18 Jan 1942

Dutch East Indies
24 Jan 1942

Dutch East Indies
  • In the early morning darkness as submarine USS Saury was plying the Makassar Strait trying to avoid being illuminated by burning ships damaged a few hours earlier in the Battle of Makassar Strait, Saury was unexpectedly illuminated by a spotlight from a Japanese patrol craft less than 200 yards away. Saury dove deep and evaded the subsequent depth charge attack. ww2dbase [Saury | Makassar Strait | DS]
11 May 1942

Dutch East Indies
  • In the Makassar Strait, Dutch East Indies, submarine USS Spearfish crossed the equator heading south bound for Fremantle, Australia. 24 were initiated as Shellbacks in the Ancient Order of the Deep, including 13 women medical corps passengers. ww2dbase [Spearfish | Makassar Strait | DS]
11 Sep 1942

Dutch East Indies
  • USS Saury sank Japanese auxiliary aircraft transport Kanto Maru with 3 torpedoes in the Makassar Strait in the Dutch East Indies at 2100 hours, killing 39. ww2dbase [Saury | Makassar Strait | CPC]
23 Sep 1942

Dutch East Indies
  • While transiting the Makassar Strait, submarine USS Thresher crossed the equator northbound. ww2dbase [Thresher | Makassar Strait | DS]
2 Mar 1943

Dutch East Indies
  • Submarine USS Thresher attacked the 7,000-ton tanker Toen Maru with four torpedoes in the Makassar Strait. The first torpedo solidly hit the ship but did not explode. Results of the second and third torpedoes were not observed but the fourth exploded against the stern of the tanker. Toen Maru immediately began settling by the stern and sank completely after 90 minutes. With all of her torpedoes expended, Thresher set a course for Fremantle, Australia. ww2dbase [Thresher | Makassar Strait | DS]
30 Jun 1943

Dutch East Indies
  • In the Makassar Strait off Balikpapan, Borneo, submarine USS Thresher attacked a convoy of three freighters with three torpedoes. One exploded prematurely and the others missed. ww2dbase [Thresher | Makassar Strait | DS]
1 Jul 1943

Dutch East Indies
  • Submarine USS Thresher tracked the convoy detected the day before as it sailed northward up the Makassar Strait. In the 24-hours from midnight to midnight, Thresher made three different attacks on this convoy. Japanese destroyer Hokaze was hit with two torpedoes and damaged so badly she had to be beached at Sibaya Harbor to prevent her sinking. Transport Yoneyama Maru and two tankers were sunk. ww2dbase [Thresher | Makassar Strait | DS]
19 Sep 1944

Dutch East Indies
  • While transiting the Makassar Strait, submarine USS Growler noted in her war diary that the sub “crossed the Equator. Davey Jones, Neptunus Rex and his Royal Party boarded the ship through No. 2 Torpedo Tube and duly initiated 38 Pollywogs into the Ancient Order of the Deep. No casualties.” ww2dbase [Line Crossing Ceremony | Growler | Makassar Strait | DS]



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