061400 MAY 1943
From : Lt Kim Ronhof
Cycle : 6
To : SubRon 14 & ComSubPac
USS GROUPER (SS-214)
Patrol area : PALAU ISLANDS.
Special Mission Conducted: No
Realism 100%
Number of Warships sunk:0
Number of Merchants sunk:3
Total Warship tonnage : 0
Total Merchant tonnage : 13875
Total Gross tonnage : 13875
Total JANAC tonnage : 13875
Torpedoes fired: 6
Torpedo impacts: 6
Torpedo misses: 0
Torpedo duds: 0
Torpedo premature explosions: 0
Gun loaded 15 times
The following ships/aircraft have been destroyed
111428 APR 1943
Ship sunk! HAKUSIKA MARU, 8159 ton
Long 141° 06' E, Lat 8° 21' N
160235 APR 1943
Ship sunk! HARUNA MARU, 1593 ton
Long 132° 33' E, Lat 7° 40' N
191931 APR 1943
Ship sunk! MOMOYAMA MARU, 4123 ton
Long 143° 12' E, Lat 8° 32' N
Brief Patrol narrative:
All 3 ships sunk where unescorted lonely merchants.
The first ship was sunk under way to our patrol area.
Using 2 torpedoes and 8 shells the initial attack was carried out submerged
The second ship was sunk in the patrol area using 1 torpedo and 7 shells, initial attack submerged.
The last ship was sunk on the return journey using 3 torpedoes and no shells - to much air patrols in the area. Total attack submerged.
We where harassed a lot by Japanese air power forcing us to frequent crash dives. The raising SD scope was a great help.
In our patrol area we attacked 2 well defended convoys, never got any where near the merchants, but did get at hammering both times with reparable damage to all 4 aft torpedo tubes, the aft battery, the compressor and the night periscope but no hull damage - we had to go very deep 460 feet to get away.
One crew member severely shocked but no physical damage.
The escorts picked us up going submerged 350 feet below a thermal layer - clever buggers.
Lt Kim Ronhof
CO USS GROUPER (SS-214)
