USS Bowfin (SS-287)
25 January 1945 to 25 March 1945
USS Bowfin traveled from Pearl Harbor to Saipan, then to Nanpo Shoto, then to the area south of Honshu, and finally on to Guam for refit by Apollo (AS-25). Her travels took her as far west as an area south of Shikoku, almost to Bungo Suido and as far east as the waters east and east-south-east of Tokyo. Secret MK-27 acoustic guidance torpedoes (called "cuties") were selectively used on this and later patrols by other submarines. A coordinated attack group of five submarines were formed and guided under the command of CDR Bernard F. McMahon of USS Piper (SS-409). This wolfpack, which was designated "Mac’s Mops," departed from Saipan on 8 February and was charged with eliminating any Japanese picket boats. The area they were told to patrol was a path through which U.S. Fast Carrier Task Force 58 would pass for the first strikes on Tokyo/South East Honshu. Since no picket boats were sighted, the five submarines proceeded individually to lifeguard stations. The remaining portion of this patrol was mostly dedicated to lifeguard duties in support of carrier raids and B-29 strikes. Bowfin’s assigned patrol area was south of Honshu. A Japanese destroyer was sunk on 17 February and another escaped due to a premature torpedo explosion. Bowfin was also on the receiving end of an attack when 26 depth charges were dropped by the undamaged destroyer. After Bowfin reached her assigned patrol area, she sank a small, previously damaged picket boat with 20mm and 40mm gunfire. A large sea truck was sunk on 2 March with only one torpedo. On 4 March a 5-inch 25-caliber gun attack on two picket boats resulted in returned gunfire and a shrapnel injury to TM3c Reid Eldon Lee, then at his gun action battle station. He was later transferred, at sea, to USS Sennet (SS-408), which was en route to her home base. A U.S. Navy TBM pilot and his gunner were rescued from the water after they crash-landed on 19 March just south of Kii Suido during carrier strikes on Kobe/Osaka.
USS Bowfin was underway for 14,325 miles during her seventh patrol. Commanding Officer Tyree and higher authorities believed Bowfin sank 2,950 tons (two vessels ). JANAC credited USS Bowfin with sinking only 750 tons (one vessel of that tonnage plus one small craft). CDR Tyree was awarded the Navy Cross.
Commanding
Officer: CDR Alexander K. Tyree, USN
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