USS Scorpion SS-278

Construction began on the USS Scorpion in March of 1942 and was completed in July of the same year. The Scorpion was one of the Gato-class of submarines that were rushed into production during World War II. Her initial shakedown and training cruises took place in the waters off of New England and she then headed through the Panama Canal, and on to Pearl Harbor. She received some retrofitting work in Pearl Harbor and then headed to war patrol.

The duties of the USS Scorpion and other submarines during World War II were diverse. The submarines were expected to patrol the waters, searching for enemy vessels to torpedo. They also slipped into the shallow waters off of the coasts and planted mines. During air strikes on land, submarines were often called in to act as life saving stations in the water, where they picked up and rescued any air men who were shot down or forced to abandon their planes.

The first mission for the USS Scorpion was off the coast of Honshu. She initially planted some mines in the area and then she headed out to sea. The Scorpion scored her first enemy hit less than three weeks after she arrived in the area. The next day, she hit and sank another ship. The following day, she sank three additional small ships before leaving the area. The next week she spotted four enemy ships moving together with an escort. She attacked, firing four torpedoes. One of the vessels struck by the Scorpion sank. By the end of the month, the USS Scorpion was on her way back to port. As she returned home, she spotted an enemy vessel, which she hit with torpedoes and sank. She sank another patrol ship the next day, although there was tragedy aboard the submarine as well. An officer aboard the Scorpion was killed by gunfire during the attack. Despite the casualty, her first mission was considered a resounding success.

After some minor retrofitting, the Scorpion again joined the battle. She headed past Midway Island and to the Yellow Sea. At her new location, the Scorpion spotted a convoy of freighters moving with an escort. She torpedoed the group and then dove. She was pinned down in shallow water while the enemy ships dropped depth charges. The submarine was forced to stop all motion when her crew determined that she was stirring up mud in the shallow water, effectively leaving a trail for the enemy. She managed to evade her attackers, firing several torpedoes along the way. During the battle, the Scorpion hit the ships with five torpedoes and sank two of them.

The damage from the depth charges, while not extensive, needed to be repaired. The Scorpion made her way back to Pearl Harbor. After the repairs were completed, the Scorpion headed for the Mariana Islands. She soon located an enemy cruiser, but bad weather prevented her from launching an attack.Bad weather in the area prevented the Scorpion from having much success in the area. She managed to sight in a convoy made up of a freighter and a tanker with escorts. She hit the tanker, disabling it. Later, she spotted another convoy which she followed but never was able to reach in such a way to mount an effective attack. She ended her mission and headed back to Pearl Harbor. Her next war assignment was in the East China and Yellow Sea.

An injury aboard the Scorpion was the last anyone heard from the ship. One of the crew men aboard the Scorpion had fractured their arm. The Scorpion planned to meet with the USS Herring to transfer the man. The Herring was headed for home after completing her patrol. There were high waves in the area and the transfer never occurred. The Scorpion radioed that the situation was fine, and that was the last that anyone heard of the submarine. After the war, the Japanese records were examined. There was no indication that they were responsible for the sinking of the Scorpion. A more likely scenario is that the Scorpion struck a mine that was along the boundary of the Yellow Sea.

Due to her service during the second World War, the USS Scorpion earned three Battle Stars. Many brave men met the same fate as those aboard the USS Scorpion. There lives were tragically cut short by enemy fire. Other members of the military were also affected by actions during the war. The many men who lived aboard the submarines and ships built by the Navy may have been exposed to asbestos. Before the dangerous side effects of asbestos use were widely known, it was used in many of the components on Navy vessels. It was valued by the military for its availability, its durability and its insulation abilities. If you served on a Navy ship or submarine during the second World War, you may have been exposed. For more information, please fill out the form on this page to receive a comprehensive packet in the mail.

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