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Transit back to assigned area. On 31 October cleared Sibutu Passage heading north. On 1 November exchanged signals with HARDHEAD, transit Minodoro Strait. At T-2312 exchanged signals with NAUTILUS. On 2 November, T-0512 exchanged signals with RAY at 10,000 yards. On 3 November T-0004 exchanged signals with GUITARRO. At T-2205 had "hot runs" in torpedo tubes #3 and #4, torpedoes saved, OK. On 4 November T-0524 dove, T-1345 heard echo-ranging (17 KC). T-1430 sighted smoke. At T-1434 sighted masts with five aircraft circling. Convoy consisted of one large ship, looks like transport (AP) and four LCI-LST types of landing craft, two escorts. Began approach. During approach, at T-1525, target zigged. Had to fire at range 3,300 yards. Target is modern (AK), about 8,000 tons. Fired six torpedoes, no hits were seen. Target evaded, escort closing, went deep, and received fifteen depth charges at deep depth, fairly close. This was attack #4. NOTE: I was in the forward torpedo room at the time, saw a bright red flare type light, could have sworn the torpedo loading hatch opened and closed. The hull induction valve gasket blew, flooding the hull induction lines. At T-1715 at periscope depth, sighted smoke. T-1725 a loud explosion, BREAM or GUITARRO attacking. T-1736 sighted RAY, 6,000 yards. T-1742 surfaced, trailing RAY. T-1807 sighted ship burning, exloding (ship we missed). On 5 November T-0230, in contact with BREAM by SJ radar, many aircraft contacts and echo ranging. Now off coast, west of Dasol Bay, Luzon, T-1950 message from BREAM, proceed new area. On 6 November T-0520 dove, heard torpedo explosions, 15 depth charges. Sighted top of heavy Cruiser (CA), commenced approach, saw two heavy Cruisers, Mogami Class, 4-5 escorts, several cargo ships trailing, and many aircraft in sight. T-0846 planned to fire at onshore Cruiser (CA), 3,000 yards off beach. T-0943-0948, commenced firing bow tubes (attack #5) at what appears a Mogami Class heavy Cruiser, range 2,370 yards. Saw escort turn, zero angle on the bow, closing rapidly, range 600 yards. Diving deep while firing. T-0945, intervals of 19-27-35 seconds, heard three timed torpedo hits. Began evading at two thirds speed, aerial bombs and depth charges all around. T-1055 large explosion. T-1339 at periscope depth, many aircraft circling close by, sighted tops of Cruisers (CA) seems to be aground at Rena Point. T-1836, surfaced. (Cruiser was "KUMANO"). Post war records show Raton received one-third credit with GUITARRO and RAY, who also fired torpedoes. On 7 November T-0515 Raton received orders to wolf pack with RAY and BATFISH. 8 November, T-0425 sighted smoke in bright moonlight. T-0430, radar contact, pips show at least seven ships. Ran at high speed to intercept, sent out contact report. At T-0635 heard loud explosion, saw huge column of smoke, saw aircraft above convoy, then saw ship blowing up, followed by another large explosion. Aircraft above convoys, "Betty's and Mavis", T-1558, aircraft closing, dove. At T-1650, surfaced, no ships in sight, believe convoy went in, anchored Dasol Bay. 9 November exchanged signals with BATFISH. |
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T-0121, radar contact 23,000 yards, sent out contact report, BATFISH receipted. Weather extremely bad, taking water in conning tower and control room, was near Typhoon strength. Our speed, barely 10 knots. Target, one large ship, two escorts, making more speed than us. T-0430 dove to ride out storm. T-1730, weather still extremely bad. On 11 November T-0450 dove, T-1725 on surface, sea moderated, calm. T-1821, RAY gave us new patrol instructions. On 12 November patrolling to south, T-1950 sighted Japanese Hospital Ship, well marked with red crosses, well lit up, watch it go by. T-2153 exchanged signals on SJ radar with HAKE. 14 November, many aircraft in area, dove-surfaced. T-1049 message from RAY, new patrol area. T-1610, sighted smoke, four tops of ships by high periscope watch on surface, seent out contact report to COMWOLFPAC in RAY, and to BATFISH, now tracking. At T-2024, radar contact 6,000 yards. RAY will attack on convoy port flank, BATFISH reports she is on our starboard bow. T-2114 huge explosion, RAY had attacked, one pip on radar gone, ship sunk, had radar on board. T-2128, seven depth charges, radar PPI indicate convoy is scattering. T-2143, commenced attack on two ships. T-2153, fired four bow tubes at overlapping targets, range 1,300 yards. T-2154, two hits on each ship seen by bridge. Turned away, at 4,000 and 7,000 yards, the two pips, on radar PPI are gone. T-2215, tracking last target, message from BATFISH, "are we on their starboard bow", replied, "believe so", then sent to RAY and BATFISH, "we are attacking". T-2312, fired four stern tubes at 2,200 yards, two hits were seen. Parallel target at 2,900 yards, saw target sink, sent to RAY, no targets except escorts. Raton was credited with three cargo (AK) ships sunk. T-0202 BATFISH reported, tracking new contact, us, sent him a quick message, dove immediately, surfaced later. Raton was credited with one cargo-transport AK/AP 10,000 tons, one troop transport (AP) 7,500 tons, one destroyer escort (DD) 1,500 tons. Raton was credited damaging two cargo ships (AK), each 5,900 tons, giving one third credit for Cruiser (CA) approximately 4,220 tons. On 16 November, CTF message, directing Raton to Pearl Harbor, also exchanged signals with TUNA on SJ radar. 17 November, north Luzon, radar contact on the Island of Sabtang, 60,000 yards. 17-30 November en-route Pearl, many IFF contacts with friendly aircraft. 1 December, joined up with HALIBUT and BATFISH, T-1358 moored Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor. Rest camp was Royal Hawaiin Hotel. Special Note: M. L. Tarplay EM2(SS) was sent to new construction, way back. We were tied up next to SPOT, new, headed out. She was first boat I saw with two 5"/25 deck guns, also 2/40 MM. Tarplay had a case of top shelf booze. When SPOT left Pearl, Tarplay was dry, Raton shipmaes helped him out. |
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