USS Grampus (SS-207)

USS "Grampus" (SS-207), a "Tambor"-class submarine, was the sixth ship of the United States Navy to be named for a member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae): "Grampus griseus", also known as Risso's dolphin.

Her keel was laid down by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 23 December 1940 (sponsored by Mrs. Clark H. Woodward) and commissioned on 23 May 1941 at New London, Connecticut, with Lieutenant Commander Edward S. Hutchinson in command. "Grampus" received three battle stars for World War II service. Her first, fourth, and fifth war patrols were designated successful.

Operational history

Pacific

After shakedown in Long Island Sound, "Grampus" sailed to the Caribbean Sea with USS|Grayback|SS-208|3 on 8 September to conduct a modified war patrol, returning to New London, Connecticut, on 28 September. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor found "Grampus" undergoing post-shakedown overhaul at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but soon ready for war on 22 December, she sailed for the Pacific, reaching Pearl Harbor on 1 February 1942, via the Panama Canal and Mare Island.

On her first war patrol, from 8 February to 4 April 1942, "Grampus" sank an 8636-ton tanker, the only kill of her short career, and reconnoitered Kwajalein and Wotje atolls, later the scene of bloody but successful landings. "Grampus"'s second and third patrols were marred by a heavy number of antisubmarine patrol craft off Chuuk and poor visibility as heavy rains haunted her path along the Luzon and Mindoro coasts. Both patrols terminated at Fremantle, Australia.

Taking aboard four coast watchers, "Grampus" sailed on 2 October 1942 for her fourth war patrol. Despite the presence of Japanese destroyers, she landed the coast watchers on Vella Lavella and Choiseul islands while conducting her patrol. This patrol, during the height of the Guadalcanal campaign, took "Grampus" into waters teeming with Japanese men-of-war. She sighted a total of four enemy cruisers and 79 destroyers in five different convoys. Although she conducted a series of aggressive attacks on the Japanese ships, receiving 104 depth charges for her work, "Grampus" was not credited with sinking any ships. On October 18, 1942 "Grampus" even scored a direct hit on the "Yura", but the torpedo failed to explode. She returned to Australia on 23 November.

"Grampus"'s fifth war patrol, from 14 December 1942 to 19 January 1943, took her across access lanes frequented by Japanese submarines and other ships. Air and water patrol in this area was extremely heavy and although she conducted several daring attacks on the 41 contacts she sighted, "Grampus" again was denied a kill.

inking

In company with "Grayback", "Grampus" departed Brisbane on 11 February 1943, for her sixth war patrol from which she failed to return; the manner of her loss still remains a mystery. Japanese seaplanes reported sinking a submarine on 18 February in "Grampus"'s patrol area, but "Grayback" reported seeing "Grampus" in that same area 4 March. On 5 March 1943, the Japanese destroyers "Minegumo" and "Murasame" conducted an attack preceding the Battle of Blackett Strait, near Kolombangara Island. A heavy oil slick was sighted there the following day, indicating that "Grampus" may have been lost there in a night attack or gun battle against the destroyers. The Japanese destroyers had by then already been sunk in a night action with U.S. cruisers and destroyers.

When repeated attempts failed to contact "Grampus", the submarine was declared missing and presumed lost with all hands. Her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 21 June 1943.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g7/grampus-v.htm

External links

* [http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-grampus-207.htm On Eternal Patrol: USS "Grampus"]