Author: FTB1(SS)

Hawkbill vs Momo

The USS Hawkbill (SS-366) prowled the waters of the South China Sea on December 15, 1944, ready to strike another blow in the relentless submarine campaign against Japan. Commanded by Lieutenant Commander Francis Worth Scanland Jr., the Hawkbill was a stealthy predator of the Pacific, a Balao-class submarine with cutting-edge technology and a seasoned crew. This day would bring her into contact with one of Japan’s desperate attempts to maintain maritime supply lines: the Matsu-class destroyer IJN Momo. Continue reading “Hawkbill vs Momo” →

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Slade 3, Army 0

It was December 1, 1934, and the gray skies over Philadelphia matched the solemnity of a nation still clawing its way out of the Great Depression. Franklin Field buzzed with anticipation, hosting 78,000 fans in what was more than a football game—it was an institution. The Army-Navy Game, a yearly clash of grit and pride, captured the imagination of America. But in 1934, it wasn’t just the game; it was the weather, the mud, and one man’s extraordinary kick that turned the spectacle into legend. Continue reading “Slade 3, Army 0” →

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Wrecked in the Breakers – The Saga of USS H-3 and USS Milwaukee

On a foggy December morning in 1916, the USS H-3 (SS-30), a proud member of the Navy’s fledgling submarine fleet, met her match not in enemy waters but on the unforgiving sands of Samoa, California. It began as a routine patrol for the Pacific Fleet’s H-class submarine. But heavy fog and treacherous coastal currents conspired to ground her near Humboldt Bay. What followed was a dramatic tale of ingenuity, missteps, and perseverance—a saga that not only tested the Navy’s resolve but also claimed another vessel, the USS Milwaukee (C-21), in its wake. Continue reading “Wrecked in the Breakers – The Saga of USS H-3 and USS Milwaukee” →

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