Existing comment:
Typical US Submarine:
This model and cutaway illustration reveal the interior arrangement and compartmentation of a World War II fleet submarine. What is not readily apparent is the closeness of the quarters in which the men lived and worked.
Submarines:
The Silent Service:
Japan, a modern industrial nation, was of necessity, a maritime nation, dependent upon shipping for raw materials. As an island nation, it was vulnerable to the unrestricted warfare practiced by American submarines. Using stealth, these submarines focused on attacking the maritime supply lines that fed Japan and its military machine.
Naval Targets:
In World War II, the enemy's merchant ships were the main targets of American submarines. Nevertheless, if the opportunity arose, the submarines also attacked naval vessels. For example, American submarines Albacore and Cavalia sank carriers Taiho and Shokaku during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Later, Archerfish sank Japan's newest and largest carrier, Shinano.
By war's end, American submarines destroyed five of the 30 Japanese vessels involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Elton W. Grenfell (1903-1980) USNA 1926:
Returning from the first submarine foray into Japanese home waters, Gudgeon picked up a message that three Japanese submarines were headed westward from Midway Island A review of the charts told Grenfell that Gudgeon was on a near-collision course with the Japanese. Grenfell laid in wait. On the morning of 27 January 1942, Gudgeon fired three torpedoes and sank I-173, the first confirmed sinking of an enemy warship by an American submarine.
James W. Blanchard (1903-1987) USNA 1927:
Blanchard commanded Albacore, which made a significant contribution to American efforts in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. The submarine came across Taiho, as the carrier was refueling its aircraft. One of six hastily fired torpedoes found its mark. Six hours later, fire ignited gasoline fumes and sent Japan's newest carrier to the bottom.
Herman J. Kossler (1911-1988) USNA 1934:
In mid-June 1944, Cavalia was headed for patrol off San Bernardino Strait when Kossler received word of nearby Japanese ships. The invasion of Saipan had just begun, and the Japanese navy was en route to dispute the landings.
Cavalia had missed two previous opportunities with enemy task forces. But on the morning of 19 June 1944, she put three torpedoes into the carrier Shokaku. Fires raged for two and a half hours and then the American crew heard enormous explosions. Shokaku had sunk.
James F. Enright (1910-2000) USNA 1933:
In the early hours of 29 November 1944, Enright's submarine, the Archerfish, torpedoed the largest ship sunk by an American submarine in the war. The 59,000 ton Shinano was intended to be a sister to super battleships Yamato and Musashi, but was converted to a carrier. Commissioned just ten days earlier, the carrier was en route to a fitting-out yard when Archerfish caught her with six torpedoes. Shinano was not ready for sea and had a green crew, a combination that doomed her. |