[ConvoyHunting]

SS-206 GAR - PATROL 1 (08.12.1941 - 21.01.1942)


Skipper : Lt Cdr Arthur Wellman
Boat : SS-206 Gar (Call Signe NEFL, COMSUBRON6)
Area : Tokyo Bay (Northern Japan)
Days at sea : 45
Merchants sunk : 5
Merchant tonnage : 24323
Warships sunk : 1
Warship tonnage : 2465
Awards : Bronze Star (Lt Cdr Arthur Wellman), Navy Commendation Medial (Chief Petty Officer Mason Berganio)



08.12.1941
Pearl Harbor
08:22 - Put to sea for first war patrol. Heading to Midway for fuel and full provisions supply before heading to operation area.

11.12.1941
Midway
12:31 - Moored at tender in Midway.
17:06 - Provisions and fuel supply done. Leaving tender and Midway for operation area.

23.12.1941
140'12E - 33'56N
10:53 - Operation area reached. Begin to patrol submerged during daylights. Fuel 73. Clear skies, excellent

visibility, wind 0mps 330.
139'47E - 34'7N
23:30 - Outgoing radio transmission to COMSUBPAC : OPERATION AREA REACHED - NEFL

24.12.1941
139'53E - 34'10N
20:23 - Celebrating Christmas at sea.
22:00 - Incoming message via FOX transmission : TO NEFL - ONE - TRANSMISSION ACKNOWLEDGED - CONTINUE ASSIGNED OPERATION

27.12.1941
139'41E - 35'0N
00:15 - Visual contact with japanese small old split freighter, heading SW at 11Kts. Proceed to a submerged attack position and fire three torpedoes. One hit, one misse and one dull. Sunk for 2427 tons. Clear skies, good visibility, wind 0mps 296.
05:16 - Visual contact with japanese hog island type A freighter, heading SW at 10Kts. Conducted a submerged attack, fired two torpedoes from aft tubes. Two hits. Sunk fonr 4935 tons.

28.12.1941
139'39E - 34'58N
04:38 - Visual contact with japanese auxiliary gunboat, heading SW at 05Kts. Dived and proceed at slow speed to a good submerged attack position. Fired three torpedoes, one hit, one miss and one dull. Sunk for 2465

tons. Cleat skies, good visibility, wind 0mps 296.
06:33 - Outgoing radio transmission to COMSUBPAC : SUNK MERCHANTS FOR 7362 TONS AND WARSHIP 2465 - NO SIGNS OF ANTI-SUBMARINE OPERATIONS - NEFL
139'40E - 34'4N
20:46 - Visual contact with japanese Shokuten minelayer, patrolling with searchlights, certainly for us. Dived to avoid.
22:00 - Incoming message via FOX transmission : TO NEFL - TWO - TRANSMISSION ACKNOWLEDGED - NICE RESULTS KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

30.12.1941
139'40E - 35'04N
15:20 - Sound contact with merchant while submerged. Identified through periscope observation as japanese hog island freighter, course SW at 05Kts. Find a good position for a submerged attack. Fire three torpedoes, three hits. Sunk for 4915 tons.

31.12.1941
139'39E - 34'53N
10:23 - Visual contact with japanese hog island type A freighter, course SE at 11Kts. Fired three torpedoes during submerged attack, three hits. Sunk for 4905 tons. Remaining torpedoes 10. Clouds clear, good visibility, wind 0mps.
139'37E - 35'2N
21:36 - Outgoing radio transmission to COMSUBPAC : SUNK TWO MERCHANTS FOR 9820 - NEFL
23:00 - Celebrating New Year's Eve at sea.

01.01.1942
139'57E - 34'58N
22:00 - Incoming message via FOX transmission : T714O NEFL - THREE - TRANSMISSION ACKNOWLEDGED - NICE RESULTS - INFORMATIONS BY HYPO ABOUT ASW GROUP DEPARTING TO HUNT AROUND TOKYO BAY - RELOCATE OP IN NJ-1 AT YOUR DISCRETION

02.01.1942
138'45E - 34'34N
22:02 - Relocated in the Yaizu/Shizouka Bay. Fuel 60. Clear skies, good visibility, wind 0mps 296.

03.01.1942
138'28E - 34'37N
03:30 - Visual contact with japanese large modern composite freighter, heading NE at 05Kts. Fired three torpedoes during sumberged attack, ahead of the ship. Two hits, one dull. Sunk for 7174 tons.
04:10 - Visual contact with two japanese small subchasers, heading N at 10Kts. Crashdive to avoid.
138'22E - 34'33N
08:35 - Outgoing radio transmission to COMSUBPAC : SUNK MERCHANT FOR 7174 - SUBCHASERS SEARCHING ACTUAL AREA - FUEL 59 - NEFL
2:00 - Incoming message via FOX transmission : TO NEFL - FOUR - TRANSMISSION ACKNOWLEDGED - FREE TO RETURN TO TENDER WHEN NEEDED

21.01.1941
Pearl Harbor.
21:12 - Docked at tender, ending first war patrol.