Wahoo file photo [21960]

Wahoo

CountryUnited States
Ship ClassGato-class Submarine
Hull NumberSS-238
BuilderMare Island Navy Yard
Laid Down28 Jun 1941
Launched14 Feb 1942
Commissioned15 May 1942
Sunk11 Oct 1943
Displacement1,549 tons standard; 2,463 tons submerged
Length312 feet
Beam27 feet
Draft17 feet
MachineryFour Fairbanks-Morse Model 38D8-1/8 10-cyl diesel engines driving electrical generators (5400shp), four high-speed GE electric motors with reduction gears (2740shp), two 126-cell Sargo batteries
Speed21 knots
Range11,000nm at 10 knots surfaced, 48 hours at 2 knots submerged
Crew60
Armament6x533mm forward torpedo tubes, 4x533mm aft torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1x76mm 50cal deck gun, 2x .50cal machine guns, 2x .30cal machine guns
Submerged Speed9 knots

Contributor:

ww2dbaseUSS Wahoo was commissioned into service in May 1942. She held her training cruise along the coast of California, United States before moving to Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii in Aug 1942. She went on her first war patrol on 23 Aug 1942 under Lieutenant Commander Marvin G. "Pinky" Kennedy, which saw the claim of one freighter sunk; after the war, it would be revealed that she had only damaged the Japanese ship. Commander Dudley Walker "Mush" Morton, who began his front line career with the submarine's second war patrol as a prospective commanding officer, would take over as the commander with the third patrol which began in Jan 1943. Morton's aggressiveness would bring Wahoo to a status of fame, both favorable and unfavorable, right from Morton's first war patrol. While this patrol brought the ship eight claimed sinkings, it also saw Morton giving the orders to fire on lifeboats full of survivors of of Japanese transport ship Buyo Maru (Morton had insisted that the survivors were firing on his submarine with machine guns and rifles). Later, more controversy was brought on when it was discovered that some of the survivors USS Wahoo attacked were actually prisoners of war of the British Indian Army (of 2nd Battalion of 16th Punjab Regiment, and of 26th Field Ordnance Depot). Despite being plagued by the faulty Mark 14 steam torpedoes repeatedly, Morton continued to attack and sink Japanese warships, transports, and fishing vessels as close to the Japanese home islands as the Sea of Japan, ultimately earning six battle stars for her WW2 service. During her seventh war patrol, she disappeared in the general area of the Sea of Japan in mid-Oct 1943. After studying Japanese Domei news agency broadcasts and naval records after the war it was concluded that USS Wahoo was destroyed by anti-submarine aircraft on 11 Oct 1943. The loss of the successful USS Wahoo, along with her effective commanding officer Commander Dudley Morton, caused such concern that submarine raids into the Sea of Japan would be suspended until the final months of the war. Her wreck was discovered in 2005, and it was found that she was struck in the conning tower by a bomb.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Nov 2014

Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) Interactive Map

Photographs

View of Ways 3 and 4 at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, United States, 30 Jun 1941; note hull section for future USS Wahoo at left of photoUSS Ballard at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, United States, 5 Jan 1942; note submarines under construction, probably Wahoo and WhaleGuests at the launching ceremony of submarine Wahoo, Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, United States, 14 Feb 1942Launching of submarine Wahoo, Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, United States, 14 Feb 1942, photo 1 of 4; note submarine Whale nearby
See all 45 photographs of Submarine Wahoo (SS-238)

Wahoo Operational Timeline

28 Jun 1941 The keel of submarine Wahoo was laid down at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, United States.
14 Feb 1942 Submarine Wahoo was launched at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, United States, sponsored by the wife of William C. Barker, Jr.
15 May 1942 USS Wahoo was commissioned into service with Marvin Kennedy in command.
12 Aug 1942 USS Wahoo departed Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, United States.
18 Aug 1942 USS Wahoo arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
21 Aug 1942 USS Wahoo began a period of training at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
23 Aug 1942 USS Wahoo departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for her first war patrol.
3 Sep 1942 USS Wahoo arrived at her patrol area west of Truk, Caroline Islands.
6 Sep 1942 USS Wahoo attacked an unescorted Japanese freighter in the Pacific Ocean; all three torpedoes missed. The freighter turned around; fearing a ramming attempt, Wahoo dove and withdrew.
20 Sep 1942 USS Wahoo attacked a Japanese freighter and her escort southeast of Namonuito Atoll, Caroline Islands, hitting the freighter with 1 of 4 torpedoes. She claimed to have sunk the freighter, but the study of Japanese records after the war showed no ships lost on this date in the area.
1 Oct 1942 USS Wahoo arrived in waters off Ulul Island, Namonuito Atoll, Caroline Islands.
5 Oct 1942 USS Wahoo sighted a Japanese carrier and mis-identified her to be Ryujo. Lieutenant Commander Marvin Kennedy took a conservative attack approach that ultimately failed to intercept the carrier.
7 Oct 1942 USS Wahoo departed Caroline Islands waters.
17 Oct 1942 USS Wahoo arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii, ending her first war patrol.
2 Nov 1942 USS Wahoo completed her scheduled overhaul at Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii. During the overhaul, a 4-inch (100-millimeter) gun and two 20-millimeter guns were installed. She immediately began a 3-day training period.
8 Nov 1942 Dudley Morton was made the prospective commanding officer of USS Wahoo. On the same day, USS Wahoo departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for her second war patrol.
30 Nov 1942 USS Wahoo attacked a Japanese freighter with one escorting destroyer; all torpedoes missed.
7 Dec 1942 USS Wahoo departed waters off Buka, Solomon Islands for Caroline Islands.
9 Dec 1942 USS Wahoo departed Caroline Islands waters.
10 Dec 1942 USS Wahoo attacked a Japanese convoy consisted of one tanker and two freighters with one escorting destroyer in the Pacific Ocean, sinking freighter Kamoi Maru with 3 of 4 torpedoes.
14 Dec 1942 USS Wahoo sighted a hospital ship sailing toward the Shortland Islands and took no action. Later on the same day, she sank Japanese submarine I-15, hitting her with 1 of 3 torpedoes.
15 Dec 1942 USS Wahoo departed waters off Buka, Solomon Islands.
26 Dec 1942 USS Wahoo arrived at Brisbane, Australia, ending her second war patrol.
27 Dec 1942 USS Wahoo began a scheduled overhaul at Brisbane, Australia.
31 Dec 1942 USS Wahoo completed her scheduled overhaul at Brisbane, Australia. On the same day, Commander Dudley Morton replaced Lieutenant Commander Marvin Kennedy as the commanding officer.
16 Jan 1943 USS Wahoo conducted sonar tests in Moreton Bay near Brisbane, Australia. Later on the same day, she departed friendly waters for her third war patrol.
19 Jan 1943 USS Wahoo transited Vitiaz Strait between New Guinea island and New Britain island.
24 Jan 1943 USS Wahoo reconnoitered waters far north of Wewak, Australian New Guinea. Encountering Japanese destroyer Harusame with submarines nearby, she fired three bow torpedoes, a fourth bow torpedo as Harusame turned toward Wahoo. After all four had missed, Wahoo repositioned her self and fired two more torpedoes, this time hitting and seriously damaging Harusame. Harusame was able to beach herself to prevent sinking.
25 Jan 1943 USS Wahoo departed waters near Wewak, Australian New Guinea for Palau Islands.
26 Jan 1943 USS Wahoo attacked a Japanese convoy of four freighters in the Pacific Ocean, sinking transport Fukuei Maru, sinking transport Buyo Maru, and damaging another transport. 11 torpedoes were expended, 7 of which hit. She then surfaced to attack Japanese survivors in lifeboats; this last action would generate some controversy, especially that some of the survivors killed included Indian prisoners of war. Six hours later, she began a three-hour pursuit of the two remaining ships of the Japanese convoy, eventually sinking both (a tanker and a freighter), hitting them with 3 of 8 torpedoes.
27 Jan 1943 USS Wahoo attacked a Japanese convoy consisted of eight ships; as she was out of torpedoes, she attempted to attack with her deck guns, but she was chased away by a Japanese destroyer escort.
28 Jan 1943 USS Wahoo sighted Fais Island, Caroline Islands; she attempted to shell the Japanese phosphate refinery, but the appearance of a Japanese freighter forced her to abandon the attack.
7 Feb 1943 USS Wahoo arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii, ending her third war patrol.
15 Feb 1943 USS Wahoo completed her scheduled overhaul at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
17 Feb 1943 USS Wahoo declared readiness for her next war patrol while at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
21 Feb 1943 USS Wahoo was drydocked at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
23 Feb 1943 USS Wahoo departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for Midway Atoll.
27 Feb 1943 USS Wahoo arrived at Midway Atoll, refueled, and then departed for her fourth war patrol.
11 Mar 1943 USS Wahoo arrived in waters between southern Japan and Taiwan.
13 Mar 1943 USS Wahoo attacked a Japanese ship in the East China Sea; the torpedo missed.
19 Mar 1943 USS Wahoo sank freighter Zogen Maru in the Yellow Sea, hitting her with a torpedo; all aboard were killed. Four hours later, she damaged freighter Kowa Maru, hitting her with 2 of 4 torpedoes (only one of them detonated; the other failed to do so).
21 Mar 1943 USS Wahoo sank freighter Hozen Maru in the Yellow Sea near the coast of Korea, hitting her with 1 of 3 torpedoes; about 33 survived. Four hours later, she sank freighter Nittsu Maru, hitting her with 2 of 3 torpedoes; she encountered 3 survivors, all of whom refused to be rescued.
22 Mar 1943 USS Wahoo set sail toward Lushunkou, Liaoning Province, China.
23 Mar 1943 USS Wahoo sank collier Katyosan Maru in the Laotieshan Channel between Liaoning Province and Shandong Province, China, hitting her with 1 of 1 torpedo.
24 Mar 1943 USS Wahoo sank tanker Takaosan Maru in Korea Bay of the Yellow Sea at 1949 hours after a 7-hour pursuit, hitting her with 1 of 7 torpedoes.
25 Mar 1943 USS Wahoo sank freighter Satsuki Maru in the Yellow Sea with two torpedoes (both of which missed) and her deck gun.
27 Mar 1943 USS Wahoo sank a small Japanese patrol vessel with her deck gun in the Yellow Sea, then sank a small fishing trawler with improvised Molotov cocktail bombs.
28 Mar 1943 USS Wahoo sank two small fishing vessels with her deck gun in the East China Sea.
29 Mar 1943 USS Wahoo sank freighter Yamabato Maru in the East China Sea, hitting her with 1 of 2 torpedoes. She then transited the Collnett Strait (Tokara Kaiky) between Yakushima island and Kuchinoshima island in southern Japan, eastward into the Pacific Ocean.
6 Apr 1943 USS Wahoo arrived at Midway Atoll, ending her fourth war patrol.
7 Apr 1943 USS Wahoo began a period of refitting at Midway Atoll.
21 Apr 1943 USS Wahoo conducted training off Midway Atoll.
22 Apr 1943 USS Wahoo conducted training off Midway Atoll.
25 Apr 1943 USS Wahoo declared her readiness for a war patrol while at Midway Atoll.
25 Apr 1943 USS Wahoo departed Midway Atoll for her fifth war patrol.
26 Apr 1943 USS Wahoo reconnoitered Matsuwa (now Matua), Kurile Islands, taking photographs of the Japanese airfield and other facilities.
4 May 1943 USS Wahoo reconnoitered the northeastern tip of Etorofu, Japan (now Iturup, Russia), then damaged seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru, hitting her with 1 of 3 torpedoes.
7 May 1943 USS Wahoo sank freighter Tamon Maru No. 5 off Iwate Prefecture, Japan, hitting her with 1 of 6 torpedoes. Later on the same day, she attacked a military convoy consisted of two escort vessels and a naval auxiliary in the same region, Japan; all 3 torpedoes missed.
8 May 1943 USS Wahoo attacked a Japanese transport off Iwate Prefecture, Japan; all 3 torpedo missed.
9 May 1943 USS Wahoo sank Japanese transport Takao Maru and transport Jinmu Maru east of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, hitting them with 2 of 6 torpedoes.
12 May 1943 USS Wahoo attacked a convoy of two Japanese ships east of Japan; both torpedoes missed.
13 May 1943 USS Wahoo damaged a Japanese transport east of Japan, hitting her with 2 of 4 torpedoes.
21 May 1943 USS Wahoo arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii, ending her fifth war patrol.
22 May 1943 Admiral Chester Nimitz boarded USS Wahoo at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii to present awards.
24 May 1943 USS Wahoo departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
29 May 1943 USS Wahoo arrived at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, United States for a scheduled overhaul.
11 Jul 1943 USS Wahoo began a period of trials and training off California, United States.
20 Jul 1943 USS Wahoo completed a period of trials and training off California, United States. After returning to Mare Island Navy Yard in Vallejo, California, United States, squadron commander Captain John B. Griggs, Jr. came aboard to present awards.
21 Jul 1943 USS Wahoo departed Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, United States.
27 Jul 1943 USS Wahoo arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
2 Aug 1943 USS Wahoo departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
6 Aug 1943 USS Wahoo arrived at Midway Atoll, refueled, and then departed for her sixth war patrol.
13 Aug 1943 USS Wahoo transited the Etorofu Strait and entered the Sea of Okhotsk.
14 Aug 1943 USS Wahoo attacked three medium freighters in the Sea of Japan; the torpedo missed.
15 Aug 1943 USS Wahoo attacked a freighter in the Sea of Japan; all four torpedoes missed.
17 Aug 1943 USS Wahoo attacked a freighter in the Sea of Japan at 0200 hours; the torpedo missed. At 2200 hours, she attacked another ship, again missing with one torpedo.
18 Aug 1943 USS Wahoo attacked several freighters on separate occasions in the Sea of Okhotsk; all 3 torpedo missed. Several hours later, she sank a small fishing vessel with her deck gun.
19 Aug 1943 USS Wahoo sighted a Soviet ship in the Sea of Okhotsk; she took no action.
20 Aug 1943 USS Wahoo sank a small vessel with her deck guns in the Sea of Okhotsk; six nearby fishermen surrendered and were taken prisoner. Two hours later, she destroyed another small vessels.
25 Aug 1943 USS Wahoo arrived at Midway Atoll.
29 Aug 1943 USS Wahoo arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii, ending her sixth war patrol.
13 Sep 1943 USS Wahoo departed Midway Atoll, starting her seventh war patrol. Based on the poor performance of the Mark 14 torpedoes on his earlier patrols, Wahoo captain Commander Mush Morton specifically requested to outfit his boat for this patrol exclusively with the new and not combat-tested electric Mark 18 torpedo.
21 Sep 1943 In the first successful use of the electric Mark 18 torpedo in combat, USS Wahoo sunk the Japanese merchant fishing vessel Hokusei Maru in the Sea of Ohkotsk.
25 Sep 1943 USS Wahoo sank freighter Taiko Maru in the Sea of Japan.
5 Oct 1943 USS Wahoo sank freighter Konron Maru in the Sea of Japan off Tsushima, Japan, killing 544.
11 Oct 1943 USS Wahoo was sunk by Japanese anti-submarine aircraft in Soya Strait (La PĂ©rouse Strait) between Hokkaido and Karafuto (Sakhalin), Japan. All aboard, including commanding officer Dudley Morton, were killed.
2 Dec 1943 USS Wahoo was declared overdue.
6 Dec 1943 USS Wahoo was struck from the US Navy Register.
31 Oct 2006 US Navy confirmed that the wreck discovered in 2005 in the La PĂ©rouse Strait between Hokkaido, Japan and Sakhalin, Russia was that of USS Wahoo. The wreck was observed to have suffered a direct bomb hit in the conning tower.
8 Jul 2007 US Navy conducted a wreath-laying ceremony at sea for the crew of USS Wahoo in the La PĂ©rouse Strait between Hokkaido, Japan and Sakhalin, Russia.
11 Oct 2007 US Navy held an official remembrance ceremony for the crew of USS Wahoo at the USS Bowfin Museum and Submarine Park at Honolulu, Hawaii, United States.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anonymous says:
30 May 2013 12:30:40 PM

Most famous ww 2 us submarine. Biography of skipper and exec are a must read.

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» O'Kane, Richard
» Skjonsby, Verne

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Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) Photo Gallery
View of Ways 3 and 4 at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, United States, 30 Jun 1941; note hull section for future USS Wahoo at left of photo
See all 45 photographs of Submarine Wahoo (SS-238)


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