Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Patriotofmany
Thanks! I'd like to see that by year also. Just skimming through, it looked to me like 44 was the year on top. Flasher did a nice job!
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NP. Hmm I believe I've seen it before, will dig through the archives lol.
Yes, 1944 was the year for US submarines in the Pacific. Torpedo issues resolved, plenty of new boats in action like the Gato and Balao classes, improved doctrine with night surface attacks, and wolfpacks becoming standard, technology like SJ radar (PPI scope especially), radar detectors (APR-1), and experienced personnel, February 1944 was a particularly devastating month if I recall from past research.
A quick search stated:
February 1944, US submarines sank a significant number of Japanese merchant vessels, with an estimated 250,000 gross tons of shipping sunk in January and February combined.
in 1944 US submarines sank a total of 603 ships, totaling 2.7 million tons, more than they had in the entire war to date.
Submarine sinkings of Japanese merchantmen during 1944 averaged one and a half ships a day.
The Japanese responded by really working on their convoy system, which increased losses and heavy damage to US subs but not effective enough to turn the tide as we know.
"Japan suffered numerous other convoy losses, all of which contributed to the more than 83,000 men lost at sea in 1944."
https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/ja...-major-losses/
The shear scale of this (Battle of Atlantic as well) always amazes me.