U. S. S. WAHOO - REPORT OF FIFTH WAR PATROL
(Period from April 25 to May 21, 1943)
PROLOGUE
Arrived submarine base, MIDWAY ISLANDS April
6, 1943 after FOURTH
War Patrol. On April 7, 1943 commenced
refit by Submarine base, relief
crew, and ship's force.
During April 21 to 22 conducted training exercises
underway.
Ship ready for sea April 25, 1943.
1. NARRATIVE
April 25: 1500Y; Departed MIDWAY under air escort for patrol area via
Kuril
Islands.
Crossed the International
Date Line.
April 27: Tested new flashless powder during complete darkness.
Still our
powder is not
flashless, but it gives off a diminished flash. This
powder cannot
be compared with that employed by the Japs against us,
on numerous
occasions. It is also understood that the British and
German's flashless
powder is as effective as the Japanese.
Furthermore,
this powder produces a great amount of smoke and is
considered a
handicap to the gun crew when firing with an unfavorable
wind.
April 29: 1555N: Slowed to one engine speed (80-90) due to heavy head
seas.
April 30: 1000N: Seas having diminished, speeded up to two main engines.
1622L: Upon surfacing
from daily submerged drills sheared the shear
pins in bow
plane rigging mechanism. Stopped; lying to while
replacing these
shear pins. At 1720L, all repairs completed continued
course and speed.
May 2: Encountered hail and snow on the morning watch.
1423L: Sighted
snow capped mountain peaks on ONEKOTAN ISLANDS
of the KURIL
ISLANDS.
1639L: Slowed
and commenced surface patrol along the KURIL ISLANDS.
Will investigate
NATSUWA tomorrow in close and submerged.
May 3: 0400N; Dived six miles east of NATSUWA and
proceeded to
reconnoiter
the island. Found a four to five thousand ton freighter broken on
beach of NATSUWA
opposite BANJO TO, apparently a victim of a storm.
Fresh appearing
paint on the protruding parts indicated that this was
a recent wreck.
Observed will developed air field consisting of four
large hangers
with dispersal stowages in back, a large landing field
apparently equipped
with flood lights, administration buildings, radio
station barracks
etc. This installation is considered comparable to
the air station
on Eastern Island, MIDWAY. Took several photographs,
and plotted
positions of outstanding features on chart included as
enclosure "A"
then cleared island submerged.
1105K; Due to
absence of any plane activity surfaced and continued
patrol of the
KURIL CHAIN to the southward.
The islands observed
this far south are barren and completely covered
with snow and
ice, the installation on NATSUWA being the only
indication of
any activity.
May 4: 0420K; Dived and proceeded to reconnoiter NOYORO
MAN on the
northeast tip
of ETOROFU ISLAND where there are sulphur works. The
harbor was jammed
with float ice and no activity could be observed. As
the currents
were apparently causing the ice floes to surround us, changed
course to southeast
to get clear.
ATTACK No. 1
0525K; The O.O.D.
sighted, through the morning mist, what appeared to
be a small ship
or patrol, range about six thousand yards, angle on
the bow 30d
port. This put him on course parallel to the Island
Chain.
This observation was confirmed by the Commanding and Executive
Officers.
Five minutes later the ship changed course presenting a
zero angle on
the bow. The end on view through the mist prevented
identification
of the ship as other than a small freighter or patrol
until the range
was 3,200 yards. At this time he was coming out of
the mist and
the angle on the bow was sufficient to identify him as a
larger target
and worthy of torpedo fire. On the next observation
identified target
as an auxiliary seaplane tender and maneuvered for
stern torpedo
shots.
May 4: 0558L; Fired a divergent spread of three torpedoes
using stack,
forward goalpost
and after goalpost as points of aim, range 1,350
yards, 123d
starboard track, speed 11 knots. The first torpedo with
torpex head
hit between stack and bridge after sixty second run. The
torpedo fired
at his forward goalpost evidently passed ahead and the
one fired aft
must have been erratic or a dud. It is inconceivable
that any normal
dispersion could allow this last torpedo to miss a 510
foot target
at this range. The target tooted her whistle, commenced
firing to port,
away from the WAHOO. and then turned away dropping
four depth charges.
She was observed to have a slight port list, but
was evidently
quite under control. As this ship, a KAMIKAWA MARU
Class XAV-1
is capable of 21 knots and did not increase speed, it is
considered probable
that the one hit limited her speed to the 11 knots
determined.
0636K; Continued
on easterly course to clear ice-pack.
1355K; Surfaced
and continued patrol of KURIL CHAIN to southward. Ice
floes prevented
investigating HITUKAPPU WAN on the south coast of
ETOROFU.
2047K; Sent contact
report to ComSubPac concerning the XAV-1.
May 5-6: Patrolling KURIL CHAIN.
May 78: Entered area and closed coast at full speed.
0420K; dived
12 miles from coast off BENTEN ZAKI. Observed two
freighters with
a destroyer or patrol, and a third lonely freighter
pass ahead of
us well inshore out of range.
ATTACK No. 2 A and B
1039K; Sighted
two ships on northerly course, hugging the shoreline.
Commenced approach.
Leading ship identified as similar to YUKI MARU
(5,704 tons)
and the second like the YOMSEI MARU (2,861 tons). The
second ship
however, was dark grey, fitted with gun mounts and was
apparently escorting.
1115K; Fired
spread to two torpedoes at leading ship, range 900 yards,
107d starboard
track, speed 9 knots, followed immediately by a spread
of four torpedoes
at the escort. The first torpedo hit the YUKI MARU
under the stack
and broke her back. The second torpedo missed ahead.
The patrol turned
towards and successfully avoided the four torpedoes
fired at her,
though how she got between those four torpedo tracks
will always
remain a mystery. As the YUKI MARU had sunk, went deep
and avoided
the patrol at full speed then silent running. None of his
depth charges
were too close. Observed him from periscope depth and
cleared vicinity.
Heard considerable distant depth charging or
bombing and
observed planes searching remainder of the day.
May 8: Proceeded down coast, skirted fishing fleet,
and dived a mile and a
half off KONE
ZAKI.
0512K; Sighted
small ship and made approach. He was running within
fifteen hundred
yards of the beach, turning into every cove. Broke
off attack when
he was observed to be too small for torpedo fire.
ATTACK NO. 3
1413K; Sighted
three ships coming down the coast, commenced approach.
The convoy was
zig-zagging, and when the range had closed was
identified as
two escort vessels, similar to the one encountered
yesterday, escorting
a naval auxiliary similar to the KIHRYU MARU
(9,310 tons).
1503K; Fired
spread of three torpedoes, range 2,500, 90d port track,
speed 10 knots,
depth setting fifteen feet. The first torpedo
(torpex) aimed
at MOT, prematured after 50 second run half way to the
target.
The second torpedo aimed at mainmast, and down practically
the same track
as the first, was evidently deflected by the premature
or failed to
explode. The third torpedo fired at the foremast hit the
point of aim
but failed to explode. Both sound operators reported the
thud of the
dud at the same time that a column of water about ten feet
was observed
at the targets side abreast of her foremast as the air-
flask exploded.
1510K; Received
first of the series of depth charges expected under
these circumstances.
May 9: Proceeded up coast with the intention of closing
KONE SAKI prior to
diving.
ATTACK No. 4 A and B
0245K; When 17,000
yards from KONE SAKI by SJ range, the radar
operator observed
two pips, 15,000 and 15,300 yards on the same
bearing with
the land. Changed course and tracked target group and in
the position
they would occupy at dawn, dived to 40 feet. Continued
tracking by
radar and periscope bearings until range was 7,000 yards,
then went to
sixty feet. The targets were seen identified as a large
tanker and freighter
in column, evidently making the night run between
ports without
escort.
0440K; Fired
a spread of three torpedoes at tanker identified as
similar to HUZISAN
MARU (9,527 tons), range 1,200 yards, 100d port
track, speed
10 knots, and immediately thereafter a spread of three
more torpedoes
at the freighter identified as similar to the HAWAII
MARU (9,467
tons), range 1,130 yards 90d port track, speed 10 knots.
All torpedoes
were set to run at eighteen feet. Just after the fifth
torpedo was
fired the first hit the tanker amidships breaking her
back.
She sank by the bow and caught fire aft. The fourth torpedo (a
torpex) hit
the freighter under the bridge breaking its back, and the
fifth torpedo
(TNT) hit her aft. She sank by the stern. Attempted
taking some
periscope pictures in the meager light; then when both
ships had sunk
cleared the area to the east.
Heard distant
depth charges or bombs throughout the day, and one echo
ranging A/S
vessel which passed close on one occasion. Our
bathythermograph,
which showed a two degree temperature inversion at
170 feet gave
us extra confidence in our 300 foot depth.
2020K;
Distant explosions and echo-ranging still heard so on
surfacing cleared
area to northeast to patrol TOKYO-PARAMUSHIRU
route.
May 10: Commenced submerged patrol on above route.
1010K; Surfaced
due to poor visibility and conducted radar search.
May 10-11 Patrolling TOKYO-PARAMUSHIRU route.
Nothing sighted except
one trawler
or patrol which we avoided.
May 12: Closed coast and dived two miles off KONE SAKI.
Numerous
sampans and
a glassy sea made periscope observation difficult.
0646K;
Sighted light bomber searching vicinity. Heard several fairly
loud explosions.
0730K;
Sighted another light bomber headed for periscope. Cleared
area to the
east. Heard numerous distant bombs or depth charges
throughout the
morning.
ATTACKS No. 5 A, B, C, D.
1725K;
Sighted distant smoke in the northeast which drew to the
south.
Commenced approach at standard speed to close the range prior
to sunset.
Identified target group as two freighters in column, the
leading one
similar to NYOKEN MARU (4,021 tons) and the second a huge
freighter similar
to the ANYO MARU (9,257 tons). They were tracked at
9 knots, zig-zagging
on base course south, will beyond possible
position for
submerged attack.
2005K;
Surfaced and went after convoy at full speed while charging
batteries.
2030K;
Sighted smoke of freighters in clear night.
2051K; Picked
up freighters on SJ, range 9,400 yards, and commenced
working around
their stern so that attack could be made with them
silhouetted
in the setting quarter moon.
2245K;
Having determined enemy zig-zag plan, and speed as 8.5 knots,
dived in position
for a "two ship" shot where they would come by in
column.
As both freighters were loaded set torpedo depth at 18 feet.
2338K;
Fired spread of two torpedoes at ANYO MARU, range 1,200
yards, 95d port
track, speed 8.5 knots, and immediately thereafter a spread
of two torpedoes
at the leading ship, range 1,480 yards, 126d port
track, speed
8.5 knots. The first torpedo fired at the mainmast hit.
The second torpedo,
fired at his stack amidships, is believed to have
been erratic
or a dud. The target course and speed had been most
accurately determined
and it is inconceivable that a normal dispersion
could cause
it to miss. No hits were obtained on the leading ship.
The ANYO MARU
was now observed still going, so waited until the range
had opened to
5,000 yards then surfaced and commenced another "end-
around".
The moon had nearly set, so gained position for surface
attack tracking
target by radar with TBT bearings as he came in.
May 13: 0107K; Fired last remaining bow torpedo at
ANYO MARU, range
1,800 yards,
90d port track, speed 7.5 knots, and then turned with full
rudder and speed
for an almost identical stern tube shot. Nothing was
seen of the
bow torpedo or its wake and the enemy apparently did not
know he had
again been fired upon.
0111K;
Fired last remaining torpedo into the ANYO MARU, range 1,800
yards, 110d
port track, speed 7.5 knots. Some phosphorescence was
observed as
this torpedo headed to intercept the target. It hit under
the bridge with
a dull thud, much louder then the duds we have heard
only on sound,
but lacking the "whacking" which accompanies a whole-
hearted explosion.
It is considered that this torpedo had a low order
detonation.
Some sparks were observed on the target above the
impact, but
he turned away apparently under control, belching smoke.
At this time
the NYOKEN MARU which was on our starboard bow opened
fire and forced
us to dive for six minutes. When we surfaced and
closed the ANYO
MARU, she was lagging a mile behind the NYOKEN,
smoking furiously,
and making six knots. We manned the deck gun, but
withdrew, quite
helpless to stop the cripple, when the NYOKEN turned
and rejoined
the ANYO.
0225K;
Cleared area to east on three main engines.
0336K;
Sent message to ComSubPac concerning expenditure of torpedoes.
2200K;
Set course for PEARL.
May 18: 2105Y; Sighted four ships on starboard bow,
two of them appearing to
be destroyers.
Believe it to be the convoy for MIDWAY which
STINGRAY had
met earlier. Tracked them on course 290, speed 7, and
sent contact
report.
May 19: 0130Y; Received information concerning possible
meeting with
convoy.
May 21: 1000VK; Arrived PEARL.
2. WEATHER
Excellent weather
was encountered throughout the patrol.
3. NAVIGATIONAL AIDS
All lights were
burning, but dimmed.
5. ENEMY SHIPS SIGHTED
Date : Time :
Position :Course : Speed :
Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/4/43 : 0525K :Lat. 45-20 N
: 060d :11 knots: XAV-1 KAMIKAWA
: :Long.149-00 E
: :
: MARU CLASS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/4/43 : 0420K :Lat. 40-04 N
: 170d : 8 KNOTS: 2 FREIGHTERS
: :Long.141-54 E
: :
: 1 DESTROYER
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/7/43 : 0832K :Lat. 39-59 N
: 350d : 8 knots: 1 FREIGHTER
: :Long.142-04 E
: :
:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/7/43 : 1039K :Lat. 40-05 N
: 350d : 9 knots: YUKI MARU -(YONIE MARU
: :Long.141-53 E
: :
: GUN MOUNTS) - ESCORT
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/8/43 : 0512K :Lat 39-02 N
:VARIOUS: 8 knots: SMALL SHIP
: :Long.141-58 E
: :
: (1,000 TON)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/8/43 : 1413K :Lat. 39-02 N
: 210d :10 knots:2 ESCORT VES(CONVT'D AK)
: :Long.142-02 E
: :
:1 AUX (KINRYU MARU)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/9/43 : 0245K :Lat. 38-57 N
: 210d :10 knots:TANKER HUZISAN MARU
: :Long.141-49 E
: :
:FREIGHTER HAWAII MARU
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/11/43 : 1520K :Lat. 39-27 N
:VARIOUS: SLOW :SMALL PATROL BOAT OR
: :Long.122-16 1/2 E:
: :TRAWLER
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/12/43 : 1725K :Lat. 39-40 N
:ZIGGING:8.5KNOTS: 2 FREIGHTERS: MYOKEN &
: :Long.122-24 1/4 E: 180d :7.5KNOTS:
ANYO MARU
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. DESCRIPTION OF PLANES SIGHTED.
DATE & TIME : TYPE
: LATITUDE : LONGITUDE
: COURSE : ALTITUDE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/7/43 1400K: SMALL : 40d
- 00'N : 141d - 53'E :CIRCLING: MEDIUM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/12/43 0636K: LIGHT : 39d - 22'N
: 142d - 09'E : 000d : MEDIUM
: BOMBER :
:
: :
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5/12/43 0730K: LIGHT : 39d - 22'N
: 142d - 15'E :VARIOUS : MEDIUM
: BOMBER :
:
: :
5/14/43 1218K: SD RADAR : 38d - 43'N
: 151d - 20'E : - - - : - - -
:4.5 MILES :
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. SUMMARY OF SUBMARINE ATTACKS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
: (1)
: (2)A :
(2)B
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATTACK
: XAV
: AX
: ESCORT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME
: 1958
: 0115 : 0115
DATE - G.C.T.
: 3 MAY 1943 : 7 MAY 1943
: 7 MAY 1943
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LATITUDE
: 45 - 20 N : 40 - 05 N
: 40 - 05 N
LONGITUDE
: 149 - 08 E : 141 - 53 E
: 141 - 53 E
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER AND TYPE OF TORPEDOES: 3 - XIV3A
: 2 - X1V3A : 4 XIV3A
FIRED ON EACH ATTACK
: (1 TNT - 2 TPX) : (2 TPX) :3
TPX 1 TNT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HITS
: 1 TPX
: 1 TPX : 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER SUNK (TONNAGE)
: 0
: 5,704 : 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER DAMAGED OR
: 1 DAMAGED :
:
PROBABLY SUNK (TONNAGE) : 15,650
: 0
: 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF TARGET
: XAV - 1 : AK
: PATROL
: KAMIKAWA : YUKI MARU
:(2,500 CONV)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
RANGE
: 1,350
: 900 : 900
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF ATTACK: PERISCOPE(P):
:
:
SURFACE(S) NIGHT(N) RADAR(R): (P)
: (P) : (P)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED DRAFT OF TARGET : 28'
: 26' : 22'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TORPEDO DEPTH SETTING
: 12'
: 15' : 15'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOW OR STERN SHOT
: STERN
: BOW : BOW
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRACK ANGLE
: 123d S :
107d S : 089d S
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
GYRO ANGLE
:
:
: 353:353
:201:203:205 : 009:016
: 355:353
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED TARGET SPEED :
11 KNOTS : 9 KNOTS
: 9 KNOTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRING INTERVAL
: 11 SEC; 9 SEC : 10 SEC
:13S:18S:22S
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPREAD - AMOUNT AND KIND : DIVERGENT
:
:
:(DIFF PTS OF AIM) : DIVERGENT : DIVERGENT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAS TORPEDO PERFORMANCE
SATISFACTORY?
: YES
: YES : YES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
: (3)
: (4)A :
(4)B
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATTACK
: AK
: AO
: AK
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME
: 0503
: 1840 : 1840
DATE - G.C.T.
: 8 MAY 1943 : 8 MAY 1943
: 8 MAY 1943
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LATITUDE
: 39 - 02 N : 38 - 57 N
: 38 - 57 N
LONGITUDE
: 142 - 02 E : 141 - 49 E
: 141 - 49 E
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER AND TYPE OF TORPEDOES: 3 - XIV3A
: 3 - X1V3A : 3 XIV3A
FIRED ON EACH ATTACK
: (1 TNT - 2 TPX) : (2 TPX 1 TNT) :2 TPX 1 TNT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HITS
: 0
: 1
: 2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER SUNK (TONNAGE)
: 0
: 9,527 : 9,467
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER DAMAGED OR
:
:
:
PROBABLY SUNK (TONNAGE) : 0
: 0
: 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF TARGET
: AK
: AO
: AK
: KINRYU MARU : HUZISAN MARU :HAWAII
MARU
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
RANGE
: 2,900
: 1,200 : 1,200
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF ATTACK: PERISCOPE(P):
:
:
SURFACE(S) NIGHT(N) RADAR(R): (P)
: (R) (P) : (R) (P)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED DRAFT OF TARGET : 28'
: 28' : 28'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TORPEDO DEPTH SETTING
: 15'
: 18' : 18'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOW OR STERN SHOT
: BOW
: BOW : BOW
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRACK ANGLE
: 090d P :
100d P : 090d P
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
GYRO ANGLE
:001:002:359 : 340:335:334
: 357:355:352
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED TARGET SPEED :
10 KNOTS : 10 KNOTS
: 10 KNOTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRING INTERVAL
: 12 SEC; 23 SEC : 17 SEC 13 SEC :13SEC 14 SEC
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPREAD - AMOUNT AND KIND : DIVERGENT
: DIVERGENT : DIVERGENT
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAS TORPEDO PERFORMANCE
SATISFACTORY?
: NO*
: YES : YES
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMARKS: * I DUD,
1 PREMATURE, 1 ERRATIC RUN.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
: (5)A
: (5)B :
(5)C
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ATTACK
:
:
:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TIME
: 1338
: 1338 : 1507
DATE - G.C.T.
: 12 MAY 1943 : 12 MAY 1943 :
12 MAY 1943
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
LATITUDE
: 38 - 40 N : 38 - 40 N
: 38 - 52 N
LONGITUDE
: 142 - 53 E : 142 - 53 E
: 143 - 00 E
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER AND TYPE OF TORPEDOES: 2 - XIV3A
: 2 - X1V3A : 1 XIV3A
FIRED ON EACH ATTACK
: (1 TNT - 1 TPX) : (1 TPX 1 TNT) : TPX
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HITS
: 1
: 0
: 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER SUNK (TONNAGE)
: 0
: 0
: 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER DAMAGED OR
:
:
:
PROBABLY SUNK (TONNAGE) : 9,257
: 0
: 0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF TARGET
: AK
: AK
: AK
: ANYO MARU : MYOKEN MARU
: ANYO MARU
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
RANGE
: 1,200
: 1,200 : 1,800
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TYPE OF ATTACK: PERISCOPE(P):
:
:
SURFACE(S) NIGHT(N) RADAR(R): (R) (P) (N)
: (R) (P) (N) : (R) (P) (N)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED DRAFT OF TARGET : 30'
: 24' : 30'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TORPEDO DEPTH SETTING
: 18'
: 18' : 18'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOW OR STERN SHOT
: STERN
: STERN : BOW
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRACK ANGLE
: 095d P :
126d P : 090d S
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
GYRO ANGLE
: 190:183 : 149:150
: 008:1/2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED TARGET SPEED :
8.5 KNOTS : 8.5 KNOTS
: 7.5 KNOTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIRING INTERVAL
: 14 SECS : 15 SECS
: -------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPREAD - AMOUNT AND KIND : DIVERGENT
: DIVERGENT : -------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
WAS TORPEDO PERFORMANCE
SATISFACTORY?
: YES
: YES : NO*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMARKS: * APPARENTLY
A DUD.
-----------------------------------------------
: (5)D
-----------------------------------------------
ATTACK
:
-----------------------------------------------
TIME
: 1911
DATE - G.C.T.
: 12 MAY 1943
-----------------------------------------------
LATITUDE
: 38 - 52 N
LONGITUDE
: 143 - 00 E
-----------------------------------------------
NUMBER AND TYPE OF TORPEDOES: 1 - XIV3A
FIRED ON EACH ATTACK
: 1 TNT
-----------------------------------------------
HITS
: 0
-----------------------------------------------
NUMBER SUNK (TONNAGE)
: 0
-----------------------------------------------
NUMBER DAMAGED OR
:
PROBABLY SUNK (TONNAGE) : 9,257
-----------------------------------------------
TYPE OF TARGET
: AK
: ANYO MARU
-----------------------------------------------
RANGE
: 1,800
-----------------------------------------------
TYPE OF ATTACK: PERISCOPE(P):
SURFACE(S) NIGHT(N) RADAR(R): (R) (S) (N)
-----------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED DRAFT OF TARGET : 30'
-----------------------------------------------
TORPEDO DEPTH SETTING
: 18'
-----------------------------------------------
BOW OR STERN SHOT
: STERN
-----------------------------------------------
TRACK ANGLE
: 110d S
-----------------------------------------------
GYRO ANGLE
: 162
-----------------------------------------------
ESTIMATED TARGET SPEED :
7.5 KNOTS
-----------------------------------------------
FIRING INTERVAL
: -------
-----------------------------------------------
SPREAD - AMOUNT AND KIND : -------
-----------------------------------------------
WAS TORPEDO PERFORMANCE
SATISFACTORY?
: YES
8. ENEMY A/S MEASURES
The A/S vessels
encountered definitely belonged to the second team.
They invariably
dropped single charges after attempting to locate us
by stopping
to listen. Aircraft were used to search in conjunction
with these vessels,
but arrived too late to be effective on all but
one occasion.
Only one echo ranging vessel was encountered. Their
doctrine seems
to require dropping lots of charges and bombs whether
they know the
submarine's location or not. The A/S vessels observed
were all converted
freighters with gun mounts fore and aft and
characterized
by black and white checkered painting forward and after
of the bridge
structure.
9. MINE SWEEPING OPERATIONS
No mine sweeping
operations were observed.
10. MAJOR DEFECTS
No major defects
were experienced.
11. COMMUNICATIONS
Radio reception
was good and was complete. No difficulty, other than
ineffective
enemy jamming and spurious transmissions, was encountered
in clearing
messages to NPM on 8,470 Kcs.
The loop coupling
adapter was tested regularly. In the KURILS, NPM
could usually
be copied at 60 feet, occasionally as deep as 65 feet.
In the area
results were not as good, reception being difficult at 60
feet.
Last Serial received
- Comsubpac Serial 74
Last Serial sent
- WAHOO 192230 May.
12. SOUND CONDITIONS AND DENSITY LAYERS
Sound conditions
in the KURILS were fair to poor. The one ship
sighted was
not heard until at a very short range. In the area sound
conditions were
good to excellent. Ships were picked up at 5,000 to
8,000 yards.
In the KURILS
water temperature varied from 28 to 34 degrees depending
upon proximity
to land, ice floes, etc.; however, no pronounced
gradients were
encountered. In the area water temperature was usually
36 to 40 degrees.
All types of
gradients were encountered. In the extreme case of May
9, ten miles
east of KONE SAKI, the temperature dropped from 37
degrees to 32
degrees in going from periscope depth to 100 feet. It
is felt that
this alone prevented the echo ranging AS vessel from
gaining sound
contact. The bathythermograph was used constantly
during dives
and was very valuable for predicting the sound conditions
existing.
13. HEALTH AND HABITABILITY
Health and habitability
were excellent, except for one threatening
case of appendicitis
during return voyage.
14. MILES STEAMED
Enroute to Area.............................
2,964
In Area.....................................
803
From Area...................................
3,061
15. FUEL OIL EXPENDED
Enroute to Area.............................
8.68 gal. per mile.
In Area.....................................
8.53 gal. per mile.
From Area...................................15.80
gal. per mile.
16. ENDURANCE FACTORS
Torpedoes..................................
NONE
Others.....................................
Indefinite.
17. PATROL ENDED
Patrol ended
by orders of ComSubPac after expenditure of all
torpedoes.
FC5-10/A16-3(FB5-102) SUBMARINE SQUADRON TEN
Serial 086
In Care Of Fleet Post Office,
San Francisco, California,
May 22, 1943.
CONFIDENTIAL
From: The Commander Submarine Squadron
Ten.
To : The Commander Submarine
Force, Pacific Fleet.
Subject: U.S.S. WAHOO, Fifth War Patrol - Comments
on.
1. The fifth war patrol of the
U.S.S. WAHOO was again outstanding in
aggressiveness and efficiency. In ten action packed days the
WAHOO delivered
ten torpedo attacks on eight different targets.
2. Although the results were gratifying,
faulty torpedo performance cut
positive results probably as much as 50%. Such must have been
a source of keen
disappointment to the Commanding Officer and personnel of the WAHOO.
Seven hits
were observed of twenty-four torpedoes fired, for a score of 29.2%.
One of
these seven was believed to have been of low order detonation.
3. During this patrol, aggressiveness,
determination and fighting spirit
of the Commanding Officer, officers and crew again manifested in the
excellent
results obtained. The Commander Submarine Squadron Ten takes
pleasure in
congratulating the Commanding Officer and personnel on inflicting the
following
damage on the enemy:
SUNK
AK (YUKI MARU Class).................................5704
tons
AO (HUZISAN MARU Class)..............................9527
tons
AK (HAWAII MARU Class)...............................9467
tons
TOTAL
24698 tons
DAMAGED
XAV-1 (KAMIKAWA MARU Class)..........................15650
tons
AK (ANYO MARU Class)..............................
9257 tons
TOTAL
24907 tons
FF12-10/A16-3(5)/(16) SUBMARINE FORCE, PACIFIC FLEET
Serial 0484
In Care of Fleet Post Office,
San Francisco, California,
May 29, 1943.
CONFIDENTIAL
COMSUBPAC PATROL REPORT NO. 164
U.S.S. WAHOO - FIFTH WAR PATROL
From: The Commander Submarine Force,
Pacific Fleet.
To : Submarine Force, Pacific
Fleet.
Subject: U.S.S. WAHOO (SS238) - Report of Fifth War
Patrol.
Enclosure: (A) Copy of Subject War Patrol Report.
(B) None.
(C) Copy of Comsubron 10 conf. ltr. FC5-10/A16-3
(FB5-102) Serial 086 of May 22, 1943.
1. The U.S.S. WAHOO's fifth war patrol was
the third for the present
commanding officer. Typical of the previous two patrols, this
one was carried
out in the same aggressive and successful manner. These three
patrols establish
a record not only in damage inflicted on the enemy for three successive
patrols,
but also for accomplishing this feat in the shortest time on patrol.
The WAHOO
has sunk a total of 93,281 tons and damaged 30,880 more in only twenty-five
patrol days.
2. Once again the WAHOO utilized all the weapons
available in
conjunction with sound strategic and tactical judgement. This
combined with
team work of personnel made this fifth war patrol another outstanding
example of
how to conduct submarine warfare.
3. The Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet,
congratulates the
Commanding Officer, Officers, and Crew of the U.S.S. WAHOO for this
their third
successive aggressive and successful war patrol during which the following
damage was inflicted on the enemy:
SUNK
1 Freighter (YUKI MARU Class)
5,704 tons
1 Tanker (HUZISAN MARU Class)
9,527 tons
1 Freighter (HAWAII MARU
Class)
9,467 tons
TOTAL 24,698
tons
DAMAGED
1 Ex-Seaplane Tender (KAMIKAWA
Class) 15,650 tons
1 Freighter (ANYO MARU Class)
9,257 tons
TOTAL 24,907
tons
C. A. LOCKWOOD, Jr. |