Category: World War II Patrol Reports

Grayling Hosts the PACFLT Change of Command

The final days of 1941 were a grim chapter for the United States Navy. The devastating attack on Pearl Harbor had left the Pacific Fleet crippled, with eight battleships sunk or heavily damaged, three cruisers and four destroyers similarly incapacitated, and over 2,400 Americans killed. The harbor’s waters, once bustling with activity, were now a murky graveyard of oil-slicked wreckage. The Navy’s confidence was shaken, and the American public demanded leadership that could reverse the tide of despair. Continue reading “Grayling Hosts the PACFLT Change of Command” →

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Bent Spoons and Bravery

The USS Silversides (SS-236), a Gato-class submarine, represented the peak of naval ingenuity and resilience during World War II. Commissioned in December 1941, just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the submarine quickly gained renown in the Pacific Theater, credited with sinking 23 enemy ships totaling over 90,000 tons. While its success in battle is legendary, one of its most remarkable stories is not about torpedoes or evasive maneuvers but an extraordinary act of medical improvisation deep beneath enemy waters. In December 1942, during its fourth war patrol, the crew of the Silversides faced a dire medical emergency that would test their resourcefulness and resolve.

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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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