War Patrol Report (Page 3)
| CONFIDENTIAL | |
| Subject: | U.S.S. BERGALL - Report of SECOND War Patrol |
| ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1830 | Still unable to make out type of target but estimate his speed at about 13 knots. We are gaining very slowly so put all four on propulsion. Because our target is rapidly approaching very shallow water we will be unable to reach a position ahead for a submerged approach and will be forced to make our attack on the surface like a PT boat. |
| Weather conditions are such that the night will be dark and clear with the sea glassy. There will be no moon. Our special mission which we were planning to undertake tonight, will have to wait. | |
| 1845 | Attempted to build up to full speed but vibration was excessive so slowed to standard (18 knots on four engines). |
| 1920 | First radar range 26,000 yards. True bearing nearly steady at 102 degrees True. Commenced radar tracking. |
| 1958 | Sighted ship range 17,500 yards. |
| 2011 | Range now 13,000 yards, target course 055 degrees true, speed 16 knots. She appears to be a large warship. An escort is barely visible ahead of her. Radar states that escort is about 2,000 yards on the starboard bow of the target. We are on his port beam. |
| 2020 | Range now 9,400 yards. Target looks so big we are sure she is a large man of war. Target slows to 14 knots on course 035 degrees true. It still looks like a long way to a firing position. |
| 2030 | Range now 6,000 yards. Can clearly make out large stack of a heavy cruiser, large bridge superstructure and forward turrets well separated from steep forward face of bridge. Cannot determine whether structure aft of large stack is a small stack or a searchlight platform integral with main mast. |
Back to the SS 320 home page