Ship History
Built by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Laid down October 24, 1942 Launched on May 9, 1943, sponsored by Mrs. E.S. Root. Commissioned September 28, 1943. Assigned to Commander Stephen Ambruster. Departed down the Mississippi River, via the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor.

First War Patrol
Departed Pearl Harbor to patrolled to the west of the Philippines. Departing the patrol area, she damaged a large enemy freighter, firing four torpedoes at 3,100 yards. In total, the submarine spent 36 of her 57 patrol submerged. When she arrived at Freemantle, her commanding officer was summarily relieved by Admiral Christie and Robalo was assigned to commander Manning Kimmel.

Second War Patrol
Patrolled the South China Sea near Indochina. Sank a 7,500-ton tanker.

Third War Patrol
On June 22, 1944 departed Fremantle to patrol the South China Sea in the vicinity of the Natuna Islands. After traversing Makassar Straits and Balabac Straits, she was to arrive on station on July 6, then waited until nightfall on August 2, 1944.

Sinking History
On July 2, 1944 a contact report from Robalo stated they sighted a Fuso-class battleship with air cover plus two destroyer escort east of Borneo. No other messages were received from Robalo.

According to the crew, on July 26, 1944, Robalo sank two miles off the west coast of Palawan Island as a result of an explosion of her aft battery. More likely, Robalo struck an enemy mine. When she did not return from patrol, she was presumed lost on July 26, 1944 with the entire crew of eighty-one lost.

Fates of the Crew
Four of the crew managed to swim ashore: Ensign Samuel L. Tucker.; QM1c Floyd G. Laughlin; SM3c Wallace K. Martin, and EM2c Mason C. Poston. They made their way through the jungle to barrio northwest of the Puerto Princesa. Captured by the Japanese Kempi Tai (Military Police) and confined in a jail cell for "guerrilla activities" at Puerto Princesa POW Camp.

On August 2, 1944, one of the POWs dropped a note from the window of the prison cell where four survivors from Robalo were held. The note was picked up by an American soldier in a work detail and given to H.D. Hough, Y2c, USN, another prisoner. On August 4, Hough contacted Mrs. Trinidad Mendosa, wife of guerrilla leader Dr. Mendosa, who furnished further information about the survivors. From these sources, the fate of the submarine and the surviving crew were reported to the American forces.

On August 15, 1944, a Japanese destroyer evacuated the Robalo crew, and nothing further is known of their destination or whereabouts. The Japanese may have executed them or the destroyer may have been sunk. At any rate, they were never recovered and their note stated that there were no other survivors.

Crew lost aboard USS Robalo (SS-273) that are Missing In Action (MIA) or Prisoners Of War (POW).

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Last Updated
October 23, 2019