VENTING SANITARY INBOARD Issue 265, August 2016 OUR CREED: FORWARD BATTERY “To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates BASE COMMANDER who gave their lives in George Hudson pursuit of their duties 503.843.2082 while serving their [email protected] country. That their dedication, deeds, and VICE COMMANDER supreme sacrifice be a Jay Agler constant source of 503.771.1774 motivation toward greater accomplishments. SECRETARY Pledge loyalty and Bill Long patriotism to the United 503.939.4134 States of America and its Constitution.” TREASURER Mike Worden 503.708.8714 CHAPLAIN/NOMINATION CCOOMMMMAANNDDEERR’’SS LLOOGG COMMITTEE CHAIR Scott Duncan 503.667.0728 WWHHAATT’’’SS YYOOUURR SSTTOORRYY?? CHIEF OF THE BOAT On July 16th several members of the Blueback Base met in Aumsville to say goodbye to Arlo Gatchel our shipmate Clarence “Scotty” Scott. Scotty qualified on the USS Kraken SS 370 in 1945 503.771.0540 and saw action in the Pacific during World War II. I often said hello to Scotty at our WAYS & MEANS OFFICER meetings, but regretfully, I didn’t know him that well. Vacant After the funeral we attended a MEMBERSHIP CHAIR/SMALL luncheon at Scotty’s church where STORES BOSS I learned more about Scotty from Dave Vrooman his family, friends and shipmates. 503.466.0379 These were not all submarine combat stories; some were just PUBLICITY & SOCIAL CHAIR funny or interesting stories about Gary Schultz, Jr. Scotty’s service in the Navy. As I 503.666.6125 listened, it brought back memories of my own experiences and the BYLAWS CHAIR/PAST BASE countless submarine stories I’ve COMMANDER heard from my shipmates over the Ray Lough 360.573.4274 years. We all have great stories about our service and we shouldn’t TRUSTEE have to wait until we are gone for Gary Webb our family and shipmates to hear 503.632.6259 them. NEWSLETTER EDITOR Base Editor Alan Brodie has invited Alan Brodie us to submit personal stories for publication in the Sanitary newsletter. I would like to 360.247.6640 second Alan’s invitation and ask shipmates to write a short story about something they or HISTORIAN/POC/ALL- a shipmate experienced in the Submarine Service. AROUND GOOD GUY Bob Walters 503.284.8693 (See “Commander’s Log,” Page 10) OONN EETTEERRNNAALL PPAATTRROOLL:: BBOOAATTSS LLOOSSTT IINN TTHHEE MMOONNTTHH OOFF AAUUGGUUSSTT USS Bullhead (SS-332) Flier put in to Fremantle, Australia to refit between 5 July and 2 Class: BALAO Class August 1944, then sailed on her second war patrol, bound for Launched: 16 Jul 1944 the coast of Indochina. At about 2200 on 13 August while Commissioned: 4 Dec 1944 transiting Balabac Strait on the surface, she struck a mine. Flier Builder: Electric Boat Co., sank in a matter of minutes, yet 14 officers and men were able Groton, Connecticut to clamber out. Eight of the 14 reached the beach at Length: 311’ 9” Mantangula Island after 17 hours in the water. Friendly natives Beam: 27’ 3” guided them to a coast-watcher who arranged for them to be Lost on 6 August 1945 picked up by submarine, and on the night of 30–31 August, 84 Men Lost they were taken on board USS Redfin. On 31 July 1945 Bullhead left Fremantle to commence her third Flier received one battle star for World War II service. In her war patrol. Her orders were to patrol in a "wolfpack" with single war patrol she is credited with having sunk 10,380 tons of Capitaine (SS-336) and Puffer (SS-268) in the Java Sea until 5 Japanese shipping. September and then head for Subic Bay in the Philippines. Bullhead reported on 6 August that she had passed through USS S-39 (SS-144) Lombok Strait. That was the last word received from Bullhead. Class: S Class Launched: 2 Jul 1919 On 12 August Capitaine, planning to arrive on 13 August, Commissioned: 14 Sep 1923 ordered Bullhead to take position the following day in a Builder: Bethlehem Shipbuilding scouting line with Capitaine and Puffer. Receiving no reply, Corp., San Francisco, California Capitaine reported on 15 August, "Have been unable to Length: 219’ 3” contact Bullhead by any means since arriving in area." Beam: 20’ 9” Lost on 13 August 1942 Though it is difficult to determine precisely which of the many No Loss of Life Japanese anti-submarine attacks was the one that sank Bullhead, one occurred on 6 August 1945 when an Imperial S-39’s fifth war patrol, delayed twice by mechanical failures Japanese Army Air Force Mitsubishi Ki-51 attacked with depth and once by the necessity of hospitalizing her executive charges. It claimed two direct hits, and for ten minutes officer, began on 10 August 1942. Assigned station off New thereafter there was a great amount of gushing oil and air Ireland, she made her way across the Coral Sea to the bubbles rising in the water. Since the position given is very Louisiades. On the night of 13 August, S-39 grounded on near the Bali coast, it is presumed that the proximity of submerged rocks off Rossel Island and took on a 35° port list. mountain peaks shortened Bullhead's radar range and S-39 immediately blew ballast tanks dry and jettisoned fuel to prevented her receiving a warning of the plane's approach. lighten the ship, then ordered a back emergency bell, but to no avail. Heavy seas pounded her and pushed her farther up Bullhead received two Battle Stars for her World War II service. on the rocks. Throughout the day on 14 August, 15–20 foot breakers crashed USS Flier (SS-250) over the submarine but the crew maintained its fight to refloat Class: GATO Class the ship, including jettisoning more fuel and firing four Launched: 11 Jul 1943 deactivated torpedoes. By 15 August, the list had increased Commissioned: 18 Oct 1943 to 60°. The heavy seas had not abated; S-39 continued to be Builder: Electric Boat Co., pounded against the rocks, and a call for help brought word Groton, Connecticut that the Australian minesweeper HMAS Katoomba was Length: 311’ 9” coming. Efforts were begun to rescue the crew. Lieutenant Beam: 27’ 3” C.N.G. Hendrix and Chief Petty Officer W. L. Schoenrock swam Lost on 13 August 1944 ashore, secured mooring lines to a torpedo which had lodged 79 Men Lost in the reef for use as riding lines, and assisted other crew members to safety. By noon, 32 men had reached shore. During her first war patrol on 13 June 1944, Flier attacked a Shortly thereafter, Katoomba arrived and by noon the convoy of 11 ships, cargo carriers and tankers, guarded by at following day had taken all of the crew of S-39 on board. least six escorts. The alert behavior of the escorts during the attack resulted in a severe counterattack on Flier before she S-39 was left on the rocks as her commanding officer was could observe what damage she had done to the convoy. satisfied she would continue breaking up. Her crew was taken On 22 June, she began a long chase after another large to Townsville and reassigned to other submarines. convoy, scoring four hits for six torpedoes fired at two cargo ships that day, and three hits for four torpedoes launched against another cargo ship of the same convoy the next day. (See “Boats Lost in the Month of August,” Page 3) Venting Sanitary Inboard – Page 2 BBOOAATTSS LLOOSSTT IINN TTHHEE MMOONNTTHH OOFF AAUUGGUUSSTT (Continued From Page 2) USS Harder (SS-257) Harder received six battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation Class: GATO Class for her World War II service. Launched: 19 Aug 1942 Commissioned: 2 Dec 1942 Builder: Electric Boat Co., USS Cochino (SS-345) Groton, Connecticut Class: BALAO Class Launched: 20 Apr 1945 Length: 311’ 9” Commissioned: 25 Aug 1945 Beam: 27’ 3” Builder: Electric Boat Co., Lost on 24 August 1944 Groton, Connecticut 79 Men Lost Length: 311’ 9” Beam: 27’ 3” Harder, accompanied by USS Hake (SS-256) and USS Lost on 26 August 1949 Haddo (SS-255), departed Fremantle on 5 August 1944 for her 7 Men Lost sixth and final war patrol. Assigned to the South China Sea off Luzon, the wolf pack headed northward. On 21 August Harder Cochino joined the U.S Atlantic Fleet, cruising East Coast and and Haddo joined Ray (SS-271), Guitarro (SS-363), and Caribbean Sea waters from her home port of Key West, Florida. Raton (SS-270) in a coordinated attack against a convoy off On 18 July 1949, she put to sea for a cruise to Britain and Arctic Palawan Bay, Mindoro. The Japanese lost four passenger- operations. Her group ran through a violent polar gale off cargo marus, one credited to Harder. Norway and the jolting received by Cochino due to the heavy sea state wreaked havoc, causing an electrical fire and Early the next day, Harder and Haddo attacked and destroyed battery explosion on 25 August followed by the generation of three coastal defense vessels off Bataan, Harder sinking frigates both hydrogen and chlorine gases. Matsuwa and Hiburi; then, joined by Hake that night, they headed for Caiman Point, Luzon. At dawn on 23 August Defying the most unfavorable weather conditions possible, Haddo attacked and fatally damaged Asakaze off Cape Rear Admiral (then Captain) Rafael Benítez (1917–1999), Bolinao. Enemy trawlers towed the stricken destroyer to Dasol commander of Cochino, and his men fought for 14 hours to Bay and Haddo, her torpedoes expended, informed Harder save the submarine, displaying extraordinary seamanship and and Hake of the attack and left the wolf-pack for courage.