impede Japanese progress in the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands, until larger and better equipped fleet submarines could be sent to the area. Ten days after her arrival, S-42 (in the hands of Oliver G. Kirk, Annapolis Class of 1929) cleared Moreton Bay and headed north across the Coral Sea for her first war patrol. After reaching 15 degrees south, she ran submerged during the day and surfaced at night to recharge her batteries and allow a brief respite from the high temperatures and humidity of submerged running. On the afternoon of 3 May, she entered her assigned patrol area, and, that evening, she closed the coast of New Ireland. Two days later, she sighted, fired on, and missed a medium-sized tender off Cape St. George. On 6 May, she shifted eastward to patrol between Buka and the cape. On 11 May, off New Britain, she sighted the minelayer Okinoshima (damaged at the Battle of the Coral Sea) through driving rain. S-42 fired four torpedoes, scored with three; and sent the 4400-ton minelayer to the bottom. The action, begun at 04:39, was over by 04:52. By 05:15, enemy destroyers were closing S-42’s position. Within five minutes, they began dropping depth charges. At 11:30, the last depth charge attack took place. At 14:30, the last sound contact was made with the still searching enemy. Sea water leaked into the control room in increasing amounts, but S-42 remained submerged for another four hours. She then surfaced to repair some of the damage and recharge her batteries. When she submerged, she was unable to control her depth. She surfaced for further temporary repairs. At dawn, she dived successfully. Leaks in the control room, however, continued, and she headed home. That day, 12 May, she attempted to send a message to ComSubRon 5. Two days later, she was still attempting to raise Brisbane, sending her message via Port Moresby, Townsville, Queensland, and Honolulu, Hawaii. On 16 May, her port engine flooded, but was put back into commission, temporarily. On 17 May, she raised Dutch Harbor, whence her dispatches were relayed to Brisbane. Three days later, she arrived in Moreton Bay. On 3 July, S-42 departed Brisbane for her second patrol. On 12 July, prior to taking up her offensive role in St. George's Channel, she landed an agent at Adler Bay, near Rabaul. His first report, soon dispatched, warned her to avoid native