USS Seal Sixth War Patrol - Wednesday 4 November 1942
TMO 2.5 Update
100 difficult . Cams and contacts off.
USS Seal SS-183
Sixth War Patrol
Wednesday 4 November 1942
Ten days since departing Fremantle, Australia and five since stop at Darwin for fuel.
0700 hours
Position: 5-38 N 131 59 E 161 NM SSE of Angaur, Palau Islands in assigned patrol area. Submerged at 0650 to avoid SD contact at 8 NM closing fast.
Set course for patrolling the North, South and East, West approaches to Southern entrance of Palau anchorage.
Previous afternoon of 3 November, Seal made an SJ radar contact, which was spotted soon after and revealed to be a large merchant vessel. Tracked vessel and made submerged attack with stern tubes (TORPEDO ATTACK NO.1) but suffered two deep runners and two premature detonations.
Once the target, an AK of the KOBAYASHI MARU class, was at 8 NM (SJ range) , surfaced for end around. The zigs and speed changes led to a chase which persisted after nightfall. However, a submerged follow up attack was made at 2027 scoring two torpedo hits and ultimately sinking. the 9980 ton vessel.
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USS Seal SS-183 War Patrol Six Torpedo Attack No. 1 Date: 3 November 1942 Time: 1330 Location:4-3 N 131-18E 305 NM SSE of Palau Islands.
Description
Lone AK detected on SJ radar en route to patrol area.
Ships Sunk
NAME/CLASS TYPE TONS DATE TIME LOCATION
None
Ships Damaged
NAME/CLASS TYPE TONS DATE TIME LOCATION
None
Ships Probably Sunk
NAME/CLASS TYPE TONS DATE TIME LOCATION
None
Torpedo Attack No. 1 Target No.1 Data (at firing)
Target No. 1
Name/Class KOBAYASHI MARU
Type AK
Tons 9980
Range 1100 yards
AOB 89° P
Bearing 189°
True Bearing 11°
Course 270°
Speed 8 knots
Zig? No
Remark
AK has large guns, estimated to be four or five inch mouted forward, aft, and one each side, similar to an auxiliary cruiser.
Torpedo Attack No. 1 Torpedo Data (at firing)
Tube#5
Type MK 14
Serial No.47371
Gyro 358 L
Track 81 P
Course 181°
Depth 3 ft
Speed High
Detonator MK 6
Serial No.5000
Method Single bearing TDC
Firing Interval 5 seconds
Spread 0°
Detonator Contact [] Magnetic[X]
Actual Actuation Contact [] Magnetic[]
POA MOT
Hit Yes[] No[X]
POI ---
Erratic Yes[] No[X]
Remark
Prematurely detonated.
Tube#6
Type MK 14
Serial No.47992
Gyro 358 L
Track 81° P
Course 181°
Depth 3 ft
Speed High
Detonator MK 6
Serial No.5003
Method Single bearing TDC with spread.
Firing Interval 5 seconds
Spread 2°
Detonator Actuation Contact [] Magnetic[X]
Actual Actuation Contact [] Magnetic[]
POA MOT
Hit Yes[] No[X]
POI ---
Erratic Yes[] No[X]
Remark
Prematurely detonated
Tube#7
Type MK 14
Serial No.41373
Gyro 358 L
Track 81° P
Course 181°
Depth 3 ft
Speed High
Detonator MK 6
Serial No.5000
Method Single bearing TDC with spread
Firing Interval
Spread 2° starboard
Detonator Actuation Contact [] Magnetic[X]
Actual Actuation Contact [] Magnetic[]
POA MOT
Hit Yes[] No[X]
POI MOT
Erratic Yes[X] No[]
Remark
Torpedo ran deeper than set. Wake observed passing below target. Torpedo detonated itself off starboard side of target.
Tube#8
Type MK 14
Serial No.43934
Gyro 100° L
Track 78° P
Course 183°
Depth 3 ft
Speed High
Detonator MK 6
Serial No.5009
Firing Interval 0
Spread 0°
Detonator Actuation Contact [] Magnetic[X]
Actual Actuation Contact [] Magnetic[]
POA MOT
Hit Yes[] No[X]
POI ---
Erratic Yes[X] No[]
Remark
Torpedo wake observed passing below target. Torpedo ran deeper than set. Torpedo exploded shortly after passing below target, on opposite side.
Own Ship Data (at firing)
Depth 54 ft
Course 180°
Speed 2 knots
AOB 89° P
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USS Seal SS-183 War Patrol Six Torpedo Attack No. 2 Date: 3 November 1942 Time:2027 Location: 4-04 N 130-40 E 330 NM SSE of Palau Islands.
Description
Follow up to Torpedo Attack No. 1 after end around. Night time periscope attack, using SJ at radar depth (40 ft) for tracking.
Ships Sunk
NAME/CLASS TYPE TONS DATE TIME LOCATION
KOBAYASHI MARU AK 9980 3 September 1942 2035 4-04 N 130-40 E 330 NM SSE of Palau Islands
Ships Damaged
NAME/CLASS TYPE TONS DATE TIME LOCATION
None
Ships Probably Sunk
NAME/CLASS TYPE TONS DATE TIME LOCATION
None
Torpedo Attack No.2 Target No.1 Data (at firing)
Name/Class KOBAYASHI MARU
Type AK
Tons 9980
Range 900 yards
AOB 84° S
Bearing 356°
True Bearing 182°
Course 272°
Speed 8 knots
Zig? Yes (initially, ceased before firing )
Remark
AK has large guns, estimated to be four or five inch mounted forward, aft, and one each side, similar to an auxiliary cruiser.
Believe enemy vessel was carrying ammunition dye to large explosions and repeated, abnormally large explosions upon sinking. Multiple ammo crates and remains of crates seeing floating in water. One life boat spotted indicating very few crew survived the conflagration.
Torpedo Attack No. 2 Torpedo Data (at firing)
Tube#1
Type MK 14
Serial No.47398
Gyro 7°L
Track 95° S
Course 193°
Depth 3 ft
Speed High
Detonator MK 6
Serial No.5201
Method Single bearing TDC
Firing Interval 5 seconds
Spread 0°
Detonator Contact [] Magnetic[X]
Actual Actuation Contact [] Magnetic[]
POA MOT
Hit Yes[] No[X]
POI ---
Erratic Yes[] No[X]
Remark
Torpedo prematurely detonated near target.
Tube#2
Type MK 14
Serial No.45435
Gyro 7°L
Track 95° S
Course 193°
Depth 3 ft
Speed High
Detonator MK 6
Serial No.5445
Method Single bearing TDC with spread
Firing Interval 5 seconds
Spread 2° starboard
Detonator Contact [] Magnetic[X]
Actual Actuation Contact [] Magnetic[]
POA MOT
Hit Yes[X] No[]
POI Amidships, Forward
Erratic Yes[] No[X]
Remark
Torpedo hit caused massive explosion with a large residual fire. Believe impacted boilers.
Tube#3
Type MK 14
Serial No.47398
Gyro 7°L
Track 95° S
Course 193°
Depth 3 ft
Speed High
Detonator MK 6
Serial No.5201
Method Single bearing TDC
Firing Interval 5 seconds
Spread 2° Port
Detonator Contact [] Magnetic[X]
Actual Actuation Contact [] Magnetic[]
POA MOT
Hit Yes[] No[]
POI Aft of stack
Erratic Yes[] No[X]
Remark
Second hit on target appeared to finish the job, as she quickly lost way with another large fire starting. Target began to settle in the water quickly.
Own Ship Data (at firing)
Depth 54 ft
Course 185°
Speed 1 knot
AOB 84° S
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