Rank & Name: Lt Cdr. Grizzly Bryan Lee II
Cycle: 12
Squadron & Division: Sub Squadron 3, SubDiv5A
USS & SS: USS Hawkbill (SS-366)
Patrol Zone & Sector(s): Northern Japan, Sectors 4, 5, 6, 7
TDC: Auto
Realism (%): 95
Crew experience: Green
Number of Warships sunk: 1
Number of Merchants sunk: 4
Warship tonnage: 2564
Merchant tonnage: 25340
Total JANAC tonnage: 14452
Types of Warship sunk:
Date Time Lat & Long Class of Vessel Tonnage
October 10, 1944 05:23 39-51N, 141-51E C Type Submarine 2564
Types of Merchant sunk:
Date Time Lat & Long Class of Vessel Tonnage
October 10, 1944 22:59 40-44N, 141-47E Oil Tanker 3920
October 10, 1944 22:59 40-44N, 141-47E Troop Transport 8750
October 10, 1944 23:03 40-44N, 141-46E Troop Transport 8750
October 12, 1944 13:04 41-18N, 142-06E Oil Tanker 3920
Conducted Lifeguard duty: (If yes how many aviators rescued):
Date Time Lat & Long
Conducted Photo Recon: (If Yes than where was it performed)
Date Time Location Lat & Long
Patrol Narrative:
10/9/1944 - 00:18
USS Hawkbill arrived in sector NJ-3. No major incidents occurred and the voyage from port was uneventful. Hawkbill is a new boat, having just completed her first war patrol under Lt. Cdr Scanland. Other than some minor damage, she is in fine shape. The crew is mostly green with a few veterans, but from Lt. Cdr Scanlands reports they have had their molars rattled already so the first depth charge shouldnt panic anyone. I have run the crew through drills and they have performed admirably.
Fuel remaining - 100445 Gallons (85%)
13 x Mark 14 Torpedo
11 x Mark 18-2 Torpedo
100 x rounds for Deck gun
Arrived in Sector NJ-3 Transitting to NJ-4
10/9/1944 - 10:07
Entered Sector NJ-4
Sea is calm and Weather is clear. Hawkbill is making speed for the Tsugaru Strait. There should be some good hunting just outside the Strait.
10/9/1944 - 11:04
Sampan sighted. Decide to avoid, choosing instead to test waters for thermocline layers.
10/9/1944 - 11:29
Carefully made depth to 578 feet. Thermocline layer found and boat is starting to creak. We may not be able to go much deeper. It took some time for Hawkbill to dive this deep, well have to take this into consideration during any attack runs. XO reports that Hawkbill probably would not survive from a concentrated Depth charging at this depth. If we get bounced deeper the hull might crack from the pressure.
10/9/1944 - 11:55
Made depth to periscope. Four Sampans sighted. There are reports of convoys leaving Tsugaru Strait and heading in this direction. These Sampans may be scouting the area. Well remain hidden as a precaution.
10/9/1944 - 16:32
SJ radar contact bearing 43 range 33180. Moving to investigate.
10/9/1944 - 17:11
Contact looks like a large convoy. Have sighted 1 escort (possible Fubuki) and 3 merchants (AMC, 2 x Small Freighter). Diving to periscope depth and moving into attack position.
10/9/1944 - 17:48
Cannot catch up to the convoy. Were too far out of position. The Fubuki is moving in our direction. I don't know if we're spotted or not but we're diving to evade. No sense in exposing ourselves with we cant get a shot off at the convoy.
10/9/1944 - 22:05
Single contact on SJ radar. Bearing 014, range 32560. Moving to investigate.
10/10/1944 - 00:52
Sub Spotted! Bearing 354, range 4530. Shes heading away from us. I dont like the idea of a Jap sub in the area. Were going to sink her.
10/10/1944 - 00:57
Approaching the sub from astern. She seems to be making quite the speed. Hawksbill is having to make Flank to catch up. Range is 3986. We need to get closer to get a better firing solution. Luckily it is still fairly dark out.
10/10/1944 - 01:30
Range is 1756. Fire tube 1. Sub has spotted me and is diving. Man Deck Gun but no hits. Sonar reports no detonation so our fish missed, and we cant hear the Sub. Will report position to Ultra and continue heading north.
10/10/1944 - 02:20
New SJ contact, range 5990, bearing 184. Maybe the sub came back to the surface. Moving to investigate.
10/10/1944 - 03:02
Sub Spotted, its the same one. Range is 4559. Setting up for attack once more.
10/10/1944 - 03:30
Fired tube 2 but missed. Sub is diving again. Fired off a few rounds from the deck gun but all missed.
10/10/1944 - 03:59
Sub is gone, slipped under the water once more. Maintaining heading and diving to radar depth. Rig for silent running. I am going to hunt this sub. We should be able to ambush her when she surfaces once more.
10/10/1944 - 04:50
Sub has sufaced. Bearing 039, range 3300. Hawkbill is in a good position now, we have a good view of her port side. Surfacing and making Flank speed.
10/10/1944 - 05:22
Range to sub is 2455yds. Firing tube 1 and throttled back to 1/3 speed. Dont want to spook her if the fish misses. Deck gun crew is standing by.
10/10/1944 - 05:24
Fish ran straight and true. Sub destroyed. Deck gun crew is a little disappointed. Turning back on original heading to Tsugaru Strait.
10/10/1944 - 21:28
Contact on SJ radar. Range 21830, bearing 356. A large group of contacts. Moving to investigate. Sea is moderate and weather is partly cloudy.
10/10/1944 - 22:28
Escort sighted, looks like a Type C Patrol Craft. Range is 3278, bearing 033. The escort is awfully close. Diving to radar depth to approach convoy main body.
10/10/1944 - 22:32
Patrol craft has turned and is going to cross our approach. Diving to 150ft and maintaining heading. Her speed has not increased so I dont think that shes seen us. We can hear the ships screws.
10/10/1944 - 22:38
Patrol craft is close. Sonar reports rapidly changing heading. Sonar also reports two low speed screws. We must be getting close to the convoy. Were pretty sure that the escort has not detected us. She passed within 200yds and did not take up an attack posture.
10/10/1944 - 22:42
Sonar reports two more low speed screws and one more high speed. Bringing Hawkbill to periscope depth to check for a visual.
10/10/1944 - 22:46
Visual sighting on second high speed screw. Kagero destroyer. Damn close too, at 980yds distance. Sonar also reports two more low speed screws, bringing total to 6 with a possible 7th.
10/10/1944 - 22:50
Visual sighting on one Oil tanker, two AMC, one Troop transport and one standard freighter. Marking priority targets and tracking an optimum firing solution.
10/10/1944 - 22:59
Fire 2 fish at Oil Tanker and the two Troop Transports. Putting Hawkfish on the bottom and getting ready for a counterattack from escorts.
10/10/1944 - 23:00
Sonar confirms Oil Tanker and one Troop Transport Sunk. There was one other Torpedo detonation but last troop transport must have survived.
10/10/1944 - 23:04
I noticed that the sonar positions of the convoy were scattering all around us. We are now in the middle of the convoy. Brought Hawkbill back up to Periscope depth to see if I could find the damaged ship and check for other possible targets of opportunity. I couldn't find the ship that took the single torpedo hit but did fire two stern fish at another Troop Transport and sunk her. The Troop Transport will bring the escorts. Putting Hawkfish on the bottom with vigor.
10/10/1944 - 23:14
First depth charges heard, but no impact. Hawkbill is 429 feet and diving.
10/10/1944 - 23:17
Found a Thermocline at 500 feet. Bringing Hawkbill level at 525. Convoy seems to have broken up after last troop transport sunk. Sonar reports contacts all over the place. The escorts, Sonar counts 5, are pinging enthusiastically looking for us.
10/11/1944 - 00:35
Active pinging has stopped. Still creeping away.
10/11/1944 - 02:35
Brought Hawkbill up to Radar depth. SJ radar detected one contact, range 18770, bearing 182. It might be the damaged ship. Moving to investigate.
10/11/1944 - 05:10
Weather is extremely foggy. Contact that we've been trailing is a lone AMC. Range is 523yds. Decide to pass it by and target one of the larger convoys in the area.
10/11/1944 - 10:01
Surface contact on SJ radar. Range is 32480, bearing 352. Moving to intercept. Weather is Foggy and Seas are Moderate.
10/11/1944 - 10:52
Range to convoy is 7940. Visibility is limited, should work to my advantage. Diving to radar depth.
10/11/1944 - 11:10
Sonar reports five high speed screws and three low speed.
10/11/1944 - 11:18
Based on the position of the convoy merchants as reported by Sonar, interception is not possible. They are moving too fast. There are a lot of escorts as well. Moving off.
10/11/1944 - 16:44
Message to ComSubPac. BB Group leaving Muroran habour making 27knots on course 133. Tried to pursue and intercept but they were moving too fast. Maybe Cdr Swiegoda and USS Seguno can intercept.
10/11/1944 - 23:24
SJ Radar contact. range 28230, bearing 000. Moving to investigate.
10/12/1944 - 02:04
Visual sighting on Type D Patrol class.
10/12/1944 - 03:05
Confirmed large enemy patrol covering the Tsugaru Strait. They are pretty far out too. They will make intercepting any convoys difficult. And we are in only 276ft of water. Im not going to risk a transit, not with active sonar. Moving into deeper water and heading back out to the mouth of the Strait.
10/12/1944 - 12:08
Surface contact on SJ radar. Range is 28030. Moving to investigate.
10/12/1944 - 12:32
Visual sighting on what looks to be an oil tanker. Range is 15970yds. Moving to intercept.
10/12/1944 - 12:51
Visual sighting on the convoy. Looks to be 7 merchants and 3 escorts. Picking out priority targets.
10/12/1944 - 13:05
Targeting 3 oil tankers and emptying bow tubes.
10/12/1944 - 13:06
Sonar reports one Oil Tanker destroyed. No other detonations heard. Taking Hawkbill to the bottom.
10/12/1944 - 13:32
Low speed screws seem close to Hawkbill. Brought to periscope depth and found convoy had evaded torpedos and crossed astern. The escorts are nowhere to be seen but we can hear active sonar a distance off. They must be chasing the torpedos that missed. Fired 4 stern tubes at oil tankers. One torpedo detonation, no ships sunk. Escorts are nowhere to be seen. Making depth 500 ft to dive below Thermocline found and turning away.
10/12/1944 - 13:54
Escort sonar can be heard astern. Not even close.
10/12/1944 - 16:46
Returning to base. 2 torpedos left stern, one forward.
Final Comments:
A disappointing number of torpedo misses suffered on this patrol. In all cases Hawkbill was moving to gain a defensive position against escorts, so a proper attack analysis was not possible.
I also made some interesting observations about tactics used by Japanese Submarines.
LCdr Grizzly Bryan Lee II
CO USS Hawkbill
Cycle: 12
Squadron & Division: Sub Squadron 3, SubDiv5A
USS & SS: USS Hawkbill (SS-366)
Patrol Zone & Sector(s): Northern Japan, Sectors 4, 5, 6, 7
TDC: Auto
Realism (%): 95
Crew experience: Green
Number of Warships sunk: 1
Number of Merchants sunk: 4
Warship tonnage: 2564
Merchant tonnage: 25340
Total JANAC tonnage: 14452
Types of Warship sunk:
Date Time Lat & Long Class of Vessel Tonnage
October 10, 1944 05:23 39-51N, 141-51E C Type Submarine 2564
Types of Merchant sunk:
Date Time Lat & Long Class of Vessel Tonnage
October 10, 1944 22:59 40-44N, 141-47E Oil Tanker 3920
October 10, 1944 22:59 40-44N, 141-47E Troop Transport 8750
October 10, 1944 23:03 40-44N, 141-46E Troop Transport 8750
October 12, 1944 13:04 41-18N, 142-06E Oil Tanker 3920
Conducted Lifeguard duty: (If yes how many aviators rescued):
Date Time Lat & Long
Conducted Photo Recon: (If Yes than where was it performed)
Date Time Location Lat & Long
Patrol Narrative:
10/9/1944 - 00:18
USS Hawkbill arrived in sector NJ-3. No major incidents occurred and the voyage from port was uneventful. Hawkbill is a new boat, having just completed her first war patrol under Lt. Cdr Scanland. Other than some minor damage, she is in fine shape. The crew is mostly green with a few veterans, but from Lt. Cdr Scanlands reports they have had their molars rattled already so the first depth charge shouldnt panic anyone. I have run the crew through drills and they have performed admirably.
Fuel remaining - 100445 Gallons (85%)
13 x Mark 14 Torpedo
11 x Mark 18-2 Torpedo
100 x rounds for Deck gun
Arrived in Sector NJ-3 Transitting to NJ-4
10/9/1944 - 10:07
Entered Sector NJ-4
Sea is calm and Weather is clear. Hawkbill is making speed for the Tsugaru Strait. There should be some good hunting just outside the Strait.
10/9/1944 - 11:04
Sampan sighted. Decide to avoid, choosing instead to test waters for thermocline layers.
10/9/1944 - 11:29
Carefully made depth to 578 feet. Thermocline layer found and boat is starting to creak. We may not be able to go much deeper. It took some time for Hawkbill to dive this deep, well have to take this into consideration during any attack runs. XO reports that Hawkbill probably would not survive from a concentrated Depth charging at this depth. If we get bounced deeper the hull might crack from the pressure.
10/9/1944 - 11:55
Made depth to periscope. Four Sampans sighted. There are reports of convoys leaving Tsugaru Strait and heading in this direction. These Sampans may be scouting the area. Well remain hidden as a precaution.
10/9/1944 - 16:32
SJ radar contact bearing 43 range 33180. Moving to investigate.
10/9/1944 - 17:11
Contact looks like a large convoy. Have sighted 1 escort (possible Fubuki) and 3 merchants (AMC, 2 x Small Freighter). Diving to periscope depth and moving into attack position.
10/9/1944 - 17:48
Cannot catch up to the convoy. Were too far out of position. The Fubuki is moving in our direction. I don't know if we're spotted or not but we're diving to evade. No sense in exposing ourselves with we cant get a shot off at the convoy.
10/9/1944 - 22:05
Single contact on SJ radar. Bearing 014, range 32560. Moving to investigate.
10/10/1944 - 00:52
Sub Spotted! Bearing 354, range 4530. Shes heading away from us. I dont like the idea of a Jap sub in the area. Were going to sink her.
10/10/1944 - 00:57
Approaching the sub from astern. She seems to be making quite the speed. Hawksbill is having to make Flank to catch up. Range is 3986. We need to get closer to get a better firing solution. Luckily it is still fairly dark out.
10/10/1944 - 01:30
Range is 1756. Fire tube 1. Sub has spotted me and is diving. Man Deck Gun but no hits. Sonar reports no detonation so our fish missed, and we cant hear the Sub. Will report position to Ultra and continue heading north.
10/10/1944 - 02:20
New SJ contact, range 5990, bearing 184. Maybe the sub came back to the surface. Moving to investigate.
10/10/1944 - 03:02
Sub Spotted, its the same one. Range is 4559. Setting up for attack once more.
10/10/1944 - 03:30
Fired tube 2 but missed. Sub is diving again. Fired off a few rounds from the deck gun but all missed.
10/10/1944 - 03:59
Sub is gone, slipped under the water once more. Maintaining heading and diving to radar depth. Rig for silent running. I am going to hunt this sub. We should be able to ambush her when she surfaces once more.
10/10/1944 - 04:50
Sub has sufaced. Bearing 039, range 3300. Hawkbill is in a good position now, we have a good view of her port side. Surfacing and making Flank speed.
10/10/1944 - 05:22
Range to sub is 2455yds. Firing tube 1 and throttled back to 1/3 speed. Dont want to spook her if the fish misses. Deck gun crew is standing by.
10/10/1944 - 05:24
Fish ran straight and true. Sub destroyed. Deck gun crew is a little disappointed. Turning back on original heading to Tsugaru Strait.
10/10/1944 - 21:28
Contact on SJ radar. Range 21830, bearing 356. A large group of contacts. Moving to investigate. Sea is moderate and weather is partly cloudy.
10/10/1944 - 22:28
Escort sighted, looks like a Type C Patrol Craft. Range is 3278, bearing 033. The escort is awfully close. Diving to radar depth to approach convoy main body.
10/10/1944 - 22:32
Patrol craft has turned and is going to cross our approach. Diving to 150ft and maintaining heading. Her speed has not increased so I dont think that shes seen us. We can hear the ships screws.
10/10/1944 - 22:38
Patrol craft is close. Sonar reports rapidly changing heading. Sonar also reports two low speed screws. We must be getting close to the convoy. Were pretty sure that the escort has not detected us. She passed within 200yds and did not take up an attack posture.
10/10/1944 - 22:42
Sonar reports two more low speed screws and one more high speed. Bringing Hawkbill to periscope depth to check for a visual.
10/10/1944 - 22:46
Visual sighting on second high speed screw. Kagero destroyer. Damn close too, at 980yds distance. Sonar also reports two more low speed screws, bringing total to 6 with a possible 7th.
10/10/1944 - 22:50
Visual sighting on one Oil tanker, two AMC, one Troop transport and one standard freighter. Marking priority targets and tracking an optimum firing solution.
10/10/1944 - 22:59
Fire 2 fish at Oil Tanker and the two Troop Transports. Putting Hawkfish on the bottom and getting ready for a counterattack from escorts.
10/10/1944 - 23:00
Sonar confirms Oil Tanker and one Troop Transport Sunk. There was one other Torpedo detonation but last troop transport must have survived.
10/10/1944 - 23:04
I noticed that the sonar positions of the convoy were scattering all around us. We are now in the middle of the convoy. Brought Hawkbill back up to Periscope depth to see if I could find the damaged ship and check for other possible targets of opportunity. I couldn't find the ship that took the single torpedo hit but did fire two stern fish at another Troop Transport and sunk her. The Troop Transport will bring the escorts. Putting Hawkfish on the bottom with vigor.
10/10/1944 - 23:14
First depth charges heard, but no impact. Hawkbill is 429 feet and diving.
10/10/1944 - 23:17
Found a Thermocline at 500 feet. Bringing Hawkbill level at 525. Convoy seems to have broken up after last troop transport sunk. Sonar reports contacts all over the place. The escorts, Sonar counts 5, are pinging enthusiastically looking for us.
10/11/1944 - 00:35
Active pinging has stopped. Still creeping away.
10/11/1944 - 02:35
Brought Hawkbill up to Radar depth. SJ radar detected one contact, range 18770, bearing 182. It might be the damaged ship. Moving to investigate.
10/11/1944 - 05:10
Weather is extremely foggy. Contact that we've been trailing is a lone AMC. Range is 523yds. Decide to pass it by and target one of the larger convoys in the area.
10/11/1944 - 10:01
Surface contact on SJ radar. Range is 32480, bearing 352. Moving to intercept. Weather is Foggy and Seas are Moderate.
10/11/1944 - 10:52
Range to convoy is 7940. Visibility is limited, should work to my advantage. Diving to radar depth.
10/11/1944 - 11:10
Sonar reports five high speed screws and three low speed.
10/11/1944 - 11:18
Based on the position of the convoy merchants as reported by Sonar, interception is not possible. They are moving too fast. There are a lot of escorts as well. Moving off.
10/11/1944 - 16:44
Message to ComSubPac. BB Group leaving Muroran habour making 27knots on course 133. Tried to pursue and intercept but they were moving too fast. Maybe Cdr Swiegoda and USS Seguno can intercept.
10/11/1944 - 23:24
SJ Radar contact. range 28230, bearing 000. Moving to investigate.
10/12/1944 - 02:04
Visual sighting on Type D Patrol class.
10/12/1944 - 03:05
Confirmed large enemy patrol covering the Tsugaru Strait. They are pretty far out too. They will make intercepting any convoys difficult. And we are in only 276ft of water. Im not going to risk a transit, not with active sonar. Moving into deeper water and heading back out to the mouth of the Strait.
10/12/1944 - 12:08
Surface contact on SJ radar. Range is 28030. Moving to investigate.
10/12/1944 - 12:32
Visual sighting on what looks to be an oil tanker. Range is 15970yds. Moving to intercept.
10/12/1944 - 12:51
Visual sighting on the convoy. Looks to be 7 merchants and 3 escorts. Picking out priority targets.
10/12/1944 - 13:05
Targeting 3 oil tankers and emptying bow tubes.
10/12/1944 - 13:06
Sonar reports one Oil Tanker destroyed. No other detonations heard. Taking Hawkbill to the bottom.
10/12/1944 - 13:32
Low speed screws seem close to Hawkbill. Brought to periscope depth and found convoy had evaded torpedos and crossed astern. The escorts are nowhere to be seen but we can hear active sonar a distance off. They must be chasing the torpedos that missed. Fired 4 stern tubes at oil tankers. One torpedo detonation, no ships sunk. Escorts are nowhere to be seen. Making depth 500 ft to dive below Thermocline found and turning away.
10/12/1944 - 13:54
Escort sonar can be heard astern. Not even close.
10/12/1944 - 16:46
Returning to base. 2 torpedos left stern, one forward.
Final Comments:
A disappointing number of torpedo misses suffered on this patrol. In all cases Hawkbill was moving to gain a defensive position against escorts, so a proper attack analysis was not possible.
I also made some interesting observations about tactics used by Japanese Submarines.
LCdr Grizzly Bryan Lee II
CO USS Hawkbill
