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Notable events involving Besugo include:

The history of USS Besugo as compiled on this page is extracted from her patrol reports.

This page was last updated in April 2017.

4 Jul 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) departed New London, Connecticut for Newport, Rhode Island where she was to conduct her torpedo trials.

6 Jul 1944
Having completed her torpedo trials, USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN), arrived at New London, Connecticut from Newport, Rhode Island.

9 Jul 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted a deep submergence test in the New London area.

21 Jul 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) is put on the slipway at New London, Connecticut.

22 Jul 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) is put back in the water.

25 Jul 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) departed New London, Connecticut for Key West, Florida.

1 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) arrived at Key West, Florida for further training with the Fleet Sound School.

2 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

3 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

4 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

5 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

6 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

7 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

8 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

9 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

11 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

12 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

13 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) departed from Key West, Florida bound for the Panama Canal Zone.

17 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) arrived at Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone.

18 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) conducted exercises off Balboa.

22 Aug 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) departed Balboa, Panama Canal Zone for Pearl Harbor.

7 Sep 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) arrived at Pearl Harbor for final training.

15 Sep 1944
During 15/16 September 1944, USS Seadragon (Cdr. J.H. Ashley, Jr., USN), conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Charles R. Greer (Cdr. A. Jackson, Jr., USNR), USS Greiner (Lt.Cdr. L.H. Kiser, USN), USS Eisele (Lt.Cdr. S.C. Ranta, USNR), USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) and USS Perch (Cdr. B.C. Hills, USN). These exercises included night exercises.

26 Sep 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Bungo Suido.

Passage to Midway was made together with USS Gabilan (Cdr. K.R. Wheland, USN).

Besugo and Gabilan were escorted out of Pearl Harbour by USS PC 485 (Lt. W.C. Sands, USNR).

For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) for USS Besugo during this patrol see the map below.

30 Sep 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) topped up with fuel at Midway before departing for her patrol area later the same day.

5 Oct 1944
On 5 October 1944, USS Ronquil (Cdr. H.S. Monroe, USN) joined USS Busugo and USS Gabilan.

6 Oct 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) damaged a Japanese patrol vessel with gunfire in the North Pacific. The action had to be broken off when both 20mm guns jammed. Besugo was lightly damaged by return fire from the Japanese. Also two of her crew were injured by the enemy machine gun fire.

Before engaging the enemy with gunfire three torpedoes were fired but these either missed or ran under.

(All times are zone K, -10)
1931 hours - In position 30°03'N, 151°11'E obtained radar contact bearing 282°(T), range 5000 yards. Commenced tracking and approach.

2102 hours - Fired three torpedoes from 1250 yards at the target, an enemy picket boat. No hits were obtained and it is thought the torpedoes might have run under.

2228 hours - In position 30°02'N, 151°04'E engaged the target with the 5" gun and with 20mm from a range of 1400 yards. 5" gunfire was ineffective on account of swell and visibility. Closed to 900 yards at which range the 20mm fire became effective and several hits were obtained on the after part of the target. The enemy returned fire with a light machine gun.

2233 hours - Both 20mm guns jammed. This was the signal for the target to spring to life and he closed the range to 500 yards and opened up, besides the light machine gun fire, with a .50cal machine gun. We opened the range and withdrew to look the situation over. Eventually decided to break off the action.

15 Oct 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) sighted a Japanese task force. This task force was made up of the heavy cruisers Ashigara and Nachi, light cruiser Abukuma and destroyers Akebono, Kasumi, Ushio, Shiranui, Wakaba, Hatsushimo and Hatsuharu.

(All times are zone I, -9)
0746 hours - Sighted masts bearing 032°(T).

0755 hours - Identified the contact as a men of war. Went to battle stations and commenced approach.

0758 hours - Identified the target as a light cruiser. Position was 32°30'N, 132°36'E.

0820 hours - By now the contact had developed into a task force made up of three heavy cruisers and one light cruiser. The range to the closest ship was 7500 yards.

0830 hours - The task force went out of sight on a base course of 140°(T), speed 18 knots.

Following this contact a report was sent to CumSubPac.

16 Oct 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) attacked a convoy en route Oite-Formosa, torpedoed and damaged the Japanese destroyer Suzutsuki (2700 tons, offsite link) off Toizaki, Japan in position 32°30'N, 132°36'E.

(All times are zone I, -9)
2120 hours - In position 32°14'N, 131°59'E radar contact bearing 345°(T), range 12500 yards. Commenced tracking. Two large targets making high speed on a southwesterly course. Sighted the target at a range of 8000 yards. The targets were zigzagging at a speed of 20-22 knots.

2150 hours - Identified the targets as two heavy cruisers.

2200 hours - Started in for a surface attack.

2210 hours - In position 32°30'N, 132°36'E fired six bow torpedoes at the nearest cruiser.

2212 hours - Obtained one hit just abaft the bridge. Both ships were then seen returning to port while Besugo retired to reload.

24 Oct 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) torpedoed and heavily damaged the Japanese frigate Kaibokan 132 (740 tons, built 1944) (offsite link) about 130 nautical miles south of Ashizuri Zaki, Japan in position 30°19'N, 132°49'E.

Kaibokan 132 was part of the escort of the Second Supply Force for Vice Admiral Ozawa's Northern Mobile Force. The Second Supply Force was made up of tankers Takane Maru (10021 GRT, built 1944) and Jinei Maru (10241 GRT, built 1944). These tankers were escorted besides Kaibokan 132 by Kaibokan 22, Kaibokan 29, Kaibokan 31, Kaibokan 33 and Kaibokan 43.

Repairs on Kaibokan 132 were completed by mid December 1944 and she returned to service.

(All times are zone I, -9)
0310 hours - In position 32°19'N, 132°49'E obtained radar contact bearing 017°(T), range 17000 yards. Commenced tracking. One large target, one small target zigzagging on southwesterly courses at about 12 knots.

0345 hours - Target in sight from the bridge at a range of 13000 yards. He is big. Contact developed into one large ship, one smaller one ahead and three or four small escorts on bows and quarters of the large ship.

0349 hours - Started in for attack from the flank.

0408 hours - The target zigged away.

0410 hours - The target zigged away again. Besugo was now in an unfavourable attack position.

0413 hours - Fired three torpedoes at one of the escorts thought to be a destroyer escort. Range was 1200 yards. One hit was obtained. Besugo now dived to 450 feet.

29 Oct 1944
Patrolling south of Honshu, USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) tried to intercept the surviving Japanese ships from the Battle of Capo Engano, which included the hybrid battleship/carriers Hyuga and Ise, but was unable to gain contact.

5 Nov 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) ended her 1st war patrol at Saipan. She was escorted in by USS PGM-9 (Lt. C. Morgan, USNR).

At Saipan some minor repairs were made by USS Fulton.

10 Nov 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) departed from Saipan for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China and Sulu Seas before proceeding to Fremantle, Australia.

For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) for USS Besugo during this patrol see the map below.

22 Nov 1944
Between 0500 hrs and midnight, USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) makes three separate attacks against a convoy, in the last of which she torpedoed and sank the Japanese landing ship T 151 (870 tons) off the northern tip of Palawan Island in position 11°22'N, 119°07'E.
Cdr. Wogan also claims the sinking of a 5000-ton oiler with one hit out of four torpedoes fired and of a 3000-ton lighter or barge also with one hit out of four torpedoes earlier the same day. Both these attacks were on the surfac. The claimed sinkings are so far unconfirmed.

(All times are zone H, -8)
0455 hours - In position 11°40'N, 119°36'E obtained radar contact bearing 350°(T), range 11500 yards. Commenced tracking.

0504 hours - Went to battle stations. Commenced a surface approach. Dawn will break in 30 minutes.

0519 hours - Range was now 2500 yards. The target was identified as a medium tanker making slow speed on a steady course, apparently all alone. Frequent careful all around searches with radar revealed nothing.

0521 hours - In position 11°40'N, 119°36'E commenced firing four torpedoes from a range of 2100 yards. Obtained one hit about amidships and the target was enveloped in flames that rose to a height of 700-800 feet.

0525 hours - As Besugo turned away, radar picked up another target pip at about 1500 yards, astern of where the first target sank. Tracked this pip and then closed. In the growing light of dawn the target was seen to be a big barge which must have been towed by the tanker. The target was stopped.

0530 hours - In position 11°44'N, 119°32'E fired two torpedoes from 1800 yards. One hit was obtained in the stern of the barge. The barge then started to sink by the stern.

0534 hours - Fired another two torpedoes. No hits were obtained. No further torpedoes were fired as the target was sinking.

-------------------------------------------------------

2037 hours - Made radar contact bearing 327°(T), range 18000 yards. Commenced tracking. Contact was lost five minutes later.

2052 hours - In position 11°37'N, 119°25'E radar contact bearing 025°(T), range 12060 yards. There were two targets, not too big.

2054 hours - Another radar contact bearing 300°(T), range 12000 yards. Commenced tracking this latest contact. The target was zigzagging on a base course of 210°(T), making about 14 knots. As Besugo was on his beam commenced working ahead.

2133 hours - Turned in to attack.

2138 hours - In position 11°38'N, 119°25'E fired four torpedoes but all missed. The target was now seen for the first time and was thought to be a tanker.

2143 hours - Commenced an end around to make a good setup for another attack.

2240 hours - Turned in for another attack.

2245 hours - In position 11°22'N, 119°07'E fired four torpedoes from 1800 yards. One hit was obtained amidships.

2249 hours - Fired four stern torpedoes from 1900 yards. All missed. The target was now seen to be stopped.

2256 hours - Fired the remaining two bow torpedoes from 2000 yards. One hit was obtained, possibly the other torpedo also hit but this was doubted.

2300 hours - The target was seen to settle in the water but was still afloat. Besugo had two more torpedoes remaining now, both aft. Commenced maneuvering for a stern tube shot.

2331 hours - Fired no.9 tube from 1240 yards. It missed.

2344 hours - Fired no.10 tube from 1000 yards. Again no hit. Now out of torpedoes cleared the area. Due to the bad visibility gun action was out of the question.

28 Nov 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) passed Lombok Strait southbound.

4 Dec 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Fremantle, Australia. She was escorted in by HMAS Mildura (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Little, RANR(S)).

At Fremantle she was refitted by a relief crew from Submarine Division 262 and USS Anthedon. She was also docked twice for repairs.

21 Dec 1944
During 21/22 December 1944, USS Blackfin (Lt.Cdr. C.L. Raguet, USN), conducted exercises off Fremantle together with USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) and USS Hardhead (Cdr. F.A. Greenup, USN).

24 Dec 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) departed from Fremantle for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Siam.

Before proceeding on patrol night exercises were carried out with USS Isabel (Lt. E.G. Zacher, USNR), USS Coucal (Lt. W.P. Baron, USN) and USS Hardhead (Cdr. F.A. Greenup, USN).

For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) for USS Besugo during this patrol see the map below.

27 Dec 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) topped up with fuel at Exmouth Gulf before proceeding towards her patrol area later the same day.

30 Dec 1944
During the night of 30/31 December 1944, USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN), made the northbound transfer of Lombok Strait on the surface.

31 Dec 1944
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) attacked but missed a small merchant vessel with three torpedoes south of Kangean Island in position 07°17'S, 115°08'E.

(All times are zone H, -8)
0710 hours - In position 07°18'S, 115°10'E sighted a ship bearing 039°(T), range 8000 yards. She was coming out of a rain squall.

0715 hours - Dived and went to battle stations. Commenced approach.

0755 hours - In position 07°17'S, 115°08'E Fired three torpedoes. All missed. The target was a small inter Island steamer of about 1000 tons.

0831 hours - Surfaced and proceeded.

6 Jan 1945
In a night attack on the surface USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan) torpedoed and sank the Japanese fleet tanker Nichei Maru (10020 GRT, offsite link) in the Gulf of Siam in position 06°57'N, 102°57'E with three hits out of six torpedoes fired. Nichei Maru was en-route from Singapore to Moji and was escorted by the frigates Chiburi, Kaibokan 17 and Kaibokan 19.

(All times are zone H, -8)
1840 hours - In position 06°31'N, 102°51'E sighted a tanker bearing 182°(T), range 27000 yards. Enemy course was north-westerly. The top of another ship was in sight, possibly a destroyer. Commenced trailing from ahead and sent a contact report to USS Hardhead. The target was a very large tanker with one escort visible.

1940 hours - USS Hardhead reported she was now also in contact.

2020 hours - The target tracked on a base course of 035°(T) at a speed of 13 knots. Commenced closing in for an attack and notified USS Hardhead we were attacking on the surface from the port bow of the target.

2115 hours - USS Hardhead informed us she was also attacking from the port bow. The target and escort were now clearly visible. A destroyer was ahead and two smaller escorts were on each beam.

2118 hours - In position 06°57'N, 102°57'E commenced firing six torpedoes.

2120 hours - Obtained three torpedo hits, one aft, one amidships and one forward. The whole ship was now ablaze. Besugo now started to clear the area and the tanker was soon seen to sink.

24 Jan 1945
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) torpedoed and damaged the Japanese merchant tanker Sarawak Maru (5135 GRT, built 1943) off the east coast of Malaya in position 06°08'N, 103°33'E.

Sarawak Maru was in convoy HI-87A (Hong Kong - Singapore). She was the only ship in the convoy. She was escorted by the frigates Kanju, Miyake and Kaibokan 13. Another escort, the destroyer Shigure, had been sunk earlier that day by the USS Blackfin.

(All times are zone H, -8)
0530 hours - Received a contact report from USS Blackfin. Immediately changed course to the north-east and increased speed to full ahead to intercept.

0555 hours - Blackfin gave us the latest estimate of the enemy course, speed and position. He also said he was going in for a surface attack.

0602 hours - Picked up SJ radar interference from USS Blackfin bearing 330°(T). Changed course to the north-west to intercept.

0606 hours - Obtained radar contact bearing 325°(T), rnge 17650 yards on two targets. Commenced tracking. Position was 06°10'N, 103°38'E.

0614 hours - Sighted a large flash of light, apparently a torpedo explosion, on the bearing of the target.

0615 hours - Sighted gunfire and signal lights on the same bearing. Went to battle stations.

0618 hours - The escort that was coming towards and had been sighted shortly before was now at a range of 4700 yards. Changed course to put him astern.

0629 hours - The escort now turned around and returned towards the target. Changed course to also head for the big target at full speed.

0642 hours - It was getting light. The escort might have sighted us so went to radar depth.

0650 hours - Five depth charges were dropped.

0700 hours - Came to periscope depth. One depth charge was dropped by the Japanese.

0710 hours - The escort closed to 2500 yards. Sound was tracking the big ship.

0713 hours - Sighted the big ship for the first time. It was a big tanker at a range of 3300 yards.

0716 hours - In position 06°08'N, 103°33'E fired six torpedoes from 2100 yards. As Besugo was firing four depth charges were dropped not very far away.

0717 hours - Observed the first torpedo to hit the target in the stern. Then had a search through the periscope for the escort.

0718 hours - The escort came rushing in dropping five more depth charges. Went down to 140 feet.

0721 hours - Another depth charge was dropped, fairly close.

0725 hours - Six depth charges, fairly close.

0734 hours - Another depth charge. Two or three escorts were now hunting us.

0735 hours - Another depth charge.

0742 hours - Our original 'friend' now came in for his first real run. He was in contact. Made evasive maneuvers.

0743 hours - Four depth charges were dropped, very close. Besugo was now at 180 feet, not more then 10 feet above the bottom. The depth charges shook us up considerably and did some minor damage.

0744 hours - Slowed down to dead speed and continued to withdraw to the north-east. The enemy had now lost contact and never regained it.

1131 hours - Returned to periscope depth. Two escorts were in sight astern at a range of about 10000 yards. They were still echo ranging. Continued to withdraw to the north-east. Echo ranging was heard for the remainder of the afternoon.

1642 hours - Distant depth charging was heard. A total of 31 charges were heard and felt.

2001 hours - Surfaced and set course to the south-east for a rendezvous with USS Hardhead.

2 Feb 1945
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese frigate Kaibokan 144 (740 tons, built 1944) (offsite link) north-east of Kuantan, Malaya, in position 04°32'N, 104°30'E.

At the time of her sinking Kaibokan 144 was proceeding from Mako to Singapore together with Kaibokan 31 and Kaibokan 132.

(All times are zone H, -8)
1 February 1945
2331 hours - In position 05°07'N, 104°28'E obtained radar contact bearing 008°(T) range 9800 yards. There were four ships. All seemed about the same size and were not very big.

2 February 1945
0120 hours - Enemy base course 180°(T), speed 13.5 knots. They were zig-zagging.

0150 hours - In a good position 10000 yards ahead. Maintained this position.

0155 hours - USS Blackfin reported she was also in contact.

0157 hours - Dived to radar depth to attack. Informed USS Blackfin and USS Heardhead that we would start our attack.

0227 hours - In position 04°32'N, 104°30'E fired four stern torpedoes (no torpedoes were left forward) at one of the targets. One hit was obtained. Besugo had gone deep on firing.

0229 hours - Levelled off at 200 feet. No counter attack developed. Withdrew to the west.

0348 hours - Returned to periscope depth. Nothing in sight.

0438 hours - Surfaced.

8 Feb 1945
In the evering USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) made the southbound passage of Lombok Strait on the surface.

12 Feb 1945
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) arrived at Onslow, Australia to embark some fuel. She departed for Fremantle later the same day.

15 Feb 1945
USS Besugo (Cdr. T.L. Wogan, USN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Fremantle. Refit was only commenced 10 days later due to congestion at Fremantle.

24 Mar 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) departed from Fremantle for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Java and Sunda Seas.

Before she proceeded on patrol exercises were carried out with HMAS Bunbury (Lt. J.F. Bleckman, RANR(S)).

For daily and attack positions for USS Besugo during this patrol see the map below.

29 Mar 1945
In the evening USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) made the northbound passage of Lombok Strait.

4 Apr 1945
At 1125 hours, USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN), sighted the Japanese anti-aircraft (licht) cruiser Isuzu an her escorts the torpedo boat Kari and minesweepers W 12 and W 15 (all offsite links) in position 06°51'S, 117°57'E. Besugo was unfortunately not able to attack. She set off in pursuit of the enemy.

5 Apr 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) attacked the Japanese cruiser Isuzu with six torpedoes north of Pulau Sumba, all missed. Another torpedo was then fired down the throat of one of the escorts, it also missed. Following this attack Besugo was depth charged but was not damaged.

(All times are zone I, -9)
0319 hours - Completed an end around on the enemy Task Force. Besugo was now 15000 yards ahead of the enemy who were proceeding on a steady course of 110°(T).

0321 hours - We can suddenly see the cruiser and his near escort clearly. Moon is out bright. They must have also seen us as a green signal flashing signal light was seen followed by a change of course to 075°(T).

0325 hours - Dived to radar depth and changed course to the north.

0332 hours - Picked up the target at radar depth at a range of 11740 yards. He speeded up to 16 knots or better. Tracked the formation until the range to the target was 8000 yards. The enemy formation remained intact. Went to periscope depth. The enemy soon resumed their original course of 110°(T).

0340 hours - Turned and headed for the target. Speed of the target was now 14 knots.

0343 hours - Slowed down while escorts passed down both sides, two to port and one to starboard at ranges between 1000 and 1500 yards.

0358 hours - Range to the cruiser was now 2200 yards so fired six bow torpedoes at her in position 09°05'S, 120°25'E.

0359 hours - Shifted setup to the stern tubes and the nearest escort.

0402 hours - The escort turned towards. Fired one torpedo down the throat and started to go deep and rigged for depth charges.

0404 hours - Heard one torpedo explosion which was thought to be a hit on the cruiser. The stern torpedo was tracked to miss the escort.

0406 hours - Three depth charges were dropped about 1000 yards away.

0409 hours - Five depth charges about 1500 yards away. Besugo by now was at 420 feet.

0510 hours - Returned to periscope depth. All clear.

0520 hours - Surfaced. Nothing in sight or on radar.

6 Apr 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese minesweeper W 12 (630 tons, offsite link) in Srait Sape, Netherlands East Indies in position 08°13'S, 119°14'E. Having expended 6 torpedoes on this target (having mis-identified the sweeper for a 1200-ton gunboat) USS Besugo now returned to Fremantle for a new load of torpedoes and some minor repairs.

Before she sank the minesweeper Besugo had fired three stern followed by six bow torpedoes at the Japanese light cruiser Isuzu in position 08°33'S, 119°15'E but all missed.

(All times are zone I, -9)
1335 hours - In position 08°39'S, 119°17'E sighted a Natori-class light cruiser off Chimney Rock.

1339 hours - Range now 2400 yards. Started attack.

1343 hours - In position 08°33'S, 119°15'E fired three stern torpedoes from 500 yards. No hits.

1345 hours - Fired six bow torpedoes.

1350 hours - The target changed course. By now it became clear that all torpedoes had missed. A floatplane was now sighted overhead.

1353 hours - Heard seven distant depth charges exploding, probably dropped by the cruiser. One of the escorts was now sighted to have also rounded Chimney Rock and was already in Sape Strait. A second could be seen coming by his smoke.

1401 hours - One distant depth charge.

1405 hours - One of the escorts dropped ten depth charges.

1411 hours - The escort had turned around and dropped another pattern of depth charges, this time eleven in total.

1417 hours - The second escort now also dropped depth charges. He dropped a total of eight. Shifted our attention to the third escort.

1445 hours - Shifted our attention to the fourth escort.

1500 hours - The target was seen to have a large deck load of troops. He has tracked on a steady course at 14 knots. Started attack.

1508 hours - In position 08°31'S, 119°15'E fired four torpedoes from the bow tubes from 600 yards. The first torpedo was seen to hit under the bridge one minute later. When the smoke cleared his bow section was seen to have sunk and his stern section was high out of the water. The target was dead in the water.

1514 hours - Two bombs were dropped by a patrolling aircraft.

1527 hours - As the stern section of the target showed no sign of sinking fired a stern torpedo at it. It missed, most likely it ran under.

1638 hours - Heard an explosion. The stern section of the target was now burning more the before.

1644 hours - Heard another explosion. The stern section of the target however still showed no signs of sinking.

1711 hours - Fired our last torpedo from a stern tube. It hit under the stack and the target began to sink slowly.

1713 hours - Saw the last of the stern go under.

1845 hours - Surfaced to pick up prisoners as we would be returning to Fremantly for a new load of torpedoes. About 200 survivors were seen in the water. but all refused to be picked up.

12 Apr 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) arrived at Fremantle.

16 Apr 1945
With a new load of torpedoes and after some repairs, USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN), departed from Fremantle again to resume her 4th war patrol.

21 Apr 1945
In the evening USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) made the northbound transfer of Lombok Strait on the surface. During the transit Besugo was detected by a Japanese aircraft and had to dive briefly. The aircraft dropped one bomb but Besugo sustained no damage.

23 Apr 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) torpedoed and sank the German submarine U-183 in the Java Sea, north of the Bawean Island, in position 04°57'S, 112°52'E.

(All times are zone I, -9)
1350 hours - In position 04°56'S, 112°55'E sighted a submarine bearing 262°(T). Commenced submerged approach.

1414 hours - Identified the submarine as German.

1427 hours - In position 04°57'S, 112°52'E fired six bow torpedoes from 1500 yards. One hit was obtained.

1436 hours - Surfaced to pick up survivors.

1440 hours - Picked up one survivor.

29 Apr 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) sank the Japanese guard boat Otome Maru (199 GRT) with gunfire north of Java in position 05°45'S, 107°30'E.

(All times are zone I, -9)
28 April 1945
2308 hours - In position 05°53'S, 107°38'E obtained radar contact bearing 300°(T), range 13250 yards. Enemy speed was only 5 knots on a northwest course. Opened out as we we against the ligt and the target against dark.

29 April 1945
0030 hours - Commenced tracking the target from a range of 11000 yards on his starboard bow. Commenced shifting position to the port beam of the target keeping the range at 11000 yards.

0136 hours - Now on the targets port beam. Went to battle stations surface.

0210 hours - Commenced circling the target at a range of 1000 yards.

0220 hours - In position 05°45S, 107°30'E opened fire with 40mm and 20mm guns but the 40mm jammed on the second round due to a split cartridge case and did not get back into action. The 5" gun also did not fire as the primer in the first 5" shell was a dud. It was fired nine times, then unloaded it and throw it overboard.

0225 hours - Commenced firing with the 5" gun. The first hot was a good hit.

0229 hours - The target sank.

0240 hours - Proceeded northwards to patrol off the southeast approach to Karimata Strait.

20 May 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) ended her 4th war patrol at Subic Bay, Philippines. She was escorted in by USS Doyle C. Barnes (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Ingle, Jr., USNR).

At Subic Bay she was refitted by USS Anthedon.

13 Jun 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) departed from Subic Bay for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea off the French Indo-China coast but before proceeding on patrol exercises had to be carried out with USS Rombach (Lt. C.B. Gill, USN). During exercises a green smoke bomb at the outer end of the signal gun and repairs to it were needed so Besugo returned to Subic Bay.

For daily positions for USS Besugo during this patrol see the map below.

14 Jun 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) resumed her 5th war patrol.

19 Jul 1945
Late in the evening USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) made the southbound passage of Lombok Strait.

22 Jul 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) made a short stop at Onslow to take on board fuel for the passage to Fremantle.

25 Jul 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) ended her 5th war patrol at Fremantle.

29 Aug 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) departed Fremantle to return to the U.S.A.

26 Sep 1945
USS Besugo (Lt.Cdr. H.E. Miller, USN) arrived at San Diego, California, USA.

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