The Tolling of the Bells
The Tolling of the Bells is a solemn ceremony. Shipmates as you pause to remember those of our shipmates who sailed in harms way and did not return. Where available, I have provided a picture of each boat.
The first group of 45 submarines were lost with all hands.
USS F-4 (SS-23)
was lost on 21-Mar-1915 with the loss of 21 officers and men when it foundered off Honolulu Harbor.
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USS S-4 (SS-109)
was lost on 17-Dec-1927 with the loss of 40 officers and men when it was sunk after ramming by USCG Paulding.
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USS O-9 (SS-70)
was lost on 20-Jun-1941 with the loss of 33 officers and men when it foundered off Isle of Shoals, 15 miles from Portsmouth NH, 42º-59'-48"N 20º-20'-27"W
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USS Shark (SS-174)
was lost on 11-Feb-1942 with the loss of 59 officers and men when it was sunk East of Menado, Celebes as a result of one of 3 attacks. (11Feb42 E of Menado, 17 Feb 42 N of Kendari 21 Feb 42 E of Kendari)
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USS Grunion (SS-216)
was lost on 1-Aug-1942 with the loss of 70 officers and men when it was sunk near entrance to Kiska (Alaska) Harbor
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USS Argonaut (SS-166)
was lost on 10-Jan-1943 with the loss of 102 officers and men when it was sunk off Rabaul near 05 155N 153 50E; (Another location given as 5º 40S 152º 02 E)
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USS Amberjack (SS-219)
was lost on 16-Feb-1943 with the loss of 72 officers and men when it was sunk off Rabaul; Last Contact at 5º 05S 152º 37E
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USS Grampus (SS-207)
was lost on 5-Mar-1943 with the loss of 71 officers and men when it was sunk in the Blackett Strait; Possibly in Vella Gulf, last contacts at 4º 55S 152º 30 E
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USS Triton (SS-201)
was lost on 15-Mar-1943 with the loss of 74 officers and men when it was sunk at 0º 09N 144º 55E
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USS Pickerel (SS-177)
was lost on 3-Apr-1943 with the loss of 74 officers and men when it was sunk within lume of Shiranuka Light off Honshu.
Remarks: Best information indicates that hull has never been located and dived.
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USS R-12 (SS-89)
was lost on 12-Jun-1943 with the loss of 42 officers and men when it foundered off Key West, 24º 24'30"N 81º 28'30"
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USS Runner (SS-275)
was lost on 1-Jul-1943 with the loss of 78 officers and men when it was sunk somewhere between Midway and Hokkaido.
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USS Pompano (SS-181)
was lost on 1-Sep-1943 with the loss of 77 officers and men when it was sunk off the northeast coast of Honshu
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USS Grayling (SS-209)
was lost on 9-Sep-1943 with the loss of 77 (including one U.S. Army Air Force passenger) officers and men when it was sunk in or near Tablas Strait, PI.
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USS Cisco (SS-290)
was lost on 28-Sep-1943 with the loss of 76 officers and men when it was sunk in Sulu Sea west of Mindanao, 9º 47N 121º44 E
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USS Wahoo (SS-238)
was lost on 11-Oct-1943 with the loss of 80 officers and men when it was sunk in or near La Perouse Strait.
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USS Dorado (SS-248)
was lost on 12-Oct-1943 with the loss of 77 officers and men when it was sunk in Western Atlantic, possibly near Cuba
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USS Corvina (SS-226)
was lost on 16-Nov-1943 with the loss of 82 officers and men when it was sunk just south of Truk; (Attack at 151º 10E 5º 50N).
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USS Capelin (SS-289)
was lost on 1-Dec-1943 with the loss of 76 officers and men when it was sunk off Celebes possibly off Kaoe Bay; Halmahera 1º 34N 123º 07 or in Molukka Passage
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USS Scorpion (SS-278)
was lost on 1-Feb-1944 with the loss of 77 officers and men when it was sunk East China Sea.
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USS Grayback (SS-208)
was lost on 26-Feb-1944 with the loss of 80 officers and men when it was sunk near 25 47N 128-45E.
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USS Trout (SS-202)
was lost on 29-Feb-1944 with the loss of 81 officers and men when it was sunk near 22-40N, 131-45 E, middle of Philippines Basin.
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USS Gudgeon (SS-211)
was lost on 12-May-1944 with the loss of 79 officers and men when it was sunk off Saipan near Maug Island.
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USS Herring (SS-233)
was lost on 1-Jun-1944 with the loss of 83 officers and men when it was sunk within shore battery range of Point Tagan, Matsuwa Island, in Kurlies.
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USS S-28 (SS-133)
was lost on 4-Jun-1944 with the loss of 49 officers and men when it foundered off Hawaii , while operating with USCGC Reliance
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USS Golet (SS-361)
was lost on 14-Jun-1944 with the loss of 82 officers and men when it was sunk near 41-04N 14?-13E
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USS Robalo (SS-273)
was lost on 26-Jul-1944 with the loss of 81 (including four men lost as POWs) officers and men when it was sunk 2 miles off the east coast of Balabac Island .
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USS Harder (SS-257)
was lost on 24-Aug-1944 with the loss of 79 officers and men when it was sunk off Caiman Point near Bataan.
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USS Escolar (SS-294)
was lost on 1-Oct-1944 with the loss of 82 officers and men when it was sunk somewhere east of 33-44N 127-33E; Heading for 33º 44 N 124º 06E.
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USS Shark (SS-314)
was lost on 24-Oct-1944 with the loss of 87 officers and men when it was sunk in channel midway between Hainan and Bashi Channel; 20º 41N 118º 27E.
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USS Seawolf (SS-197)
was lost on 30-Oct-1944 with the loss of 100 (including 17 Army personnel) officers and men when it was sunk just north of Morotai, between PI and Indonesia, by USS Rowell; 02º-32 N 129 º 18E.
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USS Albacore (SS-218)
was lost on 7-Nov-1944 with the loss of 85 officers and men when it was sunk near 41 49N 141 11E in channel between Hokkaido and Honshu.
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USS Growler (SS-215)
was lost on 8-Nov-1944 with the loss of 86 officers and men when it was sunk in South China Sea
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USS Scamp (SS-277)
was lost on 16-Nov-1944 with the loss of 83 officers and men when it was sunk off Inubo Saki near Tokyo Bay.
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USS Barbel (SS-316)
was lost on 4-Feb-1945 with the loss of 81 officers and men when it was sunk in southern entrance to Palawan Passage 7º 49.5S -- 116º 47.5 SW Palawan.
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USS Swordfish (SS-193)
was lost on 15-Feb-1945 with the loss of 89 officers and men when it was sunk near Yaku Island off Kyushu, water <600' deep near island; ( 27º 00 N; 128º 40 E).
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USS Kete (SS-369)
was lost on 1-Mar-1945 with the loss of 87 officers and men when it was sunk somewhere between 29-38N 130-02E and Midway.
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USS Trigger (SS-237)
was lost on 28-Mar-1945 with the loss of 89 officers and men when it was sunk in area 32 16N> 30 40N by 132 05E> 127 50E, (Maybe near 32º 16 N 132º 05 E).
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USS Snook (SS-279)
was lost on 8-Apr-1945 with the loss of 84 officers and men when it was sunk within 100 miles East of 18 40N 111 39E, near Hainan Island < 300 feet.
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USS Lagarto (SS-371)
was lost on 30-May-1945 with the loss of 86 officers and men when it was sunk in off Malay Coast in or near the Gulf of Siam 7º 55N 102º 00E.
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USS Bonefish (SS-223)
was lost on 18-Jun-1945 with the loss of 85 officers and men when it was sunk in Toyama Wan; Near Suzu Misaki; 37º 18N 137º 25E;
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USS Bullhead (SS-332)
was lost on 6-Aug-1945 with the loss of 84 officers and men when it was sunk in West end of Lombok Strait.
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USS Thresher (SSN-593)
was lost on 10-Apr-1963 with the loss of 129 officers and men when it was sunk while on sea trials near Isle of Shoals.
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USS Scorpion (SSN-589)
was lost on 27-May-1968 with the loss of 99 officers and men when it was sunk while in transit from Med, West of Azores.
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On the following fifteen boats some shipmates survived the sinking of the boat.
USS F-1 (SS-20)
was lost on 17-Dec-1917 with the loss of 19 officers and men when it was sunk after collision with F-3 off San Clemente. This was this nations first wartime submarine loss.
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USS H-1 (SS-28)
was lost on 12-Mar-1920 with the loss of 4 officers and men when it Grounded, Magdalena Bay, Mexico, was sunk in 9 Fathoms while being towed off.
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USS O-5 (SS-66)
was lost on 11-Oct-1923 with the loss of 3 officers and men when it was sunk after collision with SS ABANGAREZ (United Fruit) off Panama Canal.
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USS S-26 (SS-131)
was lost on 24-Jan-1942 with the loss of 46 officers and men when it was sunk after ramming by USS PC-460 in the Gulf of Panama, 14 Miles West of San Jose Light.
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USS S-51 (SS-162)
was lost on 25-Sep-1925 with the loss of 33 officers and men when it was sunk after collision with SS City of Rome off Block Island.
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USS Squalus (SS-192)
was lost on 23-May-1939 with a loss of 26 officers and men when it flooded and sank off Portsmouth, NH.
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USS Sealion (SS-195)
was lost on 10-Dec-1941 with the loss of 6 (including 2 men lost as POWs) officers and men when it was scuttled in Manila Bay after damage at Cavite
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USS Perch (SS-176)
was lost on 3-Mar-1942 with the loss of 6 (who died as POWs) officers and men when it was sunk near 30 Miles NW Surabaya , Java (59 officers and men were taken prisoner, 53 survived the war).
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USS Grenadier (SS-210)
was lost on 22-Apr-1943 with the loss of 4 officers and men when it was sunk near Penang, ~ 10 Miles West of Lem Voalan Strait (76 officers and men were taken prisoner, 72 survived the war).
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USS S-44 (SS-155)
was lost on 7-Oct-1943 with the loss of 56 officers and men when it was sunk on 5th patrol off Paramushiru, Kuriles (Northern); One day out of Attu (2 men were taken prisoner, both survived the war).
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USS Sculpin (SS-191)
was lost on 19-Nov-1943 with the loss of 63 officers and men when it was sunk north of Oroluk Island near Truk. 41 officers and men were taken prisoner, only 21 survived the war (Note: 63 lost – 12 killed in action prior to sinking, 30 killed in the sinking, one man killed in captivity (not officially a POW), 20 POWs later died, and 21 POWs survived.)
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USS Tullibee (SS-284)
was lost on 26-Mar-1944 with the loss of 79 officers and men when it was sunk in operating area just north of Palau. (One man was taken prisoner and he survived the war)
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USS Flier (SS-250)
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was lost on 13-Sep-1944 with the loss of 78 officers and men when it was sunk in Balabac Strait near Mantangule Island. Eight of the crew survived the sinking and were rescued by USS Redfin (SS-272)
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USS Tang (SS-306)
was lost on 25-Oct-1944 with the loss of 78 officers and men when it was sunk in north end of Formosa Strait in vicinity of Turnabout Island. (Nine of the crew were taken prisoner and survived the war).
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USS Cochino (SS-345)
was lost on 26-Aug-1949 when it was sunk in Norwegian Sea after fire, one man from Cochino and 6 men from USS Tusk were lost in the rescue operation.
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The following seven submarines were lost but without the loss of any shipmates.
The Civil War submarine Alligator was lost in 1863 when it was sunk while under tow off Cape Hatteras. It was being towed south to aid Union efforts in forcing entrance into Charleston Harbor. The crew were on board the towing vessel.
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USS S-5 (SS-110)
was lost on 1-Sep-1920 when it foundered off Delaware Capes 1Sept20 40 miles offshore. All the crew escaped through a hole cut in hull in the tiller room.
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USS S-36 (SS-141)
was lost on 20-Jan-1942 when it was destroyed after grounding on Taka Bakang Reef in Makassar Strait, Indonesia, Near Makassar City, the crew were all rescued.
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USS S-27 (SS-132)
was lost on 19-Jun-1942when it grounded off Amchitka Island, 400 yds off island Near St Makarius Point (near Constantine Harbor), all the crew were rescued
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USS S-39 (SS-144)
was lost on 13-Aug-1942 when it was destroyed after grounding on reef south of Rossel Island Louisiade Archipelago. All the crew were rescued.
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USS Darter (SS-227)
was lost on 24-Oct-1944 when it became grounded on Bombay Shoal off Palawan then was destroyed. All the crew were rescued by USS Dace.
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USS Stickleback (SS-415)
was lost on 29-May-1958 when it sank off Hawaii while being towed, after collision with Silverstein DE-534. All the crew were taken off prior to sinking.
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This is a total of sixty six submarines, almost 10% of all the submarines we have commissioned in 100 years of US Submarine Force history.
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