Nelson Payne Watkins, USN
| Born | 7 Jun 1915 | ||
| Died | 2001 | (85) |
| Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Nelson Payne Watkins, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS R-16 (93) | T/Lt. | Submarine | Apr 1943 | Oct 1944 |
| USS Blower (325) | T/Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 6 Jun 1945 | 1 Aug 1946 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine USS R-16 (93)
27 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS R-16 departed New London, Connecticut for Bermuda.
Submarine USS Blower (325)
23 Jun 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) departed from Subic Bay for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Gulf of Siam. She was escorted out by USS Pratt (Cdr. R.H. Wanless, USNR).
For daily and attack positions of USS Blower during this patrol see the map below.
5 Jul 1945 (position 4.45, 103.43)
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) attacked an unidentified ship in the South China Sea east of Malaya in position 04°41'N, 104°08'E with one torpedo. The torpedo missed the target.
(All times are zone I, -9) 0300 hours - In position 04°41'N, 104°08'E obtained a radar contact on an unidentified object to the south of Pulo Tenggol. Tracked the contact at a speed of 1 to 2 knots. Then the target stopped and remained stationary. Believed the target to have anchored.
0400 hours - In position 04°45'N, 103°43'E fired one torpedo at the stationary target from a range of about 5800 yards. No result war noted.
9 Jul 1945 (position 2.05, 105.00)
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) attacked two Japanese patrol vessels with three torpedoes north-east of Singapore in position 02°05'N, 105°00'E.
(All times are zone I, -9) 8 July 1945 1908 hours - In position 02°39'N, 105°35'E sighted masts of two ships bearing 330°(T), range 5 to 6 miles.
1910 hours - Commenced approach. Identified the targets as two submarine chasers.
2024 hours - Surfaced and started trailing at two engine speed. Their tops were barely in sight through high periscope. No radar contact.
2030 hours - Sent a contact report to USS Bluefish.
2150 hours - Started attack.
2210 hours - The targets changed course putting Blower astern. Commenced trailing again.
2328 hours - Received a signal from USS Bluefish that the had attacked with negative results.
9 July 1945 0003 hours - Received a signal from USS Bluefish that he was going in for another attack.
0050 hours - USS Bluefish reported that her attack was completed. Started own attack. The targets were on a steady course of 200°(T) at a speed of 9 knots.
0110 hours - In position 02°05'N, 105°00'E fired three bow torpedoes from 3700 yards. All missed. The first torpedo fired was seen to broach.
0115 hours - Pulled clear.
0129 hours - Started in for a gun attack together with USS Bluefish.
0200 hours - The targets must have seen us as they turned tail on and were soon lost out of sight.
0225 hours - Secured the guns and decided that the action was over.
11 Jul 1945 (position 1.28, 104.58)
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) attacked an unidentified ship east of Singapore in position 01°28'N, 104°58'E. Three torpedoes were fired but no hits were obtained.
(All times are zone I, -9) 2226 hours - In position 01°28'N, 104°58'E obtained SJ radar contact bearing 105°(T), range 11000 yards. Commenced tracking and found the target on a steady course of 210°(T) at about 5 knots.
2311 hours - Commenced attack. Sighted the target at a range of 7500 yards. It was either a large escort or medium transport.
2323 hours - In position 01°28'N, 104°58'E fired three bow torpedoes. The first two torpedoes broached and chased each other off in a direction not that of the target. Porpoising merrily as they went. After firing closed the range to 2700 yards. A sail was now seen. Broke off the attack as to not give away our position and wait for more valuable prey.
15 Jul 1945 (position 5.30, 109.57)
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) attacked the Japanese transport submarine I-351 with a full bow salvo of six torpedoes north-east of the Riau Archipaligo in position 05°30'N, 109°57'E. Two of the torpedoes were heard to hit the target but were duds and failed to explode.
(All times are zone I, -9) 14 July 1945 2346 hours - In position 05°36'N, 109°37'E obtained SJ radar contact bearing 105°(T), range 11000 yards. Commenced tracking and sent a contact report to USS Bluefish, USS Charr and USS Hammerhead. The target was zig-zagging from 000°(T) to 070°(T) at a speed of 14 knots.
15 July 1945 0205 hours - The target was spotted and thought to be a large submarine.
0211 hours - In position 05°30'N, 109°57'E commenced firing a full bow salvo of six torpedoes from 1000 yards. As the 4th torpedo was fired the target suddenly changed course.
0212 hours - Two thumbs were heard which were thought to be torpedo hits but DUDS !. Commenced to go deep for a short while to evade possible torpedoes fired by the enemy down the torpedo tracks.
0216 hours - Commenced firing the stern tubes. Due to a defect only one tube was fired and the torpedo missed the target.
0401 hours - Received a contact report from USS Bluefish and that she was attacking.
0415 hours - Saw a terrific explosion over the horizon followed shortly afterwards by a report from USS Bluefish that she had sank an enemy submarine.
21 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 21/22 July 1945, USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN), made the southbound transfer of the Sunda Strait.
28 Jul 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) ended her 3th war patrol at Fremantle, Australia.
29 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) departed Fremantle for Guam, via Sydney.
5 Sep 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) arrived at Sydney, Australia.
8 Sep 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) departed Sydney for Guam.
17 Sep 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) arrived at Guam.
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