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| USN Gato-class submarine 1,526 Tons (surfaced) 2,424 Tons (submerged) 307' x 27.3' x 19.3' 10 × 21" torpedo tubes (6 fwd, 4 aft) with 24 torpedoes 1 x 3" deck gun 2 x .50cal MG 2 x 30cal MG  USN February 3, 1944 |
Sub History Built by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut. Laid down October 5, 1940 as the lead submarine of the Gato-class submarine and serves as a prototype for the major portion of the submarines built by the company during World War II. Launched August 21, 1941 as USS Gato (SS-212) sponsored by Mrs. Royal E. Ingersoll, wife of Rear Admiral Royal Ingersoll, Assistant Chief of Naval Operations. Commissioned December 31, 1941 in the U.S. Navy (USN). Afterwards, conducts a short shake down cruise off Connecticut. On February 16, 1942 departs via the Panama Canal and San Francisco before arriving Pearl Harbor for assignment to the Pacific Fleet. On March 23, 1942 while at periscope depth conducting a trim test off the entrance to San Francisco Bay, accidentally bombed by nonrigid airship (blimp) TC 13 that dropped four 325 pound depth charges, with two exploding 50 yards from her periscope and two exploded as the submarine crash dived. The depth charges caused extensive damage but no casualties. This was the only only friendly fire incident between a U.S. Navy blimp and a submarine during World War II. Afterwards, repaired at Mare Island Navy Yard. On March 27, 1942 departs for Pearl Harbor. First War Patrol On April 20, 1942 departs Pearl Harbor on her first war patrol. On May 3, 1942 off the Marshall Islands made an unsuccessful attack against an aircraft carrier then is driven away by depth charge attacks by four destroyers. On May 24, 1942 ordered to patrol the western approaches to Midway Atoll. During the Battle of Midway during June 3-7, 1942 on station 280 nautical miles to the west of Midway Atoll. Second War Patrol On July 2, 1942 departs on her second war patrol east of the Kurile Islands and Aleutian Islands. On August 15, 1942 claimed four torpedo hits against a ship. Afterwards, ends the patrol at Dutch Harbor. Third War Patrol On September 4, 1942 departs Dutch Harbor on her third war patrol off Kiska then departs southward via Midway and Pearl Harbor to patrol off Truk. On December 6, 1942 attacks a convoy but suffers a severe depth charge attack by three destroyers and bombed. On December 23, 1942 arrives Brisbane ending her patrol. Fourth War Patrol On January 13, 1943 departs Brisbane on her fourth war patrol in the Solomon Islands. On January 21, 1943 Gato torpedoes Kenkon Maru east of Bougainville at 6°12’S 155°51’E. On January 29, 1943 torpedoes Nichiun Maru. On February 15, 1943 sinks Suruga Maru in Bougainville Strait. On February 26, 1943 ends her patrol. Fifth War Patrol On March 19, 1943 departs on her fifth war patrol to Bougainville. On March 29, 1943 lands an Australian intelligence party at Teop Island off northern Bougainville and evacuates 27 children, nine mothers, and three nuns. On March 31, 1942 transfers them to submarine chaser SC-531 off Ramos on Florida Island. On April 4, 1943 during a submerged radar attack approach between Tanga Island and Lihir Island, she damaged by three depth charges and afterwards returns to Brisbane for temporary repairs between April 11, 1943 until April 20, 1943. Afterwards, departs Brisbane bound for Bougainville. On May 29, 1943 lands more Australian commandos at Toep Harbor and embarks more evacuees and delivers them to Ramos Island. Afterwards, performs a reconnaissance of Tarawa. On June 6, 1943 arrives Pearl Harbor ending her patrol. Afterwards, to Mare Island Navy Yard for an overhaul. On August 22, 1943 returns to Pearl Harbor. Sixth War Patrol On September 6, 1943 departs Pearl Harbor on her sixth war patrol bound for the South Pacific. On September 23, 1943 lands a patrol by U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy personnel to scout the northeast coast of Bougainville Bougainville in the vicinity of Kieta until removed September 27, 1943. They return to report the area was generally unfavorable as a landing area. Afterwards, patrols near Truk and claims two freighters damaged, one 8,500 tons and another 7,000 tons. On October 20, 1943 sinks Tsunushima Maru between Truk and Kavieng at roughly Lat 1°26'N, Long 148°36'E. On October 28, 1943 arrives Brisbane ending her 53 day patrol and undergoes a refit. Awarded the submarine combat insignia for this patrol. Seventh War Patrol On November 18, 1943 departs Brisbane on her seventh war patrol and proceeds to Tulagi to refuel then proceeds to her patrol area in the Bismarck Sea. Using torpedoes, claims a 9,000 ton freighter, 6,500 ton freighter and damages a 4,500 ton freighter and drives off a Japanese plane with anti-aircraft fire. Gato spotted a life raft off the Admiralties and rescued a Japanese aviator who was detained as a Prisoner Of War (POW). On December 20, 1943 sinks Tsuneshima Maru then was subjected to a severe depth charge attack by her escorts including torpedo boat Otori. Following the attack, Gato surfaced and found an unexploded depth charge lodged in the rudder. With the help of the Japanese POW, the ship's Gunnery Officer dislodged the depth charge and lashed it to a life raft that was set adrift with a slow leak. Afterwards, performed a special secret mission. On January 10, 1944 arrives Milne Bay ending the war patrol and underwent a refit by submarine tender USS Fulton (AS-11). Awarded the submarine combat insignia for this patrol. Eight War Patrol On February 2, 1944 at 7:00am departs Milne Bay at the start of her eighth war patrol escorted by USS PC 1121 and makes a trim dive and drills clearing the bridge. On February 3, 1944 at Dreger Harbor rendezvous with PT 196 and PT-323 and releases USS PC 1121 and after noon departs on the surface for Vitiaz Strait escorted by the PT Boats and releases them at 7:00pm. Afterwards, the submarine proceeds alone on a classified mission to rescue Allied Prisoners Of War (POW) from behind enemy lines. On February 5, 1944 Gato surfaces in Open Bay near Maitanakunai to rescue two group of Allied aviators from behind enemy lines. The first group included: Gordon Manuel, Owen Giertsen, Carl Planck and Edward Czarnecki. The second group included Townsend, David McClymont and Fred Hargesheimer. Afterwards, returned to Finschafen to disembark those rescued then continues her patrol of the Bismarck Sea and Truk. On February 15, 1944 Gato sunk a trawler off Truk. On February 26, 1944 sank transport Daigen Maru no. 3. On March 12, 1944 sank the Okinoyama Maru No. 3 sunk during a daylight attack using only her 3" deck gun. Afterwards, two other trawlers were sunk by only fire from her deck gun before returning to Pearl Harbor on April 1, 1944. Gato's vigilance patrolling the north entrance to the Bougainville Sound and her aggressive attacks during her fourth through eighth war patrols was credited with the destruction of 13 enemy ships totaling 69,400 tons. During May 1944 transferred to the Central Pacific. Her ninth and tenth patrols were primarily reconnaissance and lifeguard missions in the vicinity first of Truk and the Bonin Islands. After completing her tenth patrol, Gato was overhauled at Mare Island. During January 1945, departed Pearl Harbor on her eleventh war patrol in the Yellow Sea sinking two ships including one destroyer escort. Her twelfth and thirteenth patrols were conducted off the coast of Japan as a lifeguard in support of air operations over those islands. During this duty ten U.S. Army aviators were rescued from the waters of the Pacific. At the end of her thirteenth war patrol, anchors in Tokyo Bay and is present during the official surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945 aboard USS Missouri BB-63. During World War II, Gato earned thirteen Battle Stars and five Presidential Unit Citations. Her aggressive attacks during her fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth war patrols in the Solomons, Bismarck Sea, New Guinea and Truk earned a Presidential Unit Citation. Gato was nicknamed "The Goalkeeper" by Admiral William F. Halsey for her combat record. She supported the Battle of Midway, capture and defense of Guadalcanal, Marianas Operation, the Western Caroline Islands Operation, Iwo Jima Operation, Okinawa-Gunto Assault and Occupation, and the Third Fleet Operations Against Japan. Postwar Following the war, Gato served as a Naval Reserve Training Ship in New York and Baltimore. On March 1, 1960 stricken from the Navy list. On July 25, 1960 sold to Northern Metals Company of Philadelphia and broken up for scrap. Awards For her World War II service, Gato earned 13 battle stars. References NARA USS Gato SS-212 War History "Factual History of U.S.S. Gato (S212) from commissioning to 15 September 1945" pages 1-9 NARA U.S. S. Gato - Report of Eighth War Patrol (Page 2) "February 5, 1944: Special mission completed. Proceeding towards Vitiaz Strait, enroute Dreger Harbor, T.N.G. Submerged during daylight." NavSource - USS Gato SS-212 The School That Fell From the Sky (2002) by Fred Hargesheimer pages 113-116 (USS Gato Report of Special Mission, February 3-6, 1944) Contribute
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