William Calhoun Thompson, Jr., USN
| Born | 26 Sep 1913 | Dublin, Laurens County, Georgia, USA | |
| Died | 22 Mar 1977 | (63) | Coronado, San Diego County, California, USA |
| Ranks
Decorations
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Warship Commands listed for William Calhoun Thompson, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS Cabrilla (288) | T/Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 6 Feb 1944 | 31 Dec 1944 |
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Events related to this officer
Submarine USS Cabrilla (288)
6 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Cabrilla (Lt.Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) completed her refit period by Submarine Repair Unit no. 137 at Fremantle.
A training period then followed from 6 to 15 February 1944.
17 Feb 1944
USS Cabrilla (Lt.Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) departed Fremantle for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.
Before proceeding on patrol exercises were carried out with USS Chanticleer (Cdr. R.E. Hawes, USN) and USS Rasher (Cdr. W.R. Laughon, USN).
For daily and attack positions of USS Cabrilla during this patrol see the map below.
24 Feb 1944
Early in the morning, USS Cabrilla (Lt.Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN), reversed course to return to Fremantle due to a damaged port propeller. How the damage occurred was unknown.
Cabrilla was at that moment near Darwin, Australia where she was to top off with fuel before proceeding towards her patrol area.
1 Mar 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) arrived back at Fremantle where she was immediately put on the marine railway. After changing the port propeller she was put back in the water later the same day.
5 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 5/6 March 1944, USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN), conducted exercises off Fremantle, these exercises included night exercises.
6 Mar 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) departed Fremantle to resume her 3rd war patrol. She was now ordered to patrol in/off the Sunda Strait.
8 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) is ordered to take up a position off north-west Australia. The reason for this must have been that a Japanese cruiser force was on a raid in the Indian Ocean and possibly en-route to Australian waters.
12 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) was odered to proceed to the Sunda Strait via Christmas Island.
14 Mar 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) reconnoitred Christmas Island.
20 Mar 1944 (position -5.53, 105.04)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) attacked a medium sized transport ship in the Sunda Strait with a total of six torpedoes in two attacks of three torpedoes each. No hits were obtained.
(All times are zone H, -8) 1220 hours - Sighted two stick masts and stack of a ship smoking heavily in position 05°55'S, 105°00'E. Changed course to intercept the target of Berak Point, Sumatra. Estimated range was about 20000 yards.
1244 hours - Sound pick up the screw of the target. Course of the target was 050°(T), speed 8 knots.
1251 hours - Range now about 5500 yards.
1306 hours - Sound now estimated the speed of the target as 7 knots.
1313 hours - Range now 3000 yards.
1321 hours - The target was thought to be a medium transport of about 2500 tons. No escort or aircraft were sighted. Range now 2200 yards. Started attack but the target changed course and a new setup had to be made.
1334 hours - In position 05°53'S, 105°04'E fired three torpedoes from 1000 yards. Enemy course was now 080°(T), speed 6.5 knots. All torpedoes missed astern. The first two torpedoes fired were 'heavy smokers'.
1336 hours - Chased submerged at full speed to fire another salvo.
1338 hours - Heard two explosions 15 seconds apart followed by three more.
1340 hours - At 100 feet, still chasing. Heard two more explosions and then two more. Had not seen an escort but sound reported fast screws bearing 180(T). Went deep.
1342 hours - Another explosion.
1344 hours - Stopped to listed on sound on the bearing of the target. Heard nothing. Started to return to periscope depth.
1350 hours - Passed 100 feet. Sound reported pinging.
1354 hours - Heard another explosion.
1356 hours - At periscope depth. The target had changed course to 050°(T), range was 3000 yards. Fired the other three bow torpedoes. All were 'heavy smokers' and no hits were obtained.
1358 hours - The target was smoking heavily. Went to 200 feet to reload.
1401 hours - Heard two explosions 30 seconds apart. Possibly end of run detonations of our torpedoes.
1410 hours - Heard a heavy explosion.
1445 hours - Secured from battle stations.
6 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) departed her patrol area to return to Fremantle via Christmas Island.
7 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) reconnoitred Christmas Island.
12 Apr 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Fremantle.
At Fremantle she was refitted by Submarine Division 121 and USS Pelias.
6 May 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) departed Fremantle for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in Lombok Strait, the Makassar Strait and the Celebes Sea.
For daily and attack positions of USS Cabrilla during this patrol see the map below.
9 May 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) topped off with fuel at Exmouth Gulf before proceeding towards her patrol area.
10 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) set course to return to Exmouth Gulf to pick up a spare part for her SJ radar which had broken down.
11 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) arrived at Exmouth Gulf. After repairs had been completed she departed later the same day.
24 May 1944 (position 2.04, 121.03)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) attacked the Japanese replenishment vessel Shioya with six torpedoes north of Celebes, Netherlands East Indies. No hits were obtained. Shioya was escorted by the Japanese minesweeper W-30 which depth charged Cabrilla following the failed attack.
(All times are zone H, -8) 0534 hours - In position 01°35'N, 121°15'E sound picked up noise and periscope observation verified two ships bearing 238°(T), estimated range 20000 yards. Went to battle stations and commenced approach.
0547 hours - The targets were seen to zig towards.
0552 hours - An aircraft was seen patrolling well ahead of the targets.
0600 hours - Range now 5200 yards. The main target was thought to be a seaplane tender of old light cruiser. The escort was a new looking destroyer patrolling ahead of the target.
0604 hours - Flooded all torpedo tubes.
0608 hours - Range now 3900 yards.
0610 hours - The target had zigged away. Range now 2200 yards.
0613 hours - In position 02°04'N, 121°03'E fired a full bow salvo of six torpedoes from 2100 yards.
0614 hours - The destroyer was seen coming towards. One torpedo was seen to jump clear from the water. Went deep and rigged for depth charging.
0615 hours - Heard a single explosion, possibly a torpedo hit. The screws of the target were heard before the explosion but no longer after the explosion. Several more, but smaller, explosions were head during the next minutes, most likely depth charges.
0643 hours - The destroyer was now heard echo-ranging.
0704 hours - The last depth charges were now dropped. Most had been close but no damage was sustained.
0730 hours - All quite.
0800 hours - Pinging was still heard but getting more distant.
0820 hours - Slowly proceeded towards periscope depth.
0840 hours - At periscope depth. All clear.
0914 hours - An aircraft dropped a bomb near the stern. Some minor damage was sustained. Went deep again expecting the destroyer to return.
1300 hours - The destroyer had not returned as expected so surfaced. All clear.
26 May 1944 (position 2.48, 124.19)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese transport Sanyo Maru (8360 GRT, built 1930) about 80 nautical miles north of Menado, Celebes in position 02°48'N, 124°19'E.
(All times are zone H, -8) 1336 hours - In position 02°51'N, 124°13'E sighted masts baring 326°(T). Commenced tracking and made for a position ahead of the contact.
1432 hours - In a position ahead on the base course of the target. Submerged.
1437 hours - Battle stations.
1457 hours - Range now 11500 yards.
1504 hours - Range now 8800 yards. Masts of a destroyer were sighted about 1500 yards on the targets starboard quarter.
1508 hours - Decided to give the main target four torpedoes, the destroyer two.
1515 hours - Main target now bearing 326°(T), range 5700 yards. The target now zigged towards.
1520 hours - Flooded all torpedo tubes. Rigged for silent running and depth charge attack. The destroyer was echo-ranging.
1524 hours - In position 02°48'N, 124°19'E fired four torpedoes at the target from 1400 yards. Due to an error in drill the fifth torpedo was also fired at the main target instead of the destroyer. The sixth torpedo was fired at the destroyer as intended. One torpedo of the first four fired was seen to porpoise but not clear of the water. Went deep when the destroyer turned towards to go down the torpedo tracks.
1525 hours - Heard two explosions.
1526 hours - Two more explosions.
1527 hours - The destroyer came in echo-ranging.
1529 hours - Four depth charges.
1530 hours - Six depth charges.
1531 hours - Five depth charges.
1532 hours - Two depth charges.
1533 hours - The targets screws could not be heard. Loud breaking up noises were heard.
1535 hours - The destroyer was heard to circle. Possibly picking up survivors.
1538 hours - Heard a loud explosion further away, possibly the target.
1540 hours - Five depth charges.
1545 hours - Heard the destroyer starting to ping again.
1601 hours - Heard the destroyer coming towards for another run.
1603 hours - Six very close depth charges were dropped overhead shaking the boat violently, breaking glass, opening valves, etc but no major damage was sustained. These were the last depth charges dropped.
1730 hours - Screws and pinging faded out.
1741 hours - Started coming up to periscope depth.
1811 hours - At periscope depth. It was dusk by now. All clear.
1823 hours - Surfaced. Cleared the area to the eastward.
30 May 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) tried to attack a Japanese task force made up of the battleship Fuso and the heavy cruisers Atago, Haguro. They were escorted by six destroyers; Kazagumo, Asagumo, Harusame, Samidare, Shigure and Shiratsuyu.
Cabrilla was however spotted from the air and bombed after hich she was hunted and depth charged by three of the destroyers.
(All times are zone H, -8) 1235 hours - In position 04°39'N, 119°39'E sighted mast bearing 348°(T). Commenced approach. Battle stations.
1241 hours - Sighted the tops of six large warships and about five destroyers. One ship was identified as the Fuso. No air screen was observed but there must be one.
1253 hours - Selected Fuso as the target. Range to her was now 20000 yards.
1258 hours - Bombed while getting up to periscope depth to have another look. The boat was shaken violently. Destroyers were still 3000 to 4000 yards away so this must have been an air attack. Went deep and ahead full to try to get to the main formation. As we passed 80 feet more ombs were dropped and again the boat was shaken up. Destroyers were heard to be closing.
1303 hours - Two explosions, most likely depth charges.
1304 hours - Five depth charges fairly close. Heavy screws were picked up at a range of about 8000 yards but thse faded out shortly afterwards as the main enemy ships most likely turned away.
1308 hours - Four more depth charges. Three sets of fast screws were picked up to be hunting us.
1330 hours - A single set of fast screws was heard now.
1345 hours - Screws were fading out.
1400 hours - Started to return to periscope depth but the trim pump was out of commission and it was decided to effect repairs first.
1550 hours - Repairs completed. Slowly came up to periscope depth.
1640 hours - Finally at periscope depth. All clear.
1705 hours - Secured battle stations.
31 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) departed her patrol area to return to Fremantle.
3 Jun 1944 (position -1.33, 118.39)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) sank a small sailing vessel with gunfire in Makassar Strait in position 01°33'S, 118°39'E.
(All times are zone H, -8) 1600 hours - In position 01°33'S, 118°39'E sank a south-east bound two-masted schooner of about 20 tons. She was heavily loaded. She had new sails and was in perfect condition. Fired used 20mm but damage to the schooner was neglible so finished her off with 4". a .50 cal. machine gun was also used. She sank immediately, the cargo must have been very heavy.
Ammunition expended; 12 rounds of 4", 285 rounds of 20mm and 400 rounds of .50 cal.
4 Jun 1944 (position -5.20, 117.10)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) sank a small sailing vessel with gunfire in the Java Sea in position 05°20'S, 117°10'E.
In the evening Cabrilla made the southbound passage of Lombok Strait on the surface.
(All times are zone H, -8) 0931 hours - In position 05°20'S, 117°10'E sank a large 100 ton two-masted schooner with the 4" gun assisted with 20mm. She had new sails and was freshly painted. She was only lightly loaded.
Ammunition expended; 17 rounds of 4" and 240 rounds of 20mm.
9 Jun 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) ended her 4th war patrol at Fremantle.
At Fremantle she was refitted by Submarine Division 161 and USS Orion. Refit, which included a docking, was completed on 23 June 1944.
3 Jul 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) departed Fremantle for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Sulu Sea.
For daily and attack positions of USS Cabrilla during this patrol see the map below.
6 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) topped off with fuel at Onslow, Australia. She departed for her patrol area later the same day.
9 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 9/10 July 1944, USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN), made the northbound passage of Lombok Strait on the surface.
17 Jul 1944 (position 7.40, 122.03)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese troop transport Maya Maru (3145 GRT, built 1925) and torpedoed and damaged the Japanese troop transport Natsukawa Maru (4739 GRT, built 1943) off the west coast of Mindanao, Philippines in position 07°40'N, 122°03'E.
Cabrilla also claimed to have sunk a large tanker in the same attack. Also the sinking of a transport was claimed the previous day. These last two claims could not be confirmed postwar.
They were in convoy together with Shirouma Maru (2858 GRT, built 1944) and Tateishi Maru (3801 GRT, built 1922) and enroute to Zamboanga, Philippines. They were escorted by the patrol boat PB-105, the submarine chaser CH-31 and the auxiliary submarine chaser CHa-84.
(All times are zone H, -8) 16 July 1944 1540 hours - In position 08°19'N, 122°51'E sighted smoke bearing 037°(T).
1543 hours - Heard echo-ranging on the same bearing.
1612 hours - Smoke now bearing 040°(T). Estimated range 35000 yards.
1623 hours - Three distinct columns of smoke with tall masts at the base of each bearing 041°(T). Range 20000 yards. A Zeke aircraft was patrolling 3-5 miles ahead of the convoy. Went to 100 feet between periscope observations.
1547 hours - Sound picked up screws bearing 050°(T).
1650 hours - Observation. Convoy now bearing 051°(T), range 10000 yards. Rigged for silent running and depth charge attack. Observed a large older type transport leading with a new large transport and a large tanker. One frigate was patrolling ahead of the centre of the convoy. A patrol craft was seen patrolling about 2000 yards from each bow to each beam of the convoy. Selected the tanker as target for the bow tubes and the second transport as target for the stern tubes.
1706 hours - Observation. Convoy now bearing 064°(T), range 4400 yards.
1716 hours - Observation. Did not see the tanker but now sighted a transport with cut down masts at a range of 5500 yards. The new transport was just ahead of and about 1000 yards to starboard of it.
1720 hours - Bearing 048°(T), range 3000 yards. Target had not zigged.
1725 hours - Observed set up checking nicely.
1730 hours - In position 08°15'N, 122°50'E fired four torpedoes from 1400 yards at the transport last seen and two at the new transport from 2500 yards. One of the first four torpedoes was a heavy smoker. The patrol craft was coming in fast and the frigate was speeding up. Went deep.
1731 hours - Heard and felt two torpedo explosions.
1732 hours - Received eleven depth charges, most of them very close shaking the boat and causing much minor damage.
1737 hours - Five more depth charges but not so close.
1740 hours - Four more depth charges, fairly close.
1743 hours - Two more depth charges, close.
1745 hours - Two more depth charges, not so close.
1751 hours - The patrol craft passed directly overhed but did not drop depth charges. Four sets of fast screws were heard overhead but only three were echo-ranging.
1751 hours - Heard breaking up noises.
1805 hours - All screws faded out but echo ranging was still heard.
1839 hours - Pinging faded out.
1903 hours - Pinging again heard and getting closer.
1910 hours - Surfaced. Headed for the scene of the attack and chased the convoy down the coast. Two survivors were seen swiming in the water.
2100 hours - In position 08°14'N, 122°41'E radar contact astern at 14000 yards. Tracked it at 16 knots. Believed it to be the frigate rejoining convoy after searching for us until dark. Not certain who is chasing whom.
2213 hours - Range to the frigate now 19000 yards.
2237 hours - In position 07°56'N, 122°05'E radar contact bearing 259°(T), range 4975 yards. Most likely the patrol craft as rear guard of the convoy. Passed well clear to seaward.
2246 hours - In position 07°53'N, 122°03'E radar contact bearing 225°(T), range 11000 yards, the convoy itself. Commenced tracking and to obtain a favourable attack position.
17 July 1944
0055 hours - Commenced closing from the convoy's port bow. Closed range to 9000 yards when convoy changed course toward after rounding Santa Maria Point. Pulled into Sioken Bay to wait, gambling on getting out undetected after firing.
0128 hours - In position 07°40'N, 122°03'E fired four bow torpedoes at the tanker from 3000 yards and two torpedoes at the middle ship from 2700 yards. Swung ship and then fired three stern torpedoes (the torpedo in no.7 tube had a hot run shortly before it was supposed to be fired so it was not possible to fire this tube) at the rear ship from 2650 yards. Then cleared the cove at full power.
0130 hours - Observed and felt two tremendous hits in the tanker completely enveloping it and the area around it in 1000 foot flames, brilliantly illuminating the scene and Cabrilla as well. Observed, heard and felt two hits in the middle transport. It burst into smaller flames, broke in two and sank within two minutes. Observed, heard and felt tremendous hit in rear target which stopped and appeared to be burning internally, flames occasionally licking outside. Meanwhile much signalling was taking place as well as the firing of guns. No depth charges were dropped however. The frigate, which was the leading escort, and the inshore escort apparently realised where Cabrilla was and started closing in. It was thought for a while that we were trapped.
0144 hours - Commenced reload the torpedo tubes.
0155 hours - A hot run again, but now in tube no.9 while reloading. The propeller lock sheered off the after propeller.
0158 hours - The fire in the third ship was evidently getting out of control as two large fires were plainly visible from the bridge.
0200 hours - The two patrol craft broke off the chase and returned to the sinking ships. Avoiding the frigate became easier when our distance from the burning ships increased.
0235 hours - Succesfully expended the torpedo in no.9 tube. Did not fire no.7 torpedo as we did not know the condition of the torpedo. Continued to clear the area.
14 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the early morining hours, USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN), made the southbound transit of Lombok Strait on the surface.
19 Aug 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) ended her 5th war patrol at Fremantle.
At Fremantle she was refitted by Submarine Division 161 and Submarine Repair Unit no.137. Refit, which included a docking, was completed on 1 September 1944.
13 Sep 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr. USN) departed from Fremantle for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.
Upon completion of her patrol Cabrilla was to proceed to Pearl Harbour.
For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) of USS Cabrilla during this patrol see the map below.
16 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) topped off with fuel at Exmouth Gulf. She departed for her patrol area later the same day.
19 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the evening, USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN), made the northbound transit of Lombok Strait on the surface.
1 Oct 1944 (position 16.15, 119.43)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr. USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese tankers Kyokuho Maru (10059 GRT, built 1944) and Zuiyo Maru (7385 GRT, built 1917) in the South China Sea, west of Luzon, Philippines in position 16°15'N, 119°43'E.
The above ships were part of convoy MIMA-11 (Miri-Manila) also consisting of tankers Tachibana Maru (6521 GRT, built 1921), Yamamizu Maru No.2 (5155 GRT, built 1943) and transport Omine Maru (2720 GRT, built 1942). They were escorted by frigates Kaibokan 8, Kaibokan 25, Kaibokan 28 and Kaibokan 32.
(All times are zone H, -8) 0919 hours - Sound picked up echo-ranging bearing 170°(T). Commenced approach.
0933 hours - In position 16°12'N, 119°43'E sighted smoke bearing 173°(T). Two pingers were now audible.
0942 hours - Manned tracking party.
1000 hours - Manned battle stations.
1010 hours - Sighted masts bearing 165°(T). Believed we are one the convoy's track.
1017 hours - The convoy consits of at least three tankers and several transports. Four escorts were present. Selected a large tanker as the main target. Range to this tanker was now 9000 yards.
1026 hours - Tanker now bearing 155°(T), range 8000 yards. Two aircraft were sighted patrolling above and ahead of the convoy. Rigged for silent running and depth charging.
1034 hours - Tanker now bearing 133°(T), range 6000 yards, speed 9 knots.
1040 hours - The inshore frigate came towards, speeded up and began short scale pinging. She also hoisted a two flag signal on her port yard arm. All ships then zigged towards. We did not go deep. Set tubes forward to four feet just in case for a down the throat shot at the frigate.
1048 hours - The frigate will come dangerously close. Decided to remain at periscope depth non the less.
1049 hours - Just gray paint sighted through the periscope.
1050 hours - The frigate had passed. Meanwhile all targets had zigged away leaving us with a poor setup on the target. Shifted target to a transport ship at 900 yards. Set the deth of the forwards torpedoes to six feet.
1051 hours - In position 16°15'N, 119°43'E commenced firing four bow torpedoes at the transport. Observed the first three running as certain hits, so withheld the fourth torpedo. Then increased the range with 1000 yards and fired the remaining three bow torpedoes at a ship believed to be a tanker, but possible a small transport as her bow was low in the water and th ship could not b seen clearly as she was partially overlapped by our first target. Shortly after we commenced firing an aircraft bomb landed of our port bow. One of the escorts then came towards, range to this escort was about 2000 yards. Observed three hits on the transport which practically disintegrated and sank. There was no target available for the stern tubes except the frigate coming in fast. Fired four torpedoes down his throat from about 1100 yards. Then went deep. Heard and felt one timed hit on the second target but depth charging started at about the same time the frigate should have been hit. Swung right to avoid sinking ship, breaking up noises were very loud and close.
1132 hours - The last out of a total of 70 depth charges were dropped, some uncomfortably close.
1133 hours - Three Japanese were heard to be hunting us until 1300 hours. The frequently crossed overhead but dropped no more depth charges.
1300 hours - Screws faded out, however continued to hear echo-ranging in the vicinity of the attack until we surfaced at 1838 hours. Depth charging was also heard in the late afternoon.
6 Oct 1944 (position 17.31, 120.21)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr. USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese troop transport Hokurei Maru (2085 GRT, built 1924) and the Japanese tanker Yamamizu Maru No.2 (5155 GRT, built 1943) off the west coast of Luzon, Philippines in position 17°31'N, 120°21'E.
The convoy attacked was the combined convoy MATA-28 / MIMA-11 and was made up of, beside the ships listed above, oilers Kamoi (17000 GRT, built 1922), Tachibana Maru (6521 GRT, built 1921) and as well as transports Kohoku Maru (2619 GRT, built 1915), Bunzan Maru (1999 GRT, built 1942), Shoei Maru (2764 GRT, built 1942), Hokusen Maru (2272 GRT, built 1920), Terukuni Maru (3586 GRT, built 1899), Hishigata Maru (2832 GRT, built 1912), Omine Maru (2720 GRT, built 1942) and Shinyo Maru No.8 (1959 GRT, built 1941). They were escorted by the Japanese frigates Kaibokan 8, Kaibokan 25, Kaibokan 32, the Japanese minesweeper W-20 and the Japanese submarine chasers Ch-28, Ch-30, Ch-33 and Ch-41.
Later the same day Cabrilla attacked an escort vessel with four torpedoes in position 17°29'N, 120°17'E. No hits were obtained. The attack appeared not to be noticed by the enemy.
(All times are zone H, -8) 1029 hours - Sighted smoke bearing 182°(T). Commenced approach and tracking.
1050 hours - Sound reported echo-ranging bearing 185°(T). Smoke now bearing 175°(T).
1125 hours - Sighted a Zeke aircraft bearing 162°(T), circling. Pinging now bearing 166°(T).
1141 hours - Sighted a Dave aircraft bearing 153°(T), distance 5 miles. Now two sets were heard echo-ranging.
1200 hours - Smoke now bearing 152°(T).
1231 hours - In position 17°11'N, 120°17'E sighted masts of a single ship bearing 146°(T). Battle stations. Visibility was poor due to surface haze.
1246 hours - Contact now bearing 141°(T), range 12000 yards. Set course to trap the convoy, believed to be made up of one ship and two escorts, off Dile Point.
1303 hours - Contact now bearing 120°(T), range 11000 yards. Sighted masts of several ships.
1326 hours - Contact bearing 099°(T), range 10000 yards.
1349 hours - Rigged for silent running and depth charging.
1352 hours - Convoy cosisted of about 15 ships divided into 3 groups. Selected a large tanker in the middle group as our main target, bearing 071°(T), range 4100 yards. A large destroyer is closing in at a range of 2500 yards. At least two aircraft were circling overhead.
1356 hours - Excellent setup on a transport but it will soon overlap with the tanker so waited.
1358 hours - Targets were now overlapping. In position 17°31'N, 120°21'E fired six bow torpedoes with the bow of the transport as point of aim, bearing 058°(T), range 1800 yards. There were no immediate targets for the stern tubes and with the destroyer coming in fast at a range of 1500 yards and two aircraft overhead went deep. Five torpedo hits were heard timed for three hits on the transport and two on the tanker. Very loud breaking up noises were then heard and internal explosions on two separate bearings for over 30 minutes.
1430 hours - Last of about 36 depth charges all of which seemed large and deep but not dangerously close. The first few salvoes were poorly placed, however they improved for the next few salvoes but they lost us completely although we occasionally heard screws overhead.
1521 hours - All screws faded out although pinging was still very loud in the direction of the attack.
1553 hours - Coming to periscope depth. Echo-ranging became louder when depth was decreased. It remained loud until we surfaced at 1833 hours.
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1833 hours - Surfaced.
1935 hours - In position 17°24'N, 120°18'E obtained two SJ radar contacts at a range of 15000 yards. ALso heard two sets echo-ranging on the same bearing. Commenced tracking until torpedo reload was completed.
2026 hours - Battle stations. Commenced approach. The targets are thought to be frigates or minesweepers. The targets were in column. Decided to fire four bow torpedoes at the first target, then swung round and fire four stern torpedoes at the second target.
2054 hours - The targets turned towards simultaneously leaving us ahead of the second ship. Reversed course to fire the stern tubes only at the second target.
2101 hours - In position 17°29'N, 120°17'E fired four stern torpedoes from 3100 yards. All missed. The attack appears to have been not noticed by the enemy. Cleared the area.
7 Oct 1944 (position 17.50, 119.37)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese troop transport Shinyo Maru No.8 (1959 GRT, 1941) off Vigan, Luzon, Philippines in position 17°50'N, 119°37'E.
(All times are zone H, -8) 0512 hours - In position 18°03'N, 119°30'E obtained SJ radar contact bearing 092°(T), range 22000 yards. Commenced tracking. Dawn was breaking.
0522 hours - Another contact was picked up by the SJ radar, bearing 063°(T), range 25000 yards. This contact appears to be bigger so shifted target.
0536 hours - Sighted target smoking heavily. Range now 15000 yards.
0541 hours - Battle stations. Target in plain view.
0546 hours - Dived. Range now 11000 yards. Closed submerged at high speed.
0554 hours - The target appears to be alone, zig-zagging wildly. Evidently a unit of the convoy we had attacked yesterday that had now been scattered.
0605 hours - Target bearing 082°(T), range 5000 yards.
0611 hours - Target now bearing 067°(T), range 1800 yards. Flooded the remaining four tubes. Rigged for silent running and depth charging.
0613 hours - No escorts were seen, a lone transport !
0615 hours - In position 17°50'N, 119°37'E fired four bow torpedoes from 1400 yards.
0616 hours - Saw two and heard three torpedo hits. The target broke in half and sank.
0617 hours - Altered course away and went to 150 feet just in case a plane was overhead and not seen.
0630 hours - Returned to periscope depth. All clear.
8 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Out of torpedoes, USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr. USN), departed her patrol area for Pearl Harbour.
25 Oct 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr. USN) ended her 6th war patrol at Pearl Harbor. She was escorted in by PC-579. Cabrilla was now to proceed the US west coast for a major overhaul.
28 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr. USN) departed Pearl Harbour for San Francisco.
3 Nov 1944
USS Cabrilla (Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr. USN) arrived at the Bethlehem Steel Company at San Francisco, California, USA for a major overhaul.
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