U.S.S. DRUM (SS-228) — war patrol report SS-228_DRUM_Part2.pdf

— page 1 —
8, 1944:
1230(K) 16 mile contact on 3D radar. Not sighted.
    (..IRCR.AFT CONT. CT #26).

: 9, 1944:
1930(K)  ant tc outside edge of area in order to
    dump lub oil and to transmit DRUG. SRL.L.
    #1.
2300 Transmission completed. Resumed patrol.
    to the westward.

: 10, 1944:
1017(K) 6 mile contact on 3D radar. Not sighted.
    Dove. (..IRCR.AFT CONTACT #27).
1104 Surfaced.

: 11, 1944:
0100(K) Shifted to fifth area of rotating patrol.
0915 7 mile contact on 3D radar. Not sighted.
    Dove. (..IRCR.AFT CONTACT #28).
1020  Surface, and continued to close CHI CHI CHI
    JIMA.
1228 6 mile contact on 3D radar. Not sighted.
    Dove. (..IRCR.AFT CONTACT #29).
1335  Surfaced.

: 12, 1944:
0505(K) Submerged 16 miles east of CHI CHI JIMA,
    and commenced closing the island.
0915  From a position about three miles off the
    eastern coast of CHICHI JIMA, observed the
    following installations:
    (1) 3 radio towers at northern end of
    island. LAT 27°-06'-00" LONG 142°-
    12'-00". These towers are shown on chart
    D-703 in JICPO. BULLETIN No. 15-44.
    (2) 3 more tall girder type radio towers
    just southward of the first.
    (3) 3 more girder type radio towers and 8
    pole type nearby, near the top of the
    1007 foot hill on HO chart No. 1902, in
    LAT 27°-05'-06" LONG 142°-13'-01".
1930  Surfaced and opened to the eastward.

: 13, 1944:
1158(K) S.S. 3ft. 6 inch type biplane (PETE), bearing
    175 T, distant 9 miles. Dove. (..IRCR.AFT CONT-
    .CT #30).
1305  Surfaced.
1610  Sighted a float t.p. biplane (PETE) bearing
    330 T, distant 12 miles. Dove. (..IRCR.AFT
    CONT. CT #31).
1723  Surfaced.

— page 2 —
14, 1944:
0455(K) Submerged 15 miles east of KAHIA JIMA and commenced closing the island. Closed the island to three miles, but observed no enemy installations.

1910: Surfaced and opened to the eastward.

: 16, 1944:
0100(K) Shifted to sixth area of rotating patrol, 20 mile contact on SD radar. Not sighted. Closed to 14 miles and opened to 20 miles. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #32).

: 17, 1944:
1023(K) Sighted small, engines aft petrol boat, bearing 237 T, distant 18000 yards. (CONTACT #12). Attempted to gain position for attacking with the gun, but when the range was 13000 yards, it

1136 11 mile contact on SD radar. Not sighted. Dove. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #33). Attempted to close the patrol to get a good look at him but was not able to see him again even at depth of 50 feet.

1335 Surfaced and opened to eastward from KITAI I/O

2110 Sighted 5 searchlights on KAHIA JIMA.

: 18, 1944:
0637(K) Sighted a ZUME bearing 180 T, distant 10 miles. Dove. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #34).

0805 Surfaced.

0858 10 mile contact on SD radar. Not sighted. Dove. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #35).

2120 Sighted two white lights bearing 055 T, distant 9000 yards. (CONTACT #13). Closed to investigate, and made SJ radar contact, bearing 040 T, well to the left of the lights, distant 7000 yards. This ship was not sighted at 5900 yards. Decided that the group was a trawler and two scorpions, probably fishing, or conceivably, a submarine trap.

2200 Cleared the area at 10 knots.

: 19, 1944:
0652(K) Mile blowing up from tri-dive, sighted a four-engined flying boat (AIVIS) bearing 040 T, distant 5 miles. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #36). Dove. (SD radar was not operating properly). One depth charge exploded feirly close, above, after we had reached 100 feet. Remained submerged during the morning, but did not sight any planes through the periscope.

— page 3 —
1220
Surfaced. Before the hatch could be opened, made 3D radar contacts at 4 and 8 miles. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #37). Dove and decided to remain submerged until dark. Apparently they have all their available aircraft out looking for us. Since the sea is glassy, they evidently expect to see our periscope. Sighted, through periscope, a RUT. medium bomber bearing 040 T, distant 3 miles. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #38).

: 1443
Surfaced. Anned the 3D radar intermittently for two hours but made no contacts.

: 2012
AY 20, 1944:
0616(1) Officer of the Dock sighted a RUT. medium bomber bearing 000 T, distant 8 miles. At the same time, a lookout sighted a VAL dive torpedo bearing 010 T, distant 10 miles. Dove. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #39).

: 0745
Surfaced.
Sighted a RUTE float plane bearing 070 T, distant 12 miles. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #40). Dove.

: 1226
Surfaced.
Sighted a LAVIS flying boat, bearing 295 T, distant 8 miles. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #41). Dove.

: 1428
Surfaced.
As soon as the bridge was manned, sighted a small
traveler type patrol boat or fisherman, bearing
183 T, distant 10000 yards, on parallel course.
(COUNTER #14).

: 1431
Dove, and cleared the area submerged. Decided not to use the deck gun on him, since the Japs are still concentrating on this area with their search planes.

: 2009
Surfaced.

: 2014:
AY 21, 1944:
Closed RITA I.0 JITA to tune the 3D radar. It has not functioned as well the past week as it did earlier in the period.

: 0047(1)
Made 3D radar contact on a patrol boat bearing 322 T, distant 11500 yards. (COUNTER #15). Tracked him for one hour on course 010 T, speed 11. Since he appeared on the screen intermittently, even at 3000 yards, and was never sighted, determined he was too small for torpedoes and cleared the area.

: 0544
Sighted a coastal freighter, with three small escorts, similar to USS LARU, 1913 tons, bearing 342 T, distant 20000 yards. (COUNTER #16). Corroded tracking on the surface, using the periscope. Determined the base course to be 230 T, then 140 T, and finally 180 T, speed 9 - 11 knots.

— page 4 —
3.5. DRU: (35228)
0805
Submerged on the base course and commenced the approach. Flanked battle stations submerged. The zigzag plan, with seven minute legs, was as follows:
On - 180 T 28n - 180 T
7n - 140 35m - 220
14m - 180 42m - 180
21n - 140 49n - 220
0908

— page 5 —
U.S.S. DRUM(SS228)
MAY 26, 1944:
0100(K) Changed to minus 11 zone time.
1238(I) 4 mile contact on SD radar. Not sighted. Dove.
    (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #43)
1240 First of 3 aircraft bombs. The first was "not
    close", while the others were "distant". (Friend
    of foe?).
1340 Surfaced.

MAY 28, 1944:
0930(I) Sighted and exchanged recognition signals with
    United States B-24. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT #44).
2100 Changed to minus 12 zone time.

MAY 29, 1944:
2200(M) Made SJ radar contact on WHALE at 9000 yards.
    Exchanged signals (recognition) (CONTACT #17).

MAY 30, 1944:
1430(N) Sighted FASTIGS (DEL19) bearing 235T, distant
    20000 yards. (CONTACT #18).
1500 Made rendezvous in Lat. 10-00 N Long. 170-28E.
    HASTINGS came alongside to transfer escort
    instructions, and mail.
1515 Set course for MAJOR.
1700 Sighted "NOTTE ATOTL bearing 230 T distant 12
    miles.
1800 12 mile contact on SD radar. (AIRCRAFT CONTACT
    #45). Sighted 3 US Navy SED's making bombing runs
    over "NOTTE. Several members of the crew watched
    the first actual bombing.
1900 Sighted CALDRELL (DD605) bearing 216 T, distant
    20000 yards. (CONTACT #19) Exchanged calls as
    he passed 5000 yards abeam headed northward.

MAY 31, 1944:
0700(M) Entered MAJURO LAGOON.
0800 Moored to SPERRY.