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Jten · 04-08-10, 07:59 PM

Down the throat (submarine tactic)

Down the throat typically refers a term used by United States Submariners in World War II, in reference to a type of torpedo attack angle used usually against attacking destroyers or anti-submarine craft. A "down the throat" shot would be any shot in which the target craft was presenting a 0-degree bow angle (AOB), or simply put, it was heading straight toward the submarine. These were extremely difficult setups from which to launch torpedoes, and usually it was only the skilled or desperate boat skippers who attempted such attacks. Further complications with the "down the throat" shot were the gyroscope issues that plagued US torpedoes,as well as the rapidly diminishing range of the target that could prevent arming of the torpedo.

It was first used by Pompano (SS-181) under the command of Lieutenant Commander Lew Parks during the boat's first war patrol, although it did not hit.

Summer of 1943, Dudley “Mush” Morton commanding USS Wahoo. was ordered to conduct a daylight reconnaissance vicinity Wewak Harbor, New Guinea.” After consulting with his officers for their interpretation of “reconnaissance,” Morton made his intentions clear. He decided it meant enter the harbor, submerged, and sink as many enemy ships as possible. Upon conducting a periscope survey of an inlet for which he had no official charts, he detected a Japanese Shiratsuyu-class destroyer apparently at anchor. He commenced firing a salvo of bow torpedoes only to discover that the destroyer was actually underway and his torpedoes would miss astern. He fired his last bow torpedo at 800 yards range using a “down the throat” shot as the now fully alerted destroyer charged Wahoo’s periscope with intent to ram. Morton obligingly kept the periscope raised to lure the destroyer into the path of his final torpedo. Morton later reported that this torpedo had “blown off the bow” of the destroyer.

During its last patrol, Harder (SS-257) sank an attacking Japanese destroyer with such a shot. Harder's captain, Cdr. S.D. "Sam" Dealey, was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor for the patrol. Another Medal of Honor was awarded to the captain of Parche (SS-384), Lawson P. "Red" Ramage for a similar shot on a patrol that returned.

Another submarine, which did not return from a patrol but was known to have used a "down-the-throat" shot was Gudgeon (SS-211).

04-08-10, 07:59 PM	#10
Jten Mate Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 55 Downloads: 102 Uploads: 0	Down the throat (submarine tactic) Down the throat typically refers a term used by United States Submariners in World War II, in reference to a type of torpedo attack angle used usually against attacking destroyers or anti-submarine craft. A "down the throat" shot would be any shot in which the target craft was presenting a 0-degree bow angle (AOB), or simply put, it was heading straight toward the submarine. These were extremely difficult setups from which to launch torpedoes, and usually it was only the skilled or desperate boat skippers who attempted such attacks. Further complications with the "down the throat" shot were the gyroscope issues that plagued US torpedoes,as well as the rapidly diminishing range of the target that could prevent arming of the torpedo. It was first used by Pompano (SS-181) under the command of Lieutenant Commander Lew Parks during the boat's first war patrol, although it did not hit. Summer of 1943, Dudley “Mush” Morton commanding USS Wahoo. was ordered to conduct a daylight reconnaissance vicinity Wewak Harbor, New Guinea.” After consulting with his officers for their interpretation of “reconnaissance,” Morton made his intentions clear. He decided it meant enter the harbor, submerged, and sink as many enemy ships as possible. Upon conducting a periscope survey of an inlet for which he had no official charts, he detected a Japanese Shiratsuyu-class destroyer apparently at anchor. He commenced firing a salvo of bow torpedoes only to discover that the destroyer was actually underway and his torpedoes would miss astern. He fired his last bow torpedo at 800 yards range using a “down the throat” shot as the now fully alerted destroyer charged Wahoo’s periscope with intent to ram. Morton obligingly kept the periscope raised to lure the destroyer into the path of his final torpedo. Morton later reported that this torpedo had “blown off the bow” of the destroyer. During its last patrol, Harder (SS-257) sank an attacking Japanese destroyer with such a shot. Harder's captain, Cdr. S.D. "Sam" Dealey, was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor for the patrol. Another Medal of Honor was awarded to the captain of Parche (SS-384), Lawson P. "Red" Ramage for a similar shot on a patrol that returned. Another submarine, which did not return from a patrol but was known to have used a "down-the-throat" shot was Gudgeon (SS-211).