NAUTILUS 5th war patrol, part 4 – forwarded
January 2nd, 2009 From
>From: John Snyder
>Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 19:15:30 -0700
>To: mahan@microwrks.com
>Subject: NAUTILUS 5th war patrol, part 4 – forwarded
>Organization: MacNexus, the Sacramento Macintosh User Group
>X-Mailer: TeleFinder BBS v5.5
>Precendence: bulk
>Sender: mahan-owner@microworks.net
>
>Here’s the long-awaited (by some of us) excerpt that went missing earlier.
>
> May 12, 1943
>
> Received message during night ordering us to Dutch Harbor and also to
> look for enemy shipping approaching ATTU from southwest which was
> heartily complied with.
>
> 0612 W Submerged as visibility increased somewhat.
>
> 1917 W Seas became so rough that periscope depth could not be
>maintained,
> increased depth to 90 feet.
>
> 2156 W Came to periscope depth, found sky completely overcast, low
> visibility, heavy seas.
>
> 2202 W surfaced.
>
> May 13, 1943
>
> 0841 W Early morning low visibility lifted and submerges. Could not
> maintain periscope due to high seas, rant at 100 feet.
>
> 2059 W Visibility reduced by fog, surfaces.
>
> May 14 to May 16, 1943
>
> Surface running. 1921 W May 14, 11943, crossed 180th meridian. 0544
>W
> submerged on sight plane contact and at 0624 W surfaces. 0315 W May
>16,
> 1943, received message altering routing and canceling speed
>restriction,
> immediately went ahead full speed. 15.5 knots in order to arrive
>DUTCH
> HARBOR before dark the 16th. At 1900 W May 16, 1943, arrived DUTCH
> HARBOR. The entire trip from the north coast of ATTU was made by dead
> reckoning except for one hazy sun fix obtained May 14, 1943.
>
> May 17 1943
>
> 1600 W Departed DUTCH HARBOR for PEARL HARBOR.
>
> May 18, 1943
>
> 1530 W Received message from Comsubpac to change course had head for
>MARE
> ISLAND immediately. Upon hearing this the morale of the crew
>increased
> one hundred percent.
>
> May 19, 1943
>
> Received message ordering us to go through a point through which we
>had
> already passed. So informed comsubpac giving my position, course and
> speed. In afternoon received message giving us a definite routing.
> Slowed to seven knots. This will cause us one day’s delay in arrival
>in
> port and commencement of overhaul. Made trim and training dive.
>
> May 20 to May 21, 1943
>
> Burned out bearing on turbo blower. On May 21, 1943 shifted to HPG
>and
> sent message requesting escort rendezvous at Point NAN at 0600 Zebra
> twenty fifth. This is four hours ahead of schedule but will assure
>our
> arrival MARE ISLAND prior darkness.
>
> May 22, 1943
>
> 0545 V Heavy fog set in, started SJ radar.
>
> 0645 V SJ radar contact bearing dead ahead, range 8,900 yards.
>Started
> TDC and got him on course 304 T. Speed 9. We were only 100 yards off
> track so changed course to open.
>
> 0654 V Sighted merchantman in fog range 800 yards; exchanged
>recognition
> signals.
>
> 0656 V In latitude 44-21N, longitude 139-45W passed him 350 yards
>abeam.
>
> May 23 to May 25, 1943
>
> On May 23 received message from Cominseafrom to Cominshore patrol, San
> Francisco, requesting destroyer rendezvous at 0600 Z May 25, 1943. At
> 0600 May 25, 1943, made rendezvous with escort and proceeded to MARE
> ISLAND. 1200 T May 25, 1943, arrived MARE ISLAND.