Final Patrol (27 page)
Authors: Don Keith
Of course, Paul Summers had no way of knowing that the men jumping overboard were the Japanese guards, the men who were supposed to be overseeing the prisoners. They also took most of the lifeboats as they fled the dying transport.
The
Sealion
had already gone deep to get away from the inevitable depth charging. It did not take long before the explosives were going off all around her and she pointed her nose deeper, as far down as she dared go.
Sealion
had already gone deep to get away from the inevitable depth charging. It did not take long before the explosives were going off all around her and she pointed her nose deeper, as far down as she dared go.
The
Pampanito
and the
Growler
had no reason to stand by and watch the two stricken ships sink. Nor did they have any reason to try to pluck enemy survivors out of the water. Of course, they still had no idea there were POWs among them.
Pampanito
and the
Growler
had no reason to stand by and watch the two stricken ships sink. Nor did they have any reason to try to pluck enemy survivors out of the water. Of course, they still had no idea there were POWs among them.
The sub skippers had a job to do. Without hesitation, they turned their sterns to the mess their sister boat had made and were off in chase of what remained of the fleeing convoy. There were other targets to eliminate.
The
Growler
quickly caught one of the escort ships and sent it to the bottom, the explosions of her torpedoes causing concussive ripples across the expanse of the sea as the rising sun painted the scene an eerie orange.
Growler
quickly caught one of the escort ships and sent it to the bottom, the explosions of her torpedoes causing concussive ripples across the expanse of the sea as the rising sun painted the scene an eerie orange.
The
Pampanito
plowed on, looking for something for her own torpedomen to shoot at.
Pampanito
plowed on, looking for something for her own torpedomen to shoot at.
Meanwhile, back aboard the heavily listing
Rakuyo Maru
, with no guards watching over them, the POWs who had survived the explosions and fire went desperately rummaging about, looking for anything they could lash together to make rafts, gathering up food and water, getting ready for what could be a long time in the water after their ship inevitably sank beneath them.
Rakuyo Maru
, with no guards watching over them, the POWs who had survived the explosions and fire went desperately rummaging about, looking for anything they could lash together to make rafts, gathering up food and water, getting ready for what could be a long time in the water after their ship inevitably sank beneath them.
It would take the transport almost twelve hours to finally go under.
Other POWs were already in the water. Some were thrown overboard by the explosions, others had jumped at the first opportunity to escape the withering fires. All were clinging to anything they could find that would help keep them afloat. Tragically, many of them would die from the shock waves from the vicious nearby depth charges, the continuing attack on the
Sealion
. Others would be killed by the blasts from the escort warship that had been hit by the
Growler
.
Sealion
. Others would be killed by the blasts from the escort warship that had been hit by the
Growler
.
Still unaware of the POWs and their awful predicament, the
Pampanito
tracked the bulk of the remaining ships in the convoy. As soon as darkness offered its cover once again, Summers and his crew launched a surprise attack.
Pampanito
tracked the bulk of the remaining ships in the convoy. As soon as darkness offered its cover once again, Summers and his crew launched a surprise attack.
“Hot run in number four!” came the sharp cry from the forward torpedo room.
“Aye, hot run in number four,” acknowledged the torpedo officer, with as much calm as he could muster.
A torpedo had become stuck in the tube, its nose hard against the jammed door. That kept it from swimming away, even as the torpedo's engine ran at full speed, butting its nose against the impediment. It wouldn't be armed yet. It took several hundred feet of run in the open sea to get it to the point that it would be ready to explode upon contact with something solid. Still, these particular fish were known to be extremely temperamental. It was highly possible that the hot run could explode right there in the number-four tube.
The truth was, though, that there was little they could do at the moment about the balky weapon. And there were plenty of targets still swimming around out there. Swinging around to draw a bead on several of the vessels, trying not to think about the explosive power that was hemmed up in number four like a ticking time bomb, the sub released a total of nine torpedoes over the next few minutesâall she had to fire.
Nine torpedoes swimming away toward their quarry. All but two of them struck targets.
In all, three vessels were damaged. Two of them were clearly done for. A third was claimed as a kill but was later disallowed.
One of the dying targets was a big transport with an unusual history. It was a ship originally built in the United States as the
Wolverine State
, a passenger ship. She had been carrying passengers off the China coast when she was captured by the Japanese and renamed the
Kachidoki Maru
. She was used as a troop transport and cargo vessel, primarily carrying raw materials and soldiers between various points of the Pacific Rim and Japan.
Wolverine State
, a passenger ship. She had been carrying passengers off the China coast when she was captured by the Japanese and renamed the
Kachidoki Maru
. She was used as a troop transport and cargo vessel, primarily carrying raw materials and soldiers between various points of the Pacific Rim and Japan.
On this voyage, the ship also carried nine hundred British and Australian prisoners of war.
Cheers rang out up and down the length of the
Pampanito
as the skipper reported the solid hits against the enemy. The thunderous explosions and sounds of vessels breaking up as seawater rushed into their holds confirmed his update.
Pampanito
as the skipper reported the solid hits against the enemy. The thunderous explosions and sounds of vessels breaking up as seawater rushed into their holds confirmed his update.
They then decided not to launch any more torpedoes, even when a couple of smaller vessels appeared and began picking up survivors from the teeming sea. Summers backed away from all the destruction he and his gang had set loose and finally gave attention to the lethal weapon that was still stubbornly lodged in the tube up front. They were finally able to eject the sticky torpedo and reload all tubes, just in case something else interesting came swimming by. Flushed by the success of this attack, they were ready to do more damage.
The crew did get a quick shot at a destroyer later in the day, but the quicker surface ship avoided their torpedoes and steamed on. Then the fun was over. It was time to go meet up with the rest of the wolf pack and compare notes on their wonderfully successful assault.
The next day, the
Pampanito
returned to the general area where the attacks on the convoy had taken place, hoping to run into a straggler or two and finish them off. On the afternoon of September 14, after diving deep to avoid contact with an enemy aircraft that did not seem to want to go away, Summers finally brought his boat to the surface in the midst of a nasty batch of debris and thick sludge oil. Wreckage floated all about them, the remnants of the mayhem their wolf pack had unleashed.
Pampanito
returned to the general area where the attacks on the convoy had taken place, hoping to run into a straggler or two and finish them off. On the afternoon of September 14, after diving deep to avoid contact with an enemy aircraft that did not seem to want to go away, Summers finally brought his boat to the surface in the midst of a nasty batch of debris and thick sludge oil. Wreckage floated all about them, the remnants of the mayhem their wolf pack had unleashed.
The skipper later noted in his log what else they found there:
1605: A bridge lookout sighted some men on a raft, so stood by small arms, and closed to investigate.
Â
1634: The men were covered with oil and filth and we could not make them out. . . . They were shouting but we couldn't understand what they were saying, except made out words “Pick us up please.” Called rescue party on deck and took them off the raft. There were about fifteen (15) British and Australian Prisoner of War survivors on this raft from a ship sunk the night of 11-12 September 1944. We learned they were enroute from Singapore to Formosa and that there were over thirteen hundred on the sunken ship.
They were survivors of the
Sealion
's attack on the
Rakuyo Maru
. They were a ragged bunch. After four days floating on the lashed-together makeshift raft, the men were hungry, thirsty, weak from exposure, and covered from head to foot with thick oil.
Sealion
's attack on the
Rakuyo Maru
. They were a ragged bunch. After four days floating on the lashed-together makeshift raft, the men were hungry, thirsty, weak from exposure, and covered from head to foot with thick oil.
As soon as he got the story from the survivors, Captain Summers radioed the
Sealion
and told them what they had found. Both subs immediately began lifesaving measures, trying to pick up as many of the men as they could find while keeping a wary eye out for trouble.
Sealion
and told them what they had found. Both subs immediately began lifesaving measures, trying to pick up as many of the men as they could find while keeping a wary eye out for trouble.
Summers later recorded:
1634: As men were received on board, we stripped them and removed most of the heavy coating of oil and muck. We cleared the after torpedo room and passed them below as quickly as possible. Gave all men a piece of cloth moistened with water to suck on. All of them were exhausted after four days on the raft and three years imprisonment. Many had lashed themselves to their makeshift rafts, which were slick with grease; and had nothing but lifebelts with them. All showed signs of pellagra, beriberi, immersion, salt water sores, ringworm, malaria etc. All were very thin and showed the results of undernourishment. Some were in very bad shape. . . . A pitiful sight none of us will ever forget. All hands turned to with a will and the men were cared for as rapidly as possible.
Â
Â
1701: Sent message asking Sealion for help.
Â
Â
1712: Picked up a second raft with about nine men aboard. . . .
Â
Â
1721: Picked up another six men.
Â
Â
1730: Rescued another six men.
Â
Â
1753: Picked up about eleven men. . . .
Â
Â
1824: . . . about six men.
Â
Â
1832: . . . about five men . . .
Â
Â
1957: Light fading rapidly as we picked up a single survivor.
Â
Â
2005: Completely dark as we took aboard the last group of about ten men. Had made a thorough search of our vicinity with high periscope and kept true bearings of all rafts sighted. Felt we had everyone in sight and knew we had all we could care for if not more. When finally we obtained an exact count the number of survivors on board was 73. These together with 79 members of our crew plus 10 officers make us “a little cramped for living space.”
Â
Â
2015: Made final search and finding no one else set course for Saipan at four engine speed.
Much of the rescue effort was recorded on movie film, using the boat's 16-millimeter camera. That footage has survived. In those pictures, we can see volunteer teams of crewmen pulling the oil-covered men aboard, even as lookouts kept an eye on the sky and radar scanned for incoming aircraft. Word would have been passed to the Japanese headquarters about the attack on the convoy and aircraft were almost a certainty.
Still the crewmen from the submarines did all they could do, throwing lines to drifting rafts, pulling them close enough to the submarine to help the men aboard. Some of the sub sailors jumped into the water to get to victims, knowing that if the sub had to suddenly duck under the surface to avoid aircraft or patrol vessels, they would be stranded there. Stranded along with the men they were attempting to rescue. A submarine on the surface in daylight is a luscious target to enemy aircraft, so the skipper would have no choice but to dive.
Any of the men working on deck would have been left behind, too, if the need to dive occurred. It took less than a minute from the order to dive and the sounding of the klaxon for the boat to be under. Anyone not in the shears or on the bridge when the order came had no hope of getting belowdecks before the hatch was closed.
No matter. The submariners knew they had to do whatever they could to rescue as many of the POWs as possible. They ignored the risk and did their jobs and tried not to think about what might happen if an aircraft suddenly popped up on the boat's radar screen.
Captain Summers sent a radio message requesting that any other vessels in the area be sent as quickly as possible to continue the rescue. Several submarines broke off pursuit of another enemy convoy to rush to the area to help. Several dozen more men were plucked from the sea before a typhoon blew in, ending the effort and sealing the fate of the other POWs who had somehow survived the sinkings until that point.
In all and according to the best count available, over twenty-two hundred POWs were aboard the two transports that were sunk by the
Sealion
and the
Pampanito
. Those two boats and two of their sisters, the
Queenfish
(SS-393) and the
Barb
(SS-220), pulled about 160 men out of the oily waters. After the war, IJN records indicated that the Japanese rescued about 140 POWs for a total of about 300 of them who were saved. The Japanese were much more successful in getting to the survivors of the ship that was sunk by Summers and the
Pampanito
. Of the 900 men on that ship, about 660 were pulled aboard Japanese vessels and taken on to work camps, as originally intended. After the war, over 500 of themâall who survived the work campsâwere liberated by American troops.
Sealion
and the
Pampanito
. Those two boats and two of their sisters, the
Queenfish
(SS-393) and the
Barb
(SS-220), pulled about 160 men out of the oily waters. After the war, IJN records indicated that the Japanese rescued about 140 POWs for a total of about 300 of them who were saved. The Japanese were much more successful in getting to the survivors of the ship that was sunk by Summers and the
Pampanito
. Of the 900 men on that ship, about 660 were pulled aboard Japanese vessels and taken on to work camps, as originally intended. After the war, over 500 of themâall who survived the work campsâwere liberated by American troops.
The nearest safe harbor to the
Pampanito
's position was the island of Saipan, five days away, provided they could get a decent amount of time to run on the surface. Men were sleeping everywhere on the submarine, even on the empty torpedo skids. Food supplies were limited, too, but they somehow made do, including the submariners, who, for once, silenced their usual good-natured grousing.
Pampanito
's position was the island of Saipan, five days away, provided they could get a decent amount of time to run on the surface. Men were sleeping everywhere on the submarine, even on the empty torpedo skids. Food supplies were limited, too, but they somehow made do, including the submariners, who, for once, silenced their usual good-natured grousing.
Clearly many of the survivors required medical attention. No sub carried a doctor, so the task of caring for the variety of ailments fell to the pharmacist's mate, Maurice Demers. Others pitched in to help as they could, feeding the men who were too weak to hold a spoon and donating clothing and toilet articles.
Despite the young PM's best efforts, one of the POWs, a Brit, died. He was buried at sea in a somber funeral ceremony.
En route to Saipan, the sub met up with the destroyer USS
Case
(DD- 370), who sent over a doctor, another pharmacist's mate to assist Demers, food, and a good stock of medical supplies.
Case
(DD- 370), who sent over a doctor, another pharmacist's mate to assist Demers, food, and a good stock of medical supplies.
When they docked in Tanapag Harbor on Saipan on September 20, men bringing fresh fruit and ice cream met them. The process of getting the rescued POWs ashore and to medical facilities began at once.
Captain Summers was awarded the Navy Cross for his leadership in the attack on the Japanese patrol as well as for the rescue of the prisoners. The crewmen of the
Pampanito
, who so bravely dove into the water to swim out and assist survivors, received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. So did Pharmacist's Mate Demers for his efforts to ease the suffering of the men they plucked from the oily sea.
Pampanito
, who so bravely dove into the water to swim out and assist survivors, received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. So did Pharmacist's Mate Demers for his efforts to ease the suffering of the men they plucked from the oily sea.
Â
Â
Â
After the third war patrol
for the
Pampanito
, Commander Paul Summers was sent home for some well-deserved rest. With his three patrols at the helm of the
Pampanito
and seven more before that on the USS
Stingray
, he welcomed the break, but would return to take command of the
Pampanito
's fifth and sixth runs.
for the
Pampanito
, Commander Paul Summers was sent home for some well-deserved rest. With his three patrols at the helm of the
Pampanito
and seven more before that on the USS
Stingray
, he welcomed the break, but would return to take command of the
Pampanito
's fifth and sixth runs.
So, when the 383 boat pulled away from Pearl Harbor for her fourth war patrol, she was under the command of Captain Frank Wesley “Mike” Fenno, a sub sailor with a unique war record. He had most recently been the skipper of the USS
Runner
(SS-275), but before that command he was on the bridge of the USS
Trout
(SS-202), one of the boats on patrol in the Pacific near the Hawaiian Islands on the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Runner
(SS-275), but before that command he was on the bridge of the USS
Trout
(SS-202), one of the boats on patrol in the Pacific near the Hawaiian Islands on the day of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Other books
Marked. Part II: Becoming Noah Baxter by J. M. Sevilla
Riley by Susan Hughes
The Alien Artifact 9 (Novelette) by V Bertolaccini
Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier
Fated by Nicole Tetterton
Microsoft Word - THE LAST MAN ON EARTH - Raine Weaver.doc by Administrator
Speed of My Heart by Erika Trevathan
Blasted by Kate Story
A Breach of Promise by Victoria Vane
Beachcomber by Karen Robards