To : CO SubRon 3A & ComSubPac
From : Cdr R D Cleghorn
CO USS Pilotfish (SS-386)
Subject : Patrol report cycle: 13
SubRon 3A
PZ: Southern Japan P.Sector: All
TDC: Automatic
Realism : Realism 95%
Crew experience: Veteran
Number of Warships sunk: 1
Number of Merchants sunk: 6
Number of Sampans sunk (Not included in Merchants): 15
Warships tonnage: 20100
Merchant tonnage: 24070
Total tonnage: 44170
Total Janac tonnage: 30919
Date/Time Location Description Tonnage
Types of Warships sunk :
132313 DEC 1944 Pos:31-8N 130-5E AirCraft Carrier UNRYU 20100
Types of Merchants sunk:
092338 DEC 1944 Pos:33-12N 135-26E Converted Factory Ship 4370
100149 DEC 1944 Pos:33-7N 135-27E Small Freighter 1230
141152 DEC 1944 Pos:31-8N 130-7E Small Freighter 1600
160908 DEC 1944 Pos:33-8N 134-29E Standard Merchant 9970
170729 DEC 1944 Pos:33-9N 134-29E Oil Tanker 4070
171016 DEC 1944 Pos:32-56N 134-19E Supply Ship 2830
Sampans sunk - numbers & tonnage not added
090925 DEC 1944 Pos:32-7N 134-48E Sampan 70
090926 DEC 1944 Pos:32-7N 134-48E Sampan 70
091425 DEC 1944 Pos:32-39N 135-4E Sampan 70
091425 DEC 1944 Pos:32-39N 135-4E Sampan 70
091425 DEC 1944 Pos:32-39N 135-4E Sampan 70
091426 DEC 1944 Pos:32-39N 135-4E Sampan 70
101119 DEC 1944 Pos:33-17N 135-35E Sampan 70
101132 DEC 1944 Pos:33-18N 135-35E Sampan 70
111317 DEC 1944 Pos:30-43N 129-14E Sampan 70
111317 DEC 1944 Pos:30-43N 129-14E Sampan 70
111317 DEC 1944 Pos:30-43N 129-14E Sampan 70
160659 DEC 1944 Pos:33-7N 134-46E Sampan 70
160659 DEC 1944 Pos:33-7N 134-46E Sampan 70
160659 DEC 1944 Pos:33-7N 134-47E Sampan 70
160700 DEC 1944 Pos:33-6N 134-47E Sampan 70
Patrol Narrative:
Many sampans in this area. Many less at Pilotfish's departure.
Set up on what we though was a troop transport. Fired one shot from the bow. Hit, did not sink. Fired four more shots from the stern as she passed by and sank converted factory ship. Cleared area of DDs and found stray small freight. Took her out with guns.
Came upon lone small freight, no escorts, took her out with guns.
CV group came along as Pilotfish sat patrolling a shipping lane. Group zigged and I assumed they had picked up our radar mast, but then they zigged back. Fired all forward tubes. CVs zigged again and all missed. Fired all stern tubes. Four hits sank one Unryu CV. Went to 425 and found thermo at 400. Took a couple of DCs on the way down. No damage.
Entered large convoy, through screen. Best shot was on standard merchant. Had hoped for troop transport.
Made it through another convoy screen and had choice of two standard merchants or tanker. Fired two shots at tanker. First hit, showed column of water, no explosion. Fired remaining two fish at tanker. Third fish sank tanker. Proceeded to clear the area at 400 feet. When sonar reported DDs over 10,000 yards came to surface and ran away at flank speed. Visibility poor, good for escaping. Picked up single radar contact dead ahead. It was stray from last convoy. Took her our with guns and headed to the barn.
Cdr R D Cleghorn
CO USS Pilotfish
