A Revolutionary New Munition

In late 1944, Allied forces in the Pacific began deploying a game-changing weapon: artillery shells equipped with proximity fuzes. These sophisticated devices contained miniature electronic components that could detonate projectiles at predetermined distances from targets, maximizing damage against aircraft or exposed personnel. The technology remained a closely guarded secret—commanders strictly prohibited its use over enemy-held territory to prevent Japanese engineers from reverse-engineering the innovation.

Naval strategists immediately recognized broader applications. Submarine commanders particularly coveted these “variable time” (VT) fuzes for their deck guns, as conventional torpedoes proved ineffective against shallow-draft patrol boats and警戒船. When Captain Tom Hill, Pacific Fleet gunnery officer, authorized limited testing, the submarine USS Balao (commanded by Lieutenant Commander Cole of San Diego) conducted the first live-fire trials. Initial results proved mixed—five test rounds included duds and premature detonations—but subsequent tests demonstrated devastating potential when seven of fifteen shells exploded precisely, showering targets with lethal shrapnel.

Submarine Warfare Transformed

The USS Charr, under Lieutenant Commander Boyle of Everett, Washington, conducted more conclusive experiments using derelict LCVP landing craft as targets. Crews suspended nine mannequins between masts to simulate enemy deck crews. After initial ranging difficulties, gunners achieved perfect results in a rapid 15-shell salvo—every functioning round detonated at optimal range, with post-action inspection showing four dummies riddled with fragments and others suffering direct hits. These trials validated VT fuzes as a potent anti-personnel weapon for submarine warfare.

Meanwhile, the submarine force continued its broader campaign against Japanese shipping. The USS Stingray (Lieutenant Commander Kinsella) exemplified this effort during a stop at Midway, having recently damaged the heavy cruiser Kumano, sunk a freighter and escort vessel, and rescued four downed aviators—two Navy pilots from Manila Bay strikes and two Army Air Forces technicians who escaped Japanese captivity at Fort Drum. Such operations highlighted both the strategic impact and humanitarian dimension of submarine warfare.

A Clash of Military Philosophies

The technological advances occurred amid interservice rivalry. During a high-level committee meeting chaired by General J.O. Richardson to reorganize U.S. homeland defense, submarine advocates clashed with Army Air Forces representatives. When Major General George argued for independent strategic air power—citing the Luftwaffe’s defeat in Europe—submarine officers countered with their own decisive contributions:

“Over two years,” one officer retorted, “our submarines crippled Japan’s supply lines, enabling island conquests at minimal cost. Yet we don’t demand an independent submarine force.” The exchange revealed enduring tensions between services despite their shared mission.

Peril and Triumph Under the Waves

Operational hazards remained ever-present. The USS Perch (Lieutenant Commander Hyde of Flushing, New York) narrowly survived a December 13 engagement near the Gulf of Siam after torpedoing what radar initially identified as a merchant vessel. The target—later revealed as the heavy cruiser Myōkō with its distinctive “pagoda” superstructure—exploded spectacularly when two torpedoes struck home. Hyde’s subsequent attack on the cruiser’s escort nearly proved disastrous when return fire damaged the submarine’s bow. With electrical fires raging and forward compartments flooding, the crew performed miraculous damage control using mattresses as makeshift patches. After transferring 55 crewmen to the USS Bream, Hyde and a skeleton crew navigated 2,000 miles of enemy waters to safety—a testament to submariners’ skill and determination.

The Myōkō, though crippled, limped to Singapore for repairs. Ironically, it would later become a target for British XE-class midget submarines—a poetic coda to its encounter with American submarines.

Meanwhile, the USS Dragonet (Lieutenant Commander Lewis of Hillsboro, Texas) faced a different nightmare on December 15 near the Kuril Islands. Misjudging depth charts, the submarine grounded at 70 fathoms, flooding its torpedo room. Lewis’s emergency surfacing and 2,400-mile journey to Midway—with bow compartments sealed and batteries damaged—became legendary. When the patrol craft USS Beryl finally rendezvoused with the battered submarine, crew members had endured four days of hellish conditions, including a terrifying 63-degree roll that spilled mercury from the gyrocompass.

The Pinnacle of Success

Amid these harrowing episodes, victories shone brightly. The USS Redfish (Lieutenant Commander “Sandy” McGregor) achieved immortality on December 19 by sinking the aircraft carrier Unryū—one of Japan’s last operational flattops. Despite faulty torpedo data computers, McGregor’s crew landed two critical hits: the first disabling the carrier’s screws, the second triggering catastrophic explosions as parked aircraft slid into the sea. Even under depth charge attacks that drove Redfish to 232 feet—battering its hull and disabling systems—the submarine escaped to celebrate Christmas at Midway, knowing its prey now rested on the ocean floor.

Legacy of the Silent Service

As 1944 closed, statistics revealed the submarine campaign’s crushing impact:
– 548 merchant ships (2.45 million tons) sunk
– 72 vital oil tankers destroyed
– 7 enemy carriers and 1 battleship sent to the bottom

Japanese shipping now clung to coastal shallows, yet even these routes would soon become unsafe. The cost, however, remained sobering—19 U.S. submarines and 1,500 crewmen failed to return.

From technological breakthroughs like proximity fuzes to legendary commanders like McGregor and Hyde, these events redefined naval warfare. The silent service had not just supported the Pacific campaign—it had strangled an empire, proving that undersea warriors could alter the course of history.