Eternal Patrol: The Lost 52 Submarines of World War II

By Mark Freeman
HRNM Events Coordinator

WWII submarine veterans' memorial (oneternalpatrol.com)

World War II marked a period of unprecedented naval warfare where the silent service played a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the conflict. The U.S. Navy's submarine force, often referred to as the "Silent Service," operated beneath the waves, engaging in covert operations and inflicting significant damage on enemy forces. However, the success of these submarines came at a high cost, with 52 U.S. submarines, 374 naval officers, and 3,131 enlisted Sailors lost during the war, a 20% casualty rate. Today these submarines rest on eternal patrol with their accomplishments etched in history as a testament to the courage and sacrifice of those who served beneath the waves.

As war raged across the oceans, U.S. submarines became a vital component of the Allied strategy. Armed with torpedoes and equipped for covert operations, submarines carried out patrols in enemy waters, disrupted enemy supply lines, and conducted reconnaissance. The stealth and agility of submarines made them formidable adversaries, but they also exposed them to considerable risks.

USS Grayback (SS 208) was one of the most successful submarines of World War II. In two years, Grayback made an astounding nine successful war patrols, sinking 14 ships, totaling over 63,000 tons. On its 10th war patrol in 1944, after radioing that it had sunk two targets, Grayback was due back at Midway for resupply. Captured Japanese records show Grayback was spotted and attacked by a Japanese torpedo bomber while on the surface. The wreckage of Grayback was found in 2019 fifty nautical miles south of Okinawa.

USS Grayback (left); Grayback's aft conning tower (NHHC/defense.gov)

USS Wahoo (SS 238), under the command of the legendary Dudley "Mush" Morton, sank 19 Japanese ships during its seven patrols, totaling 55,000 tons. Its success in the Pacific theater made it one of the most celebrated submarines of the war. Wahoo, under command of Morton, was the first submarine to infiltrate an enemy harbor and sink a ship as well as sink an entire convoy unassisted. Tragically, Wahoo was sunk by Japanese patrol vessels in October 1943.

USS Wahoo and its wreckage (oneternalpatrol.com)

USS Tang (SS 306) is considered one of the most successful submarines of World War II. Under the command of Richard O'Kane, who was previously the executive officer aboard USS Wahoo, Tang sank 33 Japanese ships—equating to over 100 thousand tons—during its five war patrols, becoming the most successful U.S. submarine of the war. In addition to Tang’s superior undersea warfighting, the crew rescued twenty-two Navy aircrewmen off Truk Atoll, showing the versatility submarines had. Tang and all but nine of its crew were lost to a circular run of its own torpedo in the Formosa Strait in October 1944. LCDR O’Kane, one of the survivors, later received the Medal of Honor and wrote Clear the Bridge! The War Patrols of the U.S.S. Tang.

LCDR O'Kane and 22 rescued aircrewmen (NHHC)

USS Seawolf (SS 197) played a vital role in the early days of the war, contributing to the successful defense of the Philippines. Making an astounding fourteen successful war patrols during its career, it sank 27 enemy vessels and damaged an additional thirteen, sinking or damaging over 173 thousand tons. Seawolf was lost with all hands during its fifteenth patrol in October 1944, likely due to enemy mines in the Yellow Sea.

USS Seawolf's World War II battle flag (NHHC)

USS Perch (SS 176) served valiantly in the early days of the war, participating in daring raids and sinking a 5,000-ton enemy ship near the Philippines. On its last patrol in February 1942, Perch’s crew spent three days surfacing and diving, fighting off and evading Japanese destroyers. The submarine hit the bottom of the shallows, getting stuck and depth charged multiple times. Ultimately, Perch could sustain no more damage in the Java Sea. After being damaged by depth charges, the crew scuttled the submarine to prevent capture by the Japanese in March 1942. All crew members were taken as prisoners of war by the Japanese to the illegal questioning camp at Ofuna, Japan. They were then forced to work the Ashio mines, where six crewmembers died as POWs. All hands were assumed lost. It wasn’t until war’s end that their families—as well as the Navy—found out almost all had survived.

USS Perch and its wreckage (oneternalpatrol.com)

These are just a few examples of the incredible accomplishments of U.S. submarines during World War II. Each lost submarine tells a story of bravery, strategic ingenuity, and the harsh realities of naval warfare beneath the surface.

In total, US submarines accounted for 1,314 enemy warships sunk, 5.3 million tons, representing 55% of Axis power warships lost. The toll of war was not just measured in sunken ships but in the lives lost beneath the waves. The 52 lost U.S. submarines represented not only vessels but also the brave men who crewed them. Each submarine carried a crew of skilled and dedicated Sailors who faced the challenges of submarine warfare with courage and resilience.

The Lost 52 Project, a long-term exploration and underwater archeological project, has spent decades on its mission to find these lost World War II submarines. The team has found the wreckage of five submarines. Two additional wrecks have been found by other organizations, documenting their wreckage and providing closure to the families who lost loved ones.

The 52 United States submarines on eternal patrol lost during World War II left a permanent mark on the course of the conflict. Their accomplishments beneath the waves, from disrupting enemy supply lines, rescuing downed pilots, and pioneering new technologies showcased the versatility and courage of the submariners. As we reflect on their legacy we honor not just the vessels but the men who served on them—the silent guardians who played a pivotal role in securing victory during one of the most challenging periods in modern history. Today their memory lives on submerged on eternal patrol as a reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom and the enduring spirit of the Silent Service. To see the chronological list of submarines lost during World War II, please visit: https://submarinememorial.org/subslostwwii.html.