USS
Archer-Fish War Patrol #7
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(UNCLASSIFIED)
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Patrol Report
Endorsements
Sailing List - Patrol #7
| U.S.S. ARCHER-FISH (SS-3ll) SS311/A16-3 Care of Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, California. Serial ( 015-45 ) 12 September, 1945
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
Front: The Commanding Officer. To : The Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. Via : (1) The Commander Submarine Division ONE HUNDRED TWO. (2) The Commander Submarine Squadron TEN. (3) The Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet. (4) The Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet. Subject: U.S.S. ARCHER-FISH - Report of War Patrol Number Seven.
Enclosure: (A) Subject report. (B) Track chart to ComSubspac only.
1. Enclosure (A), covering the seventh war patrol of this vessel conducted off the East Coast of Honshu and the South Coast of Hokkaido during the period from July 10, 1945 to September 12,1945, is forwarded herewith.
J. F. ENRIGHT |
(enclosure)
S311/A16-3 Serial (015-45) CONFIDENTIAL Subject: U.S.S. Archer-Fish - Report of War Patrol Number Seven
Prologue: March 3, 1945 Arrived Pearl Harbor completing sixth war patrol. March 6,1945 Departed Pearl Harbor for West Coast of U.S. March 13,1945 Arrived San Francisco and proceeded to Hunters Point Naval Drydocks for overhaul.
The following major alterations were accomplished: •Installation of ST radar. •Installation of hydraulic periscopes. •Shifted JP to port side. •Installation of 5" 25 cal gun aft. two 40 mm placed on gun platforms. •Installation lower hatches on trunks not already so equipped. •Installation Loran gear. •Installation second IMO pump.
The following officers were detached: •Lieutenant R.L. Hamilton, U.S.Navy •Lieutenant J.N. Andrews, U.S. Naval Reserve. •Ensign D.W. Ellzey, U.S.Navy.
The following officers were attached: •Lieutenant P.A, Newlove, U.S. Naval Reserve. •Lieutenant (jg) J.M. Thornton, U.S. Naval Reserve. •Lieutenant (jg) J.J. Norman, U.S. Naval Reserve.
The overhaul was most satisfactory with the following exceptions: •Reduction gear noise could not be reduced below 87 decibels. •Two important alterations could not be accomplished because of lack of material, namely SV radar and TDM. •The air conditioning alteration decreased rather than increased the habitability of the ship. June 14, l945 Departed San Francisco. June 22, 1945 Arrived Pearl Harbor. Assigned SubDiv 102 for voyage repairs and training. Lieutenant Commander L.G. Bernard, U.S.Navy reported aboard for temporary duty as P.C.O. Narrative:
List of Officers and Chief Petty Officers (showing patrols including this patrol) Patrols •Comdr. J.F. Enright, 72281, U.S.N. 4 •Lieut-Comdr. L.G. Bernard, 78614, U.S.N. 7 •Lieutenant D.E. Bunting, 123694, U.S.N. 5 •Lieutenant P.A. Newlove, 103284, U.S.N.R. 2 •Lieutenant (jg) J.J. Bosza, 227823, U.S.N.R. 4 •Lieutenant (jg) J.M. Thornton, 229389, U.S.N.R. 6 •Lieutenant (jg) G.E. Crosby, Jr., 257485, U.S.N.R. 5 •Lieutenant (jg) J.C. Dygert, 313127, U.S.N.R. 3 •Lieutenant (jg) W.H. Cassady, Jr., 311473, U.S.N.R. 2 •Lieutenant (jg) J.J. Norman, 312548, U.S.N.R. 1 •FISCUS, R.W., 337 04 15, CTM(T), U.S.N. 7 •FORD, G.T., 346 65 91, CGM(AA)(T), U.S.N. 10 •STEULLET, F.T., 207 20 8O, CMoMM(AA)(T), U.S.N.. 4 •LUNA, A., CMoMM(AA)(T), U.S.N. 7 •WHEELER, C.G., CRM(AA)(T), U.S.N,R. 5 •CARNAHAN, E.E., CY(T), U.S.N. 6 •CARTER, L.A., CPhM(AA)(T), U.S.N. 2
July l0,1945 Departed Pearl Harbor on 7th War Patrol. Under escort of PC-487 until dark. In company with U.S.S.Thresher until vicinity of Wake when she turned south en route Eniwetok.
Training dives, deep dives, tracking, and exercised gun crews en route. 2330 (WV) Shifted to +10 time.
July 11, 1945 1200 (W) Position. Lat. 20° 54' N. Long. 162° 41' W.
July 12, 1945 0200 (W) Changed to +11 time zone. l200 (X) Position. Lat. 21° 11' N. Long. 168° 10' W. 1457 (X) Sharp and good radar pip 5800 yards. This pip did not disappear and was tracked on course 120° T at 5 knots. The visibility was unlimited. Nothing sighted on the bearing. It would have been impossible for a periscope to be up and not sighted. It would have been impossible for a periscope to be up and not sighted. 1510 (X) Lost radar pip at 6,000 yards. Cannot be explained. Thresher did not have pip. 1200 (X) Position. Lat. 21° 17' N. Long. 173° 36' W.
July 14. 1945 1200 (X) Position. Lat. 21° 15' N. Long. 179° 43' W. 1315 (X) Crossed 180th Meriden. Changed date to July 15, 1945. 1645 (X) Changed time to -12 zone.
July 16, 1945 0621 (M) Sighted friendly AK to north on easterly course. Changed course to l90°. Minimum range 23,000 yards. Were not sighted. 1200 (M) Position. Lat. 21° 23' N. Long. 174° 29.5' E.
July 17, 1945 1200 (M) Position. Lat. 21° 29' N. Long. 168° 50' E. 1530 (M) Thresher departed to South.
July 18, 19455 1200 (M)Position. Lat. 20° 59' N. Long. 163° 32' E. 2200 (M) Changed time to -11 zone. 2235 (L) Radar interference to South. 2250 (L) Radar contact 11,000 yards. This was undoubtedly a friendly east bound sub, but had received no notice of him. Later determined to be Lapon.
July 19, 1945 1200 (L) Position. Lat. 19° 27' N. Long. 58° 07' E. 1735(L) Sighted and closed east bound Ronquil.
July 20, 1945 Position. Lat. 18° 28' N. Long. 152° 44' E.
July 21, 1945 0030 (L) Passed Spot, Sea 0wl, and Queenfish. SJ Challenge unsuccessful. 0200 Changed to -10 time (K). 1200 (K) Position. Lat. 17° 53' N. Long. 148° 13' E. 1400-1500 (L) Watched bombing of Jap held Pagan Island. During the day had many friendly plane contacts by SD and sight. Too numerous to log. Our BK remained on and no planes approached in hostile manner.
July 22, 1945 ALL TIMES HEREAFTER ARE -10 ZONE (King). 0018 Made SJ contact at 10,900 yards. Shortly thereafter sighted DE or DD passing well clear on northerly course. Closest range 8,000 yards. 0510 Made contact with escort, LCI 1098, aid proceeded to Tanapag Harbor, Saipan. 0931 Moored alongside U.S.S. Orion at Saipan. 1610 C.O. departed for Guam to receive operation order.
July 23, 1945 Alongside U.S.S. Orion. 1900 C.O. returned from Guam.
July 24.1945 0952 Underway from Saipan for 7th War Patrol. LCI 95 as escort until 1515. Numerous friendly plane contacts. No difficulties with them.
July 25, 1945 1200 Position. Lat. 18° 46' N. Long. 142° 19' E.
July 26,1945 1200 Position. . Lat. 22° 28' N. Long. 139° 28' E.
July 27, 1945 1200 Position. Lat. 27° 38' N. Long. 139° 25' E. 1250 Sighted U.S.S. Silversides.
July 28,1945 0125 SJ radar interference. Probably Sea Robin. 1200 Position. Lat. 32° 05' N. Long. 139° 25' E. 1718 Sighted U.S.S. Balao. 2300 On lifeguard station for B-29 raid.
July 29,1945 0000 B-29's started passing over on way to empire. Navigation lights on all and IFF on practically all. 0100 Our cover, Airdale 22, arrived in area. Communications by VHF and 4475 fairly satisfactory but was used too much. He apparently was satisfied that we could see him occasionally, and did not attempt to make sight contact on us in spite of our coaching him on by VHF and turning on big searchlight. 0255 Airdale 22, the cover, stated he had heard a message and sent us “68 Chili Williams my heading 299.” We increased to flank speed, course 300°T, and asked for repeat. The plane then sent “Am searching Chili Williams 22.” Placing both messages together we got 68 Chili Williams 22 which he later verified. 0315 Plane returned, said he dropped flares at point, found no survivors, and requested permission to return to base. We sent him back for another look. 0400 Plane said ceiling was too low and asked permission to return to base. Granted. Told him we would search area. 0700 Arrived at 68 Chili Williams 22 and searched area thoroughly at flank and full speed. 0908 SD contact closed to 9 miles. No IFF Made quick dive. Aircraft contact #1. Possibly enemy. Had two other contacts during afternoon with IFF. They did not close and we did not dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 34° 05' N. Long. 140° 45' E. Sighted and closed two gasoline belly tanks during afternoon. Had been in water for some time as evidenced by barnacle growth. 2022 Secured search. Had covered approximately 575 square miles under good search conditions. 2030 Received message from liaison at Iwo 290616 (1616 K) that all planes returned safely.
July 30,1945 On lifeguard station. No work for us today. 0521 Made quick dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 33° 23' N. Long. 141° 29'E. 1250 Surfaced. 1336 Sighted and sank an aircraft’s fish net marker. 1415 Submerged. 2000 Surfaced. 2300 Received message to depart present station and to proceed areas 1, 2, and 3 arriving after sunset August 1. Sent message 301400 assigning areas to Gato and Atule.
July 31, 1945 0534 Quick dive. 0549 Surfaced. 0844 SD contact 16 miles. No IFF. Aircraft contact #2 0846 Quick dive. 1000 Surfaced. 1200 Position. Lat. 34° 48' N. Long. 143° 48' E. l218-1231 Had 3 SD contacts between 25-28 miles. Did not close. No IFF. 1614 Quick dive. 1958 Surfaced.
August 1,1945 0509 Quick dive. Bow buoyancy vent stuck in open position. 0900 Entered area 3. 1200 Position. Lat. 37° 10' N. Long. 143° 57' E. 1214 Surfaced. 1245 Quick dive. 2008 Surfaced. Worked on bow buoyancy vent.
August 2, 1945 0503 Quick dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 39° 24' N. Long. 143° 38' E. 1241 Surfaced. 1344 Quick dive. 2009 Surfaced.
August 3, 1945 0447 Quick dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 11' N. Long. 143° 33' E. 1445 Surfaced. 1450 Radar contact on Erimo Saki. 1527 Quick dive. 2005 Surfaced. 2054 SJ radar contact 275°T, 3400 yards. Avoided. 2107 Another SJ contact 230°T, 3600 yards. These contacts appeared to have considerable speed, but were lost before tracking could be started. APR had interference on 102 mgs. which may have come from them. Visibility was 500 yards due to fog. Good possibility they were “gremlins” as conditions were fog and a calm sea. 2200 SD out of commission.
August 4, 1945 0520 Quick dive. 1937 Surfaced. 1200 Position. Lat. 40° 54' N. Long. 143° 10' E. 2010-2055 Repaired bow buoyancy vent again. 2245 SD back in commission.
August 5, 1945 0521 Quick dive. 1433 Surfaced. 1512 Quick dive. 2013 Surfaced.
August 6, 1945 0527 Quick dive. 2008 Surfaced. Headed for Area 2.
August 7, 1945 0145 Had 2 strong radar pips at 2500, 3000 yards. Nothing in sight pips would change bearing rapidly, and then appear to remain stationary. 0503 Quick dive.
Surfaced. Heading for lifeguard station. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 34' N. Long. 143° 16' E. 1201 Sighted single engine plane closing. Dove. Aircraft contact #3. 1320 Surfaced. 1336 SD contact 12 miles. No IFF. Submerged. Aircraft contact #4. 1507 Surfaced. 1705 Quick dive. 1926 Surfaced.
August 8, 1945 0400 Arrived on lifeguard station. 0632 SD contact 10 miles. Aircraft contact #5. Closed to 4½ miles. No IFF. Not sighted in haze. Quick dive. 0714 Surfaced. 1042 Sighted plane - SD contact 12 miles. No IFF. Submerged. Aircraft contact #6. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 34' N. Long. 143° 16' E. 1245 Surfaced. 1353 Submerged to repair SJ. Visibility 6000 yards. 1446 SJ repaired. Surfaced. 1525 SD contact 12 miles. Sighted and identified plane as B-29. 1542 SD contact 14 miles. No IFF. Submerged. Aircraft contact #7. 1852 Gyro follow up system out. 2010 Surfaced. Received word strike canceled. Will be held on 9th, weather permitting.
August 9,1945 0500 On lifeguard station. 0739 Submerged. No information on strike. 0850 Surfaced. 1007 Submerged. 1111 Surfaced. Heard boats on station south of us talking to their air cover. Received message stating Russia was also at war with Japan. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 38' N. Long. 143° 08' E. 1232 Submerged. 1810 Surfaced. 1907 SD contact. No IFF. Aircraft contact #8. Submerged. 2013 Surfaced. ComSubPac said another strike scheduled for l0th. 2000-2300 Saw a number of what appeared to be gun flashes in vicinity of Erimo Saki.
August 10, 1945 0500 On lifeguard station. 0630 Heard boats in vicinity of yesterdays strike talking to air cover. Apparently hitting same spot again. 0732 Submerged. 0903 Surfaced. Nothing on radio, VHF, or 4475. 1017 Submerged. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 37' N. Long. 143° 08' E. 2011 Surfaced.
August 11, 1945 Notified of no strike on 11th. Received new position for strikes on 12th and 13th. 0217 APR interference on 160 mgs. Band width and pulse rate same as reported Jap sub radar. 0223 APR interference suddenly stopped and did not reappear. 0225 Quick dive. 0227-0235 Heard about 8 or 10 pings at irregular intervals but could not get good bearing. No screws heard. It is believed that a Jap sub was in the vicinity. Apparently when he got strong interference from our SJ he dove and attempted to pick us up by sound. Nothing picked up by ST. 0528 Surfaced. 0650 Submerged. 1552 Surfaced. 1630 Submerged. 2004 Surfaced. Notified strike for 12th canceled due to approaching typhoon. Remained in vicinity of lifeguard station.
August 12, l945 0515 Submerged. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 47' N. Long. 144° 00' E. 2200 Surfaced.
August 13, 1945 Notified we would not be needed today for lifeguard. 0517 Submerged. 1200 Position. Let. 41° 50' N. Long. 143° 53' E. 2000 Surfaced. 2145 Submerged object struck QB sound head. The jar was heard but not felt. QP will not rig in completely, lacking about 12 inches.
August 14, 1945 0507 Submerged. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 50' N. Long. 143° 57' E. 1355 Surfaced. 1415 Submerged. 1955 Surfaced.
August 15, 1945 0505 Quick dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 58' N. Long. 144° 01' E. 1451 Surfaced. Heard over RB0 that President Truman had announced that the Japs surrendered. 1545 Submerged. 2001 Surfaced. 2145 Received ComSubPac serial 32 ordering the end of offensive action. 2300 Received message to go to area 2.
August l6, 1945 Proceeding area 2. 1130 APR interference on 98 mgs. Definitely a Jap plane and he appeared to be searching. Interference increased. Visibility about 4 miles. 1133 Quick dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 40° 38' N. Long. 143° 56' E. 1246 Surfaced. 1510 Entered area 2. 1640 Received message to remain in area one. Headed for area one.
August 17, 1945 0130 Sent Archer-Fish number 2 acknowledging serial 32. The Jap jamming was particularly bad.. 0924 Submerged. 1200 Position. Lat. 40° 55' N. Long. 143° 54' E. 1714 Surfaced. The navigator obtained the first star fix in twelve days.
August 18, 1945 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 24' N. Long. 144° 25' E. 1341 Submerged. 2001 Surfaced.
August 19, 1945 0701 Quick dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 49' N. Long. 144° 08' E. 1325 Sighted friendly sub on surface. 1335 Fired two smoke bombs and surfaced. Exchanged calls with Gato. 1400 Exchanged movies with Gato. Divided area 1. As we separated, we checked ST radar. Pip was lost at 18,000 yards. 1445 Submerged. 1952 Surfaced.
August 20, 1945 0530 Quick dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 40° 28' N. Long. 144° 15' E. 1445 Surfaced. 1627 Submerged. 1945 Surfaced.
August 21, 1945 0525 Quick dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 42' N. Long. 143° 54' E. 1410 Surfaced. Forward stub mast for port antennae had carried away. 1431 Submerged. 1947 Surfaced. Rigged spare antennae.
August 22, 1945 0522 Quick dive. 0838 Surfaced. 0952 Submerged. 1200 Position. Lat. 40° 30' N. Long. 143° 48' E. 1950 Surfaced. 2215 Received ComSubPac message directing rendezvous with Runner and others on 28th. 2300 Sent acknowledgment.
August 23, 1945 0556 Submerged. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 36' N. Long. 144° 25' E. 1855 Surfaced. 0535 Submerged. 1200 Position. Lat. 40° 28' N. Long. 144° 14' E. 1303 Surfaced. 1329 Quick dive. 1943 Surfaced.
August 25, 1945 0522 Quick dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 26' N. Long. 143° 43' E. 1415 Surfaced. 1430 Submerged. 1946 Surfaced.
August 26, 1945 0410 Started receiving strong APR signals on 200-205-230 mgcs. Assumed to be friendly task force. 0605 First SD contact. Until 1115 we had numerous SD contacts. All had IFF. None sighted due to low complete overcast. When planes approached closer than five miles we opened up on VHF which established communication rapidly in every case. 1100 APR signals very weak or gone entirely. 1120 Submerged. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 53' N. Long. 143° 44' E. 1943 Surfaced. 2200 Received message delaying rendezvous on 28th for 49 hours. Also made us a unit of “Bennys Peacemakers.”
August 27, 1945 0608 Quick dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 41° 33' N. Long. 143° 45' E. 1323 Surfaced. 1349 Submerged. 1945 Surfaced.
August 28, 1945 0526 Quick dive. 0925 Surfaced. 0952 Submerged. 1200 Position. Lat. 40° 23' N. Long. 143° 54' E. 1938 Surfaced.
August 29, 1945 0535 Quick dive. 1200 Position. Lat. 40° 57' N. Long. 143° 51' E. 1357 Surfaced. 1446 Quick dive. 1935 Surfaced. 2200 Departed area 1 for rendezvous with Bennys Peacemakers.
August 30, 1945 0530 Exchanged call with Cavalla. 0900 Sighted floating mine. Holed mine with several 50 cal. and 30 cal. hits but it would not sink or explode. 0925 Sighted and closed Runner.
1000-1200 (K) Rendezvoused with remainder of Bennys Peacemakers and DD Maddox. 1200 Position. Lat. 37° 51' N. Long. 143° 20' E. 1230 In formation heading for Tokyo.
August 31, 1945 Sighted several friendly ships outside Tokyo Bay and during entrance. 1130 Moored alongside U.S.S. Proteus with Bennys Peacemakers and in company with U.S.S. Missouri and other units of U.S. Fleet.
September 1, 1945 In Tokyo Bay.
September 2, 1945 In Tokyo Bay during surrender of Japanese forces aboard U.S.S. Missouri.
September 3, 1945 0824 (K) Underway from alongside Proteus. Formed up with 10 other submarines en route Pearl Harbor. Runner, officer in tactical command, and guide. Captain E.C. Hawk, passenger, aboard Archer-Fish.
September 4, 1945 1200 Position. Lat. 33° 31' N. Long. 146° 54' E.
September 5, 1945 1200 Position. Lat. 32° 27' N. Long. 154° 15' E.
September 6, 1945 1200 Position. Lat. 31° 11' N. Long. 161° 12' E.
September 7, 1945 1200 Position. Lat. 29° 48' N. Long. 168° 29' E.
September 8, 1945 1200 Position. Lat. 28° 34' N. Long. 174° 56' E.
September 8, 1945 (West Long. date) 1200 Position. Lat. 27° 10' N. Long. 178° 27' W.
September 9, 1945 1200 Position. Lat. 24° 10' N. Long. 173° 54' W.
September 10, 1945 1200 Position. Lat. 22° 16' N. Long. 168° 17' W.
September 11, 1945 1200 Position. Lat. 21° 09' N. Long. 162° 27' W.
September 12, 1945 0903 Passed Pearl Harbor entrance buoys.
Weather: • The weather on this patrol east of Honshu and south of Hokkaido was marked be dense fog banks and force one winds and seas. Sun and stars were hard to find, especially during the early morning hours. Prevailing winds and currents were found to be as marked on the charts.
Tidal Information: • None
Navigational Aids: • No lights were observed to be lighted on this patrol although when close to Erimo Saki the light house on that point was a good landmark. The high mountain peaks of Hokkaido wee easily identified both by sight and by radar to give good navigational fixes.
Ship Contacts: • None
Aircraft Contacts: • Since this vessel was not subjected to aircraft attack during this patrol nothing can be said as to the trend of enemy action in attack. However, it was noted that most Sugar Dog radar and visual plane contacts were preceded by A.P.R. contacts. These contacts consistently indicated a plane radar frequency of 155 megacycles with a pulse rate of 759 pulses per second. The pulse width was 10 microseconds. The few visual contacts afforded little opportunity to study type of plane in general use. It was noted however, that the planes all traveled at a moderate altitude of 1500 to 2000 feet.
Attack Data: • None
Mines: • None
Anti Submarine Measures and Evasion Tactics: • None
Major Defects: • Hull and Machinery 1. Air conditioning system very unsatisfactory since accomplishment of ShipAlt SS259K-25 by Hunters Point during Navy Yard overhaul. Recommend coil for booster blower, 10 hp motors for compressors, and larger supply and return lines from compressors to coils.
2. Bow buoyancy vent will not close hydraulically. Checked topside linkage and entered tank twice while on patrol. tart of trouble is that yoke in linkage jammed open. However, suspect major trouble is in hydraulic piston of vent.
3. #2 IMO plant out of commission due to badly scored piston on by-pass valve. .Valve assembly becomes cocked in partially opened position so that pump is both charging and recirculating at the same time. Flow of oil is restricted, however, so that both pump and oil temperatures become excessively high.
4. Port sound shaft is completely filled with hydraulic oil as a result of leak in hydraulic piston although location of leak is undetermined. Oil saturated leads to head plus possible oil inside head put both QC and JK out of commission.
Ordnance and Gunnery: • None
Radio: 1. Material: • The major materiel casualty experienced
was failure of SCR-624 (VHF equipment). Considerable
difficulty was had in effecting repair because no
instruction book, schematic diagrams, or spare parts were
provided. However, a temporary repair was made which put
the equipment back in operation. Keying of the SD-5
aircraft radar blocked out completely the signals of the
SCR-624 (VHF equipment).
2. Skeds: • All frequencies were found to be unusually good. West of Pearl Harbor the higher frequencies (13655 kcs. and 16730 kcs.) were used almost exclusively both day and night until west of Saipan. In patrol area it was necessary to shift to a lower frequency (9090 kcs. or 6045) for only a short time during the night.
3. Ship-Shore: • No difficulty was experienced in communicating with radio Guam except that immediately after the Japanese surrender when the circuit was busy, some delay was experienced while waiting for other ships to transmit messages. Either 8470 kcs or 4235 kcs were used for all transmissions, both frequencies s being good.
Radar: 1. The radar performance during this run has been highly satisfactory.
2. Minor difficulties such as faulty tubes and blown out fuses were experienced, and in every case, the replacement of these cleared the trouble. One outstanding difficulty was experienced with the SD radar mast. The sweep on the indicator scope became unstable, and it was impossible to rectify the trouble by any transmitter adjustments . The trouble was finally traced to a flooded SD radar mast. The trouble was cleared after the water was drained, and. the mast dried out. It was discovered that on deep dives the mast took in water, and it was, therefore, necessary to limit the depth of the dives if further use of the SD was desired.
3. This was our first experience with the SD-5 radar, the results far surpassed those of the SD-4 which was on board during the other runs. Coming into Saipan, plane contacts out to seventy (70) miles were obtained, and while on lifeguard duty friendly bombers were picked up at twenty (20) to fifty (50) miles.
4. Also on board for the first time was the ST radar. Outside of a faulty crystal, no other difficulty was experienced. The ST was kept in a standby condition the greater part of the run, and it was discovered that the usual frequency drift was eliminated. At one time while on the surface, the U.S.S. Gato was followed out to 18,000 yards before ST contact was lost.
5. During our overhaul. period, a hydraulic speed-shift was installed for the SJ antenna. This has proved to be highly unsatisfactory. This system is self enclosed with a control valve located by the hand train wheel above the PPI scope. Due to hydraulic oil leakage, a great deal of difficulty was experienced in meshing the proper gears when shifting from hand to power train and vice-versa. Gaskets were replaced, and the system was refilled with hydraulic oil, a number of times, and still the difficulty persists. As a remedy a small volume tank with air pressure is suggested to maintain a solid column of oil throughout the system.
6. Also installed during the overhaul period was an SJ antenna counterbalance. The whip-action induced in the SJ antenna during heavy seas was reduced considerably thereby reducing the wear and tear on the training system as a whole.
Sonar Gear and Sound Conditions: • The greatest difficulty by far was experienced with the sound gear. The difficulties were not electronic but mechanical and cabling. Open circuits in the leads from both sound heads were numerous, and the casting on the sound-head shafts threatened to drop off completely. Open leads inside both sound-heads shafts were directly due to the castings becoming unseated. In order to repair the QB it was necessary to secure the sound head shaft with a chain fall, and remove the casting completely to retrieve the leads to the QB sound head. The QC-JK sound gear is completely out of commission because of the shaft being flooded with hydraulic oil. The sound conditions were ideally suited for evasion tactics, but highly unsuited for offensive action. Negative gradients made their appearance generally at sixty-five feet with a temperature change of about fifteen degrees down to one hundred feet with further decrease at greater depths.
Density Layers: • In general, radical negative temperature gradients were found between periscope depth and 400 feet. Some examples of cards made on morning trim dive are as follows:
August 1 - Surface temperature 70° Temperature at 250' 37° Temperature remaining approximately the same to 400' Lat. 39° 10' N Long. l43° - 30? E
August 4 - Surface temperature 66° Temperature at 250' 36° Temperature at 400' 40° Lat. 40° 51' N 143° 33' E
• During the last weeks of the patrol off the South-Eastern tip of Hokkaido a changing gradient was encountered at periscope depth which ranged from 70° to 50° at 100'. At times at periscope depth the temperature would change 10 to 15° in a matter of minutes causing the diving officer to pump or flood 2000 to 5000 pounds to hold his trim. In most cases the Bathythermograph was helpful to the diving officer in determining the necessary amount to flood or pump.
Health, Food, and Habitability: • The health of the crew in general has been excellent. There have been a minimum amount of fungus infections, small lacerations, furuncles, etc. Due to the removal of the air conditioning unit in the forward battery compartment during the recent Navy Yard Overhaul the average temperature has been too high in the boat. A series of tests in warm waters showed following temperatures: After Battery 90° F, Control Room 93° F, Forward Battery 90° F with the average injection being 84° F. A booster blower has been installed in the control room to force air forward. This has not proved satisfactory. It is uncomfortably warm in both battery compartments causing loss of sleep and numerous cases of “Prickly Heat.” The ship is in a sanitary condition. Storerooms, cool box, freeze box, galley and sleeping spaces are inspected frequently and kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
Personnal: (a) Number of men detached after previous patrol 23 (b) Number of men on. board during patrol 80 (c) Number of men qualified at start of patrol 58 (d) Number of men qualified at end of patrol 62 (e) Number of unqualified men making their first patrol 13
• The state of training and performance of duty of the crew end officers was above average on this patrol. The new men received aboard from Adv. Training & Relief Crew #3 were found to have been well drilled in the fundamental requirements for lookouts and helmsmen.
Miles Steamed - Fuel Used: Pearl Harbor to Saipan 3918 miles 42,420 gallons. Saipan to Area 2521 miles 27,770 gallons. In area 3807 miles 29,650 gallons. Area to Tokyo Bay 503 miles 7,000 gallons. Tokyo Bay to Pearl Harbor 3476 miles 42,000 gallons.
Duration: Days en route Pearl Harbor to Saipan 12 days Days en route Saipan to area 9 days Days in area. 27 days Days en route area to Tokyo Bay 2 days Days en route Tokyo Bay to Pearl Harbor 9 days. Days submerged 25 days.
Factors of Endurence Remaning: Torpedoes 25 Fuel Provisions 15 days Personel Factor Not known
• Limiting factor this patrol - Surrender of enemy.
Communications, Radar, and Sonar Counter Measures: 1. Radar Countermeasures. • No radar jamming was experienced. APR contacts were numerous and they were as follows:
Dates Position Characteristics 7-27-45 28° 59' N 119/180/12 139° 30' E “ ” “ 200/150/10 “ ” “ 185/250/20 7/28/45 33° 45' N 150/ - /15 139° 40' E 7/29/45 34° 43' N 76/250/12 141° 39' E 103/500/10 108/250/13 110/600/ - 7/30/45 34° 00' N 230/ - /8 142° 10' E
Dates Position Characteristics 7/31/45 33° 35' N 150/600/10 l42° 25' E 109/600/14 103/ - /25 167/500/25 150/250/10 8/1/45 37° 12' N 75/750/13 143° 25' E 80/550/10 70/500/14 8/2/45 39° 10' N 152/ - /8 143° 39' E 8/3/45 40° 48' N 67/550/10 143° 36' E “ ” “ 73/500/15 “ ” “ 156/500/12 “ ” “ 102/500/ - “ ” “ 155/ - / - 8/4/45 40° 47' N 157/500/15 143° 19' E 8/11/454 41° 45' N 157/700/8 143° 30' E 8/26/45 41° 15' W 200/ - /5 143° 53' E “ ” “ 200/ - /5
2. Communication Countermeasures. • No appreciable jamming was experienced except for one or two days after the Japanese surrender, at which time a strong Japanese short wave signal was heard on 16730 kcs. It made copying difficult for awhile because the signal from NPM was weak and no signals could be heard on other sked frequencies. Japanese short wave signals were heard almost continuously on all Safplan frequencies, lifeguard frequency, and Air-Sea Rescue frequencies, (4475 kcs, 3310 kcs). On 4475 kcs. strong Japanese short wave signals made voice communications with aircraft difficult at times. Only short wave jamming signals were heard until several days after Japanese surrender, at which time strong Japanese voice was heard on Safplan frequencies at times. No modulated signals other than voice were heard.
Remarks: • This patrol did not prove as productive as was desired, most of the time in the area being after the cease firing order, but it proved to be most interesting with the trip to Tokyo Bay and being present during the Japanese surrender.
• It is hoped that due recognition for aiding in such a large manner for the successful completion of this war will be given the scientists who gave us many important instruments, and to the Reserves, both officer and enlisted, who have done such fine work. |
| SUIBMARINE DIVISION 102 FB5-102/A16-3 Care of Fleet Post Office San Francisco, California, Serial 0131 13 September 1945.
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
FIRST ENDORSEMENT to CO, USS ARCHER-FISH (SS-311) Conf. Ltr. SS3311/A16-3 of 12 September 1945. From : The Commander Submarine Division ONE HUNDRED TW0. To : The Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. (1) The Commander Submarine Squadron TEN. (2) The Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet. (3) The Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet. Subject: U.S.S. ARCHER-FISH (SS-311) - Seventh War Patrol - Comments on. 1. The seventh war patrol of the U.S.S. ARCHER-FISH was conducted off the east coast of Honshu and the south coast of Hokkaido. The patrol was of 64 days duration of which 27 days were spent in the area and 12 days spent en route to and from Tokyo Bay for the surrender ceremony. Offensive action however, was terminated after ARCHER-FISH had spent only 18 days in area. 2. This patrol was primarily a lifeguard patrol but no opportunity for rescue was permitted, primarily because no strikes were scheduled during ARCHER-FISH’S stay in area. 3. No enemy ship contacts were made by the ARCHER-FISH. One floating mine was sighted but for some unknown reason failed to sink after being holed by several .50 caliber and .30 caliber hits. The apparent use of radar by a Japanese submarine is noted. 4. The ARCHER-FISH arrived from patrol in an excellent state of cleanliness and good material condition. The trouble with the sound heads will be investigated and repaired during the coming refit in Pearl Harbor. Morale of crew was, of course, excellent. 5. The administrative division commander congratulates the officers and crew of the U.S.S. ARCHER-FISH upon the completion of this patrol and regrets that at this last minute there was no opportunity to inflict further damage upon the enemy He takes great pleasure in commending and congratulating the officers and crew of the ARCHER-FISH upon their splendid record achieved during seven war patrols against the Japanese.
J. C. DEMPSEY. |
| SUBMARINE SQUADRON TEN 11/jhc
Care of Fleet Post Office San Francisco, California. FC5 - l0/A16-3 16 September 1945.
Serial: ( 0302 )
CONFIDENTIAL
SECOND ENDORSEMENT to U.S.S. ARCHERFISH (SS-311) Report of War Patrol Number Seven.
From: The Commander Submarine Squadron TEN. To: The Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. Via.: (1) The Commander Submarine Force, PACIFIC FLEET, Administration. (2) The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. PACIFIC FLEET.
Subject: U.S.S. ARCHERFISH (SS-311) - Report of War Patrol Number Seven 1. Forward, concurring in the remarks of the Commander Submarine Division ONE HUNDRED TWO. 2. The Squadron Commander congratulates the Commanding Officer, officers and crew of the U.S.S. ARCHERFISH upon the completion of that vessel’s Seventh War Patrol.
G. E. KITERSON. |
| FF12-10(A)/A16-3(18) SUBMARINE FORCE, PACIFIC FLEET fy Serial 02368 Care of Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, California, CONFIDENTIAL 25 September 1945 NOTE: THIS REPORT WILL BE THIRD ENDORSEMENT DESTROYED PRIOR TO ARCHERFISH - Report of ENTERING PATROL AREA. Seventh War Patrol.
COMSUBSPAC PATROL REPORT NO. 919 U.S.S. ARCHERFISH SEVENTH WAR PATROL. From: The Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet. To : The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet. Via : The Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet.
Subject: U.S.S. ARCHERFISH (SS-311) - Report of Seventh War Patrol. (10 July to 12 September 1945). 1. The seventh war patrol of the U.S.S. ARCHERFISH, under the command of Commander J. F. Enright, U.S. Navy, was conducted in the Nanpo Shoto area and off the northeast coast of Honshu. The primary mission of this patrol was lifeguard duty. 2. Hostilities with Japan were terminated eighteen days after ARCHERFISH arrived in her assigned patrol area. No enemy shipping was sighted on this patrol. There were no opportunities to rescue aviation personnel. ARCHERFISH was one of the eleven U.S. submarines which joined units of the Third Fleet and was present in Tokyo Bay during the official surrender of the Japanese Government. 3. Award of Submarine Combat Insignia for this patrol is not authorized. 4. The Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, congratulates the commanding officer, officers, and crew of the ARCHERFISH for the completion of this patrol.
G.C. CRAWFORD, Chief of Staff.
DISTRIBUTION: (Complete Reports) Cominch (7) Comsopac (2) All Squadron and Div. CNO (5) Comswespac (1) Commanders, Pacific (2) Cincpac (6) Comsubs7thFlt (Fwd Echelon)(2) ComSubOpTraGr (airmail) (5) CICPOA (1) Comsubs7thFlt (Rear Echelon)(2) Substrainpac (2) Comservpac (1) Comnorpac (1) All Submarines, Pacific (1) Cinclant (1) Comsubspac (3) Comsubslant (8) ComsubspacAdComd (20) S/M School, NL (2) SUEAD, MI (2) E. L. HAYNES, 2nd. CO, S/M Base, PH (1) ComsubspacSubordcom (3) Flag Secretary |
SEVENTH WAR PATROL
Joseph Francis ENRIGHT, Commander, USN Davis Eli BUNTING, Lieutenant, USN Paul Abraham NEWLOVE, Lieutenant, USNR Joseph Jasper BOSZA, Lieutenant (jg), USNR James Mathew THORNTON, Lieutenant (jg), USNR Gordon Eugene CROSBY, Jr., Lieutenant (ig), USNR Justin Clark DYGERT, Lieutenant (ig), USNR William Haxton CASSADY, Jr., Lieutenant (jg), USNR John Jerold NORMAN, Lieutenant (jg), USNR Lawrence George BERNARD, Lieut-Comdr., USN |
| AUGUST,
John Frederick, MoMM3c, USNR BARTON, Harvey Buell, EM1c, USNR BECKER, Robert Clayton, TM3c, USN BROWN, William Allen, StMlc, USN BROWN, Paul Tappan, F1c, USNR BYRNES, Cletus Arthur, S1c, USNR CARNAHAN, Eugene Earl, CY, USN CARNIFAX, Thomas Henry, EM2c, USNR CARTER, Leo Allen, Jr., CPhM, USN COLE, Dermot Josepb, QM2c, USN CONK, Gerard James, EM2c, USNR COSTIK, Edward Paul, F1c, USNR CRAFT, Robert Charles, QM2c, USNR DADDIS, Edgar Joseph, S1c, USNR DEISS, Donald Albert, S1c, USNR DeSOLA, Ben Hoeb, EM2c, USNR DOLAN, James Carl, TM3c, USNR DUNN, Howard Ashley, Jr., RT1c, USNR FEELEY, Francis Xavier, S1c, USN FISCUS, Ralph Walter, CTM, USN FORD, Garland Thomas, CGM, USN FOTHERGILL, Robert Elmer, RM3c, USNR FULLER, Marteen William, TM3c, USNR FULLER, William Marlin, S1c, USNR FULLER, Robert Henry, S1c, USNR GERARD, Albert Jackson, FCS3c, USNR GRANDIN, Edward Gustave, MoMM2c, USNR HALL, Johnnie Leo, EM3c, USNR HARRIS, William Elvon, EM3c, USNR HEALEY, John Patrick, Bkr1c, USN HUNT, Robert DeEarI, S1c, USNR JOHNSON, Paul Edwin, Flc, USNR KRAMER, Dewight Francis, EM3c, USNR LEFEBVRE, Gerald Alfred, RM2c, USNR LEWIS, Jack Wilson, S1c, USN LEWIS, William Virnest, StM2c, USNR LIPPACHER, Robert Frank, RM2c, USNR LUBECK, Ernest Howard, MoMM2c, USNR LUNA, Amenico, CMoMM, USN |
MALONE,
James, StM2c, USNR MAYHEW, Wilbur Wesley, TM1c, USNR McCOMBS, James Luther, S1c, USNR McMAHON, Edward Charles, EM2c, USNR McLAUGHLIN, Charles Francis, Jr., MoMM1c, USN MEYER, Hugh Edward, RT3c, USNR MYERS, Earl Edgar, RT2c, USNR NELSON, Billy George, TM5c, USNR NOROOS, Olaf, EMtc, USNR O’KEEFE, Westley John, S1c, USNR PARKER, Jack Richard, Flc, USNR PARSONS, Lester, Flc, USNR PICCHI, Henry, MoMM3c, USN PITTMAN, James Vester, S1c, USNR POTANOVIC, John Francis, MoMM2c, USN ROGERS, James Robert, SC1c, USN ROUNTREE, "J" "W" Kent, TME3c, USNR SCHWARTZ, Frank Joseph, Flc, USNR SIMPSON, Gerald Park, S1c, USNR SPRIET, Edwin Albert, F1c, USNR STEULLET, Freder1ck Thomas, CMoMM, USN STEWART, Irwin Grant, S1c, USN SYKES, William Lewis, QM1c, USN VALENTINE, Elgin R1chard, EM2c, USN VERZWYVELT, Anthony Everist, MoMM3c, USN WACHTOR, Joseph M1chael, GM2c, USNR WALSH, Thomas Joseph, S1c, USNR WARD, Emory Dan, GM3c, USNR WELLS, Charles Neal, MoMM1c, USNR WELLS, Lowell Earnest, TM2c, USNR WHALEN, Thomas William, MoMM1c, USNR WHEELER, Charles Gribble, CRM, USNR WHITE, Robert, EM1c, USNR WILKEN, Carl Anthony, M0MM1c, USNR WILL, Alfred Irving, MoMM2c, USNR WILSON, Norman Jay, FCS3c, USNR YOTTER, Carl Norman, TM2c, USNR ZEIDERS, Myron Winey, S1c, USNR ZYCH, Henry Joseph, MoMMlc, USN |
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