The Crucible of War: Pacific Submarine Operations in 1943

In February 1943, as World War II raged across the Pacific, a pivotal moment unfolded in Brisbane when a submarine officer reported to Admiral Arthur S. Carpender, Commander of Southwest Pacific Submarine Forces. This meeting set in motion a chain of events that would highlight both the strategic importance of submarine warfare and the extraordinary sacrifices made by crews like those aboard the USS Growler (SS-215). The officer’s subsequent briefing to General Douglas MacArthur revealed Allied concerns about Japanese forces massing near the Malay Barrier—a threat that could prolong the war indefinitely if Australia fell.

The USS Growler’s Fateful Patrol

The Growler’s story epitomizes the courage and peril faced by American submariners. Departing Brisbane on January 1, 1943, under Commander Howard W. Gilmore, the submarine prowled Japanese supply lines near the Solomon Islands. On February 7, during a nighttime surface attack, the Growler collided with a Japanese patrol boat at 17 knots. As machine gun fire raked the conning tower, Gilmore—mortally wounded—issued his legendary final order: “Take her down!” His sacrifice saved the submarine and earned him the first Medal of Honor awarded to a submariner.

The battered Growler, with its bridge “riddled like a sieve,” returned to New Farm docks as a testament to both the ferocity of Pacific combat and the resilience of submarine crews. Gilmore’s leadership became immortalized in submarine lore, his “emergency dive” command symbolizing the unwavering discipline required in undersea warfare.

Technological Challenges and Tactical Triumphs

American submarines faced persistent hurdles, particularly with the unreliable Mark 14 torpedo. Magnetic exploders frequently malfunctioned, causing premature detonations or duds—a frustration captured by one captain’s lament: “Nothing makes you feel worse than a dud torpedo when you’re off China’s coast.” Yet successes like the USS Tarpon’s sinking of the 16,975-ton Tatsuta Maru demonstrated submarines’ devastating potential against Japanese merchant shipping.

Innovation emerged from adversity. The USS Tunny (SS-282), despite faulty torpedoes, creatively stalked targets by diving to 40 feet to reduce visibility before attacking. Meanwhile, the USS Albacore’s unprecedented feat—sinking nine ships in ten days in the Yellow Sea—showcased how audacity could rewrite tactical playbooks.

The Human Dimension: Life in the Silent Service

Submarine crews endured unique hardships. The S-35’s ordeal in Aleutian storms revealed the brutal conditions: electrical fires from seawater exposure forced sailors to lash themselves to the conning tower to avoid being swept overboard. Yet morale remained high, bolstered by dark humor—like the apocryphal tale of a submarine watching Japanese horseracing through its periscope.

Base life offered scant respite. At Midway, sailors contended with 75-mph winds that halted boat transfers, while Pearl Harbor’s expanded facilities still couldn’t mask the war’s toll. The loss of boats like the Grampus and Amberjack underscored the grim calculus: for every record-breaking patrol, multiple submarines failed to return.

Strategic Impact and Lasting Legacy

By severing Japan’s maritime supply lines, U.S. submarines crippled its war economy. Though constituting just 2% of the Navy, they sank 55% of all Japanese merchant tonnage—a contribution initially overshadowed by carrier battles but later recognized as decisive. Postwar analysis confirmed submarines shortened the Pacific War by months, if not years.

The technological lessons proved equally enduring. Cooperation with institutions like UC San Diego’s war research lab birthed innovations in sonar and mine detection, while torpedo failures spurred reforms in weapons testing. Perhaps most enduring was the culture forged in those pressure hulls—epitomized by Gilmore’s sacrifice—that still defines submarine service ethos today.

As Admiral Chester Nimitz later observed: “It was the submarines that brought Japan to its knees.” The Growler’s story, and those of its brethren, remain etched not just in naval history, but in the broader narrative of how ingenuity, perseverance, and courage can alter the tides of war.