USS GRAYBACK SS 208

USS GRAYBACK SS 208 Tambor Class

February 26, 1944. Sunk by surface craft and aerial bombs. 81 men lost.

From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Grayback
Lake herring, a small fish of great commercial importance in the Great Lakes.

(SS-208: dp. 1,475; l. 307'2"; b. 27'3"; dr. 13'3"; s. 20.9 k. (surf.), 8.75 k. (subm.); cpl. 65; a. 1 3", 10 21" tt.; cl. Tambor)

Grayback sailed from Pearl Harbor on January 28, 1944 for her tenth and final patrol in the East China Sea. On February 24, 1944, Grayback reported she had sunk two cargo ships and damaged two others on February 19th. On February 25, 1944, she made her second and final report stating she had sunk the tanker Toshin Maru and severely damaged another. With only two torpedoes remaining, she was ordered home and was expected at Midway on March 7, 1944. She never arrived and was listed as missing and presumed lost with all hands on March 7, 1944.

From postwar Japanese records the gallant submarine's last few days can be pieced together. Heading home through the East China Sea, on February 27, 1944 Grayback used her last two torpedoes to sink the freighter Ceylon Maru. That same day, a Japanese carrier-based plane spotted a submarine on the surface in the East China Sea and attacked. According to Japanese reports the submarine "exploded and sank immediately," but antisubmarine craft were called in to depth-charge the area, clearly marked by a trail of air bubbles, until at last a heavy oil slick swelled to the surface.

Grayback received eight battle stars for World War II service. The submarine and crew received two Navy Unit Commendations for their 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th war patrols. Grayback is credited with sinking 63,835 tons in 14 enemy vessels.