Built by: Portsmouth Naval Yard
Design: Government
Keel laid: 18 October 1937
Launched: 14 September 1938
Sponsor: Mrs. Thomas Hart
Commissioned: 1 March 1930 (Squalus) and 15 May 1940 (Sailfish)
First Skipper: Lt. Oliver Naquin (Squalus) and LCDR M. C. Mumma (Sailfish)

One cannot imagine anyone with any interest at all in submarine history who does not know the sad and strange story of loss of the submarine USS SQUALUS on 23 May 1939 when she foundered on a dive and sank with the loss of 26 men. She was raised, refitted and re-named USS SAILFISH.

USS SQUALUS was a 300 foot steel hull American patrol submarine. On 23 May 1939, she was making her first dive off Portsmouth NH with a crew of 59 men when she began to take on water due to a high speed induction valve malfunction in the after compartment. The Captain ordered all compartments sealed in an attempt to save the boat, trapping 26 crewmen in the flooding after compartment, drowning them all.

The submarine settled by the stern to the bottom, 240 feet below the surface approximately five miles east of New Hampshire’s Isle of Shoals. The 33 surviving men in the bow section released a smoke bomb and yellow float to the surface.

The sister ship of SQUALUS, USS SCULPIN, found the buoy and reported the location to Portsmouth Naval Base, and a fleet of rescue vessels were quickly on the scene. Communications between SCULPIN and SQUALUS were achieved and U.S. Navy hardhat divers soon descended to the stricken boat from the sub tender USS FALCON (ASR-2).

On the morning of 25 March 1939, the divers directed the ten-ton ‘McCann Rescue Chamber’ which was developed after the sinking of the submarine S-4 in 1924, onto the submarine’s forward rescue hatch, allowing the rescue of her 33 surviving crewmen.

On 14 September 1939, the submarine was raised and towed to Portsmouth Navy Yard for the recovery of the bodies of her lost crewmen. She was repaired and launched again a year later, re-named USS SAILFISH but she was nicknamed SQUALFISH by her crew. A shadow hung over the ship, so when war broke out, she was given a tough Skipper and a good crew, not given to superstition.

During World War II, USS SAILFISH sank seven Japanese ships totaling more than 45,000 tons including the Japanese escort carrier CHUYO. In a terrible twist of fate, this carrier had 21 American prisoners aboard – men taken from USS SCULPIN, the submarine that had helped save the SQUALUS and 33 of her crew.

When the war broke out, USS SAILFISH was one of several boats in the area of Manila, taking on supplies and getting ready for what they all knew was coming soon. This submarine, like the others, was taking on double rations of supplies and torpedoes. When the message came from the tender USS CANOPUS that Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor, USS SAILFISH in company with USS STINGRAY headed for the area around Lingayen Gulf.

While the Japanese were still bombing Manila, USS SAILFISH had a nine-day patrol where she made contact with an enemy convoy. She fired two torpedoes at Japanese troop transports. They missed, but they alerted a Japanese destroyer that there was an American submarine there, and the tin can came after her with a vengeance. The officer at the periscope reported a hit on the destroyer, but there was no confirmation. SAILFISH had tangled with the enemy and came through it unhurt, so the superstitions were put to rest. SAILFISH was a combat ready submarine.

In early February, USS SAILFISH was one of five American submarines to make it Tjilatjap where a rudimentary repair shop was located. There was a small hotel for the submarine crews, but daily visits from Japanese bombers made life uncertain and it wasn’t too long afterwards that the submarines had to pull out in the face of the advancing Japanese troops.

USS SAILFISH and the other American submarines in the Java Sea were unable to slow the Japanese advance in the area. The shallow waters were unsuitable for submarine warfare.

In March, on the day USS PERCH was lost, USS SAILFISH took on a Japanese destroyer in the daytime, but both torpedoes missed. That night, they fired at a ship determined to be an aircraft carrier and they reported two hits out of four torpedoes fired. The ship did indeed sink, but she was an aircraft ferry rather than a carrier – still a serious loss to the Japanese Navy.

Later on, the old ‘Sugar-Boats’ (S-Boats) were retired, so USS SAILFISH and about two dozen other submarines made their base at Brisbane, Australia – about half of these boats were temporary loans from Pearl Harbor.

In June 1943, SAILFISH became part of the American submarine blockade of the northern Honshu area with two successes and later, at the Bungo Strait, she sank a major ship. Here is the transcript from the logbook of USS SAILFISH when she attacked and sank the carrier CHUYO:

1745 – Surfaced in typhoon weather. Tremendous seas. 40-50 knot wind, driving rain and visibility after twilight, varying from zero to 500 yards.

2348 – Radar contact bearing 114ºT (154º relative), range 9,500 yards. Commenced tracking (ship contact #1).

2351 – Estimated target course 320ºT, speed 18 knots.

2352 – Radar contact on another and smaller target just to right of and 900 yards closer than first contact (ship contact #2).

2353 – Radar contact on a third target about same size as first contact and located 1,000 yards beyond the first contact (ship contact #3).

2355 – Radar contact on a fourth target smaller than the other contacts and 900 yards closer than No. 2 contact (ship contact #4).

2356 – Have still only managed to build up speed to twelve knots since initial contact. With these fast targets at close range, have abandoned any idea of a methodical approach, the seas are mountainous with a driving rain. Can’t see a thing but blackness and water with the water mostly in my face.

2358 – Came left to 300ºT to get off the track of the near target (believed to be a destroyer).

0000 – Near target close aboard on starboard quarter turned on what appeared to be a good size searchlight with a greenish tinge to it, directed at us and apparently signaling. He could not have seen us so assume he was signaling to someone else near us or he had a doubtful radar contact.

0001 – Dove to 40 feet and came right to course 340ºT for bow shot a biggest pip. We are 400 yards off track of near destroyer. All targets seem to be in line of bearing, roughly 280 – 100 degrees true with 900 to 1,000 yards between targets. Although initial radar contact was not made until a range of 9,500 yards, the picture looks as if we are on the left flank of a fast group of men of war, consisting of a destroyer, then possibly a cruiser, then a carrier or battleship, then another carrier or battleship with possibly something beyond that. Selected nearest of the two larger pips as our target.

0009 – Near destroyer passing close aboard to starboard and ahead.

0012 – Fired tubes 1, 2, 3 and 4 by radar setup, range 2,100 yards, gyro 53º to 37º right, track 108 to 120 port, torpedoes set at twelve feet using spread of 1 ¾º right, 1 ¾º left, 5º left and 5º right. Times of hits indicate torpedoes one and four were the hitting torpedoes. Commenced swinging left to bring stern tubes to bear. Heard two torpedoes hit.

0016 – Two depth charges fairly close. Went deep and started crossing astern of target.

0017 through 0152 – Nineteen depth charges, none very close. Completed reload.

0158 – Surfaced and commenced running up target track to intercept possible cripple. Unable to make much speed without shipping black water.

0230 – Radar contact bearing 310ºT, range 8,400 yards. Commenced tracking (ship contact #5).

0240 – Tracking shows target to be circling. The pip is small, yet can’t believe radar would pick up a destroyer at 8,400 yards tonight. Commenced easing in slowly. At times the pip has an edge on it, giving a momentary indication of another target very close to the one we are tracking.

0430 – Target settled down on a northwesterly course, speed 2 to 5 knots. Radar pip now looks like we may have two targets very close together.

0550 – Morning twilight and visibility improving fast, rain has stopped, but bridge is still shipping water, targets tracking with speed varying from one to three knots, range 3,500 yards. With visibility improving so rapidly must fire soon, hence had decided to fire three bow tubes on the surface and then attack again in daylight by periscope, making reload during approach.

0552 – Fired tubes 1, 2 and 3, range 3,200 yards, gyros 002º, 00 ½º and 004 1/2 º estimated track 148º starboard, TDC speed one knot, torpedoes set at ten feet, spread of 0º, ½ º right and ½ º left.

0557 – Observed and heard two torpedo hits. First hit looked like a momentary puff of fire, second looked like and sounded (on the bridge) like a battleship firing a broadside – even with the locomotive rumble so characteristic of sixteen-inch shells. Commenced swinging ship to bring stern tubes to bear if target started going somewhere.

0558 – The Nips started celebrating by firing star shells and heavy AA tracers from at least a dozen guns located at the point of the torpedo explosions, but didn’t seem to know where we were because the shooting was directed everyplace but towards us. It’s a good show but despite the illumination I can’t see the target.

EDITOR NOTE – Remember, this is a direct quote from the logbook and during the war, there was a lot of use of propaganda and slang.

0600 – Tracers coming our way now – plenty of them.

0601 – Submerged. Commenced checking torpedoes and reloading.

0605 – Four depth charges not near us.

0748 – Finally see something – aircraft carrier, range about 10,000 yards, dead in the water (ship contact #6). Nothing else in sight.

Impatiently continuing check of torpedoes. All tubes were flooded during each preceding attack. Gyro pots of one torpedo aft and one forward are flooded necessitating reload.

Here is how it looked from the Japanese side:

The carrier had been hit by two torpedoes and was dead in the water and her Skipper sent a radio message that they had been torpedoed. Due to faulty communications in the Japanese Task Force, only the cruiser MAYA heard the distress call. The destroyer URAKAZE observed that one of the ships in the group seemed to be in trouble but since she received no orders pertaining to this ship, she maintained her station and course in the convoy.

At about 0300, the carrier was able to raise Tokyo radio with their distress call, reporting a hit by one torpedo. There was a fire in the crew quarters, but the ship said they could continue onward.

Tokyo radioed to the destroyer URAKAZE with orders to escort the damaged carrier and the other carrier in the convoy but for some reason, this message was not received by URAKAZE. Then a tow was ordered for the wounded carrier, but the ferocity of the storm negated this assistance – it was just impossible.

Then around 0600, the carrier radioed again that she had been hit by another torpedo. Her radio message to Tokyo read: “Hit by torpedo. Can make no headway. Position 3155N; 143E.”

This message was received by the carrier ZUIHO quite some distance from the badly wounded CHUYO, and they ordered any warships in the area of CHUYO to steam at maximum speed to the area to render aid and any assistance possible, as well as mounting an anti-submarine response.

One of these ships, apparently the destroyer URAKAZE, was seen by lookouts on USS SAILFISH. The Skipper entered in the log:

0748 – Momentarily sighted tops of a destroyer apparently standing by the carrier (ship contact #7). The picture now indicated that we have one badly damaged carrier plus one destroyer. If there were a cruiser here with 85 foot tower and 125 foot mast he’d show up like a sore thumb compared to the carrier’s 60 foot flight deck. Depth control is extremely difficult due to mountainous seas. When we are at 60 feet there is nothing but green waves with the scope looking into or under a wave most of the time. At 55 feet we damn near broach and still can only see about twenty per cent of the time. I am convinced that the carrier is a dead duck but there should be someone else around besides a single destroyer, yet there is nothing else in sight from 55 feet and no screws on sound. Am passing carrier down port side from aft forward, range about 1,500 yards. He has many planes on deck forward and enough people on deck aft to populate a fair size village. The only visible evidence of previous hits is a small list to port and a small drag down by the stern. The number of people on deck indicates they are prepared to abandon ship – a reassuring picture.

The carrier is still not going down and there are no other Japanese ships coming onto the scene, so SAILFISH is maneuvered into position for a straight shot with the stern tubes. The log reads:

0940 – Fired tubes 5,6 and 7, TDC range 1,700 yards, gyros 182º and 185 ¾ º, track 88 port, torpedoes set at 12 feet, using a spread of 0º, 8º right and 2º left. All torpedoes heard running normal.

0942 – Two hits (time indicates 2,700 yard torpedo run) heard on sound and throughout the boat, followed by a very heavy swish on sound then by exceptionally loud breaking up noises heard not only on sound but also very clearly throughout the boat. Although I had the scope up anticipating the pleasure of watching the hits, depth control was so lousy that we were at 60 feet when the torpedoes hit and all I could see when the scope was out of the waves was a sky full of tracers being shot up into the air from the carrier’s bearing. Ordered right full rudder and came to 70 feet to come around for bow shots. Can’t figure how I made the range. Have been using a carrier flight deck height of 60 feet on the stadimeter.

0945 – Two depth charges not too far away.

0950 – Completed turning. Still hear the breaking up noises.

0951 – At 55 feet for a look. Nothing in sight on, or either side of, generated bearing. Made sweep to look for the destroyer & sighted a heavy cruiser of the TAKAO or NACHI Class. Commenced swinging hard left to bring bow tubes to bear (ship contact #8).

0952 – Angle on the bow 10 starboard and he is still swinging towards, range 3,300 yards. Between my surprise at under estimating the range to the carrier (2,700 yard torpedo run instead of 1,700), the fairly close depth charges from a destroyer I still hadn’t been able to see, the surprise sighting of the cruiser racing our way with her forefoot showing over the waves, and the boat starting to broach with her left full rudder, I ordered 90 feet and thus threw away the chance of a lifetime. Picked him up on sound and attempted to get a ping range on the QC head. Took turn count on JK head of 220, indicating 18 knots. By the time data was obtained from sound to allow even a chance of a hit he was astern and fading out fast. The Monday morning quarterbacks can have a field day on this attack! To top it all off, I have personally criticized the sinking of the SORYU, where the towing cruiser could have been gotten first, then the carrier at leisure – yet, I didn’t go up ahead of the carrier and make absolutely certain that this wasn’t a similar set up. This cruiser was undoubtedly on the bow of the carrier.

1004 – Seven depth charges not too close. Destroyer screws fading in and out. Keeping them abaft the beam.

1330 – Periscope depth. A careful fifteen minutes look at depths between 52 and 60 feet reveals noting. I am convinced the carrier has been sunk and the cruiser has gotten clear.

1400 – Set course to proceed to area.

2400 – One full day’s work completed.

The carrier CHUYO actually sank at 0948. USS SAILFISH had her share of close calls in the war as well, but survived them all.

She took two bombs close aboard on 7 December 1943 off Kyushu at 31º 21’ N x 134º 10’ E. SAILFISH dived on hearing a ZEKE strafing them and as they passed 40 feet, two bombs hit nearby. The first bomb did no damage, but the second detonated close aboard the starboard side by the maneuvering room. The main propulsion power was temporarily lost due to the jarring open of the main motor field excitation circuits in the control cubicle and tripping the starboard main motor reverser contactor which arced and welded itself in the open position. No. 1 main motor flashed to ground, its brush rigging insulators cracked and a bare spot was burned onto a pole face winding. Repairs to this motor were made but it again flashed over two days later on 9 December and was cut out of service for remainder of patrol. Reduction gear noise level increased markedly as result of bombing. Serious leak developed at hull flange of main motor cooler circulating water discharge line. Other minor damage occurred. Ship remained on patrol.

There was more to come. SAILFISH was attacking a Japanese destroyer ‘killer’ group on 4 November 1944 in the Luzon Strait at 20º 09’N x 121 º 43’E when she was attacked by unidentified aircraft. She was running at periscope depth when ten bombs hit. None of the bombs hit very close, but one detonation caused the No. 7 torpedo tube inboard vent valve to jam open. SAILFISH then dived deeper. A large amount of water flooded into the after torpedo room before it could be stopped. Because the boat was diving at a 5º down angle, the forward part of the after was flooded to 6 inches above the deck plates. The torpedo charging panel shorted and grounded from water spray and a small electrical fire broke out. Fire was immediately extinguished by de-energizing the panel but the book took on a 25º up angle due to the added weight aft, and started for the surface. Depth control was regained at 170 feet by backing with both shafts and sending men forward. Ship remained on patrol.

War Patrols of USS SAILFISH
WP#	FROM	TO	DURATION	SINKINGS
1	CV Luzon	CV	9 days	None
2	CV Formosa	JA	55 days	None
3	JA Java S	FA	38 days	see note A
4	FA Java S	FA	58 days	None
5	FA S China S	BA	45 days	None
6	BA Solomons	BA	48 days	None
7	BA Transit	PH	52 days	None
8	PH Empire	MI	47 days	see note B
9	MI E China S	PH	53 days	None
10	PH Empire	PH	49 days	see note C
11	PH E China S	MI	59 days	see note D
12	MI E China S	SI	46 days	see note E

A – On 2 March 1942 sank the 6,440 ton ferry KAMOGAWA MARU at 08º 06’S x 115º 57’E.

B – On 15 June 1943 sank the 3,617 ton cargo steamer SHINJU MARU at 39º 15’N x 142º 03’E and the 3,291 ton collier IBURI MARU at 39º 53’ N x 142º 06’ E on 25 June.

C – On 4 Dec. 1943 sank the 17,830 escort aircraft carrier CHUYO at 32º 27’N x 143º 49’E; sank the 3,195 ton cargo steamer TOTAI MARU on 13 December 1943 at 30º 35’N x 130º 30’E and the 6,376 ton transport UYO MARU on 21 December at 32º 29’ N x 132º 08’E.

D – On 7 August 1944 sank the 238 cargo lighter KINSHU MARU at 20º 09’N x 112º 44’E and on 24 August sank the 2,110 ton transport TOAN MARU at 21º 23’N x 121º 37’E.

E – USS SAILFISH on Lifeguard duty, saved 12 downed aviators.

SAILFISH was decommissioned 27 October 1945, stricken from the Navy List 30 April 1948 and delivered on 18 June 1948 to Luri Brothers in Philadelphia for scrap.

Her Skippers were M. C. Mumma on patrol #1; R. G. Voge patrols 2 – 5, J. R. Moore patrols 6 – 8, W. T. Lafavour patrol 9 and R. E. Ward patrols 10 – 12. She was awarded 9 Battle Stars and the Presidential Unit Citation.