141400 APR 1942
To : SubRon 14 & ComSubPac
From : LtCmd Kim Ronhof co USS Gudgeon SS211
Setting: 73%
Subject : Patrol report
Patrol area : Southern Japan
Special Mission information see patrol narrative
Warship tons : 0
Merchant tons : 35589
Total tons : 35589
Total JANAC tons : 25980
Torpedoes fired: 22
Torpedo impacts: 9
Torpedo misses: 12
Torpedo duds: 0
Torpedo defect hot run: 1
The following ships have been sunk
251534 MAR 1942
Large Modern Composite Freighter, 7186 ton
Long 141° 12' E, Lat 34° 21' N
270259 MAR 1942
Large Old Passenger Carrier, 9638 ton
Long 139° 18' E, Lat 34° 56' N
281020 MAR 1942
Huge European Liner, 18765 ton
Long 137° 02' E, Lat 33° 52' N
Patrol narrative:
270009 MAR 1942
AGENT INSERTION IN YOKOSUKA
RMKS/1
departed Pearl Harbor. Full Torpedo load 50% mark 10's and 50% mark 14's.
RMKS/2
refueling finished and departed from Midway.
RMKS/3
161838 MAR 1942 :
The torpedo in tube 1 suddenly started; luckily we were able to fire it before it ran warm. But we lost 1 apparently defect mark 14 torpedo.
RMKS/4
Trying to run on the surface as much as possible, using the SJ radar extensively.
This forced us to frequent dives west of midway, but as we sailed further out, the air patrol intensity decreased.
RMKS/5
As we approached Japan, we dived during the day and lay still, while running on the surface at nights.
RMKS/6
251345 MAR 1942 On route to Yokosuka sonar detected a merchant crossing our route; dived and maneuvered into a good firing position it was a big freighter
Fired 2 torpedoes 1 hit and 1 miss then fired yet another torpedo which it, but it did not sink had to take up pursuit and sink her with the deck gun in broad
daylight, using 15 amour piercing shells. Had 2 man on the SJ radar.
She sank at 251534 MAR 1942 Large Modern Composite Freighter, 7186 ton.
RMKS/7
270009 MAR 1942 AGENT INSERTION IN YOKOSUKA
The moon was nearly ¾ full and there was no clouds - I had a good mind to call of the operation, why we had to get there so fast was a mystery to me (we had to
sail 2/3 speed most of the time to save fuel anyway) It would have been better to put him of later on the way home, with a darker moon. I sailed in submerged
and we manned the deck gun and AA gun just in case. But the coast seem clear, and he got in ok.
Never the less we could easily have been seen up the coast or on the way - so I thought it would bee prudent to sink some shipping not to fare away, assuming
that the Japs would never expect an insertion if we did that.
RMKS/8
Following up on that:
270240 MAR 1942 We came across a Troop transport as we sighted a Large Old Passenger Carrier full of troops. We must have made several miscalculations because
the first 2 torpedoes missed; I fired 2 more only 1 hit, then 1 fired yet another torpedo number 5 - that hit, but he did not sink and made a run for it, I
fired one more - number 6 it missed.
Now we had to make a pursuit on the surface - and as I think he had guns, we had to stay in good distance.
After firing 10 Amour piercing rounds and 15 high explosive we sank it at
270259
RMKS/9
Now continued to our designated patrol area but COMSUBPAC also gave us yet another area at Iwo Jima, for the time being I when to SJ7
RMKS/10
280520 MAR 1942
Another Large Old Passenger Carrier popped up - and I fired 4 torpedoes at her
In 2 bursts, only one hit but she was escorted by 2 DD's. So even though I tried I couldn't get near her.
Gave up and continued hunting.
RMKS/11
2 big ships appeared, and we ended in a wild goose chase:
Initially I fired 4 torpedoes this was 2 very big targets and fast running; 2 torpedoes at each target only 1 hit then 1 more - a hit then 1 more - a miss,
then 4; 2 from the forward tubes and 2 from the aft tubes 1 hit.
I now just concentrated on the biggest target.
Yet 1 more a miss.
Now I ran flank speed submerged running down the batteries very fast.
And 22 minutes after the first torpedo was fired I fired the last; it hit and she sank "a whopper":
281020 MAR 1942 Huge European Liner, 18765 ton
The shear tonnage justified the vast torpedo expenditure, and the fact that she was loaded with Japanese soldiers didn't hurt.
RMKS/12 continued patrolling a short time then sailed to Iwo Jima and patrolled for 3 days before returning
Via Midway
RMKS/13
Refueled at Midway
RMKS/14 141200 MAR 1942
Docked at Pearl Harbor with 2 mark 14 torpedoes left.
