The Champion Submarine-Killing Submarine of World War Two
 

Third War Patrol

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Honshu Southwestward to Kyushu
May 26 - July 7, 1944

 
 
(A) Prologue
BATFISH arrived Pearl from second war patrol on 15 April 1944. Eighteen day refit period by U.S.S. PROTEUS and Submarine Base during which time converted Nos. 4A and 4B MBT to FBT. Three days training. Depermed and sound tested on 9 May. Ready for sea 10 May. Underway for Midway 1330(VW) 10 May arriving 14 May. ON 15 May, Lieut. Comdr. J. K. Fyfe, U.S.N. relieved Lieut. Comdr. W.R. Merrill as Commanding Officer. Conducted training exercises with U.S.S. GREENLET, U.S.S. CHALCEDONY and U.S.S. PC 587 on 16-24 May, firing 9 exercise torpedoes, night gun firing and day battle surface. Ready for sea 26 May 1944
(B) Narrative
26 May
1530(Y) Underway from Submarine Base pier, Midway, for patrol area. Air coverage by two planes of Marine Air Group 23 until 1800(Y).
27 May - 3 June
Proceeding patrol station conducting daily training dives, ship drills, fire control drills and battle surfaces enroute.
1 June
2100(X) 515 miles from edge of area. Went ahead full speed on 3 main engines (16 knots) so as to arrive prior daylight 3 June.
3 June
Hereafter all times are (-9) unless otherwise noted.
0618 Entered area. Set course to pass 20 miles south of Tori Shima and since we are due to be out of this particular locality at midnight tonight continued patrol at full speed.
1102 Sighted Tori Shima bearin 297° True, distant 47 miles.
1135 SD contact (Aircraft contact #1) 26 miles, closing.
1136 Dove.
1222 On coming up to 53 feet for an SD sweep prior to surfacing picked up submarine on surface bearing 148° T, distant about 12,000 yards. (Ship contact #1.) Commenced approach. The closer this boat got the more I was convinced she was the WHALE, and after the range had closed to about 3000 yards I definitely established her identity as friendly. At
1305 Fired the recognition smoke bomb and surfaced. Exchanged calls with KINGFISH.
1420 Sighted Sofu Gan bearing 207° T.
1446 SD contact (Aircraft contact #2) at 20 miles - Dove.
1600 Surfaced.
4 June
0200 Lots of Jap activity on 450 Kcs.
0341 Dove with Tori Shima bearing 145° True, range 20 miles. Went to 350 feet for BT card.
0512 Sighted four columns of smoke bearing 047° T. Went to normal approach course and speeded up to 6 knots. Although we ran at this speed for 2 3/4 hours no further evidence of smoke or ships could be seen.
0800 Planed up to 45 feet for a good look around and to take SD sweep prior to surfacing. Sighted a small patrol vessel or fishing trawler (Ship contact #2) about 12,000 yards on course 340. At
0815 ship disappeared behind SE end of island so after taking SD sweep, surfaced. However a plane contact 6 miles, closing, (Aircraft contact #3) drove us down again immediately. My intention was to run to southward on the surface to see if anything had developed south of the island and to try for an attack position in case we made contact.
0824 Getting ready to surface again, when the trawler previously sighted came around the SW end of the island. He stayed on a north westerly course for about 15 minutes and then headed south. He was a two-masted, single-stack trawler similar in appearance to the MINATO MARU shown in ONI 208-J, revised.
0912 Sighed one SALLY, flying low on a southerly course, crossing about 6 miles ahead. (Aircraft contact #4.)
1112 Sighed three SALLY's flying low also on a southerly course. It is beginning to look like the AAL flying schedule, flying by 12 minutes after each hour. (Aircraft contact #5.)
1212 No plane contact.
1230 Surfaced with Tori Shima bearing 142° T, distant 15 miles. Plane contacts at 18 and 22 miles both opening, (Aircraft contact #6) so apparently they were there on time after all. Set course 270 and cleared area at full speed.
1312 I found it hard to believe but SD contact (Aircraft contact #7) at 18 miles, moved in to 17 and then opened, disappearing at 22. Land contact at this time 25 miles. It's 150 miles from here to Hachijo and it looks like the planes leave every hour on the hour and cruise at 150 knots.
2016 Dove to wash out #4A & B. Now using those tanks as ballast tanks.
2028 Surfaced.
2200 Slowed to 10 knots.
5 June
0420 Dove for trim and BT card.
0516 Surfaced - continued patrol to westward across convoy routes.
6 June
Patrolling western half of area.
0425 Early morning trim dive.
0550 Surfaced.
1300 Went ahead at 15 knots in order to arrive off Tanega Shima before daylight tomorrow.
7 June
0359 Dove 17 miles east of Tanowaki Bana on Tanega Shima. Submerged patrol north and south along 100 fathom curve.
2000 Surfaced in bright moonlight and stood off to eastward at slow speed patrolling across the Van Diemem - Tokyo route.
2400 Reversed course.
8 June
0436 Dove with Toi Misaki bearing 305° T distant 16 miles. Submerged patrol north and south along 100 fathom curve.
0645 Sampan fishing fleet started coming out. From this time until about 1600 there were anywhere from two to eight sampans in the vicinity. They were about half in half sail and power boats and varied between old dilapidated looking hulks to fairly new and large boats. Although their nuisance value was considerable we had no trouble remaining undetected.
0940 1 MAVIS (Aircraft contact #8) flying N.E.
1030 1 SALLY (Aircraft contact #9) flying N.E.
1122 1 SALLY (Aircraft contact #10) flying north disappeared over Toi Misaki and apparently landed.
1305 Sighed a ship (MFM) bearing 290° T, distant about 8000 yards on a southerly course, speed 10 knots. (Ship contact #3.)
1315 Range is now 4500 yards. Ship identified as MURO MARU (Page 19, ONI 208-J, rev.), a properly marked hospital ship. In addition to the hull, stack, and bridge markings, she had a big cross painted on what appeared to be a tarpaulin that was hung between the bridge and the main mast. She was just inside the 100 fathom curve, course 190° T, speed 10 knots. Broke off approach.
1936 4 BETTY's (Aircraft contact #11) flying south.
2019 Surfaced. Navigation lights at O Shima, Toi Misaki and Hi Saki were burning, with reduced intensity. In view of this fact and because of the rather active air patrols seen all day thought perhaps something might be coming through so decided to patrol this vicinity in a N-S direction during the night. Moon nearly full, cloudless sky, calm sea, land clearly visible - No luck.
9 June
0417 Dove. Patrolling off Toi Misaki again today.
1030 Sighted two planes (NELL) distant 3 miles bearing 049° T flying north. (Aircraft contact #12.) Again, from 1-8 sampans of nondescript appearance were in sight most of the day.
2013 Surfaced. Decided to patrol to northward along coast during the night so as to be in a position to dive off Fuka Shima in the morning.
2136 Reversed course and started an approach on a radar pip bearing 212° T, distant 20,000 yards. Pip disappeared at 12,000 yards. Stood on down the bearing but it never appeared again and since nothing was in sight came back to course 030 and broke off the approach. This was the first of three phantoms on which we made approaches during the night. (See radar section for complete information and possible explanation.)
2344 Tracked another phantom.
10 June
0036 Made approach on another phantom bearing 335° T distant 18,000 yards. Disappeared at 13,000 yards only to show another pip at 19,500 yards. Think we have figured out this disconcerting phenomenon. The night is unusually clear, calm and with a very bright moon and it is believed that with the existing atmospheric conditions we are getting pips on land that is 60-70 miles away and this echo is showing up on the sweep succeeding that of the pulse that cause them.
0305 SD radar contact 12 miles, closed to 9, faded out at 9 1/2 miles. (Aircraft contact #13.)
0430 Dove.
0652 Sailing sampan bearing 225° T, range 6000 yards. This was first of two sampans seen during the day.
0930 Sighted black and white horizontal striped buoy with red base, lighted - position: Lat. 32°-38'N, Long. 132°-02'E.
1058 Sighted mast of ship bearing 287° T, on a southeasterly course, range 11,000 yards. Commenced approach. (Ship contact #4.)
1215 After a long approach against the current, the range closed sufficiently to recognize the target. She was a MFM type and had a silhouette that was different in detail from anything in the book. She had a high poop forward mounting two guns of fairly large caliber. A deep well forward and a high foremast with two yardarms just forward of the bridge which was high and long. The amidships superstructure was also high and the single funnel just barely cleared the top of the bridge. A high poop deck aft on which was mounted one or more guns of about the same caliber as those forward. The mainmast was the same height as the foremast. From all appearances, I would judge she was a training ship of some kind because of the large number of men who were topside and around the guns apparently engaging in drills; and also because she was just steaming around, and seemed to be headed in no particular direction. Two signal searchlights were in use and since they were trained on the beam, and since there was no one out there to talk to, I surmise they were holding signal drill.
1220 Went to battle stations submerged.
1243 Fired tubes 1, 2 & 3 using a 1° spread, 70 port track, 1800 yards.
1244 One hit amidships. Target literally blew up in my face. This was the most terrific explosion I have ever seen and target sank in less than two minutes, slightly by the stern.
1247 One very loud explosion which jarred the BATFISH considerably. Went to 250 feet and rigged for depth charge. At the time I thought this was a bomb, but since I had seen no planes during the approach, post mortem held later makes me think it was either a magazine or a boiler on the sunken ship blowing up. At the time I was making a periscope sweep and nothing was in sight as far as I could see. However since the sea was glassy calm and I only had 1 foot of periscope out, my horizon was less than 2500 yards.
1300 Commenced reload forward. Since this attack was made 4 miles off Shimanoura Shima and in plain sight of the lookout station, I expected the Chidoris to be out of Bungo Suido in full force, so cleared the immediate vicinity to get back across the 100 fathom curve and then headed on course 145 to patrol the 150° line from Fuka Shima.
1445-1650 Depth charging in distance. Nothing in sight in periscope.
2009 Surfaced.
2032 SD contact 10 miles, moved in to 7 and back out to 12. Picked up on SJ bearing 109° T, 20,000 yards so he must have been flying low. (Aircraft contact #14.)
2145 Flare sighted bearing 175° T, about 4000 yards away. Turned away at high speed.
2200 Picked up radar signal on APR, 145 Mcs., very strong. He seemed to have us as he would sweep back and forth and then stay on us for about 15 seconds. This was deduced from the fact that the signal would increase from weak, to very strong to weak and then back to very strong, and remain there for 15 seconds or so. At this time we were 30 miles from Ashizuri Saki radar station.
2346 SD contact 12 miles. (Aircraft contact #15.) Closed to 9 and then to 7 so at
2351 Dove because it looked like he had us cold.
11 June
0050 Fast screws moving down the starboard side - fairly close. Sounded like a small, high-speed A/S vessel.
0145 Started to surface. Plane contact (SD) 6 miles, closing. (Aircraft contact #16.) S.J. picked it up bearing 075° T, 4 miles. Dropped down to periscope depth.
0210 S.J. contact bearing 090° T, 4600 yards. No sound contact. Sighted what appeared to be a torpedo boat (Ship contact #5) search on a westerly course. The Nips seem to be looking for somebody tonight.
0416 Surfaced.
0427 Dove 18 miles off Okino Shima. Decided to patrol south and east along 100 fathom curve during the day.
0458 Sighted a PC type A/S vessel bearing 023° T, heading directly at the spot where we dove. (Ship contact #6.) It passed about 1200 yards astern. Looks like the Japs cut us in again and I would like to know for sure if they actually have us in their radar or if they are D/F ing our S.D. which we are keying intermittently and at odd intervals. I don't like to secure the SD since the moon is so bright but, at the same time, it's rather disconcerting to be tracked so obviously. Since moonrise is not until 2316 tonight and since we will be about 12 miles south of Ashizuri when we surface, I'll have a good chance to find out just what the score is.
0725 Sighed 2 PC's bearing 294° T, distant 8000 yards patrolling on a westerly course. (Ship contact #7.)
0957 Depth charging in vicinity of yesterday's attack.
2016 Surfaced. Headed southwest to patorl the 160° and 150° convoy routes. Night dark and overcast. Strong intermittent radar signals on 97 and 147 Mcs.
2215 S.J. radar contact, bearing 235, 10,000 yards. It's a plane and is coming in fast. Lost contact at 8000 yards. (Aircraft contact #17.)
2217 Dove, SJ radar contact 4000 yards. O.O.D. saw exhaust trails of a 4-motored plane. 10 minutes before this contact, a strong signal on 147 Mcs. was picked up on the APR and it seemed to be sweeping back and forth across our bearing. It kept getting louder and at the time contact was made on the SJ it was extremely strong and sharp. The Japs have apparently borrowed a page from our A/S book as regards radar equipped search plane tactics. I have now decided that the plane contacts of last night were not due to our S.D. being D/F'd and its value in an area like this far exceeds its disadvantages. If this plane had not been coming in low the S.J. undoubtedly would have had no indication of a contact and we might have had our ears pinned back as a consequence.
2316 Surfaced. Plane contact at 8 miles, moving in. It looks like the Jap gambit tactics are similar to ours too. (Aircraft contact #18.)
2318 Sought solace in the deep.
2350 Surfaced. Turned south at 15 knots to try and evade long enough to get our battery charged. Could still hear signals on 147 but they swept on by us.
12 June
0100 Changed course to 325° T to patrol 160-340 line and to arrive at 100 fathom curve off Bungo Suido before daylight. Battery just about up.
0130 SD contact 12 miles (Aircraft contact #19.)
0132 The APR showed he was on us again and coing in. Dove when range was 6 1/2 miles.
0235 Surfaced. Radar signals on 97 and 147 Mcs.
0240 He got us again. SD contact 18 miles. (Aircraft contact #20.)
0244 Plane closed to 9 miles, also picked up on SJ bearing 035° relative. Dove.
0330 Surfaced. All clear.
0335 Radar signals on 147 Mcs.
0349 SD contact 11 miles coming in very fast. Dove. (Aircraft contact #21.) since it was nearly daybreak decided to stay down for rest of day.
0512 Got a cut which showed us to be 32 miles south of Kanei Saki. The combination of a two knot northeasterly set, and a very efficient plane patrol has prevented us from reaching our intended patrol line. Successive cuts showed that trying to beat up against the current was futile when running at our normal slow submerged speed. (40 turns). We ran at 50 turns on course 270 and made good 0.9 knots along course 300° T.
0954 Sighed 3 patrol bombers, (NELL) bearing 321° T. (Aircraft contact #22.)
1215 Ran around and then under a long fish net. Estimated this net was at least 2 miles long, supported by the usual glass balls, and with marker poles flying a read and white flag every 500 feet. The two ends were anchored well inside the 100 fathom curve, but the catenary extended nearly 2000 yards out.
1710 Heard 11 depth charges or explosions in the distance. Nothing in sight thru periscope.
1732 Heard 4 more distant explosions.
1743 Ran the periscope up again to see what was going on and nearly pushed the end of it through a single engine, float type biplane. Went deep but I don't think he saw us because he didn't drop anything. (Aircraft contact #23.)
1801 4 more depth charges, still far away.
1828 6 more depth charges. I have kept nearly a constant periscope search for the past half hour in hopes that this depth charging was indiscriminate and presaged a convoy coming through but was unable to sight anything larger than a sampan.
1935 Sighted the upperworks of a ship showing a large red light and two white lights. Since it was dusk I was unable to distinguish any particular features except that she was large and had two stacks. She was on an easterly course and was coming from the direction of Bungo Suido. (Ship contact #8.)
1956 Ship is now close enough to distinguish the red light as a large, lighted red cross, reflector lights mounted on sides to show white hull and green striping burning regular running lights and in all respects looking and acting like a bona fide hospital ship. This is our second hospital ship in four days and a beautiful target like that certainly makes one's trigger finger itch. I almost prayed for him to make one false move. He passed about 4000 yards abeam heading for Ashizuri Saki. Identified as the TAKASAGO MARU.
2028 Surfaced. AH 8000 yards on starboard quarter. Radar signals on 97 and 145 Mcs. on APR, both intermittent and at odd intervals. Stood off to southward at standard speed.
2130 c/c to 110° T.
2330 Sent BATFISH serial One to Comsubpac.
13 June
Patrolling to eastward in new area.
0430 Dove.
1244 Surfaced.
14 June
0417 Dove.
0445 Sighed large armed trawler bearing 184° T on a northerly course, speed 6 knots. He passed about 8000 yards astern and was similar in appearance to MINATO MARU, shown in ONI 208-J, revised. He was armed with a 3-inch gun forward and had several machine guns mounted at various locations around the bridge. (Ship contact #9.)
0906 Surfaced. Patrolling across convoy route.
15 June
0418 Dove.
0857 Surfaced.
0942 SD contact at 26 miles. (Aircraft contact #24.) Disappeared on screen at 28 miles.
1108 SD contact at 18 miles. (Aircraft contact #25.)
1206 SD contact at 28 miles, moved in to 24 and disappeared at 29. (Aircraft contact #26.)
16 June
0408 Dove to patrol off Muroto Zaki and southeast coast of Shikoku during day.
1603 Sighted tug bearing 323° T on southerly course. Passed about 3500 yards abeam. (Ship contact #10.)
2014 Surfaced. Strong radar signals on 97 Mcs. Heard the latest good war news and decided to patrol slowly across Kii Suido in hopes that some naval units would come out to try and make a dash for Saipan.
17 June
0404 Dove off Ichie Saki. Patrolling between Ichie and Shiono Misaki.
0615 Ran through a Japanese fishing net in low visibility.
1213 Sighed Chidori type torpedo boat bearing 353° T, at 8000 yards patrolling inside the 100 fathom curve between Ichie Saki and Shiono Misaki. (Ship contact #11.)
1300 Sighed PC type patrol boat on an easterly course bearing 028° T. (Ship contact #12.)
1306 Sighed small coastal type AO coming out of rain squall bearing 356° T on a northwesterly course at a range of about 3500 yards. Unable to close. (Ship contact #13.) He was about a 500 tonner and similar to our YO type.
1320 Sighted PC boat, patrolling on a northerly course bearing 332, range 5500 yards.
2025 Surfaced. Found part of the Jap fish net wrapped around the conning tower and discovered that we had been dragging a sizable section of it astern of us all day.
2030 Spent a half an hour dodging Jap picket boats. They conveniently showed lights at odd intervals however and presented no difficulties.
18 June
Patrolling west and east across Kii Suido.
0344 Dove to patrol off Shiono Misaki during the day.
0620 Sighted sampan fishing fleet coming out. 5 of them altogether.
0735 Sighted patrol boat bearing 338° T, range 11,000 yards. (Ship contact #14.) He took departure at Shiono Misaki and headed on a course of about 135° T. We will look into that route tomorrow.
0900 Sighted a 2-engine patrol plane bearing 025 at about 7 miles. (Plane contact #27.)
1029 One "PETE" bearing 317 at about 8 miles. (Plane contact #28.)
1132 Another "PETE" bearing 019 on a northeasterly course. (Aircraft contact #29.)
1248 Sighted coastal AK and a small coastal AO bearing 069° T, distant about 12,000 yards. Commenced approach. (Ship contact #15.)
1300 Identified the A.K. as a MFM ship similar to the MAYATI MARU, page 147 ONI 208-J, revised. She had a crow's nest on the foremast with two lookouts and had four or five lookouts forward and aft on the port (seaward) side. I figured at first that she was acting as escort for the tanker but on sober second thought decided she was not because whereas she had been on the seaward quarter of the oiler when we first made contact, she was just forward of the beam when we fired. The oiler had an appearance similar to a U.S. YO, except perhaps, she was a little larger. The AK was painted grey, the oiler a dirty red. Thought I could get them both with a three fish spread so at
1328 Fired three torpedoes on a 120 port track, 2100 yard range with a 6 foot depth setting.
1329-30 One hit in the AK which broke her in half. She sank with a 50° rise angle in less than a minute. The oiler poured on the coal and turned toward the beach. By tracking the other two torpedoes by sound, determined they passed astern.
1331-25 Two end of run explosions at the foot of a well terraced garden which ran right down to the water's edge. I hope we ruined their potato crop. Perhaps I was guilty of an error in judgment in only firing three torpedoes at these two targets but at the time I didn't think so. Anyway, this attack which sunk a ship in plain sight of the city of Andakino must have had some effect on the morale of the Jap home front.
1535-1539 Four depth charges far away. Could see nothing through the periscope.
1625 One depth charge.
1650 One depth charge.
1656 A string of 8 depth charges. I guess he thinks he's got us. All clear in the periscope.
1703 A pattern of 9 depth charges. Still nothing in sight.
2037 Surfaced, patrolled to south and east.
19 June
0400 Dove - patrolling to eastward.
1008 Sighted patrol bomber (BETTY) bearing 129 on a southeasterly course. (Plane contact #30.)
1912 Surfaced.
20 June
0358 Dove.
0833 Surfaced.
21 June
0405 Dove.
1103 Sighted ship bearing 280° T. (Ship contact #16.) Commence approach. Ship was identified as an OTORI class torpedo boat patrolling on course 020 at various speeds. He was echo ranging on 15.7 Kcs., one ping every 10 seconds and although he passed about 1100 yards ahead, he never suspected our presence.
2001 Surfaced. Decided to patrol convoy routes that converge on Shiono Misaki during night and dive off Daio Saki in the morning.
22 June
0020 Sighted patrol boat, dead ahead, angle on bow zero. (Ship contact #17.) Radar range 1800 yards. Evaded on surface at flank speed. I'm reasonably sure he saw us or at least our wake because the water is extremely phosphorescent. I also believe he had radar both because of the way he came in and then followed us and because of the extremely loud radar signal we had on the APR right at that time. The operator said it sounded as if it were coming from a radar mounted on our bow. Changed course to patrol across Enshu Nada during the night and dive off Omai Saki in the morning.
0330 Dove south of Shiono Misaki.
0855 Sighted large armed sampan-type patrol boat bearing 065° True. He was echo ranging at odd intervals and had a drag out astern. (Ship contact #18.)
1120 Sighted ship bearing 302° T, range 12,000 yards. (Ship contact #19.) Commenced approach. From all appearances she is very new. Estimated tonnage about 3100. In silhouette she has an appearance similar to the ANASTASIA, page 271 ONI 208-J, revised but in detail she differs in that she has two heavy cranes or derricks just forward of the bridge, her bow is higher and has two masts with heavy cargo booms, one forward and one aft. I would judge that she is one of a class that the Japs have built since the war started and have standardized for mass production.
1212 Fired 3 torpedoes on a 90 S track using a 1° spread. Estimated range 1900 yards. All missed. The target apparently never saw the wakes because she continued on very unconcerned so at
1216 came around and started new attack. We were a little embarrassed by a sampan that was lying to about 800 yards on our starboard beam but I guess he never suspected our presence either.
1238 Getting ready to fire, target zigged away 40 degrees. At the same time I saw two puffs of steam and thought he was giving the whistle signal signifying sighting a submarine. Took a sweep with the periscope and saw an other AK, an exact sister ship, answer with two blasts. He kept on coming so I guess they were just being friendly. The new target which was 5000 yards on our starboard quarter on an opposite course to the first target appeared to be heavily loaded. Commenced approach. (Ship contact #20.)
1255 Fired 4 torpedoes from stern tubes, on a 95 S track, 1700 yard range. Two hits, one aft and one forward. Target sank stern first with a large starboard list.
1310 Heard several mild explosions. Went deep and rigged for depth charge. The chart shows 400 feet of water here (DR position, not cut since 1115) but we grounded at 240 feet, damaging the starboard sound head. It will not train, nor can we raise it. Came up to 200 feet.
1329-1542 Depth charge attack. 17 charges all together, some fairly close. All these charges sounded heavier than usual.
1857-1930 34 depth charges. Nothing in sight in the periscope.
2025 At 50 feet, prior surfacing, SD contact 8 miles. (Plane contact #31.)
2045 Surfaced.
2118 Patrol boat sighted astern about 4000 yards. Had to coach the SJ on before it could be found on screen. Evaded at flank speed. Closest range 3540 yards. Although this boat was fairly small he had a top speed of nearly 16 knots. He disappeared from the radar at 4250 yards. (Ship contact #21.)
2142 SD contact 12 miles. Strong radar signals on 147 Mcs. Closed to 8 1/2. (Plane contact #32.)
2144 Plane sighted from bridge coming in low on port quarter. Dove.
2305 Surfaced.
2325 SD contact at 8 miles and 16 miles going away. (Plane contact #33.)
23 June
0332 Dove. Patrolling convoy routes south of Daio Saki.
1052-1131 10 distant depth charges or explosions.
1321 Sighted first of 6 sampans that remained in vicinity for rest of the afternoon.
2035 Surfaced.
2041 SD contact 10 miles. (Plane contact #34.) moved in to 7. (The same radar signals on 147 Mcs. again) so at
2043 Dove.
2102 Surfaced.
2108 SD contact at 11 miles. (Plane contact #35.) Move in to 6 1/2 mils so at
2118 Dove.
2208 Surfaced.
2230 SJ contact (2 pips) bearing 214° T, ranges 9500 and 8500 yards respectively. Commenced tracking. (Ship contact 21.)
2233 SD contact at 12 miles, closing. (Plane contact #36.) At this time we had 3 pips on the SJ radar, one of which was a steady bearing and coming in fast.
2235 Dove. Plane at 6 miles, escort at 4500. c/c 65° to right.
2240 Light screws making 235 rpm passed directly overhead at which time we were at 120 feet and trying to get through a 6° temperature layer.
2243 One set of heavy screws and another set of light screws passed down the port side.
2307 Surfaced and turned to chase at 15 knots, while charging batteries with everything else including the meggar. In the very short time during the development of this contact, our best tracking data showed his course as 070. A combination of radar equipped search planes and radar equipped escorts plus a very flat Batfish battery was successful in thwarting an attack on this convoy. However, I figured that with any luck our chances of catching up before daylight were fairly good. Judging from the size of the pips the heavy ship was about 5-6 thousand tons, and while we had had no accurate speed check, she was making 135 turns so I figured her speed was somewhere in the neighborhood of 12-14 knots. That the escort had radar indicated by the fact that she knew where we were while she was still outside the range of visibility.
2320 Sighted patrol boat on the port beam, about 3000 yards. (Ship contact #23.) Changed course to the right and spent a precious 20 minutes running around him. I doubt if he ever actually saw the Batfish but as the water was extremely phosphorescent he would have no trouble seeing our wake.
24 June
0015 Put another engine on propulsion and speeded up to 18 knots.
0340 Dove in broad daylight. Nothing in sight from the bridge except land. Ceiling unlimited, but horizon very hazy. Sea flat calm.
0426 Nothing in sight. Came up to 40 feet and took a radar sweep for 5 minutes but had no contacts. It looks like it's just not in the cards for us to get to this convoy. Since we had chased them out of our area decided that instead of beating back to Omai Saki against the current we would patrol to south of Iro Saki during the day, and then run back to our area via the #1 route from Sogami Wan on the surface.
2013 Surfaced.
2015 SD contact 13 miles. (Plane contact #37.) Closed to 9 miles and then disappeared from radar screen.
2019 SD contact at 3 miles - dove.
2038 Surfaced.
2127 SD contact 12 miles. (Plane contact #38.)
2129 Plane close to 9 miles - dove.
2208 Surfaced.
25 June
0310 Made a beautiful approach on Inamba Shima. We had been set to the north 20 miles during the night and this rock which is 246 feet high gives an excellent pip at 22,000 yards. I thought for a while we had a battleship.
0330 Dove, patrolling convoy route #2 from Tokio to Yokahama. Sighted several sampans during the day.
0905 One plane (MAVIS) on a southeasterly course. (Plane contact #39.)
2043 Surfaced. Stood to southward to patrol across Inamba Shima - Zuni Su line.
26 June
0348 Dove to patrol off Hachijo. Fathometer out of commission. Low visibility. Tricky current.
1136 One patrol bomber (MAVIS) on a northerly course. (Plane contact #40.)
1442 One plane (MAVIS) on a westerly course. (Plane contact #41.)
2014 Surfaced. Patrolling to north.
2316 Changed course to patrol between Zuni Su and Inamba Shima.
27 June
0341 Dove. Patrolling west of Miyoko Shima.
1411 Gave up fight with the current and changed course to run with it. In the last four hours, by running at 2/3 speed (4 knots) we had made good exactly 800 yards. By patrolling to the NE will be 20 miles out of our area when we surface.
2018 Surfaced. Patrolled to northward across eastern entrance to Tokio Bay.
28 June
0031 Headed southwest so as to be off east coast of Miyoko Shima at daylight.
0345 Dove. Patrolling to eastward of Miyoko Shima.
0652 Two distant depth charges.
0655 One distant depth charge.
0703 Two more depth charges.
0706 One depth charge.
0707 Patrol boat bearing 135° T patrolling on a southwesterly course (Ship contact #24.) With all this activity it looks like there might be something coming through.
0956 Sighted convoy (Ship contact #25) bearing 307° True, zig-zagging on base course 150, range 9500 yards. This convoy consisted of two ASASHIO class destroyers, one KAMIKAZE class destroyer, two large AK's and two or possibly 3 LST's or LCT's. The two ASASHIO class destroyers were well ahead and the other DD was patrolling station to seaward of convoy. The AK's were in column with the LST's about 1000 yards abeam to starboard and on a line of bearing with the first AK.
0958 Ships zigging to the left and are coming in for a beautiful set up.
1000 Up periscope for a set up on the new course. Down bomb. This was a light bomb but it landed very close, knocking cork loose, breaking a few gauge glasses, electric light bulbs and doing the usual misalignment job on fans and the like. It was so close to the periscope that the two feet of so that was inside the boat whipped around like a willow rod. It also smashed the bridge repeater and knocked the master gyro follow-up system out of line. Dropped down to 100 feet. Sound bearings indicated the heavy screws had changed course to the right and speeded up. Two sets of light screws coming in on the starboard beam.
1005 Back up at periscope depth. A quick sweep showed that the convoy had zigged away and was heading so as to go around to the other side of Miyoko Shima. Saw one float type (PETE) plane circling at about 500 feet, about two miles on our starboards bow. One ASASHIO class destroyer on starboard quarter, range 3500 yards; the KAMIKAZE class destroyer dead ahead, angle on bow 90° port, range 6000 yards. Got a quick set up on the destroyer on the quarter and make ready the stern tubes. He was echo ranging on 17 Kcs. The KAMIKAZE class DD was apparently just listening.
1007 Gyro follow up system reported back in commission, cut in own course circuit to T.D.C. A quick sweep showed that there were two planes, both on the starboard beam and both circling at about 500 feet altitude.
1009 Getting set to fire stern tubes. Gyro follow-up went out again and own course dial on TDC started spinning like a top. At the same time the destroyer apparently had a contact because he put on a burst of speed and swung around to his left. Did not fire because the chances of hitting at 2500 yards torpedo run on a sharp track and with the set up we had was very remote.
1011 Started approach on the destroyer that was ahead and at the time dead in the water. Something has been knocked loose on the bridge because any speed over 3 1/2 knots and we sound like a freight train.
1022 Running at 90 feet and at standard speed between periscope exposures and bucking the KUROSHIO and we have only closed the range to 4000 yards. However, I saw that the destroyer was circling around an LST which was making about 5 knots good on course 150. The two "PETE" type scout planes have been joined by a heavy, two-engine bomber (NELL) and all three are using up a lot of gas searching the water. (Plane contacts #42, 43 and 44.) The whole set up is beginning to look fishy. The LST is making lots of smoke and heading on a course at right angles to that which the convoy was on when last seen. It may be a decoy but if it is, the Japs don't give us credit for much sense if they expect we will fire torpedoes at an LST. However, the destroyer is fair game so started jockeying for a good shot at him.
1058 Still trying to get in position against this infernal current.
1100 Two planes coming right down the periscope. Started deep but they didn't drop anything so I decided they hadn't seen us. Caught the boat at 110 feet and came back up to periscope depth.
1105 DD is still circling the LST. No echo ranging. Figured the next time around that we would be close enough to shoot so came around to a firing course.
1115 DD stopped to listen and then went to investigate the area on the side of the LST away from us.
1140 He's coming back again and we will be in excellent position when he comes around on his next circle as he should pass between 500 & 1000 yards away. I can only see one of the planes now.
1145 One plane over LST, one off our port beam, the DD is ahead of the LST and changing course to his left. Range 3200 yards. Made ready the bow tubes.
1148 A set up on the destroyer showed he had not come all the way around as expected. Started swing for stern tube shot.
1150 Soundman heard 2 torpedoes running on port quarter. Went deep, changed course and speeded up. Torpedoes crossed astern. Whether these torpedoes were fired from the DD, the LST or whether they were dropped by a plane (I hadn't see the bomber for 20 minutes) I don't rightly know. From our relative positions they could have come from either. However I was watching the destroyer and since I didn't see any launched from her, and since I hadn't seen the big plane for some time, I surmise they came from the LST. We had been running at fairly high speed, 4-6 knots, in order to close against the current and at this speed, the broken plating or stanchion topside is prohibitively noisy. I don't believe my periscope was sighted because of the very small amount of it exposed and because the exposures were so brief. If it was the LST however, this is a new wrinkle to A/S warfare to the best of my knowledge. He was a large, standard design, landing craft, had one gun forward and two aft and two mounts that could have been depth charge throwers aft. His forward deck space seemed to be loaded with crates so I can definitely say he was being used as a cargo carrier. I did not see any torpedo tubes. This is a tough one to lose and I sincerely hope some one else gets a shot into them before they reach their destination.
1258 Sighted plane (PETE) circling on our starboard beam at a distance of about 6 miles. (Plane contact #45.)
1640 7 distant explosions.
2012 Surfaced and sent contact report. Patrolling to south and west.
2252 SD contact 10 miles. (Plane contact #46.) Moved in to 6 miles so at
2253 Dove.
2329 Surfaced.
29 June
0100 Changed course to 320.
0333 Dove, patrolling off Mikura Shima.
0431 Sighted 2 UN-1 class destroyers, bearing 068° T, range 10,500 yards on a north westerly course. Unable to close. We chased them at full speed until they disappeared over the horizon at 0508 in hopes that they would zig our way. (Ship contact #26.)
2013 Surfaced. Patrolling to south and west.
2102 SJ contact bearing 276° T, range 12,100 yards. Commenced tracking and end around. (Ship contact #27.)
2109 SD contact, 10 miles. (Plane contact #47.)
2111 Plane at 6 1/2 miles so dove to radar depth to keep from being sighted in bright moonlight.
2115 Surfaced. Continued tracking. Target could not be seen on radar screen at 40 feet.
2254 In position ahead. We have the target's speed as 13 knots. He is zigging between 335 and 015 on 4, 5, and 7 minute legs. Two escorts one on the starboard quarter, and one on the port beam when on the base course. Planned to fire on an 80 starboard track when the target was on the extreme right leg of her zig.
2255 Dove to radar depth.
2313 Target failed to zig as anticipated but instead zigged 10° to his left.
2316 Fired 3 bow tubes on a 116° starboard track, 3350 yard range using a 1° divergent spread. Torpedoes set to run at 6 feet. No hits. At the time the torpedoes should have reached the target's track, he started signaling to the escort with a red blinker gun. This set up was perfect, the TDC tracked the target from the time he zigged until we were forced down, a period of six minutes, and the generated bearings didn't vary a quarter of a degree from the periscope bearings. The torpedoes ran directly down a moon slick so I doubt if the target saw the wakes in time to avoid. The only explanation I can give for not hitting is that I was firing at another LST and the torpedoes ran underneath. The target through the periscope appeared only as a blob with no distinguishable features except the fact that she was low and rather long, and I originally had her labeled as a tanker.
2320 Started swinging for a new attack.
2321 Escorts started coming in so went deep and rigged for depth charge.
2322 3 depth charges. At this time we were at 70 feet and although the charges were fairly close, they jarred us very little so they must have been light.
2323-2326 13 depth charges, escorts echo ranging, both of them on the port bow. Evaded at 350 feet at 2/3 speed.
30 June
0137 No screws, weak echo ranging on port quarter. Surfaced and cleared immediate vicinity at full speed. Contemplated a chase but since they will be in Yokahama by 0400 and since that's earlier than we could hope to overtake them, I had to swallow another bitter pill. Turned to southward, to patrol towards Hachijo Shima.
0329 Dove, patrolling east of Hachijo Shima.
2006 Surfaced.
1 July
0341 Dove - patrolling to south and east to eastward of Nanpo Shoto.
0833 Surfaced.
0927 SD contact (Plane contact #48) at 20 miles. Move in to 19 miles and disappeared at 21 miles.
1020 Sighted masts of two ships on horizon bearing 135° True. (Ship contact #28.)
1021 Dove, commenced submerged approach.
1045 Targets identified as a large trawler escorted by a yacht type patrol vessel mounting 3 machine guns and carrying 3 depth charges in racks aft. In view of the fact that this trawler was escorted, I decided he must be carrying some important cargo so decided to battle surface and sink him with gunfire and at the same time see if we couldn't blow up the escort with his own depth charges.
1125 Battle surfaced. The 4-inch hit the trawler on the fifth salvo starting a large fire forward and sunk him with the 18th. The gun crew deserves extra credit for this shooting as they made at least 10 clean hits out of the 18 fired. In the meantime, the escort had been tying to edge around to our unengaged side, and although he was strafed by fire of 1 20 MM and 1 50 Caliber he kept boring on in and I have to give him credit for his intestinal fortitude. After we opened up on him with the 4-inch he did a very excellent job of keeping his bow pointed at us and it took considerable maneuvering to get decent target angles on him. Finally, at 1215 he was stopped, on fire, and starting to sink. Eased in for a close inspection and counted 16 holes above the water line. His bridge was demolished and the whole topside riddled with small caliber holes. A very much shot up ship but he didn't sink until 1259 when the fire got to his depth charges. Cruised around through the wreckage of both vessels but found no survivors. By this time, the trawler although still afloat was settling more rapidly than it had been so went alongside for closer inspection. Part of her cargo was lumber and wooden barrels and this accounts for her remaining afloat so long; the rest judging from the debris, was small stores. ALLEN, Thomas F., Jr., 600-77-49, EM2c., U.S.N.R. V-6, a loader of the 4-inch gun crew was wounded in the knee, posterior region, by a thirty caliber bullet during this action and was promptly treated by the Chief Pharmacist's Mate. No complications.
1349 SD contact at 19 miles, closed to 17. (Plane contact #49.) Disappeared from screen at 22 miles.
2 July
Patrolling on surface in vicinity of Tori Shima.
0343 Dove.
0805 Surfaced.
0906 SD contact 9 miles. (Plane contact #50.) Plane closing so at
0907 Dove.
0938 Surfaced.
1835 Departed area.
2100 Sent BATFISH Serial Three to Comsubpac.
3 July
Enroute Midway
0732 SD contact 20 miles. (Plane contact #51.)
0733 Dove.
0817 Surfaced.
3-7 July
Enroute Midway
7 July
0530(Y) Rendezvous with escort.
0915(Y) Moored Submarine Base, Midway.
(C) Weather
Enroute to the Empire we were blessed with excellent weather and smooth seas ideal for high speed surface cruising. On station we experienced the usual summer haze and calm sea. However, we ran into the paths of two tropical storms, average for the month of June, with their low barometer readings of 29.43 and 29.48 and heavy seas. It was generally overcast and haze all along the southern coast of Shikoku and Honshu and particularly so around the islands of Nanpo Shoto. From area to Midway the sea was reminiscent of a mill pond.
(D) Tidal Information
The currents in the areas south of Honshu and Shikoku and between Kyushu and the Nanpo Shoto generally follow those described in the coast pilot. The Kurishiru was very steady ranging from NE to E in open waters, average drift 1.5 kts, but close ashore off Toi Misaki a counter current was experienced. Off Shiono Misaki the current was 4.5 knots -090° during the morning and slacked to 2.0 kts. for the afternoon. Just west of Miyake Saki, in the am, current reached 3.5 kts. 050° T but by noon, a counter current developed with a drift of 1.2 Kts. 315° T. Similar currents were noticed close aboard the other islands of Nanpo Shoto and were very tricky for a submerged patrol particularly on their west side.
(E) Navigational Aids
The SJ and SD radars proved invaluable for night navigation and in the summer haze. Very few of the normal lights were burning at all and those that were with reduced intensity. The following lights were observed to be burning for a short while and then at infrequent intervals.
1. Toi Misaki -FWL 27 Sec. - 1 Sec. Flash.
2. Shimanooura Shima -Fixed white light.
3. Okino Shima -Fixed white light.
4. Muroto Saki -Fixed white light, first part of night only.
5. Ataki Saki -Fixed White.
6. Susami -Fixed red.
7. Shiono Misaki -Fixed white (very dim).
8. Daio Saki -Fixed white.
9. Andri Saki -Flash white every 25 Sec.
10. Kami Shima -Flash red every 30 Sec.
11. Miyake Shima -Fixed white.
Most all of the other coastal light houses cold be seen by day when the haze lifted and the one on Misaki was painted in camouflage green.

A large gas buoy was observed about 4 mi. bearing 112° (T) from Fuka Shima marking the 100 fathom curve on the western entrance to Bungo Suido and was painted red with a horizontal black stripe topped by a black diamond shape pinnacle which according to the Japanese buoy-marking system marks a shoal. We had to pass within 1000 yds. to the south of it to make a torpedo attack inside the 100 fathom curve. The peaks of various islands and on the mainland could be identified by the coast pilot description and were useful during submerged running when they were visible. They gave good cuts in early a.m. and late p.m. when the sun made their outline stand out.
(F) Ship Contacts
Coming Soon
(G) Aircraft Contacts
Coming Soon
(H) Attack Data
U.S.S. BATFISH

Torpedo Attack No. 1

Patrol No. 3
Time: 1243(I).   Date: 10 June

Lat: 32°38', Long: 131°58'E

Target Data - Damage Inflicted
Description: Target picked up by periscope close inshore. It was a MFM ship of about 3000-3500 tons, and appeared to be fairly new. She had 2 guns forward and at least one aft and from the number of men who were drilling topside, I believe she was a training ship. She was cruising on various courses but seemed to be following no zig-zag plan nor did she seem to be headed for any place in particular.
Ship(s) Sunk: One MFM ship - 3000-3500 tons. Believed to be a training ship
Ship(s) Damaged or Probably Sunk: None
Damage determined by: Saw one torpedo hit amidships. Ship sank very quickly and literally fell apart. The explosion from the torpedo was exceptionally loud and was followed 3 minutes later by another which was either a magazine or a boiler blowing up.
Target Draft: 10', Course: 110° T, Speed: 7.5 knots, Range: 1970 yds (at firing)

OWN SHIP DATA
Speed: 2 knots, Course: 220° T, Depth: 63 ft,. Angle: 1° D. (at firing)

Fire Control and Torpedo Data
Type attack: Periscope attack. Fired tubes 1, 2, and 3 on a 70 port track, range 1900 yards using a 1° divergent spread. Sea glassy, visibility only fair. Believe target was torpedo wakes because he started to turn toward about 15 seconds before the first torpedo hit. Torpedoes were set for six feet. First torpedo hit after a minute and 33 seconds run. No end of run explosions were heard from the other two.
Tubes Fired 1 2 3
Track Angle 70° P 70° P 70° P
Gyro Angle 001°30' 359°20' 000°30'
Depth Set 6' 6' 6'
Power High High High
Hit or Miss Hit Miss Miss
Erratic Normal Normal Normal
Mark Torpedo Mk. 23 Mk. 23 Mk. 23
Serial No. 53024 33782 26831
Mark Exploder Mk. 6-5 Mk. 6-5 Mk. 6-5
Serial No. 13598 13407 17307
Actuation Set Contact Contact Contact
Actuation Actual Contact ------- -------
Mark Warhead Mk. 16-1 Mk. 16-1 Mk. 16-1
Serial No. 12585 5224 9365
Explosive Torpex Torpex Torpex
Firing Interval 8 Sec. 8 Sec. 8 Sec.
Type Spread 0° Div. 1° Div. 1°
Sea Conditions Calm Calm Calm
Overhaul Activity Pearl Pearl Pearl
     
U.S.S. BATFISH

Torpedo Attack No. 2

Patrol No. 3
Time: 1328(I).   Date: 18 June

Lat: 33°26', Long: 135°34-30'E

Target Data - Damage Inflicted
Description: Fired 3 torpedoes on a 120° P track at 1 small AK and 1 small coastal tanker. Targets were on a westerly course close to shore off Shiono Misaki and at the time of firing the AK was to seaward and abeam of the tanker. She was a MFM ship similar in Silhouette to the MAYATI MARU. Her topside was swarming with lookouts who were all on the port (seaward) side. She mounted two, three-inch guns. The oiler was similar to a U.S. YO.
Ship(s) Sunk: One small AK similar to the MAYATI MARU
Ship(s) Damaged or Probably Sunk: None
Damage determined by: Saw one torpedo hit target just aft of the bridge. Target broke in half and sank stern first less than a minute later.
Target Draft: 9', Course: 275° T, Speed: 8 knots, Range: 2130 yds (at firing)

OWN SHIP DATA
Speed: 2.5 knots, Course: 325° T, Depth: 63 ft., Angle: 1/2° D. (at firing)

Fire Control and Torpedo Data
Type attack: Periscope attack. Fired tubes 1-2-3 on a 120° port track, 2100 yard range using a 2° divergent spread. Point of aim was overlap between the target which was 1/3 target length inside the stern of the AK and the bow of the tanker. Torpedoes were set for 6 feet. Second torpedo hit after 1 min. 30 sec. run - other two missed astern.
Tubes Fired 1 2 3
Track Angle 120° P 122° P 123° P
Gyro Angle 008° 005°30' 005°40'
Depth Set 6' 6' 6'
Power High High High
Hit or Miss Miss Hit Miss
Erratic ---- ---- ----
Mark Torpedo 14-3A 23 14-3A
Serial No. 40585 33869 40597
Mark Exploder 6-5 6-5 6-5
Serial No. 13578 13724 13402
Actuation Set