Wednesday,
16 June 1943 - South-Atlantic -
0247 - Qu.4879GG - Course 110°.
0527 - Qu.7223GG - Course 119°.
1200 - Qu.7351GG -
Days Run: 187.5nm - ↗ 185.1nm (23h 20') - ↘ 2.4nm (40')
Total: 7493.0nm (42tg 22h) - ↗ 7214.7nm (38tg 15h 59') - ↘ 278.3nm (4tg 06h 01')
Course 119°; 481cbm (2cbm in 24h); Battery 95.5%; 1xT-3, 2xEtoFat, 1xT-4; 9xBold.
SSE6/5, clear, visibility 6.5nm, >1000mb (Weather & Sea unchanged in 15days and 20h). - Morning Dawn -
1245 - Sunrise. Weather & Sea unchanged in 15days and 21h.
1306 - Qu.7355GG - Course 110°.
1546 - Qu.7368GG - Course 119°.
1830 - Qu.8172GG bottom center - Crossed Prime Meridian.
2300 - Sundown. Weather and Sea unchanged in 16 days and 8h.
2308 -
Incoming Radio Reports:
From O.K.W.:
a) Major General John Hester announced the date for the New Georgia invasion to be 30 Jun 1943. On the same day, a group of Japanese dive bombers and fighters unsuccessfully attacked American positions and shipping in the Russell Islands, Solomon Islands, loosing 93 of 94 airplanes.
From B.d.U.:
Standing Order No. 14
A.
Purpose:
Possibility of mutual aid in the event of bomb damage sustained in aircraft attacks. Intensified anti-aircraft defence in surprise attacks.
B. E
xecution and general directions:
1) 2-3 boats working together W. of 18° W., under Command of senior Commander.
2) Distance apart 3 to 500 meters in surface passage. Broad quarterline formation. Passage through Biscay area according to Standing Order No. 13, in other words, principally submerged. Surface only during the day to recharge batteries. If strong enemy air activity makes this impossible, recharge batteries at night.
3) When on recharging passage, submerge as directed by senior Commander; on prompt sighting of aircraft , on radar location, also in action at a favorable moment, likewise on continuous air contact.
4) Remain on the surface during surprise attacks, offensive action with all armament available. Boat to first sight aircraft is to fire short burst in the direction of the attacking aircraft.
5) On each surface passage, the senior Commander decides mean course, time and place of surfacing, for possible submerged passage. Submerged mean course, low speed, position comparison important.
6) Submerged passage of S.O.'s boat at 40 meters, accompanying boat at 60 meters. Contact possible with good hydrophone gear.
7) Communications on surface by semaphore, submerged sonic telegraphy, executive command for submerging, also crash diving to be given by signaling with red flag.
8) Sonic telegraphy signals:
SS = submerge to periscope depth
AA = surface
1 NN = surface in one hour
GG = am proceeding on mean course, mean speed at ordered depth
HH = strange hydrophone bearing, no more sonic traffic
2 DD = surface in 2 hours
LL = am proceeding at high speed for 2 minutes for hydrophone bearing
3 EB = surface in 3 hours
PP = proceed at high speed for hydrophone bearing.
Only AA is to be repeated, in this case the order is to be executed on the second long dash from the S.O.'s boat.
9) The S.O. is to set out the necessary orders for the entire passage before the boats assemble and to give them to the various boats.
Details of measures to be adopted to follow.