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| USN Balao-class submarine 1,526 Tons (surfaced) 2,424 (submerged) 311' 9" x 27' 3" x 16' 10" 10 × 21 in torpedo tubes (6 forward, 4 aft) 24 torpedoes 1 × 5" deck gun 1 × 40mm AA gun 2 × 20mm guns  USN May 28, 1944  USN 1944     Mike Gadd June 2006 |
Sub History Built by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Laid down January 12, 1944 as a Balao-class submarine. Launched May 28, 1944 as USS Lagarto (SS-371) named for the Lagarto lizard (Chioninia coctei) sponsored by sponsored by Emily Taft Douglas, U.S. Congresswoman from Illinois. Commissioned October 14, 1944 into the U.S. Navy (USN). Assigned to Commanding Officer (C. O.) under the command of Commander Frank D. Latta. Afterwards, the submarine was transported inside a floating dry dock down the Mississippi River to Louisiana. On November 12, 1944 departs Louisiana bound for Panama escorted by SC-512 for three days. On November 17, 1944 arrives Panama. On November 20, 1944 begins her shakedown cruise off Panama. On December 5, 1944 arrives Balboa completing her shakedown cruise. On December 9, 1944 departs Balboa bound for Pearl Harbor arriving sixteen days later and continues training and her armament changed with the installation of a second 5" gun and her 20mm cannons removed and replaed with two 40mm guns plus eight mounts for .50 caliber machine guns and her propeller was replaced due to noise. On January 24, 1945, USS Lagarto and USS Haddock depart for Saipan. On February 4, 1945 arrives Tanapag Harbor. First War Patrol On February 7, 1945 departs Saipan on her first war patrol bound for the Ryukyu Islands (Nansei Shoto) as part of an anti-picket-boat sweep by submarines to support Task Force 38 (TF-38) carrier plane strikes on Japan. On February 24, 1945 sank Japanese submarine RO-49 and participated in several surface gun attacks with USS Haddock and USS Sennet. Two small vessels were sunk and two more damaged in those attacks, and Lagarto shared credit for the results with these submarines. Second War Patrol On April 12, 1945 departed Subic Bay starting her second war patrol in the South China Sea. On April 27, 1945 directed to patrol the outer portion of the Gulf of Thailand (Gulf of Siam) and contacted USS Baya (SS-318) also patrolling in the same area. On May 2, 1945 the two submarines exchanged messages via SJ radar and later that day Baya sent Lagarto a contact report about a convoy consisting of one tanker, one auxiliary and two destroyers. Lagarto soon reported being in contact with same convoy and both submarines closed to make an attack. Approaching, the escorts detected USS Baya with their 10cm radar and opened fire. Spotted, both submarines broke off their attack to wait and to make another another attack. On May 3, 1945 in the early morning, Lagarto and Baya rendezvous to discuss a new attack plan. Lagarto was to dive and follow the convoy's track and make a contact at 2:00pm while Baya would take up position 10-15 miles further along the track. During the day, numerous contact reports were exchanged between the two submarines. Sinking History On May 4, 1945 at 12:10am in the Gulf of Siam (Gulf of Thailand), after a prolonged but unsuccessful attack, Baya was driven off by alert escorts. No further contact was made with Lagarto which was presumed lost. According to Japanese records, after midnight minelayer Hatsutaka detected an enemy submarine, made a depth charge attack and claims the submarine as sunk. In fact, this submarine was USS Lagarto that was lost with all 86 crew at roughly Lat 07°55'N Long 102°00'E. Shipwreck On May 19, 2005 a group of divers led by Jamie MacLeod based aboard MV Trident located the shipwreck of a U.S. submarine at a depth of of 225' / 72m upright on the bottom in the Gulf of Thailand off Malaysia. During July 2005 Jamie MacLeod and another team of divers returned to document the site and were accompanied by relatives of the crew that did a memorial service aboard the dive boat above the shipwreck. The submarine was upright with a large rupture on the port bow area measuring roughly 18' tall and 8-9' wide. This damage was likely caused by the explosion of a nearby depth charge near the forward torpedo room that ruptured the hull and caused her to sink. The no. 4 torpedo tube door was partially open and empty, suggesting the possibility Lagarto fired one torpedo before the sinking. The forward dive planes are in the position to dive and the stern dive planes are set to surface and the rudder is in the hard right position. All the hatches were closed indicating that none of the crew attempted to escape and most likely all perished aboard. When found, the stern was shrouded in fishing nets that had snagged on the shipwreck. During June 2006, USS Salvor (ARS-52) entered the Gulf of Thailand (Gulf of Siam) and divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1 (MDSU-1) conducted six days of dives on the shipwreck found the previous year. For six days to survey and photographed the shipwreck to confirm the identity. More evidence was documented including the twin 5" gun mount plus "Manitowoc" on the propellers. The documentation was sent to underwater archaeologists for further review and the U.S. Navy confirmed to be USS Lagarto (SS-371). As a U.S. Navy submarine and war grave, the shipwreck is still considered property of the U.S. Navy and protected. No penetration into the interior or artifact recovery is permitted. Any SCUBA diving is subject to permission from the U.S. Navy. Memorial The entire crew was officially declared dead May 25, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. During July 2005 relatives of the crew that did a memorial service over the shipwreck aboard the dive boat and a U. S. flag was attached to the conning tower in honor of the missing crew. On June 16, 2006 U. S Navy divers from USS Salvor (ARS-52) placed a memorial plaque on the aft capstan. The plaque reads: "In memory of the fighting men on USS Lagarto (SS-371) from the crew of USS Salvor (ARS-52) 16 June 2005". The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park includes the Waterfront Memorial with memorial markers dedicated to each U.S. Navy submarine lost during World War II, including USS Lagarto (SS-371). A historical marker dedicated to the USS Lagarto (SS 371) is located at the Manitowoc Company in Manitowoc, WI. Awards For her World War II service, Lagarto earned one battle star. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Lagarto (SS 371) NavSource - USS Lagarto (SS-371) Combined Fleet - Submarine Operations Research Group Attack Data USS Lagarto (SS-371) Thai Wreck Diver - USS Lagarto Sub USS Lagarto (SS-371) Official Website via Wayback Machine September 7, 2009 Navy News "Divers to Inspect Presumed WWII Submarine" via Wayback Machine July 6, 2006 Wisconsin Maritime Museum - The “Lost Sub” Documentary Project (video, photos) YouTube "Lost & Found: Legacy of the USS Lagarto" August 15, 2007 Naval History and Heritage Command - Lagarto (SS 371) (photo, crew list) Naval History and Heritage Command - Statement concerning USS Lagarto On Eternal Patrol - USS Lagarto (SS-371) (photos, crew list) HMdb.org U.S.S. Lagarto (SS 371) (memorial marker) Contribute
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