Mankind knows more about the far side of the moon than about the hidden depths of the ocean, a fact well know to the submarine community. Over seventy percent of the earth's surface, or about 140 million square miles, is covered by water. America is a maritime nation, a geopolitical fact of life. It is a nation which owes its very existence, its development, and much of its prosperity to the oceans.
The period from 1900 to 1935 was a period of exploration for the submarine service. During this period, as technology improved, American submarines were continually setting, then breaking, new records for speed, range, and endurance. Experiments were even conducted with submarineborne aircraft, large guns, and mines. That no submarine was involved in an accident during these experiments attests to the skill and training of the American submariner. This spirit made the first serious submarine accidents all the harder to bear. The following submarines were involved in accidents resulting in loss of life during this period:
A-7 (SS-8) - 8 Men Lost
E-2 (SS-25) - 5 Men Lost
F-1 (SS-20) - All Hands Lost - 19 Men
F-4 (SS-23) - All Hands Lost - 21 Men
G-2 (SS- ) - 3 Men Lost
H-1 (SS-28) - 4 Men Lost
O-5 (SS-66) - 3 Men Lost
S-4 (SS-109) - All Hands Lost - 42 Men
S-49 (SS-160) - 3 Men Lost
S-51 (SS-162) - 34 Men Lost - 3 Survivors
Pre War Expansion Period.
The years following World War I and leading up to World War II saw a continuation of the policy of experimentation that had characterized the first years of submarine activity. However, World War I had proved the submarine's role as a viable attack weapon, and the march of technology had turned the focus of submarine work away from searching for a role in naval warfare and toward making submarines better, more effective, weapons. Even with the benefit of improving technology, submariners still had some difficult lessons to learn. The following submarines were involved in serious accidents during this period:
Squalus (SS-192) - 26 Men Lost - 33 Survivors
O-9 (SS-70) - All Hands - 33 Men
World War II.
The U.S. Submarine Force during World War II was composed of about 50,000 men, including staffs and backup personnel, representing less than 2 percent of the U. S. Navy's total manpower. Of this number, only 16,000 men actually made war patrols on submarines.
This small force by wars end, inflicted a staggering blow to the enemy.
To the Submarine Force fell the major portion of the task of intercepting Japanese naval forces, and stopping Japan's 6,000,000 tons of enemy merchant shipping. This little-publicized, unremitting campaign of attrition by the "dolphin Navy" was to sever Japan's logistics which in turn virtually starved Japan into submission.
By war's end, this small elite volunteer force sank 214 Japanese Naval Vessels, about a third of all Japanese warships destroyed, including a battleship, eight aircraft carriers, 15 cruisers, 42 destroyers and 23 enemy submarines. Add to this number 1,113 Japanese merchant ships (with an additional 65 probable), over one-half of its merchant marine shipping. This highly successful campaign would elevate the Submarine Service to an important place in our Fleet.
Wartime Losses.
Fifty two submarines were lost during World War II. The majority of these losses were due to enemy action. Over 3,500 men went down with these submarines. For submarine and their crew their epitaph written in the words "OVERDUE AND PRESUMED LOST." The U.S. Submarine Force suffered the highest percentage of lives sacrificed in all branches of the United States military service. Of the 16,000 men who served on these submarines, one out of every four men in the submarine service were lost.
Sealion (SS-195) - 4 Men Lost
S-36 (SS-141) - No Loss of Life
S-26 (SS-131) - 46 Men Lost
Shark I (SS-174) - All Hands Lost
Perch (SS-176) - 6 Men Died in POW Camp
S-27 (SS-132) - No Loss of Life
S-39 (SS-144) - No Loss of Life
Grunion (SS-216) - All Hands Lost
Argonaut (SS-166) - All Hands Lost
Amberjack (SS-219) - All Hands Lost
Grampus (SS-207) - All Hands Lost
Triton (SS-201) - All Hands Lost
Pickerel (SS-177) - All Hands Lost
Grenadier (SS-210) - 4 Men Died in POW Camp
Runner (SS-275) - All Hands Lost
R-12 (SS89) - 42 Men Lost - 5 Survivors
Grayling (SS-209) - All Hands Lost
Pompano (SS-181) - All Hands Lost
Cisco (SS-290) - All Hands Lost
S-44 (SS-149) - 54 Men Lost
Wahoo (SS-238) - All Hands Lost
Dorado (SS-248) - All Hands Lost
Corvina (SS-226) - All Hands Lost
Sculpin (SS-191) - 63 Men Lost
Capeline (SS-289) - All Hands Lost
Scorpion (SS-278) - All Hands Lost
Grayback (SS-208) - All Hands Lost
Trout (SS-202) - All Hands Lost
Tullibee (SS-284) - 74 Men Lost
Gudgeon (SS-211) - All Hands Lost
Herring (SS-233) - All Hands Lost
Golet (SS-361) - All Hands Lost
S-28 (SS132) - All Hands Lost - 50 Men
Robalo (SS-273) - All Hands Lost
Flier (SS-250) - 78 Men Lost
Harder (SS-257) - All Hands Lost
Seawolf (SS-197) - All Hands Lost
Escolar (SS-294) - All Hands Lost
Darter (SS-277) - No Loss of Life
Shark II (SS-314) - All Hands Lost
Tang (SS-306) - 78 Men Lost
Albacore (SS-218) - All Hands Lost
Growler (SS-215) - All Hands Lost
Scamp (SS-277) - All Hands Lost
Swordfish (SS-193) - All Hands Lost
Barbel (SS-316) - All Hands Lost
Kete (SS-369) - All Hands Lost
Trigger (SS-237) - All Hands Lost
Snook (SS-279) - All Hands Lost
Lagarto (SS-371) - All Hands Lost
Bonefish (SS-223) - All Hands Lost
Bullhead (SS-332) - All Hands Lost
In speaking of those valiant submariners, Vice Admiral C. A. Lockwood, Jr., Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, (January 1943 - January 1946), in a speech given in Cleveland, on Navy Day 1945, adds this final note:
"As to the 374 officers and 3,131 men of the Submarine Force who gave their lives in the winning of this war, I can assure you that they went down fighting and that their brothers who survived them took a grim toll of our savage enemy to avenge their deaths."
Post War Accidents.
After World War II, the primary objective of the Submarine Force was "rapid deployment of forces for immediate reaction to an attack on the United States or its allies." Its missions were deterrence, training, research and development, and counter-insurgency operations.
The Navy entered the Cold War with a cadre of experienced and battletested officers and enlisted personnel. These men were able to pass on valuable lessons to a new generation of submariners. Unfortunately, sometimes experience and knowledge were not enough. The following submarines were involved in serious accidents resulting in loss of life or submarine in the years just after World War II:
Cochino (SS-345) - 1 Man Lost / 6 Men Lost from Trusk (SS-246)
Stickleback (SS-415) - No Loss of Life
Sargo (SSN-583) - 1 Man Lost
Grayback (SSG-574) - 1 Man Lost
The Early Nuclear Era.
With the advent of nuclear propulsion, and the U.S. Navy's commissioning of the first nuclearpowered submarine, Nautilus (SSN-571), the Submarine Force was poised to enter a new era for underwater expeditions, global opportunities and exploration. Nuclear propulsion allowed for faster speeds, almost unlimited underwater endurance, and worldwide range. New records for speed and distance would be set, then broken on a continual basis. But the development of nuclear propulsion for submarines also meant that a submarine could remain submerged for long extended periods of time.
The Navy began to experiment and develop new submarine designs, incorporating new high-yield steel alloys with hull construction advancements allowing submarines to dive deeper. Noise from turbines, motors and equipment were reduced. Adaptation in strategy and tactics was inevitable. Innovations in design paved the way for advancements in submarine technology.
Testing of new designs continued. New technologies such as radar and guided missiles would also impact the submarine service. Once again, submarines would serve as platforms for experiments with many different weapons and many different types of equipment. Submarines would see their designs and missions change not once, but several times during their careers. At the same time, the U.S. Navy would stress safety to a previously unheardof extent. Nevertheless, two U.S. nuclear-powered submarines would be involved in accidents that would result in both submarine and all hands being lost. The following submarines were involved in serious accidents resulting in loss of both submarine and men:
Thresher (SSN-593) - All Hands Lost
Scorpion (SSN-589) - All Hands Lost
These two submarines will forever remain technically linked as casualties of the Cold War.
Other Cold War Accidents.
The Cold War brought its own special dangers. American submarines, especially ballistic missile submarines, operated on a nearly perpetual wartime footing. The deterrence strategy of the ballistic missile submarine was based on stealth and immediate preparedness to carry out their destructive mission.
Attack submarines operated in a variety of roles but always as the silent hunter of every description of craft merchant ship, surface combatant, attack submarine and missile submarine alike. America would continue to develop new technologies, stronger materials, and better equipment, all with the goal of making her submarines safer. The safety record of the U.S. submarine fleet would continue to be the standard against which all other navy's would be measured against.
Yet, even with the Cold War over, the ocean continues to threaten every submarine crew with sudden death from the possible result of even the slightest misstep. But, every submariner knows the dangers associated with his trade. He is among the Navy's best trained and highly motivated individuals.
Tragic Losses - Lessons Learned
Related Pages
National World War II Submarine Veterans Memorial - West
Thresher-Scorpion Memorial
World War II Submarine Veterans Memorial Highway
