Submarine
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Patrol SummaryUSS Bowfin (SS-287)Bowfin's Last Battle Flag Explanation of Symbols
USS Bowfin's battle flag graphically depicts the successes of nine war patrols, which are represented by the nine stars located below the bowfin fish mascot firing a torpedo. Bowfin claimed 39 Japanese merchant ships and four Japanese military ships sunk, depicted by white flags with solid red circles (the national flag of Japan) and white flags with solid red rising suns (the Imperial Japanese Navy flag), respectively. The single French flag represents a Vichy French merchant ship - Van Vollenhoven - which was sunk off Saigon in convoy with Japanese ships. Flags with white centers are for ships that are claimed damaged, but not sunk. Bowfin’s four World War II commanding officers believed that she sank 179,646 tons (34 large vessels, plus 10 more under 500 tons) and damaged 33,934 tons (five large vessels plus two smaller ones) for a total of 213,580 tons sunk or damaged. The Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee (JANAC) of 1947 credited Bowfin with 67,882 tons sunk (16 vessels of that tonnage plus 22 smaller craft). The JANAC reassessment dimmed Bowfin’s glory no more than that of most other submarines. JANAC reassessments continue to be challenged by many who believe that Japan’s remaining WWII records were less than accurate and by some who know the JANAC reassessments in some instances disallowed claims even though trained observers saw the disputed vessels sink. Of the 288 U.S. submarines which saw combat duty during WWII, 188 of them had JANAC officially credited sinking records. USS Bowfin remains a legend, for among these 188 submarines, Bowfin ranks 17th in tonnage and 15th in number of ships sunk. Fifty-two of 288 combat submarines (almost one out of five) and 3,505 out of 14,750 WWII U.S. submariners (almost one out of four) began their "eternal patrols" before Japan surrendered.
Totals: 16 Vessels for 67,882 tons sunk According to research done by CDR John Alden, USN (Ret.) as published in the Second Edition of his United States and Allied Submarine Successes in the Pacific and Far East During World War II, Bowfin's war record could be updated as follows:
*May have been torpedoed by USS Aspro (SS-309) Revised totals would show that Bowfin sank 23 ships for a combined total of 72,108 tons. In addition, CDR Alden lists two more unidentified vessels that Bowfin may have sunk, and one large seaplane carrier/tanker that was damaged by a Bowfin torpedo. Mines laid by Bowfin on her third patrol may have sunk or severely damaged at least two other ships. Thirteen small craft were also sunk by her deck guns. |
- Maru Japanese Maru (Merchant Ship) Sunk Maru
- Japanese Maru (Merchant Ship) Damaged
- Maru Small Japanese Merchant Ship Sunk 
- Vichy Vichy French Ship Sunk on Second Patrol
- IJN Japanese Military Ship Sunk 
- IJN Japanese Military Ship Damaged
- PUC Presidential Unit Citation - earned for Second Patrol
- NUC Navy Unit Commendation - earned for Sixth Patrol
- PPUC Philippine Presidential Unit Citation -earned for First Patrol
- Star One Star per War Patrol (9)
- Crane, Bus, & Pier Sunk at Minami Daito on Sixth Patrol
Secrets of the Sub
| Victory At Cost |
Victory at a costDuring World War II, The United States Submarine Force, encompassing less than 2% of the U.S. Navy's fleet, inflicted destruction on Japanese maritime power. U.S. submarines were responsible for sinking over 30% of the Japanese Navy including eight aircraft carriers, one battleship and eleven cruisers. More importantly, the Submarine Force sank 2,400 Japanese merchant ships totaling 4.9 million tons.
However, this success did not come without risk. Out of a total of 14,000 submariners who fought in peril under the sea took losses of over 3,500 officers and men. Approximately one in four submariners never returned.
The USS Bonefish submarine plaque is one of fifty-two memorials at the Waterfront Memorial at Bowfin Park. |
