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| USN Sargo-class Submarine 1,450 Tons (standard) 2,388 Tons (submerged) 310' 6" x 26' 10" x 16' 7.5" 8 x 21" torpedo tubes (4 forward, 4 aft) with 24 torpedoes 1 x 3"/50 cal deck gun 4 x machine guns  Beaumont 1941  USN May 1, 1943  Freemen 1949 |
Sub History Built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. Laid down September 7, 1937 as Sargo-class submarine. Launched July 27, 1938 as USS Sculpin (SS-191) named for the Sculpin fish sponsored by Mrs. Bernice F. Defrees, wife of Rear Admiral Joseph R. Defrees. Commissioned January 16, 1939 in the U.S. Navy (USN) with Lieutenant Warren D. Wilkin in command. Afterwards, departs on her shakedown cruise. On May 23, 1939 diverted to search and rescue of the sunken submarine USS Squalus (SS-192). First War Patrol On December 8, 1941 at night, departs Cavite with USS Seawolf (SS-197) to escort USS Langley (AV-3) and oiler USS Pecos (AO-65) to San Bernardino Strait. On December 10, 1941 took up station north of Luzon in the Philippine Sea and at night intercepted two ships, made a surface attack, and scored hits on the lead ship but was forced to dive due to gun fire and was unable to assess the results of her attack. Japanese records show that American submarines sank three Japanese ships that night; possibly Sculpin should be credited for sinking Akita Maru (3,817 Tons). On January 22, 1942 ends the patrol at Surabaya (Surabaja) on Java. Second War Patrol On January 30, 1942 departs Surabaya (Surabaja) on her second war patrol east of Celebes (Sulawesi) in the Molucca Sea. On February 4, 1942 off Kendari fires torpedoes a destroyer Suzukaze that was heavily damaged and run aground to prevent sinking. On February 7, 1942 Sculpin commenced an approach on a Japanese destroyer but was detected and dove then was heavily depth charged before escaping four hours later. On February 17, 1942 while making a surface attack on a destroyer, spotted and forced to dive. Depth charged, the submarine sustained damage to her starboard main controller and starboard propeller shaft. On February 28, 1942 arrives at Exmouth ending the patrol and for repairs. Third War Patrol On March 13, 1942 departs Fremantle on her third war patrol in the Molucca Sea. On March 28, 1942 fired a spread of three torpedoes at a large cargo ship that were last seen running straight for the target, but appeared to run deep and passed under the target. On April 1, 1942 during a night attack, a similar incident occurred with deep running or malfunctioning torpedoes. On April 27, 1942 returned to Fremantle ending her patrol. Fourth War Patrol On May 29, 1942 departs Fremantle on her fouth war patrol in the South China Sea. On June 8, 1942 unsuccessfully attacked a cargo ship, again due to torpedo malfunction. A vigorous depth charge attack kept Sculpin submerged while the target escaped. On 13 June, near Balabac Strait, she torpedoed a cargo ship which returned fire with her deck gun and commenced to limp away. Turning on two accompanying tankers astern of the cargo ship, Sculpin made an attack but was forced to dive to prevent being rammed by one of the tankers. Surfacing at dusk, Sculpin pursued the cargo ship, but was again driven away by accurate gunfire from the maru. She shifted her attack to a tanker, leaving the ship listing and making heavy smoke. However, no sinking was confirmed. Off Cape Varella, Indochina, early on the morning of 19 June, she torpedoed a cargo ship, making a hit forward of the stack. A heavy secondary explosion was heard, and the damaged vessel was last seen headed for the shore to beach, smoke pouring from her forward hatch. On July 17, 1942 returns to Australia ending the patrol. Fifth War Patrol On September 8, 1942 departs Brisbane on her fifth war patrol in the Bismarck Sea. Conducts a reconnaissance off Thilenius Harbor and Montagu Harbor then searches for enemy shipping. On September 28, 1942 scored two hits on a cargo ship, but was forced to dive as a Japanese destroyer raced to the scene. Sculpin was under depth charge attack for three hours, during which she sustained minor damage. On October 7, 1943 she claimed her first confirmed kill, transport Naminoue Maru (4731 tons) off New Ireland. Escaping the Japanese escorts countermeasures, she remained in the general area where, a week later, she intercepted a three-ship convoy in the shipping lane between Rabaul and Kavieng. Waiting until the escorting destroyer had made a patrol sweep to the opposite side of the convoy, Sculpin fired a spread of four torpedoes at the 2000 ton cargo ship Sumoyoshi Maru. While the blazing and sinking maru lay dead in the water, Sculpin made good her escape. Four days later, she inflicted minor damage on light cruiser Yura with a hit forward of the bridge, but was driven off by the cruiser’s gunfire. On October 26, 1942 returns to Brisbane ending the patrol. Six War Patrol On November 18, 1942 departs Brisbane on her sixth war patrol off Truk. After escaping a Japanese aerial attack on 11 December, she was stalking a Japanese aircraft carrier on the night of 18 December, when two destroyers attacked. One illuminated Sculpin with floodlights as both commenced heavy fire with deck guns. The submarine went deep and lay silent as the enemy depth charge attack and prolonged sonar search continued. The following night she scored two hits on a tanker, with no sinking confirmed. On January 8, 1943 arrives Pearl Harbor ending the patrol. Afterwards, steams westward to San Francisco for a three-month overhaul. Afterwards, proceeds to Pearl Harbor arriving May 9, 1943. Seventh War Patrol On May 24, 1943 departs Pearl Harbor on her seventh war patrol off the northwest coast of HonshÅ« in Japan. Three days after arriving on station, conducts a surface attack against two aircraft carriers with a cruiser escort. While diving to escape, two heavy underwater explosions are heard. On June 14, 1943 damaged a cargo ship but was forced to dive and run silent to avoid the anti-submarine countermeasures from escorts. On June 19, 1943 off Inubozaki surfaces and uses her deck gun to engage guardboat No.1 Miyasho Maru and army cargo ship Sagami Maru, leaving them aflame, with decks awash. For the remainder of the patrol, she spotted other possible targets, but they all hugged the shore some running inside the 10 fathom / 18m line. On July 4, 1943 ends her seventh war patrol at Midway. Eighth War Patrol 25 July to 17 September 1943, was off the Chinese coast and Formosa Strait. On 9 August, she torpedoed and sank the cargo/transport Sekko Maru off the coast of Formosa. She evaded ASW patrol craft in Taiwan Strait on 16 August and 17 August. On 21 August, she intercepted an armed cargo ship and fired a spread of three torpedoes which ran "hot, straight, and normal" but did not explode. Sculpin was immediately pounced upon by escorting destroyers and was forced to dive. The cargo ship escaped in the ensuing depth charge attack. A similar torpedo malfunction occurred on 1 September, when the splash of water resulting from the torpedo striking the target’s hull could be seen, but no detonation occurred. The submarine escaped the immediate counterattack of the escorts; and, after reconnaissance of Marcus and returned to Midway. Afterwards, back to Pearl Harbor for a brief overhaul. Ninth War Patrol On November 5, 1943 departs Pearl Harbor under the command of Commander Fred Connaway on her ninth war patrol to the area north of Truk and intercept any Japanese forces departing to oppose the upcoming invasion of Tarawa. Aboard was Captain John P. Cromwell to coordinate a wolf pack with USS Searaven (SS-196) and USS Apogon (SS-308). On November 7, 1943 refuels at Johnston Island then proceeded to her assigned station arriving nine days later. On November 18, 1943 during the night, made radar contact with a large, high-speed convoy including Chogei with escorts Kashima plus destroyers Wakatsuki and Yamagumo. Overnight, the submarine surfaced in pursuit. Sinking History On November 19, 1943 in the morning, as Sculpin reached a firing position, the convoy zigzagged toward her and the submarine was forced to dive. When the convoy changed course, surfaced to attempt another attack, but was discovered by the rear guard destroyer Yamagumo only 600 yards away. Crash diving, the submarine escaped the first salvo of depth charges released by Yamagumo. A second string of depth charges knocked out her depth gauge and caused other minor damage. She evaded the destroyer in a rain squall and attempted to come to periscope depth. The damaged depth gauge stuck was stuck at 125', so the submarine broached and was again detected. She immediately submerged but the destroyer dropped a pattern of 18 depth charges causing considerable damage, including temporary loss of depth control. As a result, Sculpin ran beyond safe depth causing many leaks in the hull. So much seawater leaked inside, it was forced to run at high speed to maintain a constant depth and was easy for the Japanese to track on sonar. The next depth charge attack disabled Sculpin’s sonar. Commander Fred Connaway, decided to surface and give the crew a chance for survival. With her decks still awash, Sculpin’s gunners manned the deck guns but were no match for the destroyer’s main battery. A shell hit the conning tower and killed the bridge watch team, including Commander Connaway, and flying fragments killed the gun crew. The senior ship’s officer surviving ordered the submarine to be scuttled. Before he opened the vents, Captain John P. Cromwell decided to go down with the submarine, as he possessed vital information concerning the upcoming assault in the Gilbert Islands and was aware of ULTRA intelligence. For his actions, he earned the Medal of Honor posthumously. On November 29, 1943 Cromwell was ordered to activate the wolf pack. When the submarine failed to acknowledge, the message was repeated 48 hours later. Unaware she had been scuttled, Sculpin was presumed lost on December 30, 1943. Officially stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on March 25, 1944. Fates of the Crew Forty-three of the crew were rescued by Japanese destroyer Yamagumo and became Prisoners Of War (POWs). After the rescue, one badly injured sailor was thrown overboard because of his condition and left to die at sea. The remaining forty-two POWs were transported to Truk and questioned for roughly ten days. Next, 21 POWs were loaded onto an escort carrier and transported to Japan. On December 5, 1943 they arrived at Ofuna POW Camp and were questioned further then forced to labor in the Ashio copper mines for the remainder of the Pacific War. The other 21 prisoners were embarked aboard escort carrier Chuyo. On December 4, 1943 Chuyo was torpedoed and sunk by USS Sailfish (SS-192) and the POWs perished. One survivor was able to grab hold of the ladder on a passing Japanese destroyer and hauled himself aboard. Ironically, USS Sailfish previously named Squalus was the same submarine that Sculpin had helped to locate and raise some 4 1/2 years earlier. Awards Sculpin earned eight battle stars for her service in World War II. Also, the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. She ended the war with a total of three confirmed ships sunk for a total of 9,835 tons. References Naval History and Heritage Command National Museum of the U.S. Navy - USS Sculpin (SS-191) NavSource - USS Sculpin (SS-191) YouTube - Silent Service S01 E04 : The Sculpin Story Contribute
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