311 War Patrol #7

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

USS Archer-Fish War Patrol #7
10 July to 12 September 1945
Report and Endorsements

Patrol Report of U.S.S. ARCHER-FISH (SS-311)

USS Archer-Fish War Patrol #7 10 July to 12 September 1945 Report and Endorsements

Patrol Report of U.S.S. ARCHER-FISH (SS-311)

USS Archer-Fish War Patrol #7
10 July to 12 September 1945
Report and Endorsements