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Charleston · 10-09-05, 07:13 PM

Personal Diary, Lcmdr. C. Charleston
Commanding Officer
SS-294 USS Escolar

1st War Patrol:

2-1-1943: Received orders to patrol Marshall Islands and departed Brisbane, 0600 hours, . Set course to Marshall Islands via west of Solomons.

2-4-1943: Arrived at patrol zone, with uneventufl passage, in late morning. Establish patrol to the SW of the Marshalls.

2-6-1043: 2100 hours, SJ radar contact with multiple ships, bearing 045, range 12,000 yrds--weather rainy, visibility poor. Convoy appeared to be leaving Marshalls, heading due South. Set direct intercept course.

Closed and submerged at 5000yrds. Visual contact establish at 2600 yrds, convoy of 4 troop transports and 2 or more escorts. Fired at 700 yrds at lead transport wtih 2 fish spreads, targeted 2 additional transports with 2 fish apiece. Come about 180 degrees to bring stern tubes to bear. Hits reported on all three transports, however 2nd and 3rd transports still making 5 knots. Targeted one fish apiece and 2 fish on last transport. Hits reported on 2nd and 3rd transport, 2 misses on 4th.

Three transports sinking at 166-52 E, 6-13 N. Escorts closing for ASW attack. Dove to 300 feet, changed heading to 275. Contact lost approx. 2330 hours.

2-7-1943: 1200 hours, SJ radar contact, 14,000yrds, bearing 090, heading 000--rainy with rough seas and poor visibility. End run at flank speed to place boat in path of unidentified ship then submerged.

Visaul contact at 5000yrds with lone troop transport. Unable to determine if ship was from previous convoy. No sign of escorts. Fired 2 fish at 1000yrds, both missed. Additional 2 fish fired at 1200 yrds at fleeing transport, one hit. Transport slowed to 3 knots.

Surfaced to finish target with deck gun. Came under gun fire attack from transport with moderate damage to scope. Transport sunk with combination of deck gun and additonal torpedo hit. 166-48 E, 7-17 N.

Remainder of patrol uneventful. Set return course to Brisbane 2-12-1943, arrived 2-16-1943.

Results:

4 Troop Transports sunk of approx. tonnage 7759.5 apiece.
Total Patrol tonnage: 31038

Remarks:

Boat and crew pefromed well, however I must assume full responsiblity for endangering boat with premature surface attack on transport, 2-7-1943. I was fortunate to come away with only a damage scope.

Additionally torpedo miss rate is too high. This must be improved if I am granted another patrol. I'm afraid the squadron CO will blow a gasket when he reads my formal report.

10-09-05, 07:13 PM	#1
Charleston Seaman Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 40 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Charleston's first campaign. Personal Diary, Lcmdr. C. Charleston Commanding Officer SS-294 USS Escolar 1st War Patrol: 2-1-1943: Received orders to patrol Marshall Islands and departed Brisbane, 0600 hours, . Set course to Marshall Islands via west of Solomons. 2-4-1943: Arrived at patrol zone, with uneventufl passage, in late morning. Establish patrol to the SW of the Marshalls. 2-6-1043: 2100 hours, SJ radar contact with multiple ships, bearing 045, range 12,000 yrds--weather rainy, visibility poor. Convoy appeared to be leaving Marshalls, heading due South. Set direct intercept course. Closed and submerged at 5000yrds. Visual contact establish at 2600 yrds, convoy of 4 troop transports and 2 or more escorts. Fired at 700 yrds at lead transport wtih 2 fish spreads, targeted 2 additional transports with 2 fish apiece. Come about 180 degrees to bring stern tubes to bear. Hits reported on all three transports, however 2nd and 3rd transports still making 5 knots. Targeted one fish apiece and 2 fish on last transport. Hits reported on 2nd and 3rd transport, 2 misses on 4th. Three transports sinking at 166-52 E, 6-13 N. Escorts closing for ASW attack. Dove to 300 feet, changed heading to 275. Contact lost approx. 2330 hours. 2-7-1943: 1200 hours, SJ radar contact, 14,000yrds, bearing 090, heading 000--rainy with rough seas and poor visibility. End run at flank speed to place boat in path of unidentified ship then submerged. Visaul contact at 5000yrds with lone troop transport. Unable to determine if ship was from previous convoy. No sign of escorts. Fired 2 fish at 1000yrds, both missed. Additional 2 fish fired at 1200 yrds at fleeing transport, one hit. Transport slowed to 3 knots. Surfaced to finish target with deck gun. Came under gun fire attack from transport with moderate damage to scope. Transport sunk with combination of deck gun and additonal torpedo hit. 166-48 E, 7-17 N. Remainder of patrol uneventful. Set return course to Brisbane 2-12-1943, arrived 2-16-1943. Results: 4 Troop Transports sunk of approx. tonnage 7759.5 apiece. Total Patrol tonnage: 31038 Remarks: Boat and crew pefromed well, however I must assume full responsiblity for endangering boat with premature surface attack on transport, 2-7-1943. I was fortunate to come away with only a damage scope. Additionally torpedo miss rate is too high. This must be improved if I am granted another patrol. I'm afraid the squadron CO will blow a gasket when he reads my formal report.