War Patrol Report (Patrol 3, Endorsement1, page 1)

FC5-12/A16-3 SUBMARINE SQUADRON TWELVE                 
   
Serial ( O41) Care of Fleet Post Office,
  San Francisco, California.
CONFIDENTIAL 21 February 1945.
First Endorsement to
U.S.S. BERGALL Report
of Third War Patrol.		  
   
From: The Commander Submarine Squadron TWELVE
To: The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet.
Via: (1) The Commander Submarines, SEVENTH FLEET.
  (2) The Commander SEVENTH FLEET.
   
Subject: U.S.S. BERGALL (SS320) - Report of Third War Patrol.
   

1.

 BERGALL's third war patrol was of 28 days duration, 20 of which were spent in the assigned areas north of the Barrier and in the South China Sea.
   
2. The Commanding Officer's choices as to locations to be patrolled in the assigned areas are considered excellent and worthy of note.
   
3. In the earlier part of the patrol four attacks were made two of which were successful and are covered under separate report.
   
4. A convoy of 2 large tankers escorted by 4 escorts, which were probably DE's were sighted while submerged about two miles off CAMRANH BAY.   A total of six torpedoes were fired at a time when there was little open water between the two tankers.   Three timed hits were made; two on the more distant tanker and one on the closer one.   Immediately after the firing it was noted that one of the escorts had already stated for the BERGALL.   A few minutes later a terrific depth charge barrage commenced and a total of about 100 depth charges were dropped in the next three hours.
   
5. The last attack was made on a battleship which was in a task force of two battleships, one heavy cruiser, and three destroyers that were sighted while BERGALL was submerged on patrol line.   Six torpedoes were fired at a range of 4,800 yards and one timed hit was heard.   One of the destroyers left the formation for a period long enough to drop 15 depth charges which severely shook the boat but fortunately caused minor damage only.
   
6. The BERGALL is in excellent material condition, considerable credit being due the ship's personnel for the thorough manner in which they corrected defects and casualties as they became evident.   Practically all repairs required during refit were beyond the capacity of the ship's force; much routine had been carefully accomplished before arrival.  Refit is being conducted by GRIFFIN and Relief Crew 122.
   
 

-1-

Back to Page 28
On to Endorsement 1, page 2

Back to the SS 320 home page