The Strategic Context of the Pacific War in Late 1944

By October 1944, the United States Navy had gained significant momentum in the Pacific theater after years of grueling island-hopping campaigns. The capture of the Marshall Islands, Marianas, and Palau had brought American forces within striking distance of the Philippines, a crucial strategic objective. Admiral Chester Nimitz’s Central Pacific campaign and General Douglas MacArthur’s Southwest Pacific operations were converging on the Philippine archipelago, setting the stage for one of the most decisive naval battles in history.

The Japanese Empire, though weakened, remained a formidable opponent. Their navy still possessed powerful surface fleets based primarily at Singapore, Lingga Roads near Malaya, Tawi-Tawi, and Brunei Bay in Borneo. Critical fuel shortages forced the Imperial Japanese Navy to disperse its forces, creating vulnerabilities that American submarine commanders were eager to exploit. This logistical weakness would prove decisive in the coming battles.

Preparing for Operation King II: The Leyte Campaign

The American high command had spent approximately two months developing plans for what would become known as Operation King II – the invasion of Leyte in the Philippines. Originally, General MacArthur had intended to land first on Mindanao, but intelligence reports and Admiral William Halsey’s carrier raids revealed unexpected weaknesses in Japanese Philippine defenses. The timetable accelerated, with October 20 set as D-Day for the Leyte landings.

As part of these preparations, American forces had bypassed Yap in the Caroline Islands and secured Ulithi Atoll in the Palaus without opposition. This magnificent natural harbor would soon become the Pacific Fleet’s forward operating base, capable of sheltering hundreds of warships. Meanwhile, Halsey’s Third Fleet and Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher’s Fast Carrier Task Force conducted a series of punishing raids against Japanese positions from Marcus Island to Okinawa, Formosa, and northern Luzon, softening defenses before the main invasion.

The Silent Service’s Crucial Role

American submarines played an indispensable role in the lead-up to Leyte Gulf. Operating under Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood’s Pacific Fleet Submarine Force and Rear Admiral Ralph Christie’s Seventh Fleet Submarine Force, these undersea warriors conducted reconnaissance, lifeguard duty for downed aviators, and most importantly, commerce warfare against Japanese shipping.

The submarine USS Seawolf’s tragic loss highlighted both the effectiveness and dangers of these operations. On October 3, 1944, this veteran boat – which had sunk 12 ships totaling 53,000 tons under Commander Roy Gross – was likely sunk by friendly fire while transporting supplies and personnel to Samar. Such “fratricide” incidents, though heartbreaking, underscored the intense operational tempo and fog of war in the Pacific.

Other submarines like USS Darter and USS Dace would soon demonstrate the game-changing potential of undersea warfare. These boats, along with twenty-six others positioned between Japan and the Philippines, formed what commanders believed to be an impenetrable blockade – a “watertight” cordon against Japanese naval movements.

The Battle of Palawan Passage: Submarines Strike First

On October 23, 1944, the American submarine force scored its most spectacular success prior to the main Leyte Gulf actions. USS Darter (commanded by Commander David McClintock) and USS Dace (Commander Bladen Claggett), operating in tandem near Palawan Island, intercepted a powerful Japanese fleet sortieing from Brunei toward the Philippines.

In a masterful display of submarine tactics, both boats maneuvered into ideal firing positions. At 5:32 AM, Darter launched six bow torpedoes at the lead heavy cruiser, Atago, flagship of Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita. As the torpedoes ran toward their target, McClintock swung his stern toward a second cruiser and fired four more torpedoes. Within minutes, five thunderous explosions marked hits on Atago, which was soon ablaze and sinking. Darter’s stern torpedoes then slammed into the cruiser Takao, crippling it.

Meanwhile, Dace had identified what Claggett believed to be a Kongo-class battleship. Showing remarkable discipline, he held fire on nearer cruisers to await the prime target. At 5:54 AM, Dace unleashed six torpedoes at 1,800 yards – four found their mark in the heavy cruiser Maya. The resulting magazine explosion tore the ship apart. In one coordinated attack, American submarines had eliminated three of Japan’s most powerful cruisers before the surface battle had even begun.

Tragedy and Triumph: The Darter’s Dramatic Grounding

The Darter’s success soon turned to peril. While maneuvering to finish off the damaged Atago on October 24, the submarine ran hard aground on Bombay Shoal in the treacherous waters of the South China Sea. With the tide falling and a Japanese destroyer approaching, McClintock ordered confidential materials destroyed and prepared to defend the stranded boat.

Dace arrived to assist, eventually taking off Darter’s crew after heroic but unsuccessful efforts to free the submarine. Attempts to scuttle Darter with explosives, torpedoes, and even gunfire proved frustratingly ineffective. Though the Japanese later salvaged some machinery blueprints from the wreck, the loss was mitigated by the earlier cruiser sinkings. Darter’s crew would go on to serve aboard the newly commissioned USS Menhaden.

The Human Dimension: Courage Under Pressure

Beyond the strategic implications, these submarine operations revealed extraordinary human courage. The rescue of downed aviators became almost routine, with submariners frequently braving heavy seas and enemy fire to save pilots. Lieutenant G.J. Roberts of USS Tang exemplified this bravery on October 12 when he plunged into shark-infested waters to rescue a dazed pilot from USS Bunker Hill, despite knowing his boat might have to dive suddenly to avoid enemy aircraft.

Equally dramatic was the saga of USS Salmon on October 31. After attacking a Japanese tanker, this submarine endured thirty depth charges that drove it far below test depth. With critical damage and seawater pouring in, Commander H.K. “Ken” Nauman – a former Naval Academy boxer – surfaced after dark to fight it out with gunfire. In a remarkable surface engagement, Salmon’s crew battled Japanese escorts at point-blank range before escaping into a rain squall.

The Cost of Victory: Submarine Losses Mount

October 1944 proved the war’s deadliest month for American submarines. Besides Darter and Seawolf, the fleet lost USS Tang in a tragic circular torpedo run, USS Shark (possibly after accidentally sinking a Japanese ship carrying American POWs), and USS Escolar (likely to mines). These losses underscored both the dangers of submarine warfare and the relentless pressure being applied to Japan’s maritime lifelines.

Despite these casualties, the “Silent Service” achieved spectacular results. The Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee (JANAC) credited U.S. submarines with sinking 50 merchant ships (275,809 tons) and 9 warships (37,220 tons) in October alone. More importantly, their early warning of Japanese fleet movements and pre-battle attrition of enemy forces would prove decisive in the upcoming Leyte Gulf showdown.

Legacy and Lessons: The Submarine War’s Decisive Impact

The submarine campaign of October 1944 demonstrated several critical lessons. First, it confirmed the effectiveness of American torpedoes after early-war technical problems had been resolved. Second, it showed the value of coordinated “wolfpack” tactics, though these were still being refined. Most importantly, it revealed how submarine operations could shape major naval engagements before surface forces even made contact.

These undersea victories had profound strategic consequences. The loss of heavy cruisers Atago, Maya, and Takao deprived Admiral Kurita of valuable screening vessels and experienced staff before the Battle of Samar. The attrition of Japan’s merchant marine – including 44 of October’s 68 sinkings occurring in the “Convoy College” area and South China Sea – strangled the empire’s ability to reinforce and supply the Philippines.

As American forces prepared to land at Leyte on October 20, the stage was set for history’s largest naval battle. The submarines had done their part; now the surface fleets and carrier air groups would decide the Philippines’ fate. Yet without the silent service’s crucial contributions in those pivotal October days, the outcome might have been very different. Their story remains one of the Pacific War’s most remarkable – if often overlooked – chapters.