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Post by crushedhat on Jan 28, 2024 1:45:24 GMT
January 1942
Submarine Tender USS Holland has left Manila for Australia. As a result, all COMSUBAF logistical (Repair and supply) operations are now based in Australia (Freemantle for this campaign). HQ COMSUBAF has relocated to Java.
Patrol Assignments: Sealion (ChefEd) Philippines – thru Jan 42 Snapper (silentwolf) Philippines – thru Jan 42
In Harbor (Freemantle, Australia): Sardine (rodmod) refit – thru Jan 42
These are two-month patrols, so reports are due at the end of January 1942 (3 Feb 2024), unless circumstances force an earlier return. All Boats will end their patrols in Freemantle, Australia. Any Boats more than a month overdue without notifying the admin (crushedhat) will be declared “Lost.”
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Post by ChefEd on Jan 29, 2024 13:29:11 GMT
Patrol Station: Philippines
USS Sealion
Salmon Class SS-195
Patrol # for this Commander: 1 Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters sunk: 1 / 1 Number of Tankers sunk: 0 / 0 Number of Troop Ships: 0 / 0 Number of Warships Sunk: 0 / 0 Number of Capital Ships sunk: 0 / 0 Tonnage sunk: 800 / 800 Refit Time: One ( 1 ) month(s) Award Requests: None
Commander, Lt CDR Herbert Crabtree Exec, LT Hadden Levay 3rd officer, LT (jg) Abdiel Shoemaker Chief Engineer, LT River Donaldson Pharmacist's Mate, PhM2c Lamar McGuire
Crew Skills: Trained
10 DEC 1941 Departed Cavite, Philippines
Two days ago, the Japanese began conducting air and sea assaults against the Philippines, and other locations around Southeast Asia. Since then, the crew of the Sealion has been working around the clock to get ready to get underway. A seemingly insurmountable task, considering she was scheduled to go into drydock just yesterday.
With repairs still underway, Sealion steamed at the fastest speed possible out of Manila Bay. Halfway between Cavite Navy Yard and the mouth of the Bay the air raid sirens began to wail. The watch crew observed Japanese level and dive bombers attack Cavite, Corregidor Island, Manila, Mariveles, and numerous other key locations around the Bay.
As the Sealion passed Corregidor a Japanese dive bomber noted the Sealion making for the open sea and attacked. Steering hard to port Sealion avoided the dropped bombs.
Before long Sealion was far enough out of the Bay to submerge. Once submerged, Sealion began a course south to patrol between Luzon, Mindoro, and Palawan.
12 DEC 0905Hrs Intercepted what was believed to be an invasion support convoy, heading south for Mindoro or Panay. In range were two small coastal freighters, Taiu Maru (2,200T), Toho Maru (4,700T), and a small merchant tanker, Chiyoda Maru (4,700T), with escort.
Submerged at medium range, we fired two torpedoes at the Chiyoda Maru, and two at the Toho Maru. Three misses, and one dud against the Chiyoda Maru. Escaped detection by the escorts.
Followed the slow convoy to attempt a second attack.
1325Hrs On our second approach at the convoy, two freighters, Nipponkai Maru (2,700T), Pacific Maru (5,900T), and a troop ship, Tatsutake Maru (7,100T), were in range. Believing troops, a better target than goods, we fired a full spread of four torpedoes at the troop ship. ‘Phones detected three strikes, but no detonations!
This time the escorts found us, causing moderate flooding, and damaged the dive planes.
We were able to avoid further attacks.
With the dive planes unresponsive, we pulled off to assess the damage and attempt repairs. Lt Donaldson’s crew could not affect repairs on the dive planes.
13 DEC through 23 DEC No enemy Encountered
24 DEC 1125Hrs Sighted another Japanese convoy. Attempted to shadow the convoy until nightfall, but lost contact.
25 DEC through 15 JAN 1942 No Enemy Encountered
Christmas and New Years passed uneventfully. With no time to stock the larders for the holidays, ‘Cookie’ was unable to provide anything special for the crew. Even so, the crew made it a point to make and post a few decorations around the boat.
16 JAN 0805Hrs Sighted, what was most probably a straggler from a convoy, a small coastal freighter, the Shuko Maru of only 800 tons. Surfaced at close range and opened fire with the deck gun. The 3-inch gun made short work of the diminutive target. We submerged and left the scene.
17 JAN through 31 JAN No Enemy Encountered
31 JAN 1942 Arrived Fremantle, Australia
The crew left The Philippines with little more than the clothes on their backs. After two months without changing, the boat and crew were pretty rank. Lt Levay hurriedly left the boat pretty much while it was still coming to halt pier-side and disappeared among the warehouses and repair facilities. Several hours later, with the crew finishing up securing the boat, Lt Levay reappeared with a sailor driving a 4x4. At the gangway, Lt Levay and the sailor grabbed several sea bags from a stack of seabags in the back of the 4x4. Walking up the gangway Lt Levay observed the formalities of boarding a US Navy vessel. At the top of the gangway, he was met by Lt Cdr Crabtree. “Well?” “Uniforms, sir, and soap and toiletries. Seemed we could use some.” “How? Where? Never mind, I don’t want to know,” responded Crabtree, as he reentered the sub, and headed to his quarters.
When Herb Crabtree reported to headquarters to submit his official report of the patrol from Cavite to Fremantle, he made it a point to note that every torpedo that hit the enemy failed to detonate.
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Post by silentwolf on Jan 30, 2024 1:44:20 GMT
USS Snapper Porpoise class 0 Battle Stars
Crew Status: Trained
LCDR Sam Anderson
Patrol: #1 / Dec 1941 - Jan 1942 Patrol Assignment: Philippines Successful Patrol: Yes Number of Freighters Sunk: 1 / 1 Number of Tankers Sunk: 0 / 0 Number of Warships Sunk: 0 / 0 Number of Capital Ships Sunk: 0 / 0 Total Tonnage Destroyed: 900t / 900t
Refit Time: 1 month, ready Mar 1942.
Award Requests: Battle Star (1), SCPI (1), Purple Heart for Chief Engineer Lewis Knight (KIA)
Chief Engineer Lewis Knight(KIA) replaced by Hal Freeman
"The first patrol was frustrating....
Early on, we encountered the capital ship, CVE "Shinyo", In the daylight hours....
I attacked from medium range with 4 fish...
All missed...
Now we were the ones under attack....
The combination of evasive maneuvers and the lack of skill from a green enemy skipper resulted in zero damage occurring from the first round of depth charges...
Things did not go so well for the second round....
Ash cans exploded all around Snapper...
Chief Engineer Knight was killed....
It was later discovered that the anti-aircraft gun was destroyed in the attack...
A third round did not occur...I shook the escort and slipped away from the scene...
A few nights later, we discovered the freighter "Shinpen Maru" sailing under escort...
We followed them all night long...Over the course of several hours, I fired all of my remaining torpedos (a total of 20) at the freighter....
I'm certain we were scoring hits, but the torpedos were failing to detonate!
Finally, just before dawn, my last fish hit it's mark and exploded.....Our first kill of the war slipped below the waves....
We suffered no counter attack in the engagement....
A few days later, another escorted ship was encountered...
With zero torpedos remaining, I had no option but to watch them sail away....
We arrived in Fremantle at the end of January...
One month should be all it will take to get Snapper ready for her second patrol...."
- LCDR Sam Anderson, USN
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