Submarine

Patrol 7 PDF Print E-mail

USS Bowfin (SS-287) - Patrol 7 nc

A Cutie
25 January 1945 to 25 March 1945tyree-a-k

USS Bowfin traveled from Pearl Harbor to Saipan, then to Nanpo Shoto, then to the area south of Honshu, and finally on to Guam for refit by Apollo (AS-25). Her travels took her as far west as an area south of Shikoku, almost to Bungo Suido and as far east as the waters east and east-south-east of Tokyo. Secret MK-27 acoustic guidance torpedoes (called "cuties") were selectively used on this and later patrols by other submarines. A coordinated attack group of five submarines were formed and guided under the command of CDR Bernard F. McMahon of USS Piper (SS-409). This wolfpack, which was designated "Mac’s Mops," departed from Saipan on 8 February and was charged with eliminating any Japanese picket boats. The area they were told to patrol was a path through which U.S. Fast Carrier Task Force 58 would pass for the first strikes on Tokyo/South East Honshu. Since no picket boats were sighted, the five submarines proceeded individually to lifeguard stations. The remaining portion of this patrol was mostly dedicated to lifeguard duties in support of carrier raids and B-29 strikes. Bowfin’s assigned patrol area was south of Honshu. A Japanese destroyer was sunk on 17 February and another escaped due to a premature torpedo explosion. Bowfin was also on the receiving end of an attack when 26 depth charges were dropped by the undamaged destroyer. After Bowfin reached her assigned patrol area, she sank a small, previously damaged picket boat with 20mm and 40mm gunfire. A large sea truck was sunk on 2 March with only one torpedo. On 4 March a 5-inch 25-caliber gun attack on two picket boats resulted in returned gunfire and a shrapnel injury to TM3c Reid Eldon Lee, then at his gun action battle station. He was later transferred, at sea, to USS Sennet (SS-408), which was en route to her home base. A U.S. Navy TBM pilot and his gunner were rescued from the water after they crash-landed on 19 March just south of Kii Suido during carrier strikes on Kobe/Osaka.

USS Bowfin was underway for 14,325 miles during her seventh patrol. Commanding Officer Tyree and higher authorities believed Bowfin sank 2,950 tons (two vessels ). JANAC credited USS Bowfin with sinking only 750 tons (one vessel of that tonnage plus one small craft). CDR Tyree was awarded the Navy Cross.
 

Secrets of the Sub

The Very First Sub Ever

The First Submarine Ever

There were many countries around the world developing submarines in the 17th and 18th century both for wartime use and for commercial purposes. In the United States, we say the Turtle, developed by a Yale University professor, David Bushnell, was our first submarine. Designed to deliver an underwater mine with a timed fuse, it's original purpose was to break the blockade of the British Navy in New York harbor in 1776, during the War of Independence. Almost a hundred later the Confederate States Ship Hunley with a crew of nine men braved the waters of Charleston, South Carolina harbor to attack and sink the Union Ship USS Housitanic. The weapon used was a mine mounted on a spar jutting from the bow of the submarine. Again, the purpose was to break the blockade of a harbor but within 40 years, the United States started the submarine explosion with the Simon Lake, SS-1, in 1900 , designed as a scouting ship for America's emerging battle fleets. In less than 20 years, the first world war would see the island nation of Great Brritain brought to her knees by German commerce raiding submarines and submarines , large and small being developed by many nations.