total sinkings by US submarines

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Well actually war-time claims/confirmations are what resulted in the awards. Look no further than skipper Roy Davenport (USS Haddock, USS Trepang), who was the most decorated US skipper of the war aside from the 6 who won the Medal of Honor. He won 5 Navy Crosses for 17 ships and 151,900 tons. Post war accounting reduced his bag to just 8 ships for 29,662.

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In all, 465 men commanded US boats on patrol in WW2. The leading skipper in terms of ships sunk was Dick O'Kane (USS Tang;lost), with 24 1/2 confirmed by JANAC in post war records. Slade Cutter (USS Seahorse) and Dudley "Mush" Morton (USS Wahoo;lost) tied for second with 19 ships confirmed. Eugene "Lucky" Fluckey (USS Barb) was fourth with 16 1/3 confirmed. His 95,360 tons were the highest tonnage total for any US skipper during the war.