[Bubblehead1980]

TMO 2.5 Update BH V2.0
Donation Narwhal mod
100 difficulty, cams/contacts off

WAR PATROL REPORT
USS NAUTILUS SS-168
WAR PATROL ELEVEN
20 May- 11 June 1944

PROLOGUE

Arrived at Brisbane, Australia from TENTH War Patrol on 13 March 1944. Although successful with five ships and one enemy
submarine sunk, NAUTILUS suffered serious damage, namely compressed air reserve banks destroyed, limited to just twelve percent of normal capacity. Moderate hull damage was also discovered in post patrol inspection. Repairs
were conducted at Brisbane. On 18 April CDR G.A. Sharp, USN, relieved CDR W.D. Irvin, USN, as Commanding Officer.

Repairs completed by 10 May. On 12 May departed Brisbane for training run off Moreton Bay including dive, torpedo
fire control, gunnery (mock and live fire), and emergency drills. Twenty MK 23-1 torpedoes loaded on 18-19 May along with provisions.
Ready for sea 20 May 1944.



NARRATIVE


20 May

In accordance with Commander Task Force 72 Operation Order 463-44, departed Brisbane at 1430 for Darwin, Australia via passage of of Torres Strait and Arafura Sea.


1537 rendezvoused with Australian PC for escort through the minefield to exit Moreton Bay.

1630 Exited Moreton Bay, escorted remained with until dusk. Remained on course 010 14.5 knots to round Sandy Cape.


21-27 May

En route Darwin. Transited Torres Strait on 25 May.


28 May

Entered Van Diemen Gulf at 0700 en route Darwin.

1330 Docked at Darwin.

Unloaded 14 torpedoes and all torpedo handling gear. Loaded 192,000 tons of cargo for special mission.

29 May

0600 In accordance with orders from Commander Seventh Fleet, Lieutenant (jg) John S. SIMMON44S, D-V (G) ,USNR reported aboard for temporary additional duty and transportation to TUGURAN, MINDANAO. TO make room for cargo and passengers, 14 MK 23-1 torpedoes and torpedo handling equipment unloaded. Maintained four in forward tubes, two in aft. 0632 Underway from Darwin, Australia with Commander Tsk Group 71.1 Secret Operation Order 67-44.

1530 conducted trim dive, surfaced 1545.


30 May

En route to conduct special mission.


31 May

1300 Entered Ceram Sea, North of Buru en route to destination.


1644 SJ Contacts bearing 330 26544 yards. Multiple pips, determined to be convoy. Closed at best speed to send contact report and not disrupt transit to special mission per orders.

1700 PPI indicated 8-9 ships with two escorts, one forward, one rear. Convoy on course 060 8.5 knots.

1900 Close enough for accurate contact report sent.

Contact Report
Convoy Sighted at 20-40 S 126-30E
Course 060 8.5 knots.
Nine AK, two SC/DE
Ships in two spaced columns.


1915 Reply to contact report received. Ordered to X ATTACK X
Opted to continue to shadow ahead until dark for night surface attack.

2010 Convoy zigged, changed course to 020, adjusting course as well.

2100 GENERAL QUARTERS-TORPEDO-SURFACE

2150 3000 yards off starboard side of convoy track. Sighted 5000 + ton freighter in middle of column.


TORPEDO ATTACK NO.1

2200 Fired tubes 1,3,4,.

2202:05 Torpedo impact!

2202:10 Torpedo impact!

2202:16 Torpedo Impact!

2202:25 Large fires erupted on AK, large hole visible at waterline.

220230 Star shells and search lights illuminating area as NAUTILUS turned away at best speed. Several of the merchants spotted us and opened fire with machine guns and deck guns, some splashes were somewhat close.
Both escorts were observed pouring on the coals and heading for our position.

Merchants ceased fire as lost sight of NAUTILUS in the night. Escorts continued rushing onward. However, they both soon lost contact with NAUTILUS in the dark night after about a ten minute chase. One escort closed to within 4000 yards but fortunately in the dark of night , did not sight NAUTILUS as made a gradual turn off her path, she eventually rushed on by at about 3000 yards, our stern pointing toward her with out doors on stern tubes open, just in case.
__________________________________________________ _________

FIRE CONTROL DATA TORPEDO ATTACK NO. 1 (at firing)

TYPE Night Surface

Conditions Calm seas, low visibility, no moon.

SHIPS SUNK

AK AKAMA MARU 5425 tons.
2-24 S 126-41 E.
1944/05/31
2214


TARGET NO. 1

AK AKAMA MARU
RANGE 3000 yards
BEARING 010
TRUE BEARING 154
AOB 88 P
COURSE 020
SPEED 8 kts


TUBE NO. 1
TYPE MK 23-1
SERIAL NO.145542
EXPLODER MK 6-5
SERIAL NO. 11041
GYRO 354 L
COURSE 138
TRACK 114
METHOD Constant bearing
SPREAD 0
INTERVAL 5 seconds
POA MOT, Forward, Aft masts
DEPTH 10 FT
POWER STANDARD
HIT [X] Yes No [ ]
POI Amidships under stack
ACTUATION Contact
MALFUNCTION No
REMARK None



TUBE NO. 3
TYPE MK 23-1
SERIAL NO.145543
EXPLODER MK 6-5
SERIAL NO. 11043
GYRO 354 L
COURSE 138
TRACK 114
METHOD Constant bearing
SPREAD 0
INTERVAL 5 seconds
POA MOT, Forward mast
DEPTH 10 FT
POWER STANDARD
HIT [X] Yes No [ ]
POI Forward mast
ACTUATION Contact
MALFUNCTION No
REMARK None



TUBE NO. 4
TYPE MK 23-1
SERIAL NO.145546
EXPLODER MK 6-5
SERIAL NO. 11048
GYRO 354 L
COURSE 138
TRACK 114
METHOD Constant bearing
SPREAD 0
INTERVAL 5 seconds
POA MOT, Aft mast
DEPTH 10 FT
POWER STANDARD
HIT [X] Yes No [ ]
POI Aft mast
ACTUATION Contact
MALFUNCTION No
REMARK None


OWN SHIP DATA (at firing)


DEPTH Surface
COURSE 130
SPEED 2 kts
SEAS Calm

__________________________________________________ _________


2245 Secured General Quarters, continued on to special mission.


1-3 June

En route special mission via Molucca and Celebes Seas.


4 June

0600 Entered Moro Bay off Mindanao in approach to Illano Bay to reconnoiter for special mission on 5 June. Outline of Mindanao visible on horizon in morning haze visible.


0700 SJ made contact bearing 030 16000 yards, single pip. Appeared to be a patrol vessel. Submerged and cleared.

0740 Sound reports warship contact closing fast. Went to periscope depth from 100 feet, observed auxiliary type subchaser with a zero AOB, heavily smoking from stack heading for NAUTILUS location. At this point, were unsure if had been detected or if on routine patrol, but ordered 300 ft and rigged for silent running, depth charge.


0800 Sounds of vessel passing above, followed by splashes. Several depth charge explosions rocked NAUTILUS, real tooth shakers.

Strangely enough, there was no pinging, but this vessel, assuming without active sonar, had excellent sound gear and operator(s) as she stayed with us through maneuvers and depth changes.

At 0902, while at a depth of 340 ft, a very close depth charge explosion rocked the boat. Damage reported (See Damage Section) including flooding in forward torpedo room, which was quickly stopped by Damage Control party. Flooding was enough to throw the boat out of trim for some time.


As hours went on the attacks persisted, with several close charges between 1100-1200. NAUTILUS was at a depth of 355 feet. At noon, dropping of charges ceased for some time, but boat continued making passes and remaining no more than 2000 yards. Was thought perhaps was out of depth charges and awaiting assistance to arrive. NAUTILUS went through various maneuvers, depth changes, but was unable to shake this persistent subchaser.


At 1901, subchaser made a pass and dropped one depth charge, which fell astern due to speed burst made by NAUTILUS, then continued the stalk NAUTILUS, but not drop charges.


5 June

0100 Lost contact with the enemy, Remained rigged for silent running and continued on. At 0330, came to periscope depth, seas state had grown choppy as opposed to calm when we submerged nearly 24 hours ago. Visual observations detected nothing, at 0340 came to SJ radar depth. SJ had a pip just 5000 yards astern, not moving. Apparently the SC was listening, and heard us as just after SJ contact, his engines kicked on and his searchlight shined towards our scope. Ordered down scope and 350 ft depth, rigged again for depth charge.

Several charges exploded around us over 30-45 minutes but none close. The SC continued searching but failed to locate us, the heavy seas providing relief. Lost contact at 0530 and at 0630 with dawn approaching, low battery and nearly 24 hours submerged, came back to periscope, then radar depth. Subchaser was 8000 yards to port searching area Turned to being stern to bear, and surfaced. Put on flank speed and left the area to conduct repairs and recover.


SD contact forced NAUTILUS to submerge at noon and continued on a course back to Moro Bay, avoiding the same SC as it came into view at 1335 and 1901.


Surfaced at 2100 and began preparations for landing of personnel and cargo at TUGURAN, MINADNAO.

At 2130 as was entering Illano Bay, SJ contacted a pip, likely the SC in our path, went to GQ, increased to flank speed and avoided by a circular route which put as at the designated landing area at 2158, two minutes ahead of schedule. Friendly boats were spotted 1900 yards off shore and rendezvous was made. Deployed eight rubber boats total to go ashore.


6 June

0005 Special mission completed. Set course for Darwin as ordered.

7-10 June


En route Darwin


11 June

Arrived Darwin at 1000 hours. Rearmed, loaded cargo and passengers for next patrol. Ready for sea 12 June.



__________________________________________________ _________

WAR PATROL REPORT
USS NAUTILUS SS-168
WAR PATROL TWELVE
12 June- 28 June 1944


PROLOGUE

Returned from War Patrol ELEVEN 11 June 1944. Refueled, replaced three torpedoes fire, conducted voyage and battle damage repairs possible in short order and loaded for special mission. Ready for sea 12 June.



NARRATIVE


12 June

0700 Received four enlisted men for transportation to NEGROS, Philippines.

1309 Underway in according with Secret Operation Order 74-44.


1800 Trim Dive.

1820 Surfaced.


13-16 June

En route special mission.

17 June

1800 Began transit of Sibutu Passage West of Tawi Tawi. SJ had two pips , first located bearing 040 25000 yards. Likely two DD's enemy uses to patrol strait reported by other boats. APR-1 detected radar emissions from contact bearing. NAUTILUS was able to avoid.


18 June

0400 Cleared Sibutu Pass, entered Sulu Sea en route area.


1300 SD contact 17000 yards, submerged to avoid closing aircraft.


1700 Surfaced


1835 Spotted fishing boat, possible japanese, avoided to prevent possibly alerting forces in area due to proximity to objective.


19 June

0914 Submerged to avoid SD contact, range 12000 yards.


1100 Surfaced.


20 June

0600 Submerged ten miles off NEGROS, PHILIPPINES to observe designated landing area.

Surfaced 2100 hours and prepared for special mission. Friendly boats spotted 1500 yards off shore. Began unloading cargo and personnel in rubber boats at 2200 precisely. A SJ contact was made at 2258,single pip closing area fast. NAUTILUS withdrew from coast and monitored a patrol gunboat type craft move along coast and depart area Moved back inshore to complete mission.

All boats deployed with cargo and passengers. 11 Passengers, including one German POW embarked for evacuation to Australia.

21 June

0011 Special Mission completed. Set course for Darwin.

1944 SD contact, submerged to avoid.

2041 Surfaced.


22 June

En route Darwin.

2000 Approached North end Sibutu Passage for transit south, increased speed to 16 knots.

TMO Update BH V.20
USS Nautilus SS-168


23 June


0421 About half through pass, SJ made contacts , two pips bearing 040 18000 yards. APR-1 detected radar emissions from same bearing. Attempted to open range but seems were detected, as pips were rapidly closing.

TORPEDO ATTACK NO. 1

Unable to shake the, turned into closest contact and submerged at 6000 yards, would fire "down the throat" on the closest DD, hoping to make it one vs one. DD, believed to be of Fubuki Class or similar, closed at 30+ knots.

At 0444 fired tubes 1,2,3 "down the throat" of target at 650-600 yards, ordered 300 feet, rigged for depth charge and silent running. Time for expected impact came, but no sound of explosions. DD roared overhead and let loose a pattern, real tooth shakers.



FIRE CONTROL DATA TORPEDO ATTACK NO.1 (at firing)



TYPE Night Surface

Conditions Calm seas, low visibility, no moon.

SHIPS SUNK

AK AKAMA MARU 5425 tons.
2-24 S 126-41 E.
1944/05/31
2214


TARGET NO. 1

DD Fubuki
RANGE 650-600yards
BEARING 0
TRUE BEARING 274
AOB 0 degrees
COURSE 090
SPEED 30 knots


TUBE NO. 1
TYPE MK 23-1
SERIAL NO.145549
EXPLODER MK 6-5
SERIAL NO. 11048
GYRO 0
COURSE 293
TRACK 0
METHOD Constant bearing
SPREAD 0
INTERVAL 5 seconds
POA MOT, bow
DEPTH 3.5 FT
POWER STANDARD
HIT [ ] Yes No [X]
POI ---
ACTUATION Contact
MALFUNCTION No
REMARK None


TUBE NO. 2
TYPE MK 23-1
SERIAL NO.145560
EXPLODER MK 6-5
SERIAL NO. 11051
GYRO 0
COURSE 293
TRACK 0
METHOD Constant bearing
SPREAD 0
INTERVAL 5 seconds
POA MOT, bow
DEPTH 3.5 FT
POWER STANDARD
HIT [ ] Yes No [X]
POI ---
ACTUATION Contact
MALFUNCTION No
REMARK None


TUBE NO. 3
TYPE MK 23-1
SERIAL NO.145571
EXPLODER MK 6-5
SERIAL NO. 11081
GYRO 0
COURSE 293
TRACK 0
METHOD Constant bearing
SPREAD 0
INTERVAL 5 seconds
POA MOT, bow
DEPTH 3.5 FT
POWER STANDARD
HIT [ ] Yes No [X]
POI ---
ACTUATION Contact
MALFUNCTION No
REMARK None


OWN SHIP DATA (at firing)


DEPTH 64 FT
COURSE 290
SPEED 2 kts
SEAS Calm
__________________________________________________ ________


Second DD roared above at 0450 and dropped pattern as well, close, boat shaken, air lines, piping began to leak. Aft battery reported damage.

NAUTILUS at depth of 395 feet, escorts maintained strong contact for some time.

0800 lost sound contact with enemy, believed both were "sleeping" listening.

0830 two new sound contacts, plus two others started up, four vessels in area, all warships. Believe assistance was called from Tawi Tawi to search for NAUTILUS.

1100 heard engines of one DD start up astern estimated 7000 yards.

1155, heard second DD start up and sweep area.

1214 Two random, large explosions close above. No vessel nearby, possible
aircraft.

1230 Warship contact nearby, passed above, then appear to slow, turned about and pinging began. This sounded like a lighter ASW type vessel vs the DD from earlier attack.

1234 Large pattern of depth charges dropped, all were above, no damage.

Two other contacts arrived in area but none located NAUTILUS.


1331 Lost sound contact.


2200 Periscope depth. All clear

2210 SJ depth, all cleared. Secured and surfaced.

2220 Position at south end of Sibutu Passage. Proceeded on to Darwin.


23- 27 June

En route to Darwin, uneventful.


28 June


1631 Arrived Darwin, Australia, terminated war patrol.