Submarine Rasher (SS-269)

Rasher

Country	United States
Ship Class	Gato-class Submarine
Hull Number	SS-269

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Submarine Rasher (SS-269) Interactive Map

Rasher Operational Timeline

25 Feb 1944	The American submarine USS Rasher (SS-269) (Lieutenant Commander Willard R. Laughon) intercepted a Japanese convoy of Ryusei Maru and Tango Maru escorted by minesweepers W-8 and W-11 together with an auxiliary submarine chaser TakunanMaru No. 3. The convoy was proceeding from Surabaya to Ambon in the Dutch East Indies. Ryusei Maru was carrying approximately 6,000 Japanese soldiers and Tango Maru had 3,500 Javanese workers and 3,500 Allied prisoners of war on board. At 2045 hours Rasher torpedoed and sank Tango Maru about 25 miles north of Bali Island, an hour and a half later Rasher fired four torpedoes at Ryusei Maru, three torpedoes hit, and the vessel sank quickly taking most of the men on board her down.
26 Feb 1944	At 0824 hours US Navy code breakers intercepted a message reading: "Submarine chaser No. 1 will proceed immediately to the position of the Ryusei Maru to assist in rescue operations." The Ryusei Maru had been sunk by submarine USS Rasher during the previous night north of Bali, Dutch East Indies; Rasher's commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Willard R. Laughon was not aware that Tango Maru had carried over 3,500 Allied prisoners of war. Most of the prisoners were killed during the sinking.
14 Jun 1944	USS Rasher attacked a Japanese convoy with 5 torpedoes in the Celebes Sea at 1003 hours, claiming 5 hits, 1 sinking, and 2 ships damaged. The ship that sank was Koan Maru, whose captain remained on the bridge and went down with the ship.

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Pat Doyle says:
23 Jun 2018 08:38:48 AM

Do you have any copies of the Presidential Unit Citation letter for any of the US subs in WWII?
Thanks for your time.

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Rasher