The Crucible of War: Submarine Operations in Late 1944

By November 1944, the U.S. Navy’s submarine force had become a relentless scourge against Japanese shipping. The Pacific War had entered a decisive phase, with American submarines strangling Japan’s supply lines, sinking warships, and reshaping naval warfare. The month of November would prove both triumphant and tragic—marked by daring attacks, technological breakthroughs, and heartbreaking losses.

The USS Salmon limped back to Saipan on November 3, battered beyond repair after enduring punishing depth-charge attacks. It was a grim homecoming. October had already claimed five submarines, and November would bring even heavier casualties. Yet amid the losses, American submariners pressed forward, striking deep into enemy waters with audacity and precision.

The Strategic Picture: Japan’s Desperate Stand

Japan’s navy, though bloodied, refused to yield. In Leyte Gulf, remnants of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) fought with desperate fury, while U.S. Third Fleet aircraft provided air cover for General MacArthur’s forces. Delays in constructing airfields on Leyte forced Vice Admiral John S. McCain’s Task Force 38 to maintain constant patrols, intercepting Japanese air reinforcements.

Meanwhile, U.S. submarines prowled farther north and west, hunting merchant convoys and warships along the Asian coast. These operations had grown routine, yet their impact was devastating. At Pearl Harbor, Admiral Raymond Spruance and his staff prepared for the next major offensive, while submarine crews refined tactics and tested new equipment.

Technological Edge: The ST Radar and FM Sonar

Innovation played a crucial role in the submarine campaign. The arrival of the USS Spikefish (SS-404) at Pearl Harbor marked a milestone—it carried the first ST-type periscope radar, a game-changer for night attacks. Excited observers joined the crew for sea trials, confirming the system’s effectiveness against radar-equipped escorts.

Another breakthrough came with FM sonar, designed to detect mines—a critical tool for penetrating Japan’s heavily mined home waters. Aboard the USS Tinosa, officers tested the system, successfully navigating minefields in the Tsushima Strait. These advances promised to unlock Japan’s inner defenses, cutting off its last maritime lifelines.

The Torpedo Problem: A Persistent Curse

Despite technological strides, the U.S. submarine force still grappled with defective torpedoes. A November 15 demonstration aboard the USS Sea Owl (SS-405) ended in frustration: of three test-fired torpedoes, only one ran true. Electrical failures and production shortcuts plagued the program, echoing earlier wartime defects. Ordnance chief Rear Admiral George Hussey, witnessing the failures firsthand, vowed to root out the issues—but for now, submariners went to war with unreliable weapons.

The Sinking of the Kumano: Wolfpack Triumph

On November 6, a wolfpack consisting of the USS Guitarro, Bream, and Ratón ambushed the Japanese heavy cruiser Kumano off Luzon. The Guitarro struck first, firing nine torpedoes—three hits were confirmed. The Ratón followed with four torpedoes, scoring two more hits. Finally, the Bream delivered the coup de grâce, slamming three torpedoes into the crippled cruiser. Though the Kumano was beached, the attack showcased the lethal efficiency of coordinated submarine tactics.

The Jinyo Incident: A Carrier’s End

The USS Pampanito (SS-411) achieved one of November’s most dramatic kills. Patrolling the Yellow Sea, Commander E. E. Shelby’s crew stalked a convoy including the escort carrier Jinyo. After a tense chase, the Pampanito launched six torpedoes—four struck home. The carrier erupted in flames, its aircraft tumbling into the sea as it capsized. Japan’s escort carrier fleet, vital for anti-submarine operations, had been gutted.

The Legend of Burt’s Brooms

Admiral Spruance ordered a submarine sweep to clear a 180-mile path for carrier strikes on Japan. Dubbed Burt’s Brooms after its commander, the wolfpack—USS Ronquil, Trigger, Drum, and others—sank four patrol vessels but faced fierce resistance. The USS Ronquil’s crew performed heroically under fire, with Chief Electrician’s Mate William S. Bellows making emergency repairs amid enemy shelling. Though the operation drew increased Japanese patrols, it proved the viability of large-scale submarine sweeps.

Tragedy and Triumph: The Halibut and Sealion

The USS Halibut (SS-232) narrowly survived a brutal depth-charging off Taiwan, its hull buckling under repeated explosions. Miraculously, the Japanese broke off the attack, sparing the crippled sub. Meanwhile, the USS Sealion (SS-315) avenged its namesake, sunk in 1941. On November 21, Commander Eli Reich torpedoed the battleship Kongō—the first U.S. submarine to sink an enemy battleship. The Kongō’s magazine detonated in a fireball visible for miles, a fitting vengeance for Pearl Harbor.

The Shinano: A Record-Breaking Kill

November’s crowning achievement came from the USS Archerfish (SS-311). Stalking the supercarrier Shinano—a converted Yamato-class behemoth—Commander Joseph Enright fired six torpedoes. Four struck, dooming the poorly prepared ship. The Shinano, the largest warship ever sunk by a submarine, vanished beneath the waves, taking Japan’s naval hopes with it.

The Cost of Victory

November’s successes came at a steep price. The USS Albacore, killer of the carrier Taihō, was lost to mines. The USS Growler, famed for Commander Howard Gilmore’s sacrifice, vanished off Mindoro. The USS Scamp disappeared near the Bonin Islands, likely sunk by aircraft. In total, 27 submarines sank 46 ships (211,855 tons), including a battleship, a carrier, and five destroyers—but 1944’s final months would demand even more courage from the Silent Service.

Legacy of the Silent Hunters

The November 1944 campaign underscored submarines’ decisive role in the Pacific. By severing Japan’s supply lines and decimating its fleet, American submariners hastened the war’s end. Their bravery, ingenuity, and sacrifice remain a testament to undersea warfare’s pivotal impact—a legacy etched in steel and victory beneath the waves.