Tautog file photo [1884]

Tautog

CountryUnited States
Ship ClassTambor-class Submarine
Hull NumberSS-199
BuilderElectric Boat Company
Laid Down1 Mar 1939
Launched27 Jan 1940
Commissioned3 Jul 1940
Decommissioned8 Dec 1945
Displacement1,475 tons standard; 2,370 tons submerged
Length307 feet
Beam27 feet
Draft13 feet
MachineryFour General Motors diesel engines, four General Electric Motors, two screws
BunkerageOil 93.993 gal, battery cells
Power Output5,400 shaft horsepower
Speed20 knots
Crew59
Armament10x21
Submerged Speed8 knots

Contributor:

ww2dbaseAfter a brief training period in Long Island Sound off the namesake island in New York, United States, the submarine Tautog sailed for the Caribbean Sea on her shakedown cruise in Sep 1940. After service in the Atlantic, she sailed for Hawaii on 1 May 1941 and operated off Hawaii. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 Dec 1941, Tautog was at the submarine base; her crew manned the deck gun, and shared the credit of a downed Japanese torpedo bomber with gunners of the submarine Narwhal and a destroyer. Early in the Pacific War she performed reconnaissance missions in the central Pacific, where she sank Japanese submarine RO-30 on 26 Apr 1942, sank submarine I-28 on 15 May, damaged cargo ship Sanko Maru on 22 May, and sank cargo ship Shoka Maru on 25 May. This successful war patrol was indicative of her successful records during WW2, sinking an astonishing 26 Japanese ships for a total of 72,606 tons. She was planned to be used as a target during atomic bomb tests at Bikini Island in 1946, but the plan was cancelled. Instead, she became an immobile training ship at the Great Lakes Naval Reserve Training Center. She was sold to the Bultema Dock and Dredge Company of Manistee, Michigan, for scrap on 15 Nov 1959.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: May 2006

Submarine Tautog (SS-199) Interactive Map

Photographs

Launch of submarine Tautog, 27 Jan 1940TautogTautog underway, 29 May 1945

Tautog Operational Timeline

1 Mar 1939 The keel of submarine Tautog was laid down at Groton, Connecticut, United States.
27 Jan 1940 Submarine Tautog was launched.
3 Jul 1940 USS Tautog was commissioned into service.
26 Apr 1942 USS Tautog sank Japanese submarine RO-30.
16 May 1942 USS Tautog damaged Japanese cargo ship Goyo Maru in the Caroline Islands, forcing her to beach to prevent sinking.
17 May 1942 USS Tautog attacked Japanese submarines I-22 and I-24 70 miles south of Truk, Caroline Islands at 0648 hours; all torpedoes missed. At 1107 hours, she discovered I-28 and attacked again, this time sinking the target, killing all 88 aboard.
25 May 1942 USS Tautog sank Japanese merchant ship Shoka Maru 440 miles southwest of Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
13 Mar 1944 US submarine Tautog (SS-199) fired seven torpedoes at a Japanese convoy some 20 miles west of Rashuwa (Rasshua) Island, Kurile Islands, Japan, two of which hit. Combined with the use of her deck gun, she sank army cargo ship Ryua Maru and transport Shojin Maru.
23 Aug 1944 Tambor-class submarine USS Tautog arrived at the submarine repair basin at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company, San Francisco, California for a major overhaul.
15 Nov 1944 Tambor-class submarine USS Tautog departed San Francisco and proceeded to San Diego.
23 Nov 1944 Tambor-class submarine USS Tautog departed San Diego bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
17 Dec 1944 Tambor-class submarine USS Tautog departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on her thirteenth war patrol.
21 Dec 1944 Tambor-class submarine USS Tautog arrived at Midway on her way to her thirteenth war patrol.
22 Dec 1944 Gato-class submarine USS Silversides departed Midway on her twelfth war patrol in company with submarine USS Tautog.
30 Dec 1944 Gato-class submarine USS Silversides and Tambor-class submarine USS Tautog arrived at Saipan, Mariana Islands.
2 Jan 1945 Gato-class submarine USS Silversides and Tambor-class submarine USS Tautog departed Saipan, Mariana Islands bound for their patrol area.
7 Jan 1945 Gato-class submarine USS Silversides and Tambor-class submarine USS Tautog entered their patrol area covering the approaches to Sasebo and Nagasaki, Japan.
8 Dec 1945 USS Tautog was decommissioned from service.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Brooks Ashley Rowlett says:
27 Jan 2010 10:54:59 AM

TAUTOG is particularly significant historically, as she was at Pearl Harbor on 12/7/1941 and has a shared credit for a Japanese aircraft shot down there. The submarine has the highest JANAC (Joint Army-Navy Assessment Comittee) 'sinkings number' of any US submarine in WWII, though she is listed as only 11th by tonnage destroyed.
2. Carl Wilkes says:
11 Feb 2011 03:24:49 PM

Anyone out there still from Tautag 199 that remembers my dad Gail E. Wilkes. On board during WWII for many patrols.
3. Melissa meyer MATOWITZ says:
20 May 2012 07:54:59 PM

I am seeking information and photos on my dad who served on SS199Tautog as a signalman I think. his service No USN1939852
4. Deborah Mullen Van Meter says:
28 Aug 2013 12:42:58 PM

Does anyone remember my dad, Francis "Moon" Mullen, he served aboard SS199 during WWII and was an Electrician's Mate.
5. Anonymous says:
21 Jul 2014 02:23:35 PM

Does anyone know what happened to the original Captain's Flag depicting the ships sunk by the SS199? Does anyone know if a William B. Seach was the Chief Torpedoman on the SS199?
Thank you....
6. james p dawson says:
18 May 2015 05:03:01 PM

just wondering if anyone knows anything about my father , Frank A. Dawson onboard the Tautog
7. Anonymous says:
25 May 2015 08:37:17 AM

I believe I have the original Captain's flag from the Tautog, with a story behind it. By the way, it is awesome and beautifully displayed.
8. Patrick Murphy says:
26 Nov 2016 06:59:11 PM

Does anyone have information on my father Marion Murphy who served on the Tautog during the attack on Pearl Harbor? Awards, accomplishments, anything? Would appreciate hearing. Thanks
9. Commenter identity confirmed David Stubblebine says:
26 Nov 2016 08:48:09 PM

Patrick Murphy (above):
The 31 Dec 1941 Muster Roll for the USS Tautog list a Seaman 2nd Marion (n) Murphy, service number 356 51 70, as part of the crew since 27 Sep 1941 and with an enlistment date of 11 Feb 1941. The Muster Rolls are barely more than a list of names so there would not be any mention of his actions on 7 Dec 1941 or any other time. If you are interested in his Navy service, I strongly recommend requesting his service record. See: https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records
10. Bob Coty says:
7 Dec 2016 08:37:11 PM

I am looking crew information on my uncle Francis Joseph Coty who served on during the attack on Pearl Harbor? Any information would be appreciated. Thank You
11. charles watts says:
28 Apr 2019 12:05:48 PM

My step father served on her his Name at the time was Paul Adams Wagner. He changed it to Richard L. Manley. would like to know when he served.
12. Commenter identity confirmed David Stubblebine says:
28 Apr 2019 05:32:59 PM

Charles Watts (above):
No crewman named Wagner appears in the Tautog Muster Rolls. If he was an officer, his name would not appear in the Muster Rolls either, otherwise it appears he was not aboard.
13. Carl Wilkes says:
13 Nov 2019 04:28:23 PM

My father served on the Tautog as Chief Torpedoman and as Chief of the boat. 7 combat missions stars. I had no idea until after he died. His name was Gail Wilkes but I believe they called him Willie.
14. Ross says:
29 Nov 2019 05:03:58 PM

Navy muster rolls are interesting from that time period. I know my step father was once assigned to both the Cuttlefish (at Mare Island on 7 Dec) and the Tautog. From what little he would say, I believe he was transferred before Cuttlefish left. His reenlistment papers list hull number or the Cuttlefish and the name of the Tautog. I'm well familiar with Navy clerks as I'm Submarine Service 1982-1991.
15. Amy Cook says:
14 Nov 2021 05:18:26 PM

In response to comment #5 from Anonymous posted on
21 Jul 2014 02:23:35 PM--
I am the granddaughter of William B. Seach and, yes, he served as the Chief Torpedoman on the USS Tautog and was present on 12/7/41.

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Document(s):
» US Navy Report of Japanese Raid on Pearl Harbor, Enclosure E, USS Tautog

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Submarine Tautog (SS-199) Photo Gallery
Launch of submarine Tautog, 27 Jan 1940
See all 3 photographs of Submarine Tautog (SS-199)


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