1942

In February 1942, just two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet was still adapting to its new role in the Pacific War. The Silent Service had yet to prove itself as the deadly force it would become, but already, bold skippers and determined crews were striking at Japan’s vital shipping lanes. That month saw both triumph and tragedy—USS Sargo (SS-188) made an early mark by sinking a Japanese cargo vessel, while USS Shark (SS-174) became the first American submarine lost to enemy action. Continue reading “WWII – February: The Silent Service Steps Up in the Pacific” →