U.S.S. SWORDFISH (SS-193) — war patrol report SS-193_SWORDFISH_Part1.pdf

— page 7 —
6 April she intercepted two similar convoy which she chased for forty-eight hours but abandoned after twice being bombed by aircraft on the second day. She concluded this patrol at Mjuro on 29 April 1944.

SWORDFISH departed Majuro, 22 May 1944 to commence her twelfth war patrol in the area of the Bonin Islands. On 9 June 1944, Commander Montross found Japanese Destroyer MATSUKAZE of 1,270 tons, clearly silhouetted against the horizon and sank her with two torpedoes from two tubes (26°-59'N, 143°-13'E). On 15 June, SWORDFISH torpedoed and sank cargo ship KANEISHI MARU of 4,804 tons (29°-30'N, 143°-11'E). Japanese ships of a large size were now becoming hard to find, so SWORDFISH began to concentrate on small trawlers and sampans. Three surface attacks were made on these small types, 26-27 June, in which one trawler was sunk by gunfire, one probably sunk and another damaged. SWORDFISH concluded this patrol, 30 June 1944, when she arrived at Pearl Harbor where equipment to enable photographic reconnaissance missions was installed.

Under command of Commander Kente E. Motross, SWORDFISH departed Pearl Harbor, 22 December 1944, to conduct her thirteenth patrol in the vicinity of Nansel Shoto. She put in at Midway on 26 December to receive fuel and depart the same day for her area. In addition to her regular patrol, she was to conduct photographic reconnaissance of Okinawa. She acknowledged a message on 3 January 1945, that she was to stand clear of the Nansel Shoto Islands until a series of carrier-air strikes had been completed. In the meantime, she was to patrol Okinawa. Six days later, SWORDFISH was directed to proceed to Nansel Shoto, Archipelago and perform photographic reconnaissance of defense installations on Okinawa. Upon completion of this mission, she was to proceed to Saipan unless she was unable to transmit by radio, in which case she should go to Midway.

It was estimated this mission would not take more than seven days after arrival on station, which SWORDFISH should have reached by 11 January 1945. No further word of the SWORDFISH was received and on 15 February after repeated attempts to contact her by radio had failed, she was reported to have been re-engaged on 16 January 1945, and was reported to be in the vicinity of Okinawa on the morning of 12 January 1945, contacted a submarine by radar. This was believed to be SWORDFISH since the contact was 27°-00'N, 128°-40'E, the estimated location of SWORDFISH. Four hours later, KENTE heard heavy depth charge explosions from this area, and this attack might have been the cause of SWORDFISH's loss.

Japanese information on anti-submarine attacks does not report the depth-charge attack. However, their records show that waters off Okinawa, especially within the 10-fathom mark where SWORDFISH would have been operating, had been heavily mined. A report was not made of mines exploding in that area on 12 January 1945. The exact cause of loss has not been definitely established.

Commander Montross was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry and intrepidity in action as Commanding Officer of SWORDFISH during her twelfth war patrol.

In addition to the Navy Unit Commendation awarded for her first, second and fourth war patrols, SWORDFISH earned eight battle stars for operations as stated below:

-5-

— page 8 —
1st/PHILIPPINE ISLAND OPERATION: 8-27 Dec 1941; 16 Jan-9 Mar 1942
: 1st/QUADLACANAL (THIRD GAVO): 12 Nov-15 Nov 1942
: 1st/CAPTURE AND DEFENSE OF QUADLACANAL: 9 Jan 8 Feb 1943
: 1st/MARIANAS OPERATIONS
   - 2nd Tonnes Raid: 24 June 1944

CUMULATIVE WAR PATROLS:
: 1st/15 May-4 Jul 1942
: 1st/29 Jul-26 Sep 1943
: 1st/13 Mar 29 Apr 1944

American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp: 8 Sept 1939-7 Dec 1941
Philippine Defense Ribbon: 8-27 Dec 1941; 16 Jan-9 Mar 1942
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge: 8-27 Dec 1941; 16 Jan-9 Mar 1942

STATISTICS:

LENGTH: 319 feet, 1 inch
WEAR: 26 feet, 1 inch
DESIGN SPEED: Standard: 14.50 tons
Submerged: 23.50 tons
DESIGN SPEED: Surface: 20 knots
Submerged: 8.75 knots
COMPLEMENT: 5 officer
5 men
ARMAMENT: 1, three-inch .54 caliber
2, .50 caliber
2, .30 caliber
8, twenty-one inch Triple torpedo tubes

COMPILED AND STENCILLED OCT 1957

-6-

— page 9 —
3513/4/1
Serial: 01
Date: 1942
To: The Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet.
Subject: Patrol Report - 6-27 December, 1941.

Reference: (a) U.S. Submarine Force, 1941.
(b) United States Naval Institute, 1941.

References:
(a) [Reference: U.S. Submarine Force, 1941.]
(b) [Reference: U.S. Submarine Force, 1941.]

As follows:
The first use year of this report was conducted
Period: December 1, 1941 to December 27, 1941.
Date: [Date]
Time: [Time]
Date: [Date]
Time

— page 10 —
1951/7/4/3
Serial 01

Subj: Patrol Report - 27 December 1951

Date: 1951-12-27
Time: 1445
Lat: 35-12N
Long: 125-45E
Depth: 35-12N
Range: 1445
Bearing: 27
Speed: 35
Course: 35-12N
Depth: 35-12N
Speed: 35
Course:

— page 13 —
1. USS SWORDFISH
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— page 14 —
1/30

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**SECRET**

**U.S.S. SWORDFISH**

**SERIES 31/2**

**Serial No. 1**

**Date:** 1/1/1942

**Subject:** Patrol Report - 6-7 December, 1941

**Subject:** 1/1/1942 - Submerged attack - torpedo attack

**Subject:** 1/1/1942 - Torpedo attack

— page 17 —
88193/A
Serial 061
December 27, 1941

From: The Commanding Officer,
To: The Commander Submarines, Asiatic Fleet.

Subject: Preliminary Patrol Report - 6-27 December, 1941.

The first war patrol of this vessel was conducted
Period - 8 December, 1941 to 27 December, 1941.
Area - 5.5.
Zone Time - (J-8.

2. Narrative:
1941 Submarines, 1941.
1941 Submarines, 194

— page 21 —
1913/4
Serial: 56
U. S. SWORDFISH
A. 1st, December 27, 1941
Sub: Patrol Report
Preliminary Patrol Report - 6-27 December, 1941
Report: Patrol reports are to be submitted to the Secretary of the Navy, Bureau of Fisheries and Oceans, 1913. The report should be submitted to the Secretary of the Navy, Bureau

— page 23 —
881373/44
Serial 365
Subject: Preliminary Patrol Report - 27 December, 1941.

1047. Vessels reported to within about 4 miles of
   their assigned position. These vessels were
   reported to be in sight of the submarine.
   The submarine was not in sight of the
   submarine.

1122.

— page 25 —
88193/3/4
Series: 361
Subjet: Patrol Report
Date: 12 December, 1941

0:52: Tired torpedoes 1,000 yards, 0,700 feet, low power. Range 500 yards. 0,700 yards, 0,700 yards

— page 27 —
1941
U.S.S. SWORDFISH
Serial: 91
Subject: Preliminary Patrol Report - 27 December, 1941

Schedular: 27 December, 1941
0000: 0000

— page 46 —
0-5: 16 June 1942
: 0-5: 15 June 1942
: 0-5: 14 June 1942
: 0-5: 13 June 1942
: 0-5: 12 June 1942
: 0-5: 11 June 1942
: 0-5: 10 June 1942
: 0-5: 9 June 1942
: 0-5: 8 June 1942
: 0-5: 7 June 1942
: 0-5: 6 June 1942
: 0-5: 5 June 1942
: 0-5: 4 June 1942
: 0-5: 3 June 1942
: 0-5: 2 June 1942
: 0-5: 1 June 1942
: 0-5: 0 June 1942
: 0

— page 49 —
1/2/42
U.S.S. SWORDFISH
[Name of Submarine]
[Date of Submarine's Service]

[Description of Submarine's Service]
[Description of

— page 50 —
1942
U.S.S. SWORDFISH
Torpedo: 9, 1942

Interdiction of the Japanese submarine attack on Pearl Harbor, 1942.

Interdiction of the Japanese submarine attack on

— page 51 —
U.S.S. SWORDFISH
TARLETT, 9, 1942

Portrait of her Patrol, 9 March, 1942.

Submarine 31 February 1942
Sunk 3 enemy ships and extended
surrounding area of 3,000 square miles.

Submarine 31 February 1942
Sunk

— page 60 —
U.S.S. SWORDFISH
:  March 5, 1942
:  Report of War Patrol 16 January - 5 April, 1942.
:  Task Force 17
:  U.S.S. SWORDFISH
:  U.S

— page 66 —
0735 - Lt. Cdr. John L. Smith, in command of USS SEWARD (SS-23), departed San Diego, Calif., for a training cruise. The submarine was to rendezvous with the destroyer USS CASSANDRA (DD-23) and proceed to the rendezvous area. The submarine was to remain in the area until the destroyer USS CASSANDRA was located. The submarine was to remain in the area until the destroyer

— page 70 —
1942

Details of Attacking Force

When last seen the bow was very light, leaving apparently
patched with canvas, and decked with a few small canvas coverings.
The ship was apparently headed for the North Atlantic, but
failed to get there. The ship was then ordered to proceed to
the North Atlantic, but was ordered to proceed to the
North Atlantic, but was ordered

— page 71 —
1/2" x 1/2" black and white photograph of a document titled "CONFIDENTIAL" with the text "U.S.S. SWORDFISH" and a date "January 9, 1942" at the top. The document is a report from the USS Swordfish, detailing its patrol and mission details. The text is in a formal, typed font, with some handwritten annotations and corrections. The document is mounted on a black background with a white border. The photograph is in black and white, showing the document in a vertical orientation. The document is centered in the frame, with the text aligned to the left. The photograph is bordered by a thin black line, and there are small white dots around the border, possibly indicating a film or print quality. The overall style of the image is a historical document, captured in a straightforward, documentary manner.

— page 76 —
1942
U.S.S. SWORDFISH
Major Decrees and Regulations
Trial and Death Pumps
Duty of the ship's crew to operate the ship's lifeboats and life rafts at all times. The crew is to be ready to abandon ship at the first sign of an emergency. The crew

— page 78 —
1. USS SWORDFISH
: (a) Patrol
: Wednesday, 1 April, 1942

1728 Underway from FERNTAT, AUSTRALIA, for War Patrol.
The patrol mission was to deliver 40 tons of provisions
to the Australian Army. The ship was to be
CONDITIONED to carry 10 supply and additional
CONDITIONS from the 6th Division for our carrying
carriage, only eight torpedoes were carried, one in each
tubes, several ammunition boxes, one 10-20 pound and
small arms ammunition, and one 15-20 pound and
Speed 215 SPG, 12 knots, to be depending on weather
conditions.

Thursday, 2 April, 1942

1000 Sighted and exchanged signalling with our
ship's plane. Lat. 29-28 Long. 113-18E.

Friday, 3 April, 1942

Proceeding on surface, speed 13 knots, toward OMAI
PASSAGE.

Monday, 6 April, 1942

0600  Nite. This was the first day of running submerged
during daylight and on surface at night. Position on
diving about 130 miles south of OMAI ISLAND, N.Z.I.

1615  Surface. Continued towards SAU'G SEA.

Tuesday, 7 April, 1942

0320 Entered SAU'G SEA and headed toward OMAI PASSAGE.

0530  Nite.

1615  Surface. Continued towards OMAI PASSAGE.

-1-

— page 80 —
U.S.S. SWORDFISH
Friday, 10 April, 1942

0400 Reeved following orders from Commander Submarine, Atlantic Fleet: "Until further orders SWORDFISH operate continuously against enemy in the vicinity of AUMO,"
0512 Dive.

1800 Surface, about 40 miles northeast of AUMO. NEARLY
Commissar surface patrol on east and west courses
about 15 miles south of the island.

Saturday, 11 April, 1942

0500 Dive. Commissar submerged patrol on east and west
courses with mid-60s depth of patrol line 210ft. 4 miles
from the center of the entrance to AUMO 1A. Sighted
only a few miles offshore.

1800 Surface. Commissar surface patrol on east and west
courses about 10 miles south of AUMO 1EA.

2345 Bridge watch all reported they heard a muffled explosion
surrounding the torpedo.

Sunday, 12 April, 1942

0455 Dive. Submerged patrol saw on 11 April.
Surface. Submerged patrol saw on 11 April.
Line from AUMO 1A at distances 6 to 15 miles from
the island.

Monday, 13 April, 1942

0455 Dive. Patrol on surface 30s and reverse on line
from AUMO 1A at distances of 3 to 6 miles from the
island.
The expected departure of an unidentified warship
from the bay at about 0900, as reported by OMR,
apparently did not take place.

1815 Surface. Patrol observed KATTA SWATH and return.

ENDORSEMENT (A)

N4

— page 81 —
U.S.S. SWORDFISH
Tuesday, 14 April, 1942

0208 Sliced petrol boat bearing 100+7, 4 miles, position 4 miles west of 7th, LLA. It was very dark with sky overcast but surface visibility good.

0211 Numbered to swab detached to swab detection. No proweller noises heard.

0324 Surface. Continued to section south of ADM 2BIDAD.

0425 Dive. Patrols within 2 miles of a point 4 miles bearing 2100, from center of station 8 miles, on course 1000, position 4 miles, depth 3,500, LOA, 17-37. Went ahead full speed, 4 miles from 8 miles, 4 miles