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| USN Gato-class submarine 1,526 Tons (surfaced) 2,424 Tons (submerged) 311' 9" x 27' 3" x 17' 1 x 3" 50 cal deck gun 1 x 40mm AA gun 1 x 20mm AA gun 10 x 21" torpedo tubes (6 bow and 4 stern) with 24 torpedoes  USN June 6, 1943  USN 1952  USN 1998 |
Sub History Built by Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut. Laid down October 20, 1942 as a Gato-class submarine. Launched June 6, 1943 as USS Darter sponsored by Mrs. E. B. Wheeler, wife of Edwin B. Wheeler, Shipbuilding Manager of Electric Boat. Commissioned September 7, 1943 in the U.S. Navy (USN). On October 31, 1943 departs New London via the Panama Canal then onward to Pearl Harbor arriving November 26, 1943. First War Patrol On December 21 ,1943 departs on her first war patrol off Truk. Suffers mechanical issues and returns to Pearl Harbor on December 29, 1943 until January 3, 1944. Conducts a reconnaissance of Eniwetok on January 12, 1944. The next day, torpedoes a large ship and survives a severe depth charge attack from escorts. Then to Tulagi for repairs. On February 16-17, 1944 patrols during Operation Hailstone then to Milne Bay. On February 29, 1944 arrives Brisbane ending the patrol. On March 9, 1944 crew member MM2c Robert R. Gould, Jr. was electrocuted working on the submarine, the only casualty suffered in World War II. Second War Patrol During March 1944 departs on her second war patrol. On March 21, 1944 refuels at Milne Bay and departs the next day. On March 30, 1944 sinks a ship then patrols off New Guinea. On April 29, 1944 arrives Darwin to refuel then returns to patrol off New Guinea. On May 23, 1944 arrives Manus ending the patrol. Third War Patrol On June 21, 194 departs on her third war patrol off Halmahera and Mindanao. On June 29, 1944 sunk minelayer Tsugaru off Morotai and was subjected to a heavy depth charge attack but escaped. On August 8, 1944 arrives Brisbane ending the patrol and undergoes refit, and painted in design 32/9SS (dark gray). On August 28, 1944 fired two electric torpedoes for test purposes and made a deep dive off Caloundra Head. By the end of the month, ready for duty. Fourth War Patrol On September 1, 1944 at 2:12pm departs New Farm Wharf at Brisbane on her fourth war patrol to patrol with USS Dace (SS-247) and joins three RAN warships HMAS Whyalla (J153) and HMAS Warrnambool (J202) for training exercises over the next four days practicing night radar approaches, evasive tactics and firing guns while enroute via the Torres Strait bound for Darwin performing exercises along the route. On September 11, 1944 arrives off Timor Passage then patrols the Celebes Sea. On September 27, 1944 arrives Mios Woendi and refuels and refits. On October 1, 1944 departs with USS Dace (SS-247) bound for the South China Sea. On October 12, 1944 attacks a convoy. On October 7, 1944 reaches the northern end of Palawan and the next day proceeds southward in the Palawan Passage. On October 9, 1944 enters their assigned patrol area with Dace southeast of Bombay Shoal. On October 21, 1944 after midnight with USS Dace (SS-247) patrols in the Balabac Strait spots three high speed heavy warships and goes into pursuit and maintains radar contact and Dace attempts to intercept but they change course. On October 22, 1944 during the night on radar spots a major task force, Japanese warships of Force A "Center Force". Immediately, Darter sends a contact report and the surfaced submarines got underway at full speed to get into a position for an attack at dawn. At least one message was intercepted by a radio operator aboard Yamato but Kurita did take precautions. On October 23, 1944 at dawn the Battle of the Palawan Passage begins when both submarines initiated attacks in the Palawan Passage at the start of the Battle for Leyte Gulf. At 5:33 Darter fires a spread of torpedoed and four hit and sink heavy cruiser Atago. At 6:00am Dace torpedoes and sinks Maya. At 6:34am Darter fires a spread of torpedoes with two hitting and damaging Takao. For the remainder of the tail, trails the Japanese warships. Scuttled On October 24, 1944 after midnight while tracking the damaged Takao, accidentally ran hard aground on Bombay Shoal in the Palawan Passage at roughly Lat 9.456°N Long 116.933°E. Afterwards, Dace attempted to tow her off the reef but failed. Aboard, all confidential papers and equipment was destroyed and placed demolition charges. The entire crew abandoned the submarine and used life rafts to reach Dace were they were embarked. The demolition charges aboard Darter failed to destroy the submarine. Dace fired torpedoes at Darter but they exploded on the reef. Dace then shelled the submarine 21 times with her 3" deck gun. On November 6, 1944 the Darter crew aboard Dace reached Fremantle and were later assigned to USS Menhaden (SS-377). Shipwreck After being scuttled and damaged, Darter remained largely intact above the surface on Bombay Shoal in the Palawan Passage. On October 24, 1944 at 9:00am a E13 Jake from 901 Kōkūtai (901 Air Group) spots Darter and Naganami and Hiyodori are detached to inspect, but the next day abort to rejoin Force A "Center Force". On October 27, 1944 abandoned Darter was targeted by USS Rock (SS-274) that fired nine torpedoes with three hits. On October 31, 1944 at 11:30am USS Nautilus (SS-168) was diverted to shell Darter from point blank range and scores 55 hits with her 6" gun and reported: "It is doubtful that any equipment in Darter at 1130 this date would be of any value to Japan – except as scrap. Estimated draft of Darter – 4 feet." During 1952, a U.S. Navy salvage team placed charges to explode the six torpedoes in the forward torpedo room. The explosion blew off the entire bow. As of 1998 the badly deteriorated submarine remains on the reef. Awards Darter earned the Navy Unit Commendation for her actions in October 1944 and David H. McClintock earned the Navy Cross. Also four battle stars for each of her four war patrols, the last three of which were designated as "successful". She is credited with having sunk a total of 19429 tons of Japanese shipping. References NARA "U.S.S. Darter, Report of War Patrol Number Four" 5 November 1944 NARA "Destroyers, Shore Batteries & Deck Guns The Nautilus Escaped Them All" [USS Nautilus War History] pages 12-13 "Perhaps the least pleasant assignment of the Nautilus was the destruction of a U. S. submarine, the Darter, which had run aground while pursuing an enemy warship in the narrow waters near Palawan. A sister submarine had taken off the Darter's crew but had been unable to destroy her. It was feared the Jape would board her and obtain valuable information, so the big Nautilus was ordered off her course to do the job with her two six-inch guns." Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Darter (SS 227) NavSouce - Darter (SS-227) On Eternal Patrol - USS Darter (SS-227) FindAGrave - Robert Richard Gould Jr. (obituary) Captain David H. McClintock Contribute
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