Disappointment. Sunday 17 October 1943
TMO 2.5
100 difficulty Cams off contacts on.
Sunday 17 October 1943
Arrived in patrol area East of Truk Atoll.
1952 SJ contacts at bearing 334-345 degrees 9 NM.7-41 N 152-57 E 63 NM East of Truk Atoll. Set course to intercept.
1955 Many tall pips on scope. General Quarters-Torpedo.
1956 Silhouette and pagoda masts of BB visible bearing 005 range 10 NM.
1958 Task Force is composed of three or four BB, two CV, four or more CA and CL plus at least ten DD. Contact report sent to COMSUBPAC. Task Force sighted at 63 NM East of Truk Atoll. Estimated course 070 degrees. Estimated speed 20 knots.
2000 Submerged for attack
2014 SKATE worked inside forward screen at depth of 300 feet for attack on center columns with BB and CV. As, began ascending to periscope depth, at passed 250 feet, pinging began , enemy DD detected SKATE and began closing fast. Ordered 450 feet, Rigged for Depth Charge and Silent Running.
2016:21 DD passing above, splashes heard.
2016:44 DC explosions not close.
2019 One close DD caused minor damage in after torpedo room. (See Damage section)
2025 Depth. 505 ft. Multiple vessels hunting SKATE.
2030 Skate at depth of 570 feet. DD's appear to have lost contact. Many explosions in distance. Sound has most contacts moving away high speed, two remain nearby, presume DD's mean to to cover the task forces escape.
2101 DD began high speed run towards SKATE. SKATE at 570 feet, went ahead flank for 35 seconds.
2102 DC explosions, not close.
2301 DD's have lost SKATE but remain in area.
One word sums up this action: Disappointment.
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