War Patrol #1
September 13, 1944 - October 9, 1944
The coordinated search and attack group consisting of the U.S.S. Baya (SS-318), U.S.S Becuna (SS-319), and U.S.S. Hawkbill (SS-366), with Commander Arnold H. Holtz, USN in the U.S.S. Baya, as Task Group Commander departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on August 23, 1944. From September 13, 1944, through September 23, 1944, the Wolf Pack, known as Holtz's Cats 1 was employed on a reconnaissance mission in the Palaui-Philippines Area. The Group patrolled on a scouting line east of the Philippines and south of the Nansei Shoto Islands in connection with the landings on Palau and Norotai. After passing to the operational control of this force on September 27, 1944, the remainder of the patrol was devoted to search and attack on enemy shipping in the Philippines-South China Sea Area, north of Dangerous Ground. The U.S.S. Baya, the last of the group to return to port from patrol, reached Fremantle, Western Australia on October 22, 1944. This was the first war patrol for each ship of the Group. Taken from 12/12/44 letter from R.W. Christie, Commander Submarines, 7th Fleet Halsey requested that Lockwood provide a sizable force of submarines to form a scouting line, between the Palaus and the Philippines. According to Halsey's plan, these boats were dispersed in two parallel lines, 100 miles apart, the submarines on each line 50 miles apart. This unhappy flotilla consisted of ten submarines, organized into three wolf packs, all commanded by Weary Wilkins in Seahorse. These boats were: Seahorse; Whale; Segundo; Razorback; Cavalla; Piranha; Baya; Becuna and Hawkbill. These nine boats, known collectively as "Zoo," got under way from Pearl Harbor and other bases in late August. Later they were joined by the Grouper. They deployed on station during the invasion of the Palaus. Since the Japanese fleet units did not oppose the landings, the Zoo had nothing to shoot at. For days, they patrolled the area between Mindanao and the Palaus, killing time. After the September 22 strike on Manila, Halsey release the Zoo submarines for normal patrol, and all three packs entered Luzon Strait to resume the assault on Japanese convoys.2
Prior to departing on their first war patrol, the Baya, Becuna and Hawkbill, held coordinated search and attack training at sea as a group and conducted training at sea with other submarines at Pearl Harbor.
On the scouting line - no contacts other than aircraft contacts.
Group ordered to area DETECT by Commander Submarines Pacific Fleet. Commander Holtz sent directions to the USS Hawkbill and USS Becuna dividing area DETECT into patrol areas.
On this date, the USS Becuna made contact with 4 AK and possibly 3 DD at 21-28.5 north and 118-57 east. The USS Becuna fired six torpedoes at the DD and overlapping the AK's. One hit was heard, but the results were not observed.
At 2005 hours, the Baya's sonar detected a contact at 8 miles. The ship went to battle stations, dived on course 250 and rigged for depth charge. At 2027 she surfaced on course 250. A large wave broke over the bridge and flooded the main induction and partially flooded the conning tower. This caused the Baya to settle. Two officers, Lt. Commander Holt, Jr. and Lt. Wyse, and one enlisted man, QM3c Plake, were left on the bridge as the boat went under to 45 feet, washing them overboard. The Baya surfaced 11 minutes later at 2038. Lt. Wyse was picked out of the water at 2050, and QM3c Plake was recovered at 2055. Lt. Commander Holt, Jr. was recovered at 2100. All three were brought aboard in a conscious state. They were examined by the Pharmacist's Mate and were found to be suffering from fatigue and immersion only. They changed course to bearing 255 and secured from battle stations at 2330.
The Baya received orders from ComSubPac to leave area DETECT so as to arrive in Task Force 71 in the South China Sea area by 0900, on September 27, 1944. The ship also received routing orders to Perth, Australia.
On this date Commander Holtz sent area assignments to the U.S.S. Becuna and U.S.S. Hawkbill. No reported ship or plane contacts were in the area. The Baya rendezvoused with the Hawkbill on October 4, 1944 to straighten out communication difficulties.
The Baya intercepted a contact report from USS WHALE up in Convoy College. It read that several ships, traveling at a speed of 14 knots, were headed through the Baya's patrol area. Commander Holtz sent scouting assigments to the Hawkbill and Becuna based on this report.
1906 hours U.S.S. Hawkbill made sight contact with the convoy the Baya was searching for, about 25 miles northeast of the Baya's position.
2048 hours Baya manned battle stations and submerged. At 2057 hours, interference was detected on the SJ radar bearing 087degrees true. At 2126 hours, another radar contact was detected bearing 129degrees true, with a range of 26,950 yards. 2129 hours the Baya changed course to 316degrees true. She again changed course at 2133 hours to 140 degrees true. Radar reported that the target was bearing137 degrees true at a range of 26,100. At 2142 hours, 2144 hours and again at 2145 hours, the Baya changed course and changed speed from 80-90 on her four main engines. She once again changed course at 2150 hours. She was moving in for the kill.
2149 hours the Hawkbill fired six torpedoes at a large AK. None of them found their mark.
2155 hours, the crew aboard the Baya heard two distant explosions. Another distant explosion was heard at 2203 hours. She was still closing in on her target, which was 18,850 yards out on a course of 260degrees true at 14 knots at 2205 hours. Another distant explosion was heard at this time. Two more distant explosions were heard, one at 2208 hours and another at 2211 hours. At 2214 hours, the Baya was tracking two targets, one bearing 131degrees true, at a range of 15,450 yards, and the other bearing 137degrees true, at a range of 12,350 yards. At 2218 hours another distant explosion was hear. The Baya submerged to radar depth. She had narrowed the distance to 10,450 yards on her first contact.
2224 hours, the Hawkbill attacked the same large ammunition loaded AK that she previously sent six torpedoes after. This time they found their target and the AK sank three minutes later.
2225 hours, the Baya submerged to periscope depth, steered left full rudder, then submerged to a depth of 80 feet at 2228 hours. At 2230 hours she fired six torpedoes from her bow tubes.
2233 hours, the crew members of the Baya were rewarded with two torpedo explosions. She submerged to deep submergence and commenced evasive tactics and silent running. She also prepared for the inevitable and rigged for depth charges.
George Grider, XO of the Hawkbill wrote the following about the sinking of the 8,400-ton Kinugasa Maru, the sinking of which was credited to both the Hawkbill and the Baya:
I was standing on the bridge when a mighty consussion shook my insides. A wave of heat enveloped me, and at the same moment came the sound of a tremendous explosion. We held on to keep from falling and watched the sight before us with awestruck eyes.
We had hit an ammunition ship, touching off fireworks that made the combined displays of a dozen Fourth of Julys look like a pair of tired lightning bugs by comparison. The entire area was bathed in light. White and yellow flames rose in a vast mushroom hundreds of feet into the air. Rockets and tracer ammunition blazed weird diagrams across the sky as flaming bits of wreckage flew up and fell smoking back into the ocean. We were witnessing the utter destruction of a large and heavily loaded ship.
Built by Kawasaki, Kobe, completed 1936; taken over for naval service as a seaplane carrier in 1938. Returned to owners in 1939, then taken over as a transport in 1941.3
2235 hours, they received an Echo ranging from 350degrees relative, the enemy was fast approaching.
2236 hours, two depth charge explosions.
2237 hours, two depth charge explosions.
2239 hours, two depth charge explosions.
2245 hours, the Baya took additional evasive action and steered right full rudder.
2258 hours, one loud explosion, following immediately by two additional loud explosions.
2259 hours, six depth charge explosions were heard and felt, but the Baya remained on a steady course of 020degrees true.
2303 hours, fourteen depth charge explosions in rapid succession.
2306 hours, the Baya heard loud breaking-up noises, more than likely it was a Japanese ship heading to the botom.
2308 hours, one depth charge explosion.
2328 hours, two depth charge explosions. 2336 hours, one depth charge explosion.
0032 Hours HAWKBILL contacted escort carrier and two DD escorts.
0125 Hours ;BAYA decided to close carrier instead of work with BECUNA on her northbound convoy. BAYA headed north at full power, but never made contact. HAWKBILL was driven down and depth charged.
0210 Hours BECUNA attacked convoy of two large ships and four real small ships. Obtained two hits in tanker - results not observed.
During daytime escort carrier departed to south, as seen by Hawkbill. It is believed that this carrier was covering the two groups in this general vicinity and departed to the south to cover any ships remaining out of the orignial USS Whale contact.
0720 Hours Sighted plane bearing 345 degrees; dived manned battle stations and rigged ship for deph charge.
0745 Hours rigged ship for normal running; secured from battle stations; commenced periscope watch submerged.
1802 Hours Becuna attacked ten ship convoy with ten torpedoes. Sank two tankers and damaged one AP and one AK.
1812 Hours Hawkbill attacked same convoy. Sank one AK and damaged on AK.
2308 Hours Hawkbill made second attack on same convoy and damaged on AK.
At about the same time that the Baya, which was patrolling to the south of Hawkbill and Becuna, received the contact report of this convoy, the Baya suffered an engine breakdown so severe Lt. Cmdr Hotlz thought he might have to scuttle the boat and ordered the coding machines destroyed. However his enginemen repaired the engines and she continued on to Fremantle without further mishap.4
I heard a story from my mother in which the Baya was overdue and presumed lost. The letters to family of the crew making this announcement were being hand delivered to the out going mail when the Baya finally, and just in the nick of time, arrived in Fremantle. Based on the preceeding information, this is probably true. Since the Baya had engine problems and had to destroy her coding machines, the sub would have had difficulty communicating. The Hawkbill entered Fremantle Harbor, West Australia on October 17, 1944, and the Becuna arrived the same day. The Baya however, did not arrive until October 22, 1944.
The Baya crossed the equator and the crew who were polywogs were properly initiated into shellbacks.
Made port at Fremantle, West Australia.
Italic Text taken from Baya Deck Logs (with a little embellishment on my part)
Bold Text taken from War Patrol Report
1, 2 & 4 Clay Blair, Jr., 1975 Silent Victory, The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan
3 The World Aircraft Carrier Lists Compiled and Maintained by Andrew Toppan (actoppan@gwi.net)