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The Wartime Exploits of the Submarine USS Barb (SS-220)

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The Wartime Exploits of the Submarine USS Barb (SS-220) The wartime exploits of the submarine USS Barb the north shore of the island. He described the attack in his log: (SS-220) were the grist for many Hollywood 0150 (22 June) — Manned films and novels. Her twelfth war patrol in battle stations-rockets. Set up mid-1945 alone could fill volumes for, after launcher and loaded twelve missiles. Cleared decks. sinking a record 15 0233 — In position 4700-yds off beach. Visibility fair, depth 20-fathoms. Japanese vessels with 0234 — Rockets Away!! An awe- rockets, torpedoes, inspiring sight! I wore Polaroid goggles to watch the launch. All and rockets were gone within 5-sec, and their trail disappeared about 20-ft gunfire, above the deck. Explosions were she landed a seen and heard, but no fires started. Reversed course and withdrew at BY A.B. FEUER party of naval saboteurs to blow-up a train! high speed. Plotted course for Karafuto and Patience Bay. uring the early summer of Hokkaido, Japan, and the 1945, the USS Barb (SS-220) Patience Bay area of Karafuto. USS Barb’s first patrol saw the sub carrying out reconnaissance duties prior to, About daybreak, a Japanese and during, the invasion of North Africa. Operating out of Rosneath, Scotland, Dchanged the rules of To make the voyage doubly trawler was sighted and Eugene until July 1943, she conducted her next four patrols against the Axis blockade submarine warfare. The sinking of interesting, the sub’s skipper Fluckey recorded the action: runners in European waters. Artist Dwight Clark Shepler painted this 1943 Japanese shipping became only one made a wager with his First watercolor titled “Jerry Hunters, Rosneath, Scotland,” that shows the stern of sub tender Beaver (AS-5) and three of the six subs of Sub Squadron 50 including Barb. of many tasks assigned to Cmdr. Lieutenant that the Barb would 0413 — Surface approach, Eugene Fluckey and his crew. The sink 15 vessels on this patrol. manned battle stations-guns. However, since we wanted a prisoner inshore and steaming south. The Barb initiated the first rocket The First Lieutenant grabbed 0423 — Commenced firing 40mm — but did not want to leave a flotilla consisted of three attacks by a submarine against at the bait. The boat would at a large two-masted diesel trawler blazing mark of our presence — I freighters, escorted by a Terutsuki- Japanese cities — bombarded have to sink an enemy ship One of the popular “First Day” covers that honors the keel laying of the Barb range 2000-yards. First shot was decided to sink the trawler by a class destroyer, two destroyer- coastal villages, lumber mills, practically every day. There was no on 7 June 1941. over, second short, third a hit. What high-speed sweep close aboard. escorts, and a couple of small canneries, sampan shipyards, way he could lose. a beautiful weapon this 40mm is Hoped to wash enough sea through patrol craft. fought enemy destroyers and Shortly after midnight on 21 Later that afternoon, while now that we have telescopic sights a large hole near the waterline to do The Barb shadowed the convoy frigates — and, in her spare time, June, the Barb got off to a fast cruising on the surface off and a sight bar. Once range was the job. Ran past the trawler at 16- at periscope depth until dark. landed a saboteur force to blow up a start. Using her 40mm and 5-in Shiretoko, Hokkaido, lookouts determined, the gunners hit kts — about 10-yds off its port beam. Commander Fluckey continued train. All of this was accomplished guns, the submarine sank two spotted an enemy aircraft. The constantly. After three bull’s-eyes, I Target quickly filled and sank. his account: within a five-week period! luggers off the northwest coast of Barb crash-dived to 140-ft. checked fire. The Plucked one man from the icy water. On 13 June 1945, the Barb Kunashiri. The First Lieutenant Two bombs exploded close astern. trawler was still The prisoner immediately acquired 2200 — Surfaced under a departed Midway Island to begin now had a worried look on his face. Commander Fluckey decided to going ahead at 8- the nickname “Kamikaze.” cloudless sky and full moon. Picked her twelfth war patrol. After all, 32-ounces of the best retaliate by making the first kts. Shot three 5-in up the target group near Anaiwa Commander Fluckey headed for a whiskey on Midway hinged on the submarine rocket assault in history rounds into the ship During the afternoon of 26 Misaki — well inside ten-fathoms. location off the north coast of outcome of the voyage. against the town of Shari, located on and flames broke June, while patrolling along the We were brightly silhouetted by the USS Barb displays the classic lines of a Gato-class submarine. SS-220 was laid down on 7 June 1941 at the Electric Boat out below east coast of Karafuto, Barb moon, and the escorts gave us Company in Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 2 April 1942 and commissioned USS Barb on 8 July 1942. decks. lookouts sighted a convoy close several broadsides at 12,000-yds. 10 SEA CLASSICS/June 2017 seaclassicsnow.com 11.
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