Submarines on Eternal Patrol

"We shall never forget that it was our submarines that held the lines against the enemy while our fleets replaced losses and repaired wounds,"
Fleet Admiral Chester Nimifz, USN

"I can assure you that they went down fighting and that their brothers who survived them took a grim toll of our savage enemy to avenge their deaths,"
Vice Admiral C.A. Lockwood, USN

USS SEALION (SS 195) December 10,1941
USS S 36 (SS 141) January 20,1942
USS S 26 (SS 136) January 24,1942
USS SHARK (SS 174) February 11,1942
USS PERCH (SS 176) March 3,1942
USS S 27 (SS 132) June 19,1942
USS GRUNION (SS 216) August 16,1942
USS S 39 (SS 144) August 16,1942
USS ARGONAUT (SS 166) January 10,1943
USS AMBERJACK (SS 219) February 16,1943
USS GRAMPUS (SS 207) March 5,1943
USS TRITON (SS 201) March 15,1943
USS PICKEREL (SS 177) April 3, 1943
USS GRENADIER (SS 210) April 22, 1943
USS RUNNER (SS 275) May 28,1943
USS R 12 (SS 89) June 12,1943
USS POMPANO (SS 181) August 29,1943
USS GRAYLING (SS 209) September 9,1943
USS CISCO (SS 290) September 28,1943
USS S 44 (SS 149) October 7,1943
USS WAHOO (SS 238) October 11,1943
USS DORADO (SS 248) October 12,1943
USS CORVINA (SS 226) November 16,1943
USS SCULPIN (SS 191) November 19,1943
USS CAPELIN (SS 289) November 23,1943
USS SCORPION (SS 278) January 5,1944
USS GRAYBACK (SS 208) February 26,1944
USS TROUT (SS 202) February 28,1944
USSTULLIBEE (SS 284) March 26,1944
USS HERRING (SS 233) June 1,1944
USS GUDGEON (SS 211) June 7,1944
USS GOLET (SS 361) June 14,1944
USS S 28 (SS 133) July 4,1944
USS ROBALO (SS 273) July 26,1944
USS FLIER (SS 250) August 13,1944
USS HARDER (SS 257) August 24,1944
USS SEAWOLF (SS 197) October 3,1944
USS ESCOLAR (SS 294) October 17,1944
USS DARTER (SS 227) October 24,1944
USS SHARK II (SS 314) October 24,1944
USS TANG (SS 306) October 24,1944
USS ALBACORE (SS 218) November 7,1944
USS GROWLER (SS 215) November 8,1944
USS SCAMP (SS 277) November 9,1944
USS SWORDFISH (SS 193) January 12,1945
USS BARBEL (SS 316) February 4,1945
USS KETE (SS 369) March 20,1945
USS TRIGGER (SS 237) March 26,1945
USS SNOOK (SS 279) April 8, 1945
USS LAGARTO (SS 371) May 3,1945
USS BONEFISH (SS 223) June 18,1945
USS BULLHEAD (SS 332) August 6,1945

USS SCORPION II SSN 589
USS THRESHER SSN 593

Of approximately 6,000,000 tons comprising the Japanese merchant fleet at the beginning of the war, from 1941 through 1945, U. S. submarines sank 4,859,634 tons in 1,113 vessels.  Japan required about 3,000,000 tons of shipping just to feed its citizens and industry. This virtual isolation of Japan, loss of oil from the south, and general disruption of commerce has been cited as the primary reason for her defeat. During the same period, U. S. submarines sank 214 naval vessels or 577,626 tons.

The U. S. Submarine Force, composed of about 50,000 men, including staffs and back-up personnel represented 1.6% of the U. S. Navy. This small force inflicted a staggering 55% of Japan s maritime losses.  

Seven submariners earned the Medal of Honor during World War II; two posthumously.

Fifty-two of 288 submarines, and the 3,506 men who manned them, were lost and remain on eternal patrol.

SCORPION II (SSN 589) and THRESHER (SSN 593) were not lost during WWII, however they are added to the Eternal Patrol list as the only nuclear submarines lost

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