272014 APR 1945
From : CDR R D Cleghorn
Cycle : 14
To : SubRon 14 & ComSubPac
Report from USS Lapon (SS-260)
Patrol area : East China Sea ECS-1 & Southern Japan SJ-4
Realism 78%
Special Mission Conducted: No
The following ships/aircraft have been destroyed
Number of Warships sunk : 5
Number of Merchants sunk : 9
Total Warship tonnage : 41399
Total Merchant tonnage : 17284
Total Gross tonnage : 58647
Total JANAC tonnage : 45745
Types of Warship sunk:
052304 APR 1945 Lat 30° 51' N, Long 130° 47' E, Asashio Destroyer, 2370 ton
052304 APR 1945 Lat 30° 51' N, Long 130° 47' E, Mutsuki Destroyer, 1772 ton
061802 APR 1945 Lat 30° 34' N, Long 130° 01' E, Shiratsuyu Destroyer, 1685 ton
061805 APR 1945, Lat 30° 33' N, Long 130° 01' E,Ise Battleship (Late War), 33800 ton
220443 APR 1945, Lat 27° 11' N, Long 130° 11' E, Mutsuki Destroyer, 1772 ton
Types of Merchant sunk:
041413 APR 1945, Lat 30° 58' N, Long 131° 07' E, Fishing boat, 200 ton
100451 APR 1945, Lat 28° 33' N, Long 128° 31' E, AKITA MARU, 3965 ton
101541 APR 1945, Lat 28° 14' N, Long 128° 33' E, BUZYUN MARU, 5013 ton
122223 APR 1945, Lat 28° 20' N, Long 128° 56' E, Fishing boat, 200 ton
122233 APR 1945, Lat 28° 18' N, Long 128° 55' E, Fishing boat, 200 ton
122335 APR 1945, Lat 28° 28' N, Long 129° 00' E, Fishing boat, 200 ton
130256 APR 1945, Lat 28° 37' N, Long 129° 25' E, HAKUSIKA MARU, 8306 ton
150154 APR 1945, Lat 26° 18' N, Long 128° 35' E, Fishing boat, 200 ton
170042 APR 1945, Lat 26° 23' N, Long 128° 21' E, Fishing boat, 200 ton
Torpedoes fired : 24
Torpedo impacts : 19
Torpedo misses : 5
Torpedo duds : 0
Torpedo premature explosions : 0
Gun loaded 22 times
Patrol narrative:
Patrol orders indicated suspected departure time and path of Yamato BB. Lampon set sail timed to intercept Yamato, if possible.
Lampon entered the patrol area from the northeast and patrolled along probable path of Yamato, going south by south west.
4 April 1945
Sank picket boat just before entering patrol area.
5 April
Three DDs traveling in single column. ASW group. Set up ahead or group, silent running, 10-degrees relative. Fired 2 fish a first ship, two fish at second ship and one fish at third. Saved one fish for close down-the-throat, in case we had to crash dive. First ship hit and sank. Second ship evaded fish making sharp turn. Third target not so lucky. It was hit by both fish meant for second target. Third target sank before expected, causing fifth fish to miss. Turning to put stern tubes on remaining DD, at flank speed (he knows we're here now!)DD exiting area at high speed!? No working over this round. Never expected that. No complaints. US minus 5 fish, Japan minus two DDs.
6 April
Entered DD screen of large task group - CV, BB, CL & DDs.
Could only get into good firing position by going flank speed at periscope depth. Fired all forward tubes at BB, 1200 yards, and executed 180-degree turn as DD caught us and was bearing down on us. DD cut in front of BB and took two fish meant for BB. Fired two stern tubes at BB, then shifted to advancing DD. Fired on fish at DD and turned right full rudder. DD circling to get behind us. Fired remaining fish. Stayed in this turning circle for three full circle. Since DD never fired DCs, Lampon circled down to 450 feet and slipped out of area. No close DCs.
8 April
Set up on CV from fast moving task force, at 1800 yards. Waiting for DD to pass over before firing. DD identified as US. Broke off attack. Task force had FIVE CVs. Good thing we were not Japs.
10 April
Set up on single lone ship. Fired one fish from 900 yards. Ship sank.
Set up on single lone ship. Fired one fish from 1100 yards. Ship sank.
12 April
Sank two picket boats by gun fire.
Sank picket boat by gun fire.
13 April
Set up on single lone ship. Fired two fish from 1200 yards. Sonar called miss. Fired third fish in case target was zigging. Two hits. Ship sank.
15 April
Sank picket boat by gun fire.
17 April
Sank picket boat by gun fire.
22 April
Set up on medium convoy. This group was wide spread. Only one DD out front. Fired two fish a DD. Hit and sank. Fired fish at merchant, which hit. Fired last fish at merchant, miss. BIZ???? Maru damaged, did not sink. Got a good four hour working over by two DDs before loosing DDs. Only minor damage reported.
23 April
Repairs made. No fish left for Yamato. Heading for base.
Torpedo data:
041412 APR 1945 : Gun loading
041412 APR 1945 : Gun loading
041413 APR 1945 : Gun loading
Fishing boat
-------------------------------
052303 APR 1945 : Firing tube 1
052303 APR 1945 : Firing tube 2
052303 APR 1945 : Firing tube 3
052303 APR 1945 : Firing tube 4
052303 APR 1945 : Firing tube 5
052304 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
052304 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
052304 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
052304 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
052306 APR 1945 : Torpedo miss
Asashio & Mutsuki Destroyers
-------------------------------
061801 APR 1945 : Firing tube 1
061801 APR 1945 : Firing tube 2
061801 APR 1945 : Firing tube 3
061801 APR 1945 : Firing tube 4
061802 APR 1945 : Firing tube 5
061802 APR 1945 : Firing tube 6
061802 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
061802 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
061802 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
061802 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
061803 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
061803 APR 1945 : Firing tube 7
061804 APR 1945 : Firing tube 8
061805 APR 1945 : Firing tube 9
061805 APR 1945 : Firing tube 10
061805 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
061805 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
061805 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
061810 APR 1945 : Torpedo miss
061812 APR 1945 : Torpedo miss
Shiratsuyu DD & Ise BB
------------------------------
100450 APR 1945 : Firing tube 1
100451 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
AKITA MARU
------------------------------
101536 APR 1945 : Firing tube 10
101536 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
BUZYUN MARU
------------------------------
122213 APR 1945 : Gun loading
122215 APR 1945 : Gun loading
122215 APR 1945 : Gun loading
122216 APR 1945 : Gun loading
122216 APR 1945 : Gun loading
122217 APR 1945 : Gun loading
122221 APR 1945 : Gun loading
2 Fishing boats
------------------------------
122330 APR 1945 : Gun loading
122330 APR 1945 : Gun loading
122331 APR 1945 : Gun loading
122331 APR 1945 : Gun loading
122334 APR 1945 : Gun loading
122335 APR 1945 : Gun loading
Fishing boat
------------------------------
130252 APR 1945 : Firing tube 5
130255 APR 1945 : Firing tube 9
130256 APR 1945 : Torpedo miss
130256 APR 1945 : Firing tube 8
130256 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
130256 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
HAKUSIKA MARU
------------------------------
150149 APR 1945 : Gun loading
150149 APR 1945 : Gun loading
150151 APR 1945 : Gun loading
150152 APR 1945 : Gun loading
Fishing boat
------------------------------
170039 APR 1945 : Gun loading
170041 APR 1945 : Gun loading
Fishing boat
------------------------------
220442 APR 1945 : Firing tube 2
220442 APR 1945 : Firing tube 3
220443 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
220443 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
220446 APR 1945 : Firing tube 4
220448 APR 1945 : Firing tube 7
220449 APR 1945 : Torpedo hit
220455 APR 1945 : Torpedo miss
Mutsuki Destroyer
------------------------------
CDR R D Cleghorn
CO USS Lapon (SS-260)
Mods used 3
TriggerMaru_Overhaul_17
Marilyn
PTC_Cycles_Mod_v2.1
Awarded Silver Star
