http://www.warfish.com/tang/report5_t.html
U.S.S. TANG (SS 306)
(A) PROLOGUE:
Returned from the 4th patrol on 3 September, 1944 and
conducted normal refit at the U.S. Submarine Base, Pearl
Harbor. In order to take part on the coming Formosa raid
and to be in a position inside the Formosa Straits to
intercept Japanese reinforcements for the coming Philippine
Campaign, training and loading were completed four days in
advance of schedule. Loaded 24 Mark 18 Mod 1 torpedoes
already prepared for the U.S.S. TAMBOR who had been delayed.
24 October 1944:
0600 Commenced submerged periscope patrol. On surfacing at
dark headed for Turnabout Island feeling that the Japs
would sow scarcely run traffic other than in the
shallow protected waters along the China Coast. On
approaching the islands at a range of 35,ooo yards
other than land pips appeared on the radar screen until
at tracking ranges the SJ was absolutely saturated.
The Staff had been correct in their estimate of the
situation that the Japanese would likely send every
available ship in support of the Philippine Campaign.
The Leyte Campaign was in progress and the ships of
this convoy as in the one on the 23rd were all heavily
loaded. The tankers all carried planes on deck, and
even the bows and sterns of the transports were piled
high with apparent plane crates.
ATTACK NO. 4
The convoy was tracked on courses following the ragged
coast at 12 knots. The Japanese became suspicious
during our initial approach, two escorts commencing to
run on opposite course to the long column, firing busts
of 40mma and 5" salvos. As we continued to close the
leading ships, the escort commander obligingly
illuminated the column with 36" or 40" searchlights,
using this to signal with. It gave us a perfect view
of our first selected target, a three deck, two stack
transport; of the second target, a three deck one
stacker; and of the third, a large modern tanker. With
ranges from 1400 yards on the first transport to 900
yards on the tanker, fired two Mk. 18 torpedoes each in
slow deliberate salvoes to pass under the middle and
stack of the tanker. In spite of the apparent early
warning and the sporadic shooting which was apparently
designed to scare the submarine, no evasive tactics
were employed by any of the ships. The torpedoes
commenced hitting as we paralleled the convoy to search
our next two targets. Our love for Mk. 18 Mod 1
torpedoes after the disappointing cruiser experience
was again restored as all torpedoes hit nicely. We
passed the next ship, a medium freighter, abeam at 600
yards and then turned for a stern shot at another
tanker and transport astern of her. Fired a single
stern torpedo under the tankers stack and one at the
foremast and one at the mainmast of the transport. The
ranges were between 600 and 700 yards. Things were
anything but calm and peaceful now, for the escorts had
stopped their warning tactics and were directing good
salvoes at us and the blotches of smoke we left behind
on going to full power to clear the melee. Just after
firing at the transport, a full-fledged destroyer
charged under her stern and headed our way and exactly
what took place in the following seconds will never be
determined, but the tanker was hit nicely and blew up,
apparently a gasoline loaded job. At least one torpedo
was observed to hit the transport and an instant later
the destroyer blew up, either intercepting our third
torpedo or possibly the 40mm fire from the two DE's
bearing down on our beam. In any case, the result was
the same and only the transport remained afloat and she
apparently stopped.
We were as yet untouched, all gunfire either having
cleared over our heads or being directed at the several
blurps of smoke we emitted when pleading for more
speed. When 10,000 yards from the transport we were
all in the clear so stopped to look over the situation
and re-check our last two torpedoes which had been
loaded forward during our stern tube attack.
A half hour was spent with each torpedo, withdrawing it
from the tube, ventilating the battery and checking the
rudders and gyros. With everything in readiness
started cautiously back in to get our cripple. The two
DE's were patrolling on his seaward side, so made a
wide sweep and came in very slow so as not to be
detected even by sound. She was lower in the water but
not definitely sinking. Checking our speed by pit log
at 6 knots, fired our 23rd torpedo from 900 yards,
aimed just forward of her mainmast. Observed the
phosphorescent wake heading as aimed at our crippled
target, fired our 24th and last torpedo at his
foremast. Rang up emergency speed as this last torpedo
broached and curved sharply to the left. Completed
part of a fishtail maneuver in a futile attempt to
clear the turning circle of this erratic circular run.
The torpedo was observed through about 180d of its turn
due to the phosphorescence of its wake. It struck
abreast the after torpedo room with a violent explosion
about 20 seconds after firing. The tops were blown
off the only regular ballast tanks aft and the after
three compartments flooded instantly. The Tang sank by
the stern much as you would drop a pendulum suspended
in a horizontal position. There was insufficient time
even to carry out the last order to close the hatch.
One consolation for those of us washed off into the
water was the explosion of our 23rd torpedo and
observation of our last target settling by the stern.
Those who escaped in the morning, were greeted by the
transport's bow sticking straight out of the water a
thousand yards or so away.
- posted by H.V.O.M - Kerry Wayne Burgess 9:32 PM Pacific Time USA Sunday 29 April 2012
