|  |
|
| |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USN Gato Class Submarine 1,525 Tons (surfaced) 2,424 Tons (submerged) 311' 9" x 27' 3" x 17'' 10 x 21" torpedo tubes (6 forward, 4 aft) 24 torpedoes 1 x 5" 25 cal deck gun 40mm AA gun 20mm AA gun  USN July 20, 1942 |
Sub History Built by Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. Laid down March 6, 1942. Launched July 20, 1942 as USS Scamp SS-277 sponsored by Miss Katherine Eugenia McKee. Commissioned September 18, 1942 into the U.S. Navy (USN) assigned to Commander W. G. Ebert. Conducted a shake down cruise off New London, Connecticut then via the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor arriving February 13, 1943 and conducted more training off Hawaii. First War Patrol On March 1, 1943 departs Pearl Harbor on her first war patrol via Midway four days later and disembarked passenger Rear Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, Jr. Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet and refueled and departed bound for Honshū off Japan. On station, her first two torpedo attacks failed due to to faulty magnetic detonators in the torpedoes. Afterwards, they were disabled on her remaining torpedoes. On March 20, 1943 during the night, claimed a hit on an unidentified ship. On March 21, 1943 in the early morning at at 41-41N, 142-20E claims two hits against Manju Maru that destroy the engine room and leave the vessel dead in the water but is taken under tow by Numakaze. On March 26, 1943 returned to Midway then to Pearl Harbor ending her first war patrol. Second War Patrol On April 19, 1943 departs Pearl Harbor on her second war patrol and refueled at Johnston Island then passed between the Marshall Islands and Gilbert Islands and performs a reconnaissance of Ocean Island and Nauru Island completed by April 27, 1943. The next day departed for the Bismarck Archipelago. The first three ships spotted were deemed to be hospital ships and no attacks were made. On May 28, 1943 at roughly Lat 1° 42' S Long 150° 18' E near Emirau and roughly 255 nautical miles to the north-northwest of Kavieng despite heavy squalls fires a spread of three torpedoes that hit Kamikawa Maru on the starboard side hitting No. 1 hold, amidships in the engine room and the third in the No. 4 hold. Escorting sub chasers CH-12 or CH-37 unsuccessfully attack and Scamp. On May 29, 1943 around midnight fires two more torpedoes that hit Kamikawa Maru in her port no. 2 hold, causing her list to increase and the ship capsized at 12:21am and sank at roughly Lat 1° 36' S, Long 150° 24' E. On June 4, 1943 arrives Brisbane ending her second war patrol. Third War Patrol On June 22, 1943 departs Brisbane on her third war patrol and proceeds to the northern Solomon Islands. On July 14, 1943 passes Shortland Island. On July 27, 1943 spots an enemy convoy and during her approach an enemy destroyer passes overhead and releases two depth charges that explode some distance away. Afterwards, Scamp continues her approach and fires a spread of six torpedoes aimed at a tanker and claims a hit then dives to escape the escorts. After surfacing an hour later, the convoy was out of sight. Afterwards, continues to patrol off the Bismarck Islands, and patrols southeast of Steffen Strait between New Ireland and New Hanover. PARTIAL HISTORY Fourth War Patrol PARTIAL HISTORY Fifth War Patrol PARTIAL HISTORY Sixth War Patrol PARTIAL HISTORY Seventh War Patrol PARTIAL HISTORY Eighth War Patrol On October 16, 1944 departs Pearl Harbor on her eighth war patrol under the command of Commander John C. Hollingsworth. Four days later refueled at Midway and departed on October 21, 1944 bound for the Bonin Islands. On November 9, 1944 acknowledged a message to change her patrol area and reported Scamp had made no torpedo attacks and their position was reported as Lat 28° 44’N Long 141° 44’E. This was the last radio transmission received from Scamp. On November 14, 1944 ordered to perform life guard duty off Inubōsaki (Inubo Saki) on Choshi Point to the east of Tokyo Bay to rescue any downed B-29 Superfortress crews but failed to acknowledge the message and was never heard from again. Afterwards, the submarine failed to acknowledge other messages and did not return by December 21, 1944. When Scamp failed to return, the entire crew of 83 was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Officially stricken from the Naval Vessel Register April 28, 1945. For her World War II service, Scamp (SS-277) earned seven battle stars. Sinking History On November 11, 1944 north of Hachijō-jima (Hachijo Island) a bomber from 901 Kokutai (901 Air Group) spots an enemy submarine and makes a depth charge attack then directs Kaibokan (Escort Ship) CD-4 to the location where an oil slick is sighted and sonar contact is made at a distance of 3,300 yards. Spotted, the enemy submarine presumed to be USS Scamp fires a spread of three torpedoes from a distance of 1,100 yards but the escort ship evades them and makes three depth charge attacks releasing a total of 70 depth charges. Aboard the Kaibokan, several large air bubbles and an oil slick were observed on the surface. Memorials The Missing In Action (MIA) crew members were officially declared dead on December 6, 1945. All are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. Hollingsworth earned the Silver Star, Legion of Merit and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 3. References Other sources attribute the loss of Scamp on November 16, 1944 as sunk by mine off Inubo Saki (Choshi Point) but this is unlikely based on the aircraft and escort ship reports on November 11, 1944. NARA Report of 3rd War Patrol from 22 June 1943 to 8 August 1943 NARA Report of 4th War Patrol from 2 September 1943 to 1 October NARA Report of 6th War Patrol from 16 December 1943 to 6 February 1944 NARA Report of 7th War Patrol from 3 March 1944 to 22 April 1944 NavSource - USS Scamp (SS-277) On Eternal Patrol - USS Scamp (SS-277) Crew List On Eternal Patrol - The Loss of USS Scamp (SS-277) WWII Dead / Missing from Ted Darcy / WFIRG Casualty Database - Abad, Basil Martinez Combined Fleet IJN Manju Maru: Tabular Record of Movement damaged March 21, 1943 by Scamp American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John C. Hollingsworth FindAGrave - CDR John Christie Hollingsworth (photos, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - CDR John Christie Hollingsworth (memorial marker photo) On Eternal Patrol - John Christie Hollingsworth (photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas H. Wilkinson Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
