MadMike
08-31-06, 05:37 PM
From The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships-
SALMON's eleventh and last war patrol was conducted in
company with submarines TRIGGER (SS-237) and STERLET
(SS-392) as a coordinated attack group in the Ryukyu
Islands. This patrol began on 24 September. On 30 October,
SALMON attacked a large tanker that had been previously
damaged by TRIGGER. This tanker was protected by four
antisubmarine patrol vessels which were cruising back and
forth around the stricken ship. SALMON fired four torpedoes
and made two good hits, but was forced to dive deep under a
severe depth charge attack by the escorts. She leveled off
at 300 feet but was soon forced to nearly 500 feet due to
damage and additional pounding of the depth charges. Unable
to control leaking and maintain depth level, she battle
surfaced to fight for survival on the surface.
The enemy seemed wary and held their distance while
sniffing out the situation, and gave SALMON's crew a few
precious minutes to correct a bad list and to repair some of
the damage. The vessels began to close, but SALMON showed
an aggressive stance, turned on the attackers and passing
within 50 yards down the side of one, raked her with 20mm.
gunfire and her deck gun. Apparently killing the topside
personnel of the patrol escort which came to a stop, SALMON
then exchanged fire with a second which again seemed to
hesitate at some distance for reinforcement from the other
two which were coming to the scene. SALMON began sending
out plain language directions for all other subs in the
vicinity to attack, giving the position of the action. This
probably further discouraged the enemy who, fearing other
submarines in the area, began milling around pinging on
sound gear. SALMON took advantage of a rain squall and
slipped away.
Other than the damage caused by depth charges, SALMON
suffered only a few small caliber hits from the enemy
vessels. Escorted by STERLET, TRIGGER, and SILVERSIDES
(SS-236), she made it to Saipan. She was given one third
credit for the 10,500-ton tanker, JINEI MARU which was
eventually sunk by a STERLET torpedo. On 3 November, she
moored alongside submarine tender FULTON (AS-11), in Tanapag
Harbor, Saipan.
On 10 November, SALMON stood out from Saipan, in
company with HOLLAND, and sailed via Eniwetok and Pearl
Harbor to San Francisco. On 26 January 1945, she departed
from San Francisco with submarine REDFISH (SS-395) and
proceeded via the Panama Canal to Portsmouth, N.H. where she
arrived on 17 February.
After repairs and overhaul at the Portsmouth Navy Yard,
SALMON was assigned as a training vessel for the Atlantic
Fleet. After the war's end, SALMON was slated for disposal
and was decommissioned on 24 September. Struck from the
Navy list on 11 October, she was scrapped on 4 April 1946.
SALMON was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for
extraordinary heroism against enemy surface vessels during
her eleventh war patrol in restricted, enemy-held waters of
the Pacific.
SALMON earned nine battle stars for World War II
service in the Asiatic-Pacific area.
Yours, Mike
SALMON's eleventh and last war patrol was conducted in
company with submarines TRIGGER (SS-237) and STERLET
(SS-392) as a coordinated attack group in the Ryukyu
Islands. This patrol began on 24 September. On 30 October,
SALMON attacked a large tanker that had been previously
damaged by TRIGGER. This tanker was protected by four
antisubmarine patrol vessels which were cruising back and
forth around the stricken ship. SALMON fired four torpedoes
and made two good hits, but was forced to dive deep under a
severe depth charge attack by the escorts. She leveled off
at 300 feet but was soon forced to nearly 500 feet due to
damage and additional pounding of the depth charges. Unable
to control leaking and maintain depth level, she battle
surfaced to fight for survival on the surface.
The enemy seemed wary and held their distance while
sniffing out the situation, and gave SALMON's crew a few
precious minutes to correct a bad list and to repair some of
the damage. The vessels began to close, but SALMON showed
an aggressive stance, turned on the attackers and passing
within 50 yards down the side of one, raked her with 20mm.
gunfire and her deck gun. Apparently killing the topside
personnel of the patrol escort which came to a stop, SALMON
then exchanged fire with a second which again seemed to
hesitate at some distance for reinforcement from the other
two which were coming to the scene. SALMON began sending
out plain language directions for all other subs in the
vicinity to attack, giving the position of the action. This
probably further discouraged the enemy who, fearing other
submarines in the area, began milling around pinging on
sound gear. SALMON took advantage of a rain squall and
slipped away.
Other than the damage caused by depth charges, SALMON
suffered only a few small caliber hits from the enemy
vessels. Escorted by STERLET, TRIGGER, and SILVERSIDES
(SS-236), she made it to Saipan. She was given one third
credit for the 10,500-ton tanker, JINEI MARU which was
eventually sunk by a STERLET torpedo. On 3 November, she
moored alongside submarine tender FULTON (AS-11), in Tanapag
Harbor, Saipan.
On 10 November, SALMON stood out from Saipan, in
company with HOLLAND, and sailed via Eniwetok and Pearl
Harbor to San Francisco. On 26 January 1945, she departed
from San Francisco with submarine REDFISH (SS-395) and
proceeded via the Panama Canal to Portsmouth, N.H. where she
arrived on 17 February.
After repairs and overhaul at the Portsmouth Navy Yard,
SALMON was assigned as a training vessel for the Atlantic
Fleet. After the war's end, SALMON was slated for disposal
and was decommissioned on 24 September. Struck from the
Navy list on 11 October, she was scrapped on 4 April 1946.
SALMON was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for
extraordinary heroism against enemy surface vessels during
her eleventh war patrol in restricted, enemy-held waters of
the Pacific.
SALMON earned nine battle stars for World War II
service in the Asiatic-Pacific area.
Yours, Mike