USS S-44, a third-group (S-42) S-class submarine, commissioned on 16 February 1925 (Lt. J.R. Moore) torpedoed and sank the Japanese auxiliary gunboat Keijo Maru (2626 GRT) about 12 nautical miles west of Gavutu, Solomon Islands in position 09°00S, 160°00E. 6/21/1942 (uboat.net) Second war patrol, June 1942 Another overhaul followed, and on 7 June she left of Moreton Bay on a course for the Solomon Islands. Within the week, she was on patrol off Guadalcanal, operating from there to Savo and Florida Island. A few days later, she shifted south of Guadalcanal and on 21 June sank the converted gunboat Keijo Maru. At 14:15, S-44 fired her torpedoes. Just 3 minutes later the enemy aircraft dropped a bomb which exploded close to the submarine, bending the holding latch to the conning tower and allowing in 30 gallons of sea water. This damaged the depth gauges, the gyrocompass, and the ice machine, besides causing leaks. The number-one periscope was thought to be damaged; but when the submarine surfaced a Japanese seamans coat was found wrapped around its head. Three days later, S-44 was in Lunga Roads. On 26 June, poor weather set in and blanketed the area until she turned for home. She departed her patrol area on 29 June and arrived at Moreton Bay on 5 July. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_S-44_%28SS-155%29 Photos: ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/SS/SS-155_S-44.html history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-s/ss155.htm uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4839.html
Posted on: Sun, 22 Jun 2014 02:30:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015