Fifth war patrol USS Tang (SS-306)

damage uss tang own torpedo

after refit, tang stood out sea on 24 september fifth war patrol. after topping off fuel @ midway island, sailed formosa strait on 27 september. in order reach area, tang had pass through narrow waters known heavily patrolled japanese. large area stretching northeast formosa known mined enemy, , o kane given choice of making passage north of island alone, or joining coordinated attack group (silversides, trigger, , salmon, under commander john s. coye, jr., flag in silversides) patrol off northeast formosa, , making passage them. tang chose make passage alone , these vessels never heard tang, nor did base, after left midway.

the story of tang s fate comes report of surviving commanding officer.

on night of 10–11 october, tang sank cargo ships joshu go , Ōita maru. submarine continued on patrol until 23 october, when contacted large convoy consisting of 3 tankers, transport, freighter, , numerous escorts. commander o kane planned night surface attack. tang broke middle of formation, firing torpedoes closed on tankers (later identified freighters). 2 torpedoes struck under stack , engine room of nearest, single burst stern of middle one, , 2 exploded under stack , engine space of farthest. first torpedoes began exploding before last fired, , hit targets, either burning or sinking. submarine prepared fire @ tanker crossing stern, sighted transport bearing down on in attempt ram. tang had no room dive, crossed transport s bow , full left rudder saved stern , got inside transport s turning circle. transport forced continue swing avoid tanker, had been coming in ram. tanker struck transport s starboard quarter shortly after submarine fired 4 stern torpedoes along double length @ range of 400 yd (370 m). tanker sank bow first , transport had 30° up-angle. escorts approaching on port bow , beam , destroyer closing on port quarter, tang rang full speed , headed open water. when submarine 6,000 yd (5,500 m) transport, explosion observed, , bow disappeared.

on morning of 24 october, tang began patrolling @ periscope depth. surfaced @ dark , headed turnabout island (25°25′53″n 119°56′24″e / 25.431493°n 119.93989°e / 25.431493; 119.93989). on approaching island, submarine s surface search radar showed many blips useless. tang identified large convoy contained tankers planes on decks , transports crated planes stacked on bows , sterns. submarine tracked japanese ships along coast, convoy s escorts became suspicious, , escort commander began signaling large searchlight. illuminated convoy, , tang chose large three-deck transport first target, smaller transport second, , large tanker third. ranges varied 900–1,400 yd (820–1,280 m). after firing 2 torpedoes @ each target, submarine paralleled convoy choose next victims. fired stern torpedoes @ transport , tanker aft.

as tang poured on full speed escape gunfire directed @ her, destroyer passed around stern of transport , headed submarine. tanker exploded, , hit seen on transport. few seconds later, destroyer exploded, either intercepting tang s third torpedo or shell fire of 2 escorts closing on beam. transport remained afloat, dead in water. submarine cleared 240 ft (73 m), rechecked last 2 torpedoes had been loaded in bow tubes, , returned finish off transport. 23rd torpedo fired @ 900 yd (820 m) , observed running hot, straight, , normal. tang s score night later confirmed freighters kogen maru (6600 tons) , matsumoto maru (7000 tons).

at 02:30 on morning of 25 october, 24th , last torpedo (a mark 18 electric torpedo) fired. broached , curved left in circular run. tang fishtailed under emergency power clear turning circle of torpedo, struck abreast after torpedo room approximately 20 seconds after fired. explosion violent, , men far forward control room received broken limbs. ship went down stern after 3 compartments flooded. of 9 officers , men on bridge, including o kane, 3 able swim through night until picked 8 hours later. 1 officer escaped flooded conning tower , rescued others.

the submarine bottomed @ 180 ft (55 m) , thirty survivors crowded forward torpedo room aft compartments flooded, intending use forward escape trunk. publications burned, , assembled in forward room escape. escape delayed japanese patrol dropped depth charges, , started electrical fire in forward battery. beginning @ 6:00 on 25 october, using momsen lung, known case used, thirteen men escaped forward torpedo room. time last had exited, heat battery fire intense, paint on bulkhead scorching, melting, , running down. of 13 men escaped forward torpedo room, 5 rescued. 1 sailor near group of 5 injured during ascent not rescued. 3 on bridge rescued after swimming 8 hours. survivor escaped conning tower , used pants flotation device. total of 78 men lost. escaped submarine greeted in morning sight of bow of transport sticking straight out of water.

nine survivors, including o kane, picked next morning japanese frigate cd-34. survivors of tang s previous sinkings on board, , beat men tang. o kane stated, when realized our clubbing , kickings being administered burned, mutilated survivors of our handiwork, found take less prejudice. 9 captives placed in prison camp @ Ōfuna until end of war, interrogated japanese intelligence.

tang stricken naval vessel register on 8 february 1945.

cite error: there <ref group=danfs> tags on page, references not show without {{reflist|group=danfs}} template (see page).