USS Robalo (SS-273)

USS "Robalo" (SS-273), a "Gato"-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the róbalo or common snook, a warm water sport and food fish. Her keel was laid down on 24 October 1942 by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She was launched on 9 May 1943, sponsored by Mrs. E.S. Root, and commissioned on 28 September 1943 with Commander Manning Kimmel (son of Admiral Kimmel) in command.

After passage by inland waterways and being floated down the Mississippi River, "Robalo" deployed to the Pacific. On her first war patrol, she hunted for Japanese ships west of the Philippines, where she damaged a large freighter. During her second patrol in the South China Sea near Indochina, she damaged a 7500-ton tanker.

"Robalo" departed Fremantle on 22 June 1944 on her third war patrol. She set a course for the South China Sea to conduct her patrol in the vicinity of the Natuna Islands. After transiting Makassar Strait and Balabac Strait, she was scheduled to arrive on station about 6 July and remain until dark on 2 August 1944. On 2 July, a contact report stated that "Robalo" had sighted a "Fusō"-class battleship with air cover and two destroyers for escort. The ship was then just east of Borneo. No other messages were ever received from the submarine and when she did not return from patrol, she was presumed lost.

On 2 August a note was dropped from the window of a cell of Puerto Princesa Prison Camp on Palawan Island in the Philippines. It was picked up by an American soldier who was on a work detail nearby. The note was in turn given to H.D. Hough, Yeoman Second Class, who was also a prisoner at the camp. On 4 August he contacted Trinidad Mendosa, wife of guerrilla leader Dr. Mendosa who furnished further information on the survivors.

From these sources it was concluded that "Robalo" was sunk on 26 July 1944, two miles off the western coast of Palawan Island from an explosion in the vicinity of her after battery, probably caused by an enemy naval mine. Only four men swam ashore, and made their way through the jungles to a small barrier northwest of the Puerto Princesa Prison Camp, where Japanese Military Police captured them and jailed them for guerrilla activities. On 15 August, they were evacuated by a Japanese destroyer and never heard from again. "Robalo" was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 16 September 1944.

"Robalo" earned two battle stars for World War II service.

Note -- In regard to the fate of the four survivors, there are two Japanese destroyers lost in August 1944 in either of which thefour men could have been held:

* Akakaze sunk on 23 August 1944 off Cape Bilinao, Luzon by USS|Haddo|SS-255.

* Yunagi was sunk 25 August 1944 off N.W. Luzon by the USS|Picuda|SS-382.

References

External links

* [http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-robalo-273.htm On Eternal Patrol: USS "Robalo"]