submerged to conduct patrol in accordance with instructions from the
     CHARR.

1200 Position Lat. 2 15 N, Long. 105 35 E.

1700 SD contact eight miles closing. Dive. (A.C. #9). Unidentified.

- 11 -

— page 91 —
CONFIDENTIAL

1713 Surfaced and continued our run.

13 July

0045 Received patrol instructions from CH.RR and commenced patrol along
     Singapore - Hong Kong trade lane.

0655 Dive to conduct submerged patrol.

1200 Position Lat. 3 37 N, Lon . 108 35 E.

2045 Making preparations to surface when I got an SJ contact bearing 120 T
     range 5700 yards. Manned battle stations. Target on course 010 T speed
     13.5. Oh boy! What a set-up, if I was only sure it wasn't the BLUEFISH
     or other of our friends. Sighted target at 4000 yards in periscope
     and sat there watching an American submarine go by on a ninety track
     straight bow shot at 900 yards. It was a dream.

2115 Came to SJ depth and got interference on bearing of target. Exchanged
     recognition signals with BLUEFISH.

2116 Surfaced.

14 July

0030 Received CTF 71 serial KING.

0705 Submerged.

1200 Position Lat. 5 21 N, Lon . 109 32 E.

2021 Surfaced.

2346 SJ contact 105 T range 11,000 yards. Commenced tracking and sent contact
     report to BLUEFISH, CHARR and HAMMERHEAD. (S.C. #7).

- 12 -

— page 92 —
CONFIDENTIAL
15 July

Another beautiful set-up, our target is zig-zagging from 070 to 000
at 14 knots, on five minute legs. Went to four engines to pull
ahead and close range when at

0030 APR contact on 150 megacycles from direction of the target. He was
sweeping, so decided to pull up ahead and dive. Sent amplyfying report
to rest of pack and set out for position, target still tracking
beautifully.

0205 In position between prospective legs of target's zig plan and
submerged to ST depth, target still tracking nicely. He is now on his
000 leg and should zig shortly. Ha ! Can see him now, looks like a
large submarine. Using ST ranges and periscope bearings.when at

0208 target zigged to 070. In my excitement I had gotten a little closer
to his track than planned but still have him cold. So at

0211 : with target on 070 speed 14 knots, ourselves on a 45 port track, torpedo
run of 1000 yards started shooting. I was using a pretty good spread
on six torpedoes to make sure and a depth setting of six feet. As
the fourth torpedo was leavin the tube at

0211:30 target changed course sharply to his left presenting a starboard angle
on the _bow_, but still confident as we had spread from right to _left_ and
he had turned right into the _first two_, checked fire and at

0212 instead of the blinding flash expected, heard only a sickly thump
followed shortly after by another thump both loud enough to be heard
throughout the boat. The _first two_ had hit - DUDS. Knowing the nasty
habit of Nip subs of firing down tracks started down temporarily while
getting stern tubes ready, when at

0214 target screws stopped followed by what sounded like a rush of air and
crunching noises. A half spoken cheer stuck in our throats when we
came back up we heard the screws start again and three loud, close
explosions (DCDI showed ABOVE - FORT - FORWARD) shook the boat as we
started firing stern tubes at

0216 Things are getting a little too much for me. Sound reports that they are
the same screws as before but light fast ones this time after
torpedo room reports that #9 door wont close, and with the three
explosions weren't end of run explosions, for I decided to go deep and take stock
of the situation. Those
two torpedoes to the target and the second two sound had tracked first
would be on our starboard bow having swung left to fire stern tubes.
from the forward nest :
At this point about

0225 screws are really churning around and not making much effort to clear
area. Then at

- 13 -

— page 93 —
CONFIDENTIAL
0245 started to become fainter so at
0300 came back up - spent with ST and at
0315 surfaced and sent a doubtful attack result and started up track when
        when at
0401 received BLUEFISH contact report and changed course to keep clear
        of him, as he followed with attacking message.
0415 Saw a terrific explosion over the horizon in the direction of the target
        followed shortly by report from BLUEFISH that he had sunk one submarine.
        A bright glow persisted on the horizon for about a half-hour.

        There is no doubt that it was an I-Class submarine. It was plainly
        visible in the periscope when we started shooting, but there are a lot
        of things about which I am in doubt ie, what happened to our torpedoes
        the two which hit had runs of 1000 and 850 yards respectively; why were
        the three explosions? Aircraft bombs? They weren't depth charges!
        Why did target stop? Oh hell, he is on the bottom now which is the
        object of the whole affair --- We're getting to be a good third base-
        man on the BLUEFISH team.

0445 Set course 210 to proceed to new area and commenced reloads in
        both nests.

0450 After torpedo room reports #9 muzzle door closed, further inspection
        of the tube showed a slight searing of the upper rough surface of the
        tube when #7 tube was opened the torpedo was still in the tube. The
        torpedo was pulled and a slight scar was noted on the muzzle door
        deflection plate. The torpedo showed a slight dent in the war head
        and two small dents in the afterbody. The torpedo was placed in the
        racks and the exploder removed.

        #10 tube showed that the buffer plate had been mashed - presumably by
        the weight of the torpedo dropping back against it. This torpedo also
        was removed and placed in the racks with the exploder removed.

        From an investigation it appears that the impulse pressure had not been
        built up properly in the after tubes and as the tubes were fired the
        torpedoes moved forward tripping the starting levers causing them to
        run until the over speed link cut. It is believed that no permanent
        or irreparable damage resulted, but #10 tube is out of commission and
        the two torpedoes are immobilized.

0525 Reload completed.

1200 Position Lat 04 00 N, Long. 109 07 E.

1350 Sighted B-24 (A.C. #10) distance 5 miles. Exchanged VHF calls.

- 14 -

— page 94 —
CONFIDENTIAL
0245 started to become fainter so at
0300 came back up - spent with ST and at
0315 surfaced and sent a doubtful attack result and started up track when
       then at
0401 received BLUEFISH contact report and changed course to keep clear
       of him, as he followed with attacking message.

0415 Saw a terrific explosion over the horizon in the direction of the target
       followed shortly by report from BLUEFISH that he had sunk one submarine.
       A bright glow persisted on the horizon for about a half-hour.

       There is no doubt that it was an I-Class submarine. It was plainly
       visible in the periscope when we started shooting, but there are a lot
       of things about which I am in doubt ie, what happened to our torpedoes
       the two which hit had runs of 1000 and 850 yards respectively; what were
       the three explosions? Aircraft bombs? They weren't depth charges!
       Why did target stop ? Oh hell, he is on the bottom now which is the
       object of the whole affair --- We're getting to be a good third base-
       man on the BLUEFISH team.

0445 Set course 210 to proceed to new area and commenced reloads in
       both nests.

0450 After torpedo room reports #9 muzzle door closed, further inspection
       of the tube showed a slight searing of the upper rough surface of the
       tube when #7 tube was opened the torpedo was still in the tube. The
       torpedo was pulled and a slight scar was noted on the muzzle door
       deflection plate. The torpedo showed a slight dent in the war head
       and two small dents in the afterbody. The torpedo was placed in the
       racks and the exploder removed.

       #10 tube showed that the buffer plate had been mashed - presumably by
       the weight of the torpedo dropping back against it. This torpedo also
       was removed and placed in the racks with the exploder removed.

       From an investigation it appears that the impulse pressure had not been
       built up properly in the after tubes and as the tubes were fired the
       torpedoes moved forward tripping the starting levers causing them to
       run until the over speed link cut. It is believed that no permanent
       irreparable damage resulted, but #10 tube is out of commission and
       two torpedoes are immobilized.

0525 Reload completed.

1200 Position Lat 04 00 N, Long. 109 07 E.

1350 Sighted B-24 (A.C. #10) distance 5 miles. Exchanged VHF calls.

- 14 -

— page 95 —
- 15 -
CONFIDENTIAL
2300 Received CTF 71 serial Nine Five.
16 July
0305 SJ contact on aircraft at 35,000 yards. (A.C. #11).
0730 Dive for trim.
0740 Surface.
1200 Position Lat. 00 17 S, Long. 108 04 E.
1215 SD out of commission.
2053 Commenced transit of Karimata Strait.
2215 Set course 145 T to enter new area.
2325 SD back in commission.
17 July
Entered area E5 heading for north coast of Java to take a look at
possible anchorages east of Batavia.
1200 Position Lat. 4 42 S, Long. 109 23 E.
1817 Sighted large sailboat and changed course to investigate.
1900 Boarded sailboat and found only one small basket of rice aboard. No
cargo. Sent sailboat on his way. He gave his destination as Semarang,
so headed to northward until out of sight and then headed for Boompjes
Island.
18 July
Patrolling on east-ward line between Boompjes Is. and Tg. Indramajae to
cover all traffic between Batavia and eastern points.
0700 Dive patrolling off 10 fathom curve to cover any traffic between island
and main land.
1200 Position Lat 6 055 S, Long. 108 28 E.
2045 Surfaced and continued patrol on surface. This looks like a good spot
from past contacts and it is a good spot for an attack inasmuch as 10
fathom curve rests close to the coast at this point.
2137 Sighted ship 255 T about 8000 yards (S.C. #8).

- 15 -

— page 96 —
CONFIDENTIAL

2143 SJ made contact at 5500 yards, commenced tracking because it didn't
     look like a sailboat. The silhouette was long and low with a box in
     the center, so changed course to 060 T to open range. Plotting party
     gets target on easterly course speed about 2 - 3 knots. It may be a
     sailboat at that, but continued tracking with same results. So thought
     it must be a sailboat and continued patrolling line. We had last sight
     of the target from the bridge at

2156 so patrolling merrily when plot and TDC report target turned toward and
     speeded up. Six knots - nine knots - twelve knots - and I turned away
     at

2207 and went to four engines. That ain't no sailboat. Target now making
     fourteen knots, range 6,000 yards. I'm not too sure at this point
     just who is the target, so proceeded to clear out to north-eastward.
     Then the commotion quieted (my heart pounding) took stock of the
     situation. It is a nice bright moonlight night, and he was cruising
     along at about 2 - 3 knots listening. It was not until we resumed
     our patrol that he saw or heard us and then I believe he lost us about

2225 for he changed course to 330. I believe it was a PC out on patrol
     looking for us. So pulled up and headed back into the slot planning
     on arriving in the area about moonset, and make further investigation.
     It may be a British boat but I don't think a submarine would patrol at
     3 knots.

19 July

0104 Resumed patrol. No further contacts.

0715 Dive to conduct submerged patrol; closing 10 fathom curve.

1200 Position Lat. 6 055 S, Long. 108 24 E.

1518 Sighted large cloud of black smoke off mainland bearing 205 T and
     changed course to close. At

1520 smoke disappeared and investigation of coast showed nothing.

2045 Surfaced and headed to seaward to convert #3 and #5 fuel ballast tanks.

20 July

0025 Completed conversion and started back for patrol line.

0114 Dive.

0121 Surface.

0257 Sighted ship on horizon bearing 260 T range 7000 yards. It is our friend.
     The moon is too bright and we are too far for a submerged approach and it
     may be a friendly s/m, so pulled clear till moonset and then headed back
     to patrol line. No further contact.

— page 97 —
CONFIDENTIAL

0700          Dive for submerged patrol.
1200          Position Lat. 6 08 S, Long. 108 30 E.
1230          Closed Boompie Is. but no signs of life, so commenced closing coast.
1630          Sighted plane (A.C. #12) "SLIM" patrolling across our line. Looks
              like someone knows we're here.
2030          Surfaced and set course 330 for general direction of North Matcher.
2045          SJ contact 325 T distant 10,350 yards. (S.C. #9). Commenced tracking.
              Plot showed target on course 310 slowly picking up in speed from zero to 5
              knots. Upon investigating both bridge crew and radar say that target
              suddenly appeared, so I believe it is a friendly submarine - a
              submarine at any rate and decided to keep clear, and started an and
              sound at three engine speed, sending request for positions to BAYA
              and LIZARDFISH.
2110          Received reply from BAYA but nothing from LIZARDFISH.
2320          Tried again to locate LIZARDFISH. No results.

21 July

              So starts one day which I vote be stricken from the Calendar. For at
0030          Port lookout reports ship bearing 191 T distance 6000 yards, it looks
              like a submarine (S.C. #10). This could be our friend of earlier in
              the evening, so turned away then at
0032          SJ reports interference all around the dial and contact at 000 T range
              10,300 yards. IS.C. #11) and range to target previously sighted 6500
              yards. Who is making the interference? At
0034          resumed original course when at
0035          O.O.D. reports two ships dead ahead range 10,000 yards (S.C. #12)
              "We're surrounded. Put TDC on one target, one plotting party on another
              target and a second on the group ahead. Results show target to south-
              ward on course 260 speed 12, one to northward 145 speed 13, one ahead
              150 speed 5. I believe those ahead are sailboats, so on that assumption,
              changed course to 330 and headed out at four engines. Slowly we lost
              the targets. Finally at
0112          centered SJ interference in northern target, by
0130          we cleared the scramble and settled down to run between Thousand Islands
              and Etna Island to North Matcher. There come the sailboats. It seemed
              like there were millions of them. The PPI looks like it has measles,
              with land, sailboats and rain squalls. Oh yes! about now the moon

- 17 -

— page 98 —
CONFIDENTIAL

disappears and it is one of those solid nights with little black clouds
astride blacker waves with zero angle on the bow and a twenty knot bow
wave. Sailboats to port, sailboats to starboard and islands rampant,
they all look alike, clouds, waves, sailboats and islands and were in
eleven fathoms of water. Classic encounter of the evening - "Radar
contact 295 rel. range 1750 yards. OOD - "Radar
tracking party man
deep in hair trying to determine our position between jumps to bridge.
finally at

0545 we are clear. Ha! Ha! Really nothing to it. Lovely night isn't it?

0730 Changed course to 180 and submerged to conduct a submerged patrol off
Northern entrance to Sunda Strait between Sumatra and Thousand Islands.

1200 Position Lat 5 42 S, Long. 106 07 E.

2045 Surfaced.

2046 Here we go again! Sighted ship, possibly sailboat (S.C. #13) bearing
210 T distant 5,000 yards. I had not been able to see him in the
periscope, had no contact on ST prior to surfacing, but picked him
up simultaneously on SJ and visually as soon as we surfaced. Commenced
pulling clear.

2048 He turned a searchlight on us and I dove. Rigged for depth charge and
went deep, 70 feet. Sound could hear nothing so at

2136 Secured from depth charge and surfaced.

2137 SJ contact 044 T range 5750 yards. Changed course to 220 at four
engines. (S.C. #14).

2139 SJ reports interference all around the dial.

2140 SJ contact 140 range 10,300 yards. Commenced tracking both targets,
both of which now look like submarines. TDC and plot each report
respective targets present zero angle on the bow speed 12 knots. Went
ahead "Frantic" to get out of the light and they changed course
accordingly to keep zero angles. SJ reports that SJ interference is
coming from ship on our port hand. Attempt to challenge but no reply.
At least we have an idea that he may be friendly and that 0-21 SJ
should be here when at

2155 ship on our starboard hand flashed the correct recognition signal, we
answered and he turned away. In the meantime the other had drawn well
aft and we are clear. I drew a deep breath to find that I had been
holding it for some time. At

2205 set course for Sunda entrance. I had planned to patrol here until early
morning and then transit but the place appears to be over populated now,
so at

- 18 -

— page 99 —
CONFIDENTIAL
2230 submerged to transit northern passage on course 230 T.

22 July

0020 Making a rather uneventful passage at periscope depth using ST ranges
    and periscope bearings for navigation with about a 3 knots current astern.

0020 Surfaced and proceeded on through Strait at three engine speed. The
    Northern passage is clear.

0450 Cleared Sunda Strait and set course to patrol five miles off the
    southern coast of Java.

1200 Position Lat. 7 23 S, Long. 106 02 E.

2130 APR and SD out of commission.

2210 SD back in commission.

2340 APR back in commission.

23 July

0806 Dive for trim.

0822 Surfaced. Steering courses to patrol five miles off the coast at
    three engine speed.

1030 O.O.D. sighted two people running along beach.

1200 Position Lat 8 18 S, Long. 111 05 E.

1345 Executive Officer remarked, "Well, the only thing we need to make the
    patrol complete is to get bombed.

1400 Sighted air craft (Betty) (A.C. #13) range 8000 yards. Two bombs, not
    very close.

1605 Surfaced and continued patrol. All along the coast as we came in sight
    a fire would start in the hills along the coast. Looking back we
    could see a regularly spaced line of smoke columns. This may be a
    coincidence, but it is getting rather monotonous.

2025 APR contact 200 megacycles 1000/7 in all probability air-borne.
    This radar is on our starboard quarter which puts him south of the
    mainland.

2105 APR contact has moved up ahead of us and is going from starboard to
    port bow, a little stronger but not much, sweeping every 6 - 8 minutes.

- 19 -

— page 100 —
CONFIDENTIAL
2155 APR contact faded and then came in stronger again on starboard quarter.
     He is apparently looking for us, and with this bright moon I don't see
     how he missed us on his last sweep. Contact moves from starboard
     quarter to dead astern which is the approximate position in which we
     drove this afternoon.

2345 Our original APR contact is joined now by a friend on 155 megacycle
     500/3, he also is astern and to starboard moving slowly to port.

24 July

0310 APR contacts finally faded.

0440 Left the South Java coast and headed for point FLAG.

0500 Sent BLOWER third. This transmission was amazing. Four minutes after
     first touch of the key, message was receipted for.

0830 Changed course to 170 to enter joint zone.

1200 Position Lat. 11 00 S, Long. 115 06 E.

1400 SD contact 14 miles unidentified, but IFF indicated friendly nature.
     Did not close (A.C. 4).

25 July

0500 Sent BLOWER fourth to CTF 71.

1200 Position Lat. 17 09 S, Long. 113 52 E.

26 July

1200 Position Lat. 23 15 S, Long. 112 44 E.

2215 Exchanged recognition signals with two British Submarines.

27 July

1200 Position Lat. 28 55 S, Long. 113 16 E.

28 July

0530 Sighted Rottnest Light.

0640 Entered swept channel and exchanged signals with Port War Signal Station.

1102 Moored Berth 5, North Wharf, Fremantle, W.A.

- 20 -

— page 101 —
CONFIDENTIAL
C. WEATHER
    Weather was excellent during entire patrol. No unusual weather
conditions were experienced.

D. TIDAL INFORMATION.
    Tides and currents were as given in Sailing Directions and Pilot
Charts. In the transit of the narrow portion of Sunda Strait during the ebb, a
current of three knots, direction 215 T, was experienced.

E. NAVIGATIONAL AIDS.
    No lights were observed to be burning.

F. SHIP CONTACTS.
No. | Time | Lat. | Type | Initial | Est. Course | How Con- | Remarks
    | Date | Long. | | Range | Speed | tacted |
1 | 1300 | 14 44 N | D.E. | | | | Escort
    | 22 June | 119 18 E | | | | |
2 | 2235 | 05 04 N | S/M BLUFISH | | | | Rendezvous
    | 30 June | 104 10 E | | | | |
3 | 0300 | 4 41 N | UNK. | 18000 | Target dead | SJ | Fired Torp.
    | 5 July | 104 08 E | | | in water | | 2,0464 #7 tube
    | | | | | | | | No hit.
4 | 2120 | 3 55 N | S/M LOCKHEED | | | | Sighted | 2 approaches
    | 6 July | 105 40 E | | | | | | Fired 3 fish
5 | 1908 | 2 39 N | 2 - SC | 5 M. | 170 | SJ | Fired 3 fish
    | 8 July | 105 35 E | | | 9 kts | | No Hits
6 | 2226 | 1 28 N | UNK | 8300 | 215 | SJ | Fired 3 fish
    | 11 July | 104 58 E | | | 3 kts | | No Hits.
7 | 2346 | 5 36 N | Jap.S/M | 11,000 | 035 | SJ | Fired 6 fish
    | 14 July | 109 37 E | | | 13 kts | | No Hits.
8 | 2137 | 6 06 S | ESC. | 9,000 | 025 | Sighted | Tracked
    | 18 July | 108 20 E | | | 13 kts | |
9 | 2045 | 5 50 S | UNK. | 11,500 | Not | SJ |
    | 20 July | 108 16 E | | | Tracked | |
10 | 0030 | 5 34 S | UNK. | 6,000 | | Sighted |
    | 21 July | 106 06 E | | | | |
11 | 0032 | 5 34 S | S/M | 6,700 | | Visual |
    | 21 July | 106 06 E | | | | |
12 | 0035 | 5 34 S | | 6700 | | Radar |
    | 21 July | 106 06 E UNK | | | | |

- 21 -

— page 102 —
CONFIDENTIAL

F. SHIP CONTACTS (Cont'd).
No. | Time | Lat. | Type | Initial | Est.Course | How Con- | Remarks
    | Date | Long. |      | Range   | Speed     | tacted   |
----|------|-------|------||||
13  | 2046 | 5 33 S | UNK. | 5,000   |           | Sighted  | Signaled us.
    | 21 July | 106 03 E |      |         |           |          |
14  | 2137 | 5 33 S | S/M  | 5750    |           | Radar    |
    | 21 July | 106 03 E |      |         |           |          |
15  | 2140 | 5 33 S | S/M  | 10,300  |           | SJ       |
    | 21 July | 106 03 E |      |         |           |          |

- 22 -

— page 103 —
CONFIDENTIAL
G. AIRCRAFT CONTACTS.

CONTACT NUMBER | 1          | 2          | 3          | 4          | 5
Date           | 25 June    | 27 June    | 30 June    | 30 June    | 30 June
S Time(Zone)   | 1455       | 1250       | 1037       | 1201       | 1210
U Position: Lat.| 12 04 N    | 6 52 5 N   | 4 24 N     | 4 24 N     | 4 24 N
B Long.        | 112 19 E   | 106 49 E   | 103 55 E   | 103 55 E   | 103 55 E
M SPEED        | 13         | 13         | 13         | 13         | 13
A COURSE       | 225        | 230        | 245        | 000        | 000
R TRIM         | SURF       | SURF       | SURF       | SURF       | SURF
I MIN. SINCE L.ST| Continuous | Continuous | 1 min      | 1 min      | 1 min
N SD RADAR SEARCH| Search     | Search     |            |            |

Number         | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1          | 2
Type           | U.K.       | Privateer  | U.K.       | PB4Y-2     | U.K.
A Probable Mission|            |            |            |            | Rescue
I How Contacted| SD         | Sight      | SD         | SD         | Sight
R Initial Range| 12 Mi.     | 8 Mi.      | 12 Mi.     | 30 Mi.     | 30 Mi.
C Elevation Angle|            | 3          |            |            | 2
R Range & Bearing|            |            |            |            |
A Bearing of Plane|            |            |            |            |
F When it Detected|            |            |            |            |
T Submarine    |            |            |            |            |

(State(Beaufort))| 4          | 1          | 1          | 1          | 1
Sea:
C (Direction Rel))| 21 pts     | 21 pts     | 22 pts     | 20 pts     | 20 pts
O Visibility (Miles)| 8 mi.      | 8 mi.      | 8 mi.      | 8 mi.      | 8 mi.
N (Height in Ft.)| 6500       | 6500       | 7500       | 7500       | 8000
D Clouds:
I (Percent Overcast)| 100        | 40         | 50         | 50         | 70
T (Bearing (Rel))
I Moon:(Angle)
O (Percent Illum.)
N

Type of S/L Camouflage on this patrol - Gray.

- 23 -

— page 104 —
CONFIDENTIAL
CONTACT NUMBER

| | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 30 June | 1 July | 4 July | 12 July | 14 July |
| S Time (Zone) | 1304 | 1215 | 1235 | 1700 | 1350 |
| U Position: Lat. | 4 24 N | 4 32 N | 4 35 N | 2 31 N | 4 00 N |
| B Long. | 103 55 E | 103 43 E | 103 38 E | 106 05 E | 109 07 E |
| I Speed | 13 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 13 |
| I Course | 235 | 090 | 110 | 030 | 095 |
| R Trim | SURF | SURF | SURF | SURF | SURF |
| I Min. Since | 1 Min. | 2 Min. | 2 Min. | 2 Min. | 2 Min. |
| N Last SD | | | | | |
| E radar search | Number | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Type | Liberator | Privateer | Dinch | UNK | B-24 |
| A Prob. Mission | Search | Search | Recon | Search | Search |
| I How Contacted | Sight | SD | Sight | SD | Sight |
| R Initial Range | 14 Mi. | 14 Mi. | 4 Mi. | 8 Mi. | 5 Mi. |
| C Elevation Angle | 2 | 5 | 60 | | |
| R Range & Relative | | | | | |
| A Bearing of Plane | | | | | |
| F When it detected | | | | | |
| T Submarine. | (State(Beaufort) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Sea: | | | | | |
| C (Direction Rel.) | 20 | 13 | 1 | 20 | 13 |
| O Visibility (Miles) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| N (Height in Ft.) | 8000 | 6000 | 5000 | 6000 | 7000 |
| D Clouds: | | | | | |
| I (% Overcast) | 70 | 70 | 90 | 40 | 20 |
| T (Bearing (Rel)) | | | | | [HANDWRITTEN: Exchanged Calls on V.H.F.] |
| I Moon: (Angle) | | | | | |
| O (Percent Illum) | | | | | |

Type of S/M Camouflage on this patrol - Gray.

- 24 -

— page 105 —
CONFIDENTIAL
CONTACT NUMBER

| | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 16 July | 20 July | 23 July | 24 July |
| S Time (Zone) | 0305 | 1630 | 1400 | 1400 |
| U Position: Lat. | 0 50 N | 6 08 S | 8 18 S | 11 33 S |
| B             Long. | 108 04 E | 108 30 E | 111 05 E | 115 11 E |
| H Speed | 15 | 2 | 16 | 17.5 |
| A Course | 210 | 190 | 105 | 190 |
| R Trim | SURF | SUB | SURF | SURF |
| I Min. Since | 2 Min. | 1 Min | | 2 Min. |
| N Last SD | | | | |
| E Radar Search | Number | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| A Type | UNK. | SLIM | BETTY | UNK. |
| I Prob. Mission | | A/S Pat. | A/S Pat. | |
| R How Contacted | SJ | Peris. | Sight | SD |
| C Initial Range | 17 Mi. | 5 Mi. | 4 Mi. | 14 Mi. |
|   Elevation Angle | | | 2 | |
|   Range & Relative | | 5 | 5 | |
| F Bearing of Plane | | | | |
| T When it detected | | | | |
|   Submarine. | C Sea: (State(Beaufort) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| O          (Direction Rel.) | 14 | | 13 | |
| N Visibility (Miles) | 8 | UNL. | 8 | UNL. |
| D          (Height in Ft.) | 7000 | | 7000 | |
| I Clouds: | | | | |
| T          (% Overcast) | 50 | | 20 | |
| I          (Bearing (Rel)) | | | | |
| O Moon: (Angle) | | | | |
| N          (Percent Illum) | Type of S/M Camouflage on this patrol - Gray. | - 25 - |

— page 106 —
CONFIDENTIAL
U.S.S. BLOWER
TIME 0400

TORPEDO ATTACK NO. 1
R.T.R.L. NO. 3
DATE 5 JULY 1945
LAT. 4 45 N, LONG. 103 43 E.
DESCRIPTION: Tracked at night at very slow speed and finally believed to anchore.
Torpedo was fired at a range of 5800 yards with a visibility of about
four thousand yards. The target therefore was never sighted and
remained unidentified.

SHIPS SUNK NONE
SHIPS DAMAGED OR PROB.BLY SUNK NONE
TARGET DRIFT - UNKNOWN COURSE - ANCHORED SPEED - ZERO RANGE - 5800 YARDS

OWN SHIP DATA

SPEED - 5 KTS. COURSE - 130 DEPTH - SURFACE ANGLE - ZERO

FIRE CONTROL AND TORPEDO DATA

TYPE ATTACK: Night surface attack using zero gyro angle and firing on true
bearing of target. Used MK 14-3 in low power.

TUBE FIRED - #7 GYRO ANGLE - 000 (180) DEPTH SET - 6 Ft. PER - LOW
TORPEDO MISSED ERRATIC - NO MARK TORPEDO - 14-3A SERIAL NO. - 40464
MK. EXPLODER - 6 Mod. 5 SERIAL NO. - 25328 ACTUATION SET - CONTACT
MK. WARHEAD - 16 Mod 1 SERIAL NO. - 11290 EXPLOSIVE - TORPEX
TYPE SPREAD - NONE SEA CONDITIONS - FORCE 2 OVERHAUL ACTIVITY - USS ANTHEDON
TORPEDO RUN - 5800 YARDS.
REMARKS: Normal dispersion of torpedo or shallow draft of target may have
accounted for miss.

- 26 -

— page 107 —
CONFIDENTIAL
U.S.S. BLUEFISH TORPEDO ATTACK NO. 2 - 2a PATROL NO. 3
TIME 0110 DATE 9 JULY 1945 LAT. 2 05 N, LONG. 105 00 E

TARGET DATA
DESCRIPTION: Two escort vessels of about 150 feet length and 300 tons, in
column on course 200, speed 9 knots. One was sunk by BLUEFISH
just prior to our attack.

SHIPS SUNK NONE
SHIPS DAMAGED OR PROBABLY DAMAGED NONE
TARGET DRAFT - 5 FEET COURSE 200 SPEED 9 RANGE - 2550 YARDS.

OWN SHIP DATA
SPEED - 11 KTS. COURSE - 264 DEPTH - SURFACE ANGLE - ZERO

FIRE CONTROL AND TORPEDO DATA
TYPE ATTACK Night surface attack using SA bearings and ranges. Targets tracked
on steady course at a steady speed. Visibility was not suitable for TBT bearings
and radar range and bearing applied to each torpedo. On first attack targets
turned away and no torpedoes were fired.

- 27 -

— page 108 —
CONFIDENTIAL
#2 - #2a

TUBES FIRED
TR.CK. ANGLE             120 P        120 P        120 P
GYRO ANGLE               16 Left      15 Left      14 Left
DEPTH SET                2 Feet       2 Feet       2 Feet
F.O.R.                   29.6 Knots   29.6 Knots   29.6 Knots
HIT OR MISS              Miss         Miss         Miss
ERRATIC                  Yes          No           No
MARK TORPEDO             18-1         18-2         18-2
SERIAL NO.               55223        57273        57557
FUZE EXPLODER            4-7          8-5          4-7
SERIAL NO.               16911        11512        16406
ACTUATION SET            Contact      Contact      Contact
MARK WARHEAD             18           18-2         18
SERIAL NO.               683          5141         1252
EXPLOSIVE                Torpex       Torpex       Torpex
FIRING INTERVAL                       8 Sec.       8 Sec.
TYPE SPREAD              1/4 R.       0            1/4 L
SEA CONDITIONS           2            2            2
OVERHAUL ACTIVITY                     U.S.S. ANTHEDON
TORPEDO RUN              2560         2550         2540

REMARKS:
The target had been alerted by the sinking of her companion.
The first torpedo broached through the length of its run. It is
believed that target avoided other torpedoes when alerted further
by broaching torpedo. The injection and temperature of electrolyte
was 86 degrees.

- 28 -

— page 109 —
CONFIDENTIAL
U.S.S. ELOER
TIME 2323
TORPEDO ATTACK NO. 3 PATROL NO. 3
DATE 11 JULY 1945 L.T. 1 2S N, LONG. 104 58 E.

TARGET DATA - DAMAGE INFLICTED
DESCRIPTION: Single unidentified ship which showed large silhouette at 7500 yards
on a dark night. Believed large escort or small AK.
SHIPS SUNK NONE
SHIPS DAMAGED OR PROBABLY SUNK NONE
TARGET DR.FT 6 Feet COURSE 215 SPEED - 5 Knots
ON SHIP DATA
SPEED - 5 Knots COURSE - 348 DEPTH - SURFACE ANGLE - ZERO
FIRE CONTROL AND TORPEDO DATA

TYPE ATTACK
The attack was a night surface attack using radar ranges and TBT
bearings. Radar range and TBT bearing were cranked into the TDC prior to
firing each torpedo.

- 29 -

— page 110 —
CONFIDENTIAL                                        ATTACK NO. 3
                                                    #4        #5        #6
TUBES FIRED                                         |         |         |
TRACK ANGLE                                         | 45 P    | 45 P    | 45 P
T.D. ANGLE                                          | 4 L     | 5 L     | 6 L
DEPTH SET                                           | 3 Ft.   | 3 Ft.   | 3 Ft.
POWER                                               | 29.6    | 29.6    | 29.6
HIT OR MISS                                         | Miss    | Miss    | Miss
ERRATIC                                             | Yes     | Yes     | No
MARK TORPEDO                                        | 18-2    | 18-2    | 18-2
SERIAL NO.                                          | 99773   | 57527   | 57569
MARK EXPLODER                                       | 8-7     | 4-7     | 4-7
SERIAL NO.                                          | 16278   | 16270   | 16623
ACTUATION SET                                       | Contact | Contact | Contact
MARK WARHEAD                                        | 18-2    | 18      | 18
SERIAL NO.                                          | 6078    | 873     | 636
EXPLOSIVE                                           | Torpex  | Torpex  | Torpex
FIRING INTERVAL                                     |         | 8 Sec.  | 8 Sec.
TYPE SPREAD                                         | 1 R     | 0       | 1 L
L.M. CONDITIONS                                     | 1       | 1       | 1
OVERHAUL ACTIVITY                                   | U.S.S. ANTELEDON
TORPEDO RUN                                         | 3350    | 3300    | 3250

REMARKS:
The first two torpedoes leapt clear of the water upon firing and
chased each other at an angle of about 30 degrees from desired track
porpoising until out of sight. Third probably missed ahead. The
temperature of both the injection and of the electrolyte was 87
degrees.

- 30 -

— page 111 —
CONFIDENTIAL
U.S.S. BLO ER
TIME 0216

TORPEDO ATT.CK NO. 4
DATE 15 JULY 1945 L.T. 5 30 N, LONG. 109 57 E

TARGET D.TA. AND D.MAGE INFLICTED
DESCRIPTION: The target, an Itea Class Ja anese submarine, steaming singly on the
surface on base course 035 at sp ed of 14 knots. Zig-zagging 35
degre.s each side of base course on five minute legs. Contact was
made by radar at a range of 12,000 yards, vis bility about seven
thousand yards.

SHIPS SUNK NONE
SHIPS D.MAGED OR PROB.BLY SUNK NONE
TARGET DRAFT - 14 Feet COURSE - 070 SPEED - 14 Knots R.NGE 1250 Yards

OWN SHIP D.TA.
SPEED - 4 KTS. COURSE - 220 DEPTH - 57 FEET ANGLE - ZERO

FIRE CONTROL AND TORPEDO D.TA.
TYPE ATT.CK Night submerged attack using ST ranges and periscope bearings.
Target had been tracked for two hours on su rface and zig-zag plan
was obtained. Took position between projected legs of zig plan
and dove. Fired bow tubes using two knot speed spread. At about
30 seconds after commen ed firing, target changed course sharply to
left presenting st rboard track. This turn threw him directly into
first two torpedoes which hit but did not explode. Commenced swinging
left to bring stern tubes to bear, put quick set up into TDC and was
standing by to fire when Assistant TDC commen ed firing.

- 31 -

— page 112 —
CONFIDENTIAL

        #1      #2      #3      #4      #8      #9
TUBES FIRED     35 P    44 P    54 P    65 P    165 S
TRACK ANGLE     4 L     15 L    25 L    35 L    0
DEPTH SET       6 Ft.   6 Ft    6 Ft    6 Ft    6 Ft    6 Ft
POWER           29.6    29.6    29.6    29.6    HI      HI
HIT OR MISS     HIT     HIT     MISS    MISS    MISS    MISS
ERRATIC         No      No      No      No      No      No
MARK TORPEDO    18-2    18-1    18-1    18-1    14-3A   14-3A
SERIAL NO.      57644   56693   54755   56889   63669   63650
MARK EXPLODER   8-5     4-7     4-7     8-7     6-5     6-5
SERIAL NO.      10912   16867   17330   16837   27014   19734
ACTUATION SET   Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact Contact
MARK WARHEAD    18-2    18      18      18-2    16-1    16-1
SERIAL NO.      1476    1211    1078    5172    13575   12675
EXPLOSIVE       Torpex  Torpex  Torpex  Torpex  Torpex  Torpex
FIRING INTERVAL         8 sec.  8 sec   8 sec   1' 58   8 sec.
TYPE SPREAD     4 R     2 1/2 R 1 R     1 L     0       0
SEA CONDITIONS  2       2       2       2       2       2
OVERHAUL ACTIVITY       U.S.S. ANTHEDON
TORPEDO RUN     1000    800     700     550     1150    1350

REMARKS: The spread was applied from right to left and the change of course of the
        target threw him into the first two torpedoes. Sound tracked first
        torpedo into the target and at the time for it to hit a loud thud was
        heard followed shortly by a second not so loud. These thuds were heard
        throughout the ship and shortly thereafter targets screws stopped.

        Stern left and went to 100 feet while readying stern tubes, and was on
        the back up when stern tubes started firing. Impulse pressure had not
        been built up sufficiently aft, as a result of which #8 was only torpedo
        to leave tube normally. #9 fell out when ship took up angle; #7 & #10
        ran in thin bubbles until overspeed trip stopped them. These were still
        in tubes after attack completed. The injection temperature and the
        temperature of the electrolyte was 86 degrees.

        - 32 -

— page 113 —
CONFIDENTIAL
I. MINES.
     No minefields or floating mines were encountered.

J. ANTI-SUBMARINE MEASURES AND EVASIVE TACTICS.
     Two aerial bombs were dropped off south Java Coast but were not close.
Plane was sighted approaching from stern and we dove to 150 feet.

K. MAJOR DEFECTS AND DAMAGE.
     HIGH PRESSURE AIR COMPRESSOR.
          The third stage discharge line of number two air compressor was
ruptured due to a leaky fourth stage suction valve and a sticky third stage
relief valve. Line was repaired by silver soldering and the compressor was
back in commission in five hours.

     PITCHOMETER LOG
          The pit log was a continued source of minor defects and out of
commission on several occasions. The main defective items were (1) A made-up
spring on contact lever of adjusting arm, furnished by tender. (2) Transtat
gearing was rubbing. (3) Sparking at commutator end of pump motor. Motor replaced
by sp re. (4) Transtat shorted by salt water. Replaced. (5) Rubber sleeving leaked.

L. RADIO
     No difficulty was experienced in copying HFT-1 during the patrol.
Jamming and interference was negligible. VIXO was received loud and clear when
in the Java Sea and south of the barrier.

     Ship to shore communication was limited to four messages being passed
without trouble as follows: Two to NPN Guam on 12705 Kcs., two to VIXO on 8470.

     Wolf pack communications were good with the exception of the night of
July 5-6 when great difficulty was experienced with the SOLENT. Successful
transmission and reception at 53 feet using the SD antenna was effected frequently.

     No radio material failures were experienced this patrol except the
burning out of the VHF dynamotor the first day out, which necessitated return
to port for replacement. SD radar interference in the RJL receivers has been very
bad.

M. RADAR.
     SJ radar operation was satisfactory with only minor failures. The
present magnetron was installed in January 1945 and has operated 1800 hours with
no appreciable change of frequency or output maintaining a tuned ring time of
5900 - 6000 yards.

- 33 -

— page 114 —
CONFIDENTIAL

ST radar was used when surfacing after sunset, during approaches and
for navigating Sunda Straits submerged. Its operation was reasonably good with
no failure. Ring time dropped, three days from port, from 2050 yards to 1750
yards. This drop did not appear to effect ranges. On previous patrols the ST
was so unstable that retuning was required nearly every day. During the patrol
it has been retuned three times. This is attributed to a 1/4", #12 gauge brace
soldered to the front of the left side of the beat oscillator box. This brace
partially prevents the B.O. tube being alternately pushed in and out of the wave
guide and varying tuning, as the ship vibrates. Typical ranges:--

DEPTH                 TARGET                 RANGE
58 Feet               U.S. Submarine         4500
58 Feet               Island (1000 ft)       23,000

SD radar operation was normal for 400 hours of keyed use. Several minor
failures were experienced.

The PR-SPM was manned continually at night with good operation. One
QB rectifier had to be replaced since it showed an open filament.

The IFF and Loran was used very little but appears to be in good
condition.

N SOUND GEAR AND SOUND CONDITIONS.

Sound conditions during this patrol were unsatisfactory due mainly to
water noise from shallow depths. The only difficulty experienced was the clutching
of the rotating collar to the shaft of the QB after rigging out.

- 34 -

— page 115 —
CONFIDENTIAL

DATE      POSITION   FREQ. PRF. P.W. SKETCH                               REMARKS
7/1/45    4 22 N     105   -    -    - -                                  Sweeping rapidly
          104 03 E

7/5/45    3 04 N     160   500  9    _|_                                  Sweeping - very definite
          105 08 E                                                         double pip
                                                                           9 micro-
                                                                           sec. over
                                                                           all

7/6/45    1 42 N     220   500  2.5  /\                                   Irregular sweeps of 1.5
          105 31 E                                                         secs. duration.

7/6/45    2 15 S     160   500  9    _|_ _|_

7/12/45   2 29 S     160   500  9    | | | |

7/15/45   5 18 S     150   1500 7    ~ ~                                  Sweeping
          109 38 E

7/23/45   9 46 S     200   1000 7    |_|                                  Sweeping, believed airborne
          112 31 E

7/23/45   9 01 S     155   500  3    |_|                                  Sweeping, believed airborne
          113 17 E

- 35 -

— page 116 —
CONFIDENTIAL

O DENSITY LAYERS
All bathythermograph readings on this patrol showed isothermal
water with the following six exceptions:

| DATE | TIME | POSITION | TOP OF LAYER | BOTTOM OF LAYER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | TEMP. | DEPTH | TEMP. | DEPTH |
| 20 June | 0730 | 14 03 N | 85 | Surface | 82 | 150 |
| | | 119 08 E | | | | |
| 4 July | 0500 | 04 28 N | 82 | Surface | 80 | 100 |
| | | 104 28 E | | | | |
| 14 July | 1600 | 05 10 N | 82 | 160 | 76 | 180 |
| | | 109 35 E | | | | |
| 22 July | 2330 | 08 04 S | 71 | 80 | 68 | 100 |
| | | 110 11 E | | | | |
| 23 July | 0700 | 08 31 S | 71 | 150 | 67 | 160 |
| | | 111 15 E | | | | |

P HEALTH, FOOD, AND HABITABILITY
Health was good. There were four cases of impetigo which responded
satisfactorily to treatment with daily applications of alcohol (95%) and
ammoniated mercury (10%).
Food was good and well prepared but lacked variety.

Q PERSONNEL
(a) Men detached after previous patrol | 20
(b) Men on board during patrol | 77
(c) Men qualified at start of patrol | 53
(d) Men qualified at end of patrol | 63
(e) Unqualified men making first patrol | 12

R MILES STEAMED - FUEL USED
Subic Bay to Area - 1190 miles - 16,500 gals.
In Area - - - - - 6949 miles - 68,310 gals.
Area to Fremantle - 1462 miles - 24,300 gals.

DURATION
Days enroute to area | 4
Days in area | 26
Days enroute to Fremantle | 5
Days submerged | 15

- 36 -

— page 117 —
CONFIDENTIAL

T. FACTORS OF ENDURANCE REMAINING

TORPEDOES             FUEL             PROVISIONS             PERSONNEL FACTOR
11                    8390             20                     20

Limiting factor this patrol - Operational Orders.

U. REMARKS

     It is considered necessary to incorporate mechanical bearing indicator
on the five inch (5"/25 cal.) gun in such a position that it can be readily seen
by the trainer during gun action on dark nights. A coordinated night gun attack
was thwarted because the trainer could not see the target although the target
was plainly visible from the bridge. Had there been some means of training by
radar bearings the attack could have been carried out.

     Considerable confusion was caused at night by single unidentified
targets in areas Easy Two and Easy Five. In two instances it was necessary for
us to shift from the offensive to the defensive on very short notice. While
in one encounter the nature of the target was determined to be friendly, in the
other, although there were indications of the friendly nature, there was no
certainty. In order to determine the nature of a target it is necessary to
jeopardize our position and sacrifice the advantages of the offensive should
they be hostile. Where such single targets be friend or foe, the situation is
highly explosive.

- 37 -

11 0177

— page 118 —
FC5-30/A16-3
Serial: 0132
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L :
FIRST ENDORSEMENT to
USS BLOWER (SS325) -
Report of Third War Patrol.

From: The Commander Submarine Squadron THIRTY.
To : The Commander in Chief, U. S. FLEET.
Via : (1) The Commander Submarines, SEVENTH FLEET.
(2) The Commander in Chief, SEVENTH FLEET.

Subject: U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of Third War Patrol.

1. The third war patrol of the BLOWER under the command of
Lieutenant Commander N. P. WATKINS, U.S. Navy, was conducted in the PULO
TENGGOL and WEST JAVA SEA Area. Patrol was of thirty-five days duration
with twenty-six days spent in the area. The Commanding Officer of the
BLOWER was officer in tactical command of an attack group consisting of
BLUEFISH, SLEUTH and SOLENT while patrolling off PULO TENGGOL from 29 June
to 12 July 1945.

2. Torpedo Attack No. 1. In the early morning of 5 July one Mk 14-3
torpedo was fired in low power at an unidentified object with torpedo run of
5800 yards. Target had been picked up by radar with an initial range of
18,000 yards. Target speed was 1-2 knots and finally tracked as being
stopped. With existing visibility of 4000 yards this target should have been
identified before the torpedo was fired. The evening before and the morning
after this attack a periscope was sighted in this vicinity. This could have
been a submarine.

3. Torpedo Attack No. 2 was a coordinated night attack with
BLUEFISH on two subchasers. BLOWER made original contact and as position
could not be obtained for a favorable attack she ordered BLUEFISH to attack.
BLUEFISH attacked with negative results and then attacked again, sinking
one subchaser. BLOWER then attacked remaining subchaser firing 3 Mk 18
torpedoes from bow tubes on 120° port track, depth set 2 feet, gyro angles
15° L with torpedo run of 2550 yards. All torpedoes missed, the target
being alerted when first torpedo broached. A coordinated gun attack was then
tried on this remaining subchaser but target could not be seen through gun
telescopes so attack was broken off.

4. Torpedo Attack No. 3 was a night surface radar attack using
TBT bearings on a large unidentified escort or small AK. The target showed
a large silhouette at 7500 yards on a dark night. Three Mk 18 torpedoes
were fired from the bow tubes on a 45° port track, torpedo run 3300 yards,
small gyro angles, depth set three feet. First two torpedoes broached and
all torpedoes missed. The target was then closed to 2700 yards and couldn't
be identified. This target should have been investigated more thoroughly and
torpedoes fired at a lesser range. To hit with Mk 18 torpedoes with a
torpedo run in excess of 2500 yards the entire set up must be exact plus an
expected ideal performance of the torpedo.

- 1 -

SUBMARINE SQUADRON THIRTY
Mlk
Care of Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, California
31 July 1945.

— page 119 —
FC5-30/A16-3
Serial: 0132
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

FIRST ENDORSEMENT to
USS BLOWER (SS325) -
Report of Third War Patrol.

Subject: U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of Third War Patrol.

— page 120 —
FE24-71/A16-3
Serial 0479-A

C O N F I D E N T I A L

SECOND ENDORSEMENT to:
USS BLOWER Conf. Ltr.
A4-3, Serial (037),
dated 28 July 1945.
Report of Third War Patrol.

From: The Commander Submarines SOUTH WEST PACIFIC.
To: The Commander in Chief, UNITED STATES FLEET.
Via: The Commander SEVENTH FLEET.

Subject: U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of Third War Patrol -
(23 June to 28 July).

1. The BLOWER's Third War Patrol, and the first in com-
mand for Lieutenant Commander N. P. WATKINS, U.S.N., was conducted
off the northeast coast of MALAYA and in the West JAVA SEA.

2. Four torpedo attacks were made none of which were
successful. It was particularly disappointing for the BLOWER to
hit an I Class Submarine with two torpedoes only to have them
turn out to be duds. Three torpedoes ran erratic and this, plus
fire control errors, accounts for the failure to do damage on
the other attacks.

3. As noted in the First Endorsement the unidentified
target at which one torpedo was fired in a night surface attack
should have been positively indentified as enemy prior to firing.
With the current increased concentration of our own submarines in
the few productive operating areas left, increased care, caution
and judgment must be exercised in this direction.

4. The award of the Submarine Combat Insignia is not
authorized for this patrol.

- 1 -

UNITED STATES NAVY
11/fg
1 September 1945

[SIGNATURE: J. F. Fife]
JAMES FIFE.
ORIGINAL COPY.

11 0177

— page 121 —
FE24-71/A16-3                               UNITED STATES NAVY                               11/fg

Serial 0479-A

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-[HANDWRITTEN: AL]                               1 September 1945

SECOND ENDORSEMENT to:
USS BLOWER Conf. Ltr.
A4-3, Serial (037),
dated 28 July 1945,
Report of Third War Patrol.

Subject:        U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of Third War Patrol -
                (23 June to 28 July).

— page 122 —
[HANDWRITTEN: 0]
UNITED STATES FLEET
COMMANDER SEVENTH FLEET

A16-3 (F-3-2/cgj)
Serial: [HANDWRITTEN: 0239]

[STAMP: FY/6]
[STAMP: 11 0177]
[STAMP: REG. SHEET NO [HANDWRITTEN: 71]]

[STAMP: 3 OCT 1945]

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

THIRD ENDORSEMENT to:
CO USS Blower conf ltr
A4-3, serial 037, dated
28 July 1945.

From: Commander Seventh Fleet.
To : Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet.

Subject: U.S.S. BLOWER (SS325) - Report of Third
War Patrol - (23 June to 28 July).

1. Forwarded.

[SIGNATURE: J. H. Long]
J. H. LONG
By direction

— page 123 —
END OF REEL
JOB NO. [HANDWRITTEN: F-108]
[HANDWRITTEN: AR-94-78]

||||| 1.0
||||| 1.1
||||| 1.25

4.5 ||||| 2.8
5.0 ||||| 3.2
5.6 ||||| 3.6
6.3 ||||| 4.0
||||| 1.4

||||| 2.5
||||| 2.2
||||| 2.0
||||| 1.8
||||| 1.6

THIS MICROFILM IS
THE PROPERTY OF
THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT

[SEAL: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA]

MICROFILMED BY
NPPSO-NAVAL DISTRICT WASHINGTON
MICROFILM SECTION

D-62264