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http://www.ussbatfish.com/patrol-6.html Attack # 1: 2/10" Time: 0002(H), Date: 10 February, 1945

Lat. 18°56'N, Long. 121°34'E

Target Data - Damage Inflicted

Description: Same target as attack number two. Identified visually as an I class Japanese submarine. Ship(s) Sunk: One I class Japanese Submarine (EC). Ship(s) Damaged or probably Sunk: None. Damage determined by: Saw one torpedo hit from a range of 900 yards. Target exploded with a brilliant red flame and sank almost immediately leaving a large oil slick that extended over a radius of two miles. Target could be seen blowing apart on radar screen. Target Draft: 16 Feet, Course 020° T., Speed: 14 knots, Range: 990 yards (at firing)

OWN SHIP DATA

Speed: 5 knots, Course: 290° T., Depth: 0 Feet, Angle: Surfaced (at firing)

FIRE CONTROL AND TORPEDO DATA

Type Attack: Night surface radar attack. After opening out from target's track following first attack on this target, commenced new end around. Target tracked at 14 knots and shortly after we had started the approach she changed base course to 020° T. in order to clear FUGA Island. Decided to stay on surface, since, judging from the first attack on this target, his radar is either not very efficient or else it is anti-aircraft only. Also, again utilized the favorable dark background to eastward. With range to target 1500 yards he was visible from bridge and when ranged closed to 1020 yards identifiable as an I class Japanese submarine. At the beginning of the approach had set torpedoes at depths of 4 feet, 2 feet, 2 feet and zero feet. When target was positively identified he was on the firing bearing for a 90° starboard track, and gyros had already started to increase so commenced firing immediately. First torpedo was a hot run in the tube. It fired on second try but was already running in tube and I believe it ran erratic. The second torpedo, fired on an 115° starboard track with a 30° right gyro and range 920 yards hit and the target sank almost immediately. The third torpedo missed and exploded at the end of its run eight minutes later. Secondary explosions, believed to be internal explosions in the target were heard three minutes later after the ship was hit." Attack #2: " Date: 11 February, 1945

Lat. 18°53'N, Long. 121°47'E

Target Data - Damage Inflicted

Description: Thirty six minutes after receiving initial radar signal on APR at 158 mgcs, 500 PFR made SJ contact with Japanese submarine, range 8,000 yards, on southeasterly course heading for vicinity of BATULLINAO BAY at 7 knots. Before establishing contact swung ship to find null in APR signal to get approximate bearing of target. Ship(s) Sunk: One Japanese submarine (EC). Submarine class not definite but believed to be "Item." Ship(s) Damaged or probably Sunk: None. Damage determined by: Target was hit three times with Mark 18-2 torpedoes and literally blew apart. Internal explosions and characteristic sinking noises on sound gear continued from half and hour after target sunk. Target Draft: 16 Feet, Course: 120° T., Speed: 12 knots, Range: 880 yds. (at firing)

OWN SHIP DATA

Speed: 3 knots, Course: 021° T., Depth 44 Feet, Angle: 0° (at firing)

FIRE CONTROL AND TORPEDO DATA

Type Attack: Night radar attack. Presence of target was originally suspected when a radar signal at 158 mgcs was picked up on APR and rapidly getting louder. Initial contact was made at 8,000 yards. Target tracked on base course 135° True, constant helming 15° right and left and at a speed of 7 knots. In view of previous success in a night surface attack against a similar target with similar radar, decided to make attack on surface in order to more fully identify her as she was believed to be a Japanese submarine. No moon, partially overcast, and rain squalls behind us, gave BATFISH the favorable lighting conditions. At range of 1800 yards target was sighted from bridge, and by the time it had decreased to 1200 it was identified as a Japanese submarine, similar to the "Item" class. About one minute before BATFISH was to commence firing, target dove. The reasons for this maneuver are unknown but by the process of elimination, I believe he either thought he saw us or thought he had our pip on his radar, or he was making a routine night dive. At any rate he surfaced twenty minutes later. The first indication that he had surfaced was a noise on sound gear coming from direction of target that was similar to that of a submarine blowing ballast tanks. Next his radar at 158 mgcs came in and finally a contact on the SJ at 8,650 yards. Started new approach and worked up ahead and then dove to radar depth. Target now tracked on base course 120° True at a speed of 12 knots. With a range of 880 yards, commenced firing four Mark 18-2 torpedoes from bow tubes on a 70° starboard track, 15° left gyros, using a 1 knot speed spread, torpedoes set to run at four feet. First torpedo hit after a timed run to target of 50 seconds and target sank almost immediately. Second and third torpedoes also hit but with a muffled explosion that indicated they had gone off by hitting a piece of the target or in the disturbance caused by the initial hit. Five minutes after firing, two loud explosions from direction of target and one more nine minutes after firing were interpreted as internal explosions marking the end of this particular ship. The fourth torpedo exploded at the end of an eight minute run."Attack # 3: " Time: 0448(H), Date: 13 February, 1945

Lat. 19°10'N, Long. 121°25'E

Target Data - Damage Inflicted

Description: The target, a Japanese submarine of I class was proceeding on a southeasterly course between CALAYAN and DALUPIRI Islands at six knots. Ship(s) Sunk: One Japanese Submarine (EC). I Class. Ship(s) Damaged or probably Sunk: None. Damage determined by: Saw one torpedo hit which blew target apart and caused him to sink in less than 10 seconds. Searched wreckage and recovered several books, papers, and equipment. Heavy oil slick which spread over large area. Nearly two hours after attack oil was still bubbling to surface in spot where target sank. Target Draft: 16 feet, Course 140° T., Speed 6 knots, Range: 1700 yards (at firing)

OWN SHIP DATA

Speed: 3 knots, Course 220° T., Depth 44 feet, Angle 0° (at firing)

FIRE CONTROL AND TORPEDO DATA

Night attack and at radar depth. First indications of a target were weak APR signals on 157 mgcs, 500 PRF. Swung sub to determine approximate bearing. Initial contact was made at 10,700 yards. Commenced approach. Twenty six minutes later with range to target 7150 yards on BATFISH's starboard side, target dove - reason unknown. Target had tracked on base course 120° True so headed for a spot ahead of and on it's track so as to be in position for an attack before dawn in the event that he surfaces again. One hour and ten minutes after target dove contact was regained at a range of 9,600 yards. Started new approach. With range to target 6,800 yards dove on his track and continued approach from radar depth. Since we have only two torpedoes forward swung for a stern shot and fired three Mark 18-2 torpedoes from stern tubes on a 80° starboard track, zero gyros. Torpedo run was 1,500 yards. Used a 1 knot speed spread and set torpedo depth at six feet. All torpedoes ran hot, straight, and normal, but after the first hit there was no target for the other two and they both exploded at end of run. One ran for 8 minutes and 53 seconds, and the other for 9 minutes and 11 seconds. The hit was accompanied by a brilliant orange explosion and a wide diffusion of pips on the radar screen that indicated he literally blew apart." A first attack on 2/9/45 off northern Luzon at another sub produced no hits; all 4 torpedoes having exploded at he end of their runs- the sound possibly mistaken for aerial bombing by the lucky Jap! But admitting initial failure gives ring-of-truth to next three accounts. Some confusion exists as to the identity of Japanese submarine sunk on 2/10; I-41 is officially listed but Ro-115 is a candidate. Both were officially missing with all hands and removed from the naval list by March 1945 in the Philippines. Batfish's 6th patrol took place 12/30-3/3/45 in the Luzon straight and South China Sea at that time. Bottom line; by 1945 Batfish knew its business; could deal with misses; and could determine/confirm a sinking by sight, sound, radar or debris without itchy-neck syndrome; and those three are still on the bottom!