1943
January 20 - Destroyer escort USS Brennan (DE-13) is commissioned at Mare Island,
California. This is the first ship of this type to be placed in commission.
December 23 - The Japanese submarine I-39 is sunk by USS Griswold (DE-7)
in the Solomons.
1944
February 5 - Japanese submarine (probably I-175, but possibly RO-37) is sunk by Charrette (DD-581) and
USS Fair (DE-35) in the Marshall Islands area, 06 d. 48' N., 168 d. 08'
E.
February 15 - USS Herbert C. Jones (DE-137) is damaged by a
radio-controlled bomb at Anzio, Italy, 41 d. 27' N., 12 d. 35' E.
March 1 - The German submarine U-603 is sunk by USS Bronstein
(DE-189) in the north Atlantic area, 48 d. 55' N., 26 d. 10' W.
The German submarine U-709 is sunk by USS Thomas (DE-102) and USS
Bostwick (DE-103) in the north Atlantic area, 49 d. 10' N., 26 d. 00' W.
March 9 - Destroyer Escort
USS Leopold (DE-319)
torpedoed and sunk by U-255 in the Atlantic, South of Iceland. 171 men
lost.
March 13 - In the north Atlantic area, German submarine U-575 is sunk by aircraft (VC-95)
from USS Bogue (CVE-9), USS Hobson (DD-464), USS Haverfield (DE-393), British aircraft and a Canadian vessel.
March 16 - German submarine U-801 is sunk by aircraft (VC-6) from
USS Block Island (CVE-21), the destroyer USS Corry (DD-463) and the destroyer escort USS
Bronstein (DE-189) west of the Cape Verde Islands, 16 d. 42' N., 30 d. 26' W.
March 24 - Japanese submarine I-32 is sunk by USS Manlove (DE-36)
and the submarine chaser PC-1135, Marshall Islands area, 08 d. 30' N., 170 d. 10'
E.
April 1 - UGS 36 was attacked by German medium and torpedo bombers at approximate position 36-45 d. N.,
01-59.5 d. E. USS Tomich (DE-242) sighted the enemy
aircraft, a Dornier 217, and shot down the aircraft with 40mm and 20mm gun fire.
April 7 - German submarine U-856 is sunk by USS Champlin (DD-601) and
USS Huse (DE-145) in the north Atlantic, 40 d. 18' N., 62 d. 22' W.
April 9 - German submarine U-515 is sunk by aircraft (VC-58) from the escort carrier
USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60) and destroyer escorts USS Pillsbury (DE-133), USS Pope (DE-134),
USS Flaherty (DE-135) and USS Chatelain (DE-149) off Madeira Island, 34 d. 35' N., 19 d.
18' W.
See the Photos and Actions Reports
April 11 - USS Holder (DE-401) is damaged by submarine torpedo in the
western Mediterranean, 37 d. 03' N., 03 d. 58' E. 17 men lost.
April 16 - German submarine U-550 is sunk by USS Peterson
(DE-152), USS Joyce (DE-317) and USS Gandy (DE-764) in the north Atlantic, 40 d. 09' N.,
69 d. 44' W. USS Gandy is damaged while intentionally ramming the U-boat.
April 26 - Japanese submarine I-180 is sunk by USS Gilmore (DE-18) in the
north Pacific, 55 d. 10' N., 155 d. 40' W.
German submarine U-488 is sunk by USS Frost (DE-144), USS Huse
(DE-145), USS Barber (DE-161) and USS Snowden (DE-246) in the mid-Atlantic, 17 d. 54' N.,
38 d. 05' W.
May 3 - USS Donnell (DE-56) is damaged by submarine torpedo
of U-473 (former credit given to U-765), 450 miles southwest of Cape Clear, Ireland. 29 crewmembers KIA.
See a Photo
USS Menges (DE-320) is damaged by U-371 torpedo
off Bougie, Algeria, in the western
Mediterranean.
Action Report, Photos, POW Interrogation and more.
May 4 - German submarine U-371 is sunk by USS Joseph E. Campbell
(DE-70) and USS Pride (DE-323) and British and French surface craft in the western
Mediterranean.
Read the Action Report
May 5 - USS Fechteler (DE-157) is sunk by a U-967 torpedo
120 miles northwest of Oran, Algeria, 36 d. 07' N., 02 d. 40' W.
29 crewmembers lost.
May 6 - USS Buckley (DE-51) is damaged by
her intentional ramming of
U-66 in the mid-Atlantic, 17 d. 17' N., 32 d. 24' W.
Read about the action
May 13 - Japanese submarine RO-501 (ex-German U-1224) is sunk by
USS Francis M. Robinson (DE-220) in the mid-Atlantic,
400 miles south-southwest of the Azores, 18 d. 08' N., 33 d. 13' W. Read the story on the
Robinson web site
May 19 - Japanese submarine I-16 is sunk by USS England (DE-635)
in the Solomon Islands area, 05 d. 10' S., 158 d. 10' E.
May 22 - Japanese submarine RO-106 is sunk by USS
England (DE-635) north of the Bismarck Archipelago.
May 23 - Japanese submarine RO-104 is sunk by USS England
(DE-635) north of the Bismarck Archipelago.
May 24 - Japanese submarine RO-116 is sunk by USS England
(DE-635) north of the Bismarck Archipelago.
May 26 - Japanese submarine RO-108 is sunk by USS England
(DE-635) north of the Bismarck Archipelago.
Photo and USN Documents
May 29 - USS Barr (DE-576) is damaged by submarine torpedo from U-549, northwest
of the Canary Islands, 32 d. 09' N, 22 d. 15' W.
German submarine U-549 is sunk by USS Ahrens (DE-575) and US
Eugene E. Elmore (DE-686) northwest of the Canary Islands.
May 31 - Japanese submarine RO-105 is sunk by USS Hazelwood (DD-531)
and USS McCord (DD-534) and USS England (DE-635), USS George (DE-697)
and USS Raby (DE-68) north of the Bismarck Archipelago.
June 4 - German submarine U-505 is captured by a hunter-killer group 150 miles off the
coast of Rio de Oro, Africa. The hunter-killer group, under Captain D.V. Gallery, consists
of the escort carrier USS Guadalcanal (CVE-60, Captain Gallery) and an escort division,
under Comdr. F.S. Hall, composed of destroyer escorts USS Pillsbury (DE-133, Lt. G.W.
Casselman), USS Pope (DE-134, Lt. Comdr. E.H. Headland), USS Flaherty (DE-135, Lt. Comdr.
M. Johnston), USS Chatelain (DE-149, Lt. Comdr. D.S. Knox) and USS Jenks (DE-665, Lt.
Comdr. J.F. Way)
Read the full story, Citations and view photos
June 6 - Invasion of Normandy, the
largest amphibious operation in naval history; six DEs of CortDiv 19 took
part - USS Amesbury (DE-66), USS Bates (DE-68/APD-47), USS Blessman
(DE-69/APD-48), USS Rich (DE-695), USS Borum (DE-790) and USS Maloy
(DE-791).
June 8 - USS Rich (DE-695) is sunk by mines in the
Normandy area, 49 d. 31' N, 01 d. 10' W.
90 men lost.
June 10 - Japanese submarine RO-42 is sunk by USS Bangust
(DE-739) in the Marshalls,
10 d. 05' N, 168 d. 22' E.
June 11 - German submarine U-490 is sunk by aircraft (VC-95) from the escort carrier
USS Croatan (CVE-25) and destroyer escorts USS Frost (DE-144), USS Huse (DE-145) and
USS Inch (DE-146) in the north Atlantic.
See the Photos and Action Reports
June 16 - Japanese submarine RO-44 is sunk by USS Burden R.
Hastings (DE-19) in the Marshalls,
11 d. 13' N, 164 d. 15'
E., 110 miles East of Eniwetok.
July 3 - German submarine U-154 is sunk by USS Frost (DE-144)
and USS Inch (DE-146) off Madiera.
July 4 - Japanese submarine I-10 is sunk by USS David W. Taylor
(DD-551) and USS Riddle (DE-185) in the Marianas, 65 miles East NE of
Saipan, 15 d. 26' N, 147 d. 48' E.
July 5 - German submarine U-233 is sunk by USS Thomas (DE-102)
and USS Baker (DE-190) in the north Atlantic.
See the Photos and Action Reports
July 14 - Japanese submarine I-6 is sunk by USS William C. Miller
(DE-259) in the Marianas.
[Update 2006 - recent records indicate that I-6 is incorrect. The
submarine sunk by DE-259 may have been I-55 or RO-48]
July 19 - Japanese submarine RO-48 is sunk by USS Wyman (DE-38)
in the central Pacific, 13 d. 01' N,151 d. 58' E.
[Update 2006 - There is debate as to which sub was sunk by Wyman.
Some sources now say that RO-48 was sunk by DE-259, as noted above]
July 28 - Japanese submarine I-55 is sunk by USS Wyman (DE-38)
and USS Reynolds (DE-42) in the central Pacific, 400 nm
east of Tinian, 14 d. 26' N, 152 d. 16' E.
[This information may or may not be correct. See the dates July 14
and 19, above]
August 2 - USS Fiske (DE-143) is sunk by a U-804 torpedo in the north
Atlantic. 33 men KIA.
September 26 - Japanese submarine I-(?) is sunk by USS McCoy
Reynolds (DE-440) northeast of the Palau Islands.
September 30 - German submarine U-1062 is sunk by USS Fessenden
(DE-142) in the mid-Atlantic.
October 3 - USS Shelton (DE-407) torpedoed and sunk by RO-41 off
Seeadler Harbor, Admiralty Island. 13 men lost.
Japanese submarine I-177 is sunk by USS Samuel S. Miles (DE-183) North West of Palau,
07 d. 48' N, 133 d. 28' E.
(1)
October 25 - Battle for Leyte Gulf. The Japanese Southern Force enters Surigao Strait
where it is engaged and virtually destroyed by Rear Admiral Oldendorf's force of
battleships, cruisers, destroyers and motor torpedo boats (Battle of Surigao Strait).
Meanwhile, the Japanese Center Force, including 4 battleships and 5 cruisers, having
passed into the Philippine Sea during the night, attacks six escort carriers and screening
vessels commanded by Rear Admiral Sprague - Task Unit 77.4.3's "Taffy
Three" (Battle off Samar). After inflicting severe
damage on this light US force, the Center Force retires without molesting the landing
operations in the Leyte Gulf area. At the same time, carrier aircraft from the Third Fleet
locate and strike the Japanese Northern Force. Four Japanese carriers and other vessels
are sunk (Battle of Gape Engano). US naval vessels sunk during the battle include the
escort carrier USS St. Lo (CVE-63) by suicide plane; the escort carrier USS Gambier Bay
(CVE-73) by naval gunfire; the destroyers USS Hoel (DD-533) and USS Johnston (DD-557) and
the destroyer escort USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) by navalgunfire and PT-493. US naval
vessels damaged during the battle include the escort carriers USS Sangamon (CVE-26), USS
Santee (CVE-29), USS White Plains (CVE-66), USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68), USS Fanshaw Bay
(CVE-70) and USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) by suicide planes and naval gunfire; the destroyer
USS Heerman (DD-523) by naval gunfire; and the destroyer escorts USS Richard M. Rowell
(DE-403) and USS Dennis (DE-405) by strafing and naval gunfire.
On this same date, USS Coolbaugh
(DE-217), operating in the screen of "Taffy One", spots a periscope wake.
I-26 is operating in the area and LtCdr Nishiuchi reports his sighting of
four enemy carriers. This is the last message Japanese headquarters
received from Nishiuchi.
Two torpedoes are fired from the sub
and narrowly miss USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80). Coolbaugh drops depth
charges and fires hedgehogs in several attacks on the sub over the next 24
hours. Coolbaugh rejoins the task unit. The next morning USS
Richard M. Rowell (DE-403) attacks the sub.
Nishiuchi fails to acknowledge a
message from Japanese headquarters on 27 Oct. It remains unclear
which DE sank I-26, if either.
October 28 - USS Eversole (DE-404) is sunk by I-45 torpedo in the
Leyte area. 80 men lost.
Later that day, I-45 sunk by the destroyer escort USS Whitehurst
(DE-634).
November 18 - Japanese submarine I-41 sunk
east of Samar by USS Lawrence C. Taylor (DE-415) and USS
Melvin R. Nawman (DE-416) and Anzio (CVE-57) aircraft.
More Information
November 19 - Japanese submarine I-37 is sunk by USS Conklin
(DE-439) and USS McCoy Reynolds (DE-440) North of Palau, 08 d. 07' N,
134 d. 16' E.(2)
November 20 - A Japanese Kaiten is sunk by USS Rall (DE-304) in Ulithi Harbor.
More Information.
December 7 - USS Liddle (DE-206/APD-60) damaged by kamikaze at
Leyte Gulf,
10 d. 57' N, 124 d. 35' N. 40 crewmembers KIA. First of this type ship to be damaged by a kamikaze attack.
December 18 - A typhoon east of the Philippines heavily damages the Third Fleet. The
destroyers USS Hull (DD-350), USS Monaghan (DD-354), and USS Spence (DD-512) are sunk. The
light carriers USS Cowpens (CVL-25), USS Monterey (CVL-26), USS Cabot (CVL-28), and USS
San Jacinto (CVL-30); escort carriers USS Altamaha (CVE-18), USS Nehenta Bay (CVE-74), USS
Cape Esperance (CVE-88), and USS Kwajalein (CVE-98); light cruiser USS Miami (CL-89);
destroyers USS Dewey (DD-349), USS Aylwin (DD-355), USS Buchanan (DD-484), USS Dyson
(DD-572), USS Hickox (DD-673), USS Maddox (DD-731) and USS Benham (DD-796); destroyer
escorts USS Melvin R. Nawman (DE-416), USS Tabberer (DE-418) and USS Waterman (DE-740);
oiler USS Nantahala (AO-60) and fleet tug USS Jicarilla (ATF-104) are damaged.
December 20 - USS Fogg (DE-57) is damaged by a submarine torpedo from U-870 in
the eastern Atlantic, 42 d. 02' N.,19 d. 19' W. 15 crewmembers KIA.
1945
January 3 - USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), destroyer escort USS Robert F.
Keller (DE-419) and minelayer USS Monadnock (CM-9) are damagd by collision in the
Philippines.
January 5 - USS Stafford (DE-411) damaged by suicide plane in the
Luzon area.
USS Edwin A. Howard (DE-346) is damaged in a collision with USS Leland E. Thomas (DE-420).
January 9 - USS Hodges (DE-231) is
damaged by suicide plane in the Philippines.
January 10 - USS Leray Wilson (DE-414) damaged by suicide plane,
Philippine Islands area.
January 12 - USS Richard W.
Suesens (DE-342) and USS Gilligan (DE-508) are damaged by suicide plane in Lingayen Gulf, 16 D. 20' N, 120 D. 10' E.
January 13 - Japanese submarine
I-362 is sunk by USS
Fleming (DE-32), 320 miles north-northeast
of Truk, 12 d. 08' N., 154 d. 27' E.
More Information
January 16 - German submarine U-248 is sunk by USS Otter
(DE-210), USS Hubbard (DE-211), USS Hayter (DE-212) and USS Varian (DE-798) in the north
Atlantic, north-northeast of the Azores, 47 d. 43' N., 26 d. 37' W.
January 23 - Japanese submarine I-48 is sunk by
USS Corbesier
(DE-438), USS Conklin (DE-438) and USS Raby (DE-698) off of Yap Island in the Caroline
Islands, 09 d. 45'N, 138 d. 20' E. The I-48 is sunk with her 122-man
crew and four kaiten pilots. None of the I-48's kaitens were launched.
February 1 - Submarine RO-115 is said to be sunk by the destroyers USS Jenkins (DD-447), USS O'Bannon
(DD-450) and USS Bell (DD-587) and USS Ulvert M. Moore (DE-442) in
the Philippines. (3)
February 7 - Japanese submarine RO-55 is sunk by USS Thomason
(DE-203) in the Philippines, 15 d. 27' N, 119 d. 25' E.
February 11 - U-869 sunk in the
Atlantic by USS Howard D. Crow (DE-252). Read the 2005 story about
this event.
February 18 - USS Blessman (APD-69) damaged by an aerial bomb, 25 d. 05' N, 141 d. 10' E.
February 19 - USS Finnegan (DE-307) damaged by collision, 22 d. 46' N., 141 d.
19' E., Iwo Jima area.
February 22 - USS Melvin R. Nawman (DE-416) is damaged by a collision
with LST 807 in the Iwo Jima area.
February 26 - Japanese submarine I-370 is sunk by USS Finnegan
(DE-307) in the Volcano Islands.
February 28 - German submarine U-869 is said to be sunk by USS Fowler
(DE-222) and French submarine chaser L'Indiscretoff off Morocco. This has turned out not to be true. (4)
March 18 - German submarine U-866 is sunk by USS Menges
(DE-320), USS Mosley (DE-321), USS Pride (DE-323) and USS Lowe (DE-325), south of Nova Scotia, 43 d. 18' N, 61 d. 8' W.
March 25 - High-speed transport USS Gilmer (APD-11) damaged by suicide plane;
destroyer escort USS Sederstrom (DE-31) by collision; and USS
Knudsen (APD-11) by horizontal bomber, all in the Okinawa area.
USS Barry (APD-29) damaged and USS Bates (APD-47) sunk by Kamikaze
attacks off Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. 21 Bates crewmembers KIA.
March 26 - USS Foreman (DE-633) damaged by suicide plane in the
Okinawa area.
April 1 - Marines and Army forces land on Okinawa, under cover of heavy naval gunfire and
air attack. The operation is under the overall command of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance,
Commander Fifth Fleet with Vice Admiral Turner commanding the Joint Expeditionary Force
and Lt. General A. B. Buckner commanding the ground troops. Army forces are landed near
Legaspi on southern Luzon, under cover Army aircraft and naval gunfire. US naval vessels
damaged during the landings include USS Vammen (DE-644) by mine.
April 2 - USS Foreman (DE-633) damaged by dive bomber in the Okinawa area, 26 d. 10' N, 127 d. 11' E.
April 6 - The first heavy attack by Japanese suicide planes is made on US ships at
Okinawa. These attacks continue throughout the Okinawa campaign. High-speed transport USS
Daniel T. Griffin (APD-38) damaged by collision; USS Witter (DE-636) - six crewmembers KIA - and
USS Fieberling (DE-640) by suicide planes.
April 7 - US naval vessels damaged in the Okinawa area include USS
Wesson (DE-184) by suicide plane.
USS Gustafson (DE-182) sinks the German submarine U-857? off Cape
Cod, Massachusettes, 42 d 22' N, 69 d. 46' W.
(5)
April 9 - USS
Hopping (APD-151) damaged by shore battery, 26 d. 15' N, 127 d. 55' E.
April 10 - USS Manlove (DE-36) damaged by aerial strafing
at Kerama Retto, 26 d. 12' N, 127 d. 20' E. USS Samuel S. Miles (DE-183) damaged by suicide plane in the Okinawa area.
April 12 - USS Riddle (DE-185), USS Rall (DE-304), USS Walter C. Wann
(DE-412) and USS Whitehurst (DE-634), all damaged by suicide planes in the Okinawa area. 42 Whitehurst crewmembers KIA.
April 13 - USS Connolly (DE-305) is damaged by a suicide plane in the
Okinawa area.
April 15 - German submarine U-1235 sunk by USS Frost (DE-144) and USS Stanton (DE-247), north by west of the Azores, 47 d. 54' N,
30 d. 25' W.
April 16 - US naval vessels damaged in the Okinawa area include USS
Bowers (DE-637) by suicide plane. Over 60 Bowers crewmembers KIA.
German submarines U-880 sunk by USS Frost
(DE-144) and USS Stanton (DE-247) in the north Atlantic, north-northwest of the Azores, 47 d. 53' N, 30 d. 26' W.
April 19 - German submarine U-548 (formerly identified as U-879) is sunk by USS Buckley (DE-51) and
USS Reuben James (DE-153) in the north Atlantic.
(5)
April 22 - German submarine U-518 is sunk by USS Carter (DE-112)
and USS Neal A. Scott (DE-769) west by south of the Azores, 43 d. 26' N, 38 d. 23' W.
April 24 - USS Frederick C. Davis (DE-136) is sunk by a submarine
torpedo from U-546, 570 miles east of Cape Race, Newfoundland, 43 d. 52' N, 40 d. 15' W. 115
men lost. Her loss is avenged the same day when U-546 is sunk by USS Pillsbury (DE-133), USS Flaherty
(DE-135), USS Chatelain (DE-149), USS Neunzer (DE-150), USS Hubbard (DE-211), USS Keith
(DE-241), USS Janssen (DE-396) and USS Varian (DE-798) in the north Atlantic, 43 d, 53' N., 40 d. 7' W.
April 25 - RO-109 sunk by USS Horace A.
Bass (DE-691/APD-124), Okinawa area.
April 27 - USS England (DE-635) and USS Rathburne (APD-25) (APD-25)
damaged by suicide planes off Okinawa.
April 30 - German submarine U-857? or U-879? (formerly identified as U-548) is sunk by USS Thomas (DE-102),
USS Bostwick (DE-103) and USS Coffman (DE-191) and frigate USS Natchez (PF-2) off
Virginia capes, 36 d. 34' N., 74 d 00' W.(5)
May 6 - The last two u-boat sinkings before the German surrender.
German submarine U-853 is sunk by USS Atherton (DE-169)
and the frigate USS Moberly (PF-63) near Cape Cod, Massachusettes. Read the story and view photos.
This was the last u-boat sinking in US waters and the first since the war
of 1812.
U-881 is sunk by USS Farquhar (DE-139) in the north Atlantic, 43 d. 18' N, 47 d. 44' W.
This is noted as the last u-boat sinking in the Atlantic, only hours before the German
surrender.
May 9 - USS Oberrender (DE-344) and USS England (DE-635) are damaged
by suicide planes in the Okinawa area. Nine men
aboard Oberrender and 37 England crewmembers KIA.
May 11 - USS Vance (DE-387) accepts the surrender of U-873, along with the USCG-manned USS Durant (DE-389).
May 12 - U-1228 surrendered to USS Neal A. Scott (DE-769). 12 crewmembers of Scott boarded U-1228, capturing 28 of
the U-boat's crew, including the Captain.
May 13 - USS Bright (DE-747) damaged by suicide plane in the Okinawa
area, 26 d. 21' N., 127 d. 17' E.
May 16 - U-234 surrendered to USS Forsyth USCG
assisted by USS Sutton (DE-771) near Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Captured U-boat, U-873, was delivered to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, by the 21 USS VANCE (DE-387) crewmembers who
took over her helm following the capture on May 11.
May 19 - USS Vammen (DE-655) is damaged by collision in the Okinawa
area.
May 20 - USS John C. Butler (DE-339), USS Chase
(APD-54) and USS Register (APD-92) are damaged by suicide planes and USS Tattnall (APD-19) by a horizontal bomber, all in the Okinawa area.
May 24 - Suicide planes in the Okinawa area damage USS William C. Cole (DE-641)
26 d. 45' N., 127 d. 52' E., USS Sims (APD-50) 26 d. 00' N., 127 00' E.,
USS O'Neill (DE-188) 26 d. 20' N., 127 d. 43' E. and USS Barry (APD-29) 26
d. 30' N., 127 d. 00' E.
[some sources give the date May 18 as date of damage of USS Sims)
May 25 - USS Bates (APD-47) severely damaged by suicide planes, 2 miles south of Ie Shima, Okinawa, 26 d. 41' N, 127 d. 47' E.
21 crewmembers KIA.
Also, Off Okinawa kamikazes damaged USS Roper (APD-20), 26 d. 34' N, 127 d. 36' E.
May 27 - USS Gilligan (DE-508) is damaged by an aircraft torpedo and USS Loy (APD-56) and USS Rednour (APD-102) are damaged by suicide
planes, all in the Okinawa area. 3 Loy crewmembers KIA.
May 29 - USS Tatum (APD-81), damaged off Okinawa by
suicide plane, 26 d. 40' N., 127 d. 50' E.
June 5 - A typhoon in the Okinawa area, Ryukyu Islands, heavily damages US naval vessels. Naval vessels
damaged by the typhoon include USS Donaldson (DE-44), USS Conklin
(DE-439) and USS Hilbert (DE-742).
June 9 - USS Gendreau (DE-639) is damaged by coastal defense guns in
the Okinawa area.
June 15 - USS O'Flaherty (DE-340) is damaged by collision in the
Okinawa area.
June 21 - USS Halloran (DE-305) is damaged by a suicide plane in the
Okinawa area.
June 24 - USS Neuendorf (DE-200) is damaged by collision in the
Philippines.
July 16 - Japanese submarine (probably I-13) is sunk by aircraft (VC-13) from the escort carrier USS
Anzio (CVE-57) and by USS Lawrence C. Taylor (DE-415), east of Japan.
[*Note* DE-415 was the last DE to sink a Japanese submarine during WWII]
July 24 - USS Underhill (DE-682) suffered catastrophic damage by a
piloted torpedo (Kaiten submarine), I-53, off Luzon, P. I., 19 d. 20' N, 126 d. 42' E. Underhill exploded in half. 112
crewmembers were KIA. The rear section of Underhill
remained afloat and later that day was sunk by United States war ships.
July 30 - A few minutes past midnight, USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
was sunk by Japanese submarine I-58 northeast of Leyte, 12 d. 02' N, 134 d., 48'
E. From 2nd to 8th of August survivors were rescued. Ships participating in the rescue were USS Bassett (APD-73), rescued 148 men, USS Cecil J. Doyle (DE-368), rescued 94 men, USS Dufilho
(DE-423), rescued 1 man, USS Ringness (APD100), rescued 39 men, USS Register (APD-92) rescued 12 men
and USS Alvin C. Cockrell (DE-366) and USS French (DE-367).
August 3 -USS Earl V. Johnson (DE-70) is damaged by an explosion in
the Philippine Sea.
August 9 - USS Johnnie Hutchins (DE-360) encountered a nest of midget Japanese
submarines while operating between the Ryukyus and the Philippines. She destroyed one by point-blank range gunfire, 20 d. 20' N, 126 d. 57' E., and another with depth charges, 20 d. 15' N,
126 d. 56' E. Eight miles away, 20 d. 20" N, 126 d. 57' E, a run was made on a third with a probable sinking.
August 21 - Mili Atoll in the Marshalls surrenders. This is the first Japanese garrison to
capitulate in the Pacific Ocean Area. Surrender is accepted on board USS
Levy (DE-162).
(1) Many sources show that on 3 October 1944 USS SAMUEL S.
MILES DE 183 sank Japanese submarine I-364 in the Palau Islands. This is incorrect. On this date DE 183 sank I-177. This information has been verified by official USN and
Japanese Imperial Navy documents and by information provided by a DE 183 crewmember.
(2) Many sources show that
on 19 November 1944 USS McCOY REYNOLDS DE 440 and USS CONKLIN DE 439 sank Japanese submarine I-177. This is incorrect. On this date DE 439 and 440 sank I-37.
This information has been verified by official USN and Japanese Imperial Navy documents.
(3) "It is now generally assumed that RO-55 was sunk by BATFISH (SS-310) on Feb. 9, 1945. BATFISH claimed three submarines between Feb 9 and 11, 1945. The identity
of two of these kills, RO-112 and RO-113, has been established beyond a resonable doubt. The third submarine, however, was initially identified as I-41 until a post-war examination of
Japanese records indicated that I-41 must have been sunk by LAWRENCE C. TAYLOR DE 415 on Nov 17, 1944. Consequently, BATFISH was credited with the destruction of RO-55 instead of THOMASON
(DE-203), since BATFISH definitely sank a submarine (debris was recovered), while THOMASON's claim was supported by convincing, but less substantial, evidence (subsurface luminous explosion and
oil slick); if RO-55 had indeed evaded THOMASON and NEUENDORF's attacks, it could have been in the general vicinity of BATFISH's action. Boyd and Yoshida claim that RO-115 is actually the
identity of BATFISH's third submarine and return credit for sinking RO-55 to THOMASON (p. 216). This reassessment removes claim for RO-115 from the action of ULVERT M. MOORE DE 442 and
other ships on Feb 1, 1945, indicating that no submarine was sunk at that time. No reason for this reassessment, however, was provided by the authors. The possibility that THOMASON
sank an Army YU type transport submarine has also been proposed; see Warship International 35, no. 3 (1998): 221."
Franklin, Bruce Hampton, 1999, The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts, p. 189, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis.
(4) "This submarine was formerly identified as U-869, but this
has turned out to be incorrect. The wreck of U-869 was found by divers on 2 Sept 1991, off Point Pleasant, N.J. The identify of the submarine attributed to FOWLER and L'INDISCRET was
based on a post-war reading of German records that indicated that U-869 was ordered to change its course to the western approaches of Gilbraltar and was then lost at about the same time FOWLER
engaged a target off Africa. The order to change course was apparently not received by U-869. A further reexamination of the records surrounding FOWLER'S attack reveals that the
original assessment was "insufficient evidence for the presence of a submarine," and the record was changed to "probably sunk" after the war. It is likely that FOWLER did not sink a
submarine at the time."
Franklin, Bruce Hampton, 1999, The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts, p. 189, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis.
In 2005, the credit for sinking U-869 was given to USS HOWARD D. CROW DE
252 on Feb 11, 1945.
(5) The original post-war assessment by Roscoe
credits BUCKLEY DE 51 and REUBEN JAMES DE 153 with the
destruction of U-879. However, further research by
Axel Niestlé notes the attack actually
accounted for the sinking of U-548 at 42°19N/61°45W. Niestlé
states that the sinking of
U-548 was credited
originally
to USS THOMAS DE 102, USS COFFMAN DE 191 and USS BOSTWICK DE
103, on 30 April 1945 in position 36°34N/74°00W, but this
action probably accounted for the sinking of U-879.
Franklin notes, "Recent
physical evidence has proved that the submarine was actually
U-548, a submarine credited to the action of COFFMAN and
BOSTWICK on 30 April 1945. It now appears that the
U-boat sunk by COFFMAN'S group was either U-857, formerly
credited to the action of GUSTAFSON DE 182 on 7 April 1945,
or U-879.
Sources:
1. United States Naval Chronology, World War II. Prepared in the Naval History Division, Office of the Chief of
Naval Operations, Navy
Department. Published by the United States Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C., 1955
2. Cressman, Robert J., 2000, The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II, Naval Institute Press,
Annapolis, MD.
3. Franklin, Bruce Hampton 1999, The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis.
4.
Bauer, K. Jack, Roberts, Stephen S., 1991, Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990, Greenwood
Press, Westport, CT.
5. Morison, Samuel E., Hisory of the United States Naval Operations In World War II, Vols. I-XV, Little Brown
and Co., Boston, MA.
6. Webmaster research of USN official documents including DE Action Reports from deck logs and war
diaries.
