U.S.S. PIKE (SS-173) — war patrol report SS-173_PIKE.pdf

— page 60 —
U.S.S. PIKE
CONFIDENTIAL

The following was copied at 1935 January 9,
1942, GCT on a frequency of about 7000 kcs. The signal
was strong enough to be heard in a receiver tuned to a
frequency 1000 kcs. higher. The transmitting station
must have been within a mile or two. Our location at
the time was Lat. 2°S, Long. 127°E. Probably two thirds
of the message was missed. The above is solid from where
it starts to the end of the message.

34T6 4941 52T7 663T 8432 8626 1819 TT 971 BT
1736ZX 8 AS

APPENDIX "А"

— page 98 —
CONFIDENTIAL
Subject:
U.S.S. PIKE - Report of Fourth War Patrol.
during the day, enroute Sawoe Sea. Extended
surface running after daylight.
1535 Bow planes jammed on hard rise due to electrical
casualty. Depth control was maintained but re-
pairs were not effected until after surfacing
at night.
April 25
Ran on the surface as night and submerged during
the day, enroute Savoe Sea.
0841 Sighted Soemba Island and entered Savoe Sea.
April 26
In the Sawce Ses, heading for Ombai Strait.
Ran on the surface at night and submerged during
the day. The see was flat and noon bright.
Signal lights were seen on Alor Island but no
interference was encountered.
April 27
Ran on the surface at night and submerged during
the day.
0230 Passed through Ombai Strait and altered course to
enter Banda Sea passin Alor Island about five
miles abeam. The sea was flat in the strait, and
the moon bright.
April 28
Ran on the surface at night and submerged
during the day.
2345 Sighted what at first was thought to be two
shing tea on the starboard quarter. The
ges was glassy and there was no division between
the sea sky. The moon was bright. It was
finally determined that the objects sighted were
clouds when they rose higher in the sky.
April 29
In the Ceram Sea. Ran on the surface at night
and submerged during the day. At daylight
sighted a small sloop rigged sail boat at Lat.
02° - 20' S, Long. 126° - 28' E. Shortly after
sighting he rigged his sails and set a course
for Boeroe Island.
-2-
ENCLOSURE(A)

— page 105 —
CONFIDENTIAL
Subject: U.S.S. PIKE - Report of Fourth War Patrol.
May 13
During the approach on this date the enemy vessel
sighted at 0502(-10), was determined to be on
course 310°, speed about 14 knots, and position
at 0645, Lat. 14°58' N, Long. 155°-45' E.
This vessel appeared to be a passenger freighter
type of about 6,500 tons, length 650'ft., masthead
height 100 ft. She appeared similar to "Nitiran
Maru", and was painted light grey. The range at
first sighting was about fourteen miles. Was unable
to close because of an improper initial estimate
of the angle on the bow at the time of diving.
6. DESCRIPTION OF ALL AIRCRAFT SIGHTED.
April 20
0845(-8) At Lat. 29°- 50' S, Long. 113°- 35' E, sighted a
"Catalina" type patrol plane. Exchanged recognition
signals with this plane. Plane was undoubtly U.S.
although no markings were noted.
1505(-8) At Lat. 28°- 49' S, Long. 112°- 55' E, sighted a
Lockheed "Hudson" type land plane, brown in color,
with the numerals "85" in orange on the fusiiage
aft. Attempted to exchange recognition signals
with no success. Finally showed our colors, and
the plane departed.
May 22
0930(411) At Lat. 20°- 41' N, Long. 170°-00' W, sighted what
appeared to be a "Catalina" type patrol plane broad
on the starboard bow, about ten miles distant. No
markings could be seen on the plane, which appeared
to be gray in color. Plane made flashing light
signals apparently on sighting. the emergency iden-
ification signal fired by this vessel, but they could
not be made out.
May 23
0755(411) at Lat. 20°-45' N, Long. 166°- 00' W, sighted an
unidentified high wing monoplane on an opposite
course, heading westward, bearing one point on the
port bow, about ten miles distant.

-9- ENCLOSURE (A)

— page 181 —
SS173/A16-3
CONFIDENTIAL
U.S.S. PIKE (SS173)

Rigged ship for silont running. Encountered heavy donsity
layor at 170 foot; had to flood in 8,000 lbs. to got down
to 240 foot.
Destroyor made three attacks, dropping 4, 5 and 3 charges
por attack rospectively. The last attack was closost,
about 200 yards.
Sound lost contact with destroyor aftor passing through
heavy density layor.
1540(K) Camo to poriscope depth. No ships in sight. Wont ahead
with reloading forward torpodo tubes and investigating
noise in starboard shaft which had developed during depth
charge attack. Found nothing wrong and noise disappcarod.
1726(K) Surfaced. Sot course 330° T at maximum cruising spood,
rocherging battery. Trensmitting PIKE despatch 060836.
Ran into hoavy rain squall. Visibility reduced to onc
half milo at times.
2028(K) Completed transmission, changod course to 298° т.
2200(K) Woathor cleared.
7 August, 1943.
0607(K) Made trim divo.
2215(K) Proccoding along course 157° T.
8 August, 1943.
0015(K) Changed course to 209° T at 2 engine cruising spoed.
0535(K) Made trim dive.
2135(K) Sighted Asuncion Island bearing 231° T, distance 30
milcs (moonlight).
2227(K) Sighted Maug Island bearing 300° T, distance 10 miles.
2323(K) Maug Island abeam to starboard, distance 9.5 miles;
passed botwoon Maug and Asuncion Islands (Marianas Group).

-7-
ENCLOSURE (A)

— page 183 —
SS173/A16-3
CONFIDENTIAL
13 August, 1943.
0710(I) Mado trim diva.
U.S.S. PIKE (SS173)
1507(I) Mado treining divo. Excrcised at battlo stations.
1856(I) Proccoding on two auxiliary onginos (90 KW cach) in
order to conserve fucl.
14 August, 1943.
0610(I) Rovorsod course to cast, (Lat. 20-32 H, Long. 131-25 E).
1222(I) Made trim divo.
1757(I) Small olcctrical fire in controllor panel of #3 main
gonorator ventilation motor. Extinguished immodietoly
with CO2. Damaged coil roplacod.
15 August, 1943.
0104(1) Changed courso to wost commenced patrolling across
longitude 132 E.
1513(I) Made training divo.
1619(1) Sighted 2 unidentified planes boaring 080° T, distance
10 miles. Submerged. (Lat. 20-07 N, Long. 131-55 E).
1841(I) Surfaced. Continued patrolling on one main ongino
naking about 5 knots.
16 August, 1943.
1803(I) Made treining divo.
1835(1) Sighted snoko bearing 306° T, headed toward smoke on
2 engines.
1848(I) Sighted ship boaring 306° T, distenco 20 milos. (lat.
19-38 N, Long. 131-38 E).
1852(I) Cano to course 210° T, ahead on 4 mein ongines to
obtain position ahead of ship.
- 9 -
ENCLOSURE (A)