USS Seawolf SS-197

The USS Seawolf was a U.S. Navy Sargo-class submarine, who received 13 Battle Stars and the Navy Unit Commendation for her service in World War II. She could dive to 250 feet and remain submerged for 48 hours at two knots per hour, and could reach traveling speeds at 21 knots on the surface and nine knots when underwater. Her complement was 59 sailors, and her armament consisted of eight 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, one three-inch 50 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. Seawolf was propelled by four V16 diesel engines driving electrical generators, two 126-cell batteries, four high-speed electric motors, and two shafts.

A Busy First Year

Seawolf was commissioned in 1939 and conducted her shakedown cruise into the Panama Canal Zone. After assignment to the Pacific Fleet, San Diego became her home port, where she conducted normal training operations until the following year. At that time, she was ordered to sail to the Manila Bay and conducted her first war patrol in 1941. Seawolf's mission was to hunt for Japanese shipping, and while doing so, she experienced a depth charge attack from the seaplane carrier Sanyo Maru, but did not incur damage. Her next voyage took her to Australia in 1942, where she took on almost 40 tons of .50-caliber antiaircraft ammunition for American forces, before returning to Manila Bay. USS Seawolf delivered her cargo before patrolling in the Java Sea-Lombok Strait vicinity. The very next week, she hit an enemy freighter with a stern tube torpedo attack, and this was followed by another success two months later: While approaching Christmas Island, Seawolf sighted the Japanese light cruiser Naka, which was anchored, and fired a torpedo spread. This resulted in enough damage to retire the ship for 12 months. Seawolf's next tour of duty was in the Philippine Islands area, where she sank the gunboat Nampo Maru and the freighter Burma Maru. Sent to the Celebes Sea next, she sank Hachigen Maru and Showa Maru before a refit. Sailing into the Davao Gulf, Seawolf sank Gifu Maru, Sagami Maru, and Keiko Maru. After that, she was ready for an overhaul that took more than 13 months.

Phase Two

Back in business by 1943, Segundo was then responsible for sinking destroyer Patrol Boat Number 39 and two 75-ton sampans. Her next deployment to the East China Sea resulted in the sinking of Shojin Maru, which was loaded with troops. Her next patrol in the same waters saw the sinking of 12,996 tons of enemy shipping, another two sampans, and the Fusei Maru. From there, USS Seawolf preceded to the South China Sea, where she sank Wuhu Maru, the Kaifuku Maru, and damaged a 10,000-ton cargo ship. After being refitted at Pearl Harbor, her next destination was back to the East China Sea, where she sank three ships totaling 19,710 tons, one merchant ship, and the Yamatsuru Maru. These hits were followed by the sinking of Denmark Maru before the next major overhaul. Midway through that year, Segundo traveled to Peleliu Island, in the Palau Islands, to photograph the area for a future attack. It was a dangerous mission since there were constant enemy air patrols. Another special task subsequently followed, and that was to carry Army personnel to Samar.

A Tragic End and Catastrophic Losses

In October 1944, The Seventh Fleet task group was attacked by Ro-41. The four friendly submarines in the vicinity were twice ordered to give their positions, but Seawolf did not respond. A Midway escort carrier plane then sighted a submarine diving; it dropped two bombs, although in a safety zone for American submarines. The vessel Richard M. Rowell sped to the area to initiate sound contact, but received only unrecognizable dot and dash signals. At that point, Rowell attacked with hedgehogs, setting off underwater explosions, which caused floating debris to surface. The USS Seawolf was never seen or heard from again. After the war, examination of Japanese data showed no record of an attack at that time and in that location. It is therefore presumed that Seawolf was sunk, but no identification was ever found. Tragically, 79 Americans lost their lives; 62 sailors and 17 Army passengers. Seawolf was the thirty-fourth U.S. submarine lost in the Pacific War, and only one of two to friendly fire. (The other was Dorado.) Two months later, the USS Seawolf was announced overdue from patrol. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on January 20, 1945.

Fatalities of everyone onboard ship as a result of misconstrued signals are indeed cruel twists of fate. The USS Seawolf endured a catastrophic end and incomprehensible loss, mourned by all of America. Crew members who served on Seawolf's earlier missions and were later transferred to other ships probably have had difficulty understanding the paths their lives took. Although their personal reflections must involve confusion as well as gratitude, they must still not forget that this period in history may be responsible for some of their current health problems. Ships during World War II probably relied a great deal upon asbestos, which may have been inadvertently inhaled and which may be responsible for many sailors' ailments. Anyone who served onboard submarines should see a doctor at the first sign of unusual symptoms. For more information, please fill out the form on this page to receive a comprehensive packet in the mail.

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