Any WWII US Submarine researchers here?

digi-shots

digi-shots

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It seems that this forum has some of the most knowledgeable folks that I know of.

Is there anyone here that knows a lot about WWII US subs?

In particular, the names of US Submarines that saw service in the ATLANTIC or ETO (Eastern Theater of Operations).

There is quite a bit of info on WWII US subs in the Pacific, but I can't seem to find much regarding the Atlantic.

Thanks! ... inquiring minds want to know :)
 
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Thanks Bruce!

I'll give it a try. Most of the information I've found on the internet relates only to the Pacific.

There were not that many US subs that operated in the Atlantic during WWII.
 
Other than you do not install screen doors on one, I dont know a lot about them. You more than likely already know and done this, is that they have a WWII US Submarine at Baltimores Inner Harbor. I went thru it a few years ago and it was fasinating to me that men went to war in those things!
 
Interesting subject, worthy of in-depth research.......:rolleyes:
 
The best book on the subject, which includes the Atlantic theator of operations, is "Silent Victory " by Clay Blair, Jr.

Also, I believe Samuel Elliot Morison's excellent "Two Ocean Navy" has a chapter on the subject. His more exhaustive, 15 volume "History of United States Naval Operations in WWII" probably covers it in detail, if you can find a copy.
 
My father spent most of his 30 years in the navy, (Master Chief), riding the "Pig Boats" as the old diesels were known. At age 11 or so I got to go out to sea for a day, the skipper had a son my age and we had the run of the boat. Looked through the periscope as we dove, launched a dummy torpedo and all the burgers and ice cream two kids could eat. Might just have been the best father son day ever. If you ever get the chance to tour a diesel, do it! You won't believe the conditions those guys not only lived but fought in. Not taking anything away from the guys serving on the nukes but those pig boats were unbelievable!
 
Thanks for all the comments!

I think there were only a handful of subs that operated during WWII in the Atlantic.

I did have an opportunity to tour the BOWFIN at Pearl Harbour a few years ago... very tight quarters! I can't believe those fellows took turns sleeping in their racks!
 
I can recommend a few books about submariners
The Bravest Man- William Tuohy
War in the Boats-William Ruhe
The Luck of the Draw -C Kenneth Ruiz
The Course of Duty-Don Keith
Unrestricted Warefare-james DeRose

For the axis side I can recommend
Kamikaze Submarine-Yutaka yokota
Iron Coffins- Herbert Werner
Torpedo Junction-Homer Hickam Jr

I have other books that are stored away, but these were upstairs next to the computer
 
There's a World War II sub at a museum in Manitowoc, WI.
My family toured it several years ago.
They museum has photos and other info on subs made in Manitowoc.
(The sub moored there wasn't made there but is the same type.)

It seems a lot of the Wisconsin-made subs did serve in the Pacific.
 
bummer said:
I can recommend a few books about submariners
The Bravest Man- William Tuohy
War in the Boats-William Ruhe
The Luck of the Draw -C Kenneth Ruiz
The Course of Duty-Don Keith
Unrestricted Warefare-james DeRose

For the axis side I can recommend
Kamikaze Submarine-Yutaka yokota
Iron Coffins- Herbert Werner
Torpedo Junction-Homer Hickam Jr

I have other books that are stored away, but these were upstairs next to the computer
Click to expand...

All good suggestions, but the absolute best book on the WWII submarine warfare is "Clear the Bridge" by Richard H. O'Kane. As the only commander of the U.S.S. Tang during her 5 war patrols, this real life adventure reads like a Tom Clancy novel.
 
I had the chance to go on a sub as training as an ASW operator (P-3 orion, SH-3, TSC and ASWOC). We went out for a daily excursion. This was in the early 80's and I was amazed at how cramped it was. I can only imagine the conditions in a diesel boat in WWII.

I run the ferris wheel at Dollywood a couple of days a week. A few weeks ago a man came up to me wearing a WWII and Korea Vet hat. I talked to him for a few minutes. He was a submariner in the Pacific for his entire career. I wish I could have spent an entire afternoon with him. The stories he can tell, I'm sure!

There aren't too many of those folks left!
 
Thanks for all the suggestions. I did contact the Sub Base Museum in Groton, CT and just received an email back from them:

...there were only 6 "Atlantic" based subs, all part of "Squadron 50"... the SHAD, BARB, HERRING, BLACKFISH, GUNNEL, and GURNARD.

I was aware of only 2 (Herring & Gunnel). The GUNNEL was very instrumental in "Operation Torch" (Allied invasion of Vichy-controlled French North Africa).

I'm helping someone research a USN medal bar, complete with gold submarine "Dolfins", numerous ribbons with battle stars and a French Croix de Guerre Medal.
 
digi-shots said:
Thanks for all the suggestions. I did contact the Sub Base Museum in Groton, CT and just received an email back from them:

...there were only 6 "Atlantic" based subs, all part of "Squadron 50"... the SHAD, BARB, HERRING, BLACKFISH, GUNNEL, and GURNARD.

I was aware of only 2 (Herring & Gunnel). The GUNNEL was very instrumental in "Operation Torch" (Allied invasion of Vichy-controlled French North Africa).

I'm helping someone research a USN medal bar, complete with gold submarine "Dolfins", numerous ribbons with battle stars and a French Croix de Guerre Medal.
Click to expand...

Ma'am, the French medal doesn't necessarily imply Atlantic service. The French still had numerous possessions and citizens in the Pacific during the War, so the medal could very well be from with an action involving those.

If you know the name of the veteran whose awards these are, the sub museum folks may be able to tell you on which boat(s) the man served. Even if you don't know the man's name, it seems unusual for an American submariner to be awarded the Croix de Guerre, so I'd think the museum folks would have some record of it.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
Thanks for the added comments and help!:)

The medal grouping is a little unsual as there are NO Pacific campaign ribbons... I think there's an ETO ribbon on it. It could be the sub later saw service in the Pacific, but the original owner of the medal grouping did not.

I'll see if I can't take some pics of it and post them.

There were 2 subs that were awarded "6 battle stars", so there's a chance we've narrowed it down to one of those two. Unfortunately, the name of the original owner is unknown. With the gold dolphins, it's an officer and not an enlisted man.
 
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