- USS S-27 (SS-132)
USS "S-27" (SS-132) was a S-class
submarine of theUnited States Navy . Her construction was authorized in March1917 , and her keel was laid down on11 April 1919 by theFore River Plant,Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation,Quincy, Massachusetts . She was launched on18 October 1922 sponsored by Mrs. Frank Baldwin, and commissioned atGroton, Connecticut , on22 January 1924 , Lieutenant Theodore Waldschmidt in command.Based at
New London, Connecticut , through1924 , "S-27" was transferred to the Pacific in1925 , and, after exercises in theHawaiian Islands during the spring of that year, she arrived at her new homeport,San Diego, California , in June. She remained based in southernCalifornia through the decade and, except for fleet maneuvers, operated primarily off that coast. Fleet maneuvers, exercises, and problems took her to the west coast ofCentral America ; to thePanama Canal Zone; into theCaribbean Sea and toHawaii . In1931 , she was transferred toHawaii ; and, on23 February , she arrived atPearl Harbor , whence she operated until mid-1939 . On16 June 1939 , she sailed east; and, on27 June , she arrived at San Diego and resumed operations off the southernCalifornia coast.For the next two and a half years, she conducted exercises and tests off that coast, primarily for the Underwater Sound Training School. In late November
1941 , she proceeded toMare Island , where she was undergoing overhaul when theUnited States enteredWorld War II .On
23 January 1942 , "S-27" stood out ofSan Francisco Bay and moved south. Three days later, she returned toSan Diego, California , and resumed operations for the Sound School which she continued into the spring. Then ordered north to theAleutian Islands , she departed San Diego on20 May ; steamed toPort Angeles, Washington ; thence, continued on toAlaska n waters where she commenced patrol operations in June. On12 May , a little over a week after the beginning of the war in the Aleutians, she put intoDutch Harbor , took on provisions, refueled, and then headed west with orders to patrol in theKuluk Bay area and to reconnoiterConstantine Harbor ,Amchitka . On the night of16 June -17 June , she was ordered toKiska . On18 June , she reconnoitered Constantine Harbor found no signs of enemy activity in that evacuated village, and moved on to round the southern end of the island, whence she would proceed to Kiska. In mid afternoon, she rounded East Cape and that night when she surfaced, fog obscured her position. Lying to charge on both engines, she was carried about five miles from her estimated dead-reckoned position. The fog prevented knowledge of the drift. At midnight, she got underway, slowly, on one engine and continued to charge on the other. Soon after 0043 on19 June , breakers were sighted about 25 yards forward of the bow. "Back emergency" orders were given. Seconds later, she grounded on rocks offSt. Makarius Point .Waves bumped her violently against the rocks, rolling her 10 to 15 degrees on each side. Her motors were continued at "back emergency," but she was held firm by a submerged rock. Fuel was blown. Efforts to back off were continued, but the lightened ship swung harder against the rocks. Her starboard screw struck a rock and was disabled. Efforts were made to force the ship ahead to clear the stern; but, she could move only about twenty feet forward before she was again held fast. The immediate area was sounded. No passage was found. By 03:30, the pounding of the sea had increased and plans were made to move the greater part of the crew off. Dispatches of her plight, sent first at 01:15, were continued. Six were sent in all. One, giving no position, was received at Dutch Harbor.
A ferry system, using a rubber boat and lines rigged between the ship and the beach, was set up. Men, provisions, clothing, guns, and medical supplies were transferred safely. By 11:00, all but six, the commanding officer, Lieutenant H.L. Jukes, and five others, were ashore. All equipment was destroyed. Classified material was burned. At 15:30, three of the remaining men went ashore. The side plating was now loose, the torpedo room was flooding. At 15:50, the radioman, executive officer, and commanding officer left the submarine.
The night of
19 June –20 June was spent in an unsheltered cove. On20 June , camp was set up at Constantine Harbor, using the buildings and heating equipment which had survived a Japanese bombing. By21 June , the camp was fully organized: routines, including sentries and lookouts, had been established. Trips to and from the cove continued for three days. "S-27" was reboarded on21 June and22 June ; thereafter, the presence of chlorine gas prohibited further visits to take off more supplies.On
24 June , aPBY Catalina on a routine flight spotted the activity at Constantine Harbor; landed; and took off 15 of the survivors. On25 June , three planes were sent in to bring off the remainder. All guns salvaged from "S-27" were destroyed. Nothing was left except the submarine's abandoned hulk and canned provisions, blankets, and winter clothing.References
*DANFS
http://www.csp.navy.mil/ww2boats/s27.htm
External links
* [http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-s-27-132.htm On Eternal Patrol: USS "S-27"]
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