USS GRAYLING SS 209

USS GRAYLING SS 209 Tambor Class

September 9, 1943. Sunk by unknown causes. 75 men lost.

From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Grayling
A fresh-water game fish closely related to the trout.

(SS-209: 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)

Grayling departed Fremantle on July 30, 1943, for her eighth and final patrol, going through Makassar Strait and thence to the Philippine area. On August 19, 1943, she reported having damaged a 6,000-ton freighter near Balikpapan, and the following day told of having sunk a 250-ton Taki Maru-type pocket tanker by gunfire in Sibutu Passage, taking one man prisoner. This was the last report received direct from Grayling. On August 23, she completed a special mission at Pandan Bay, Panay, delivering cargo to guerrillas. Then she departed for Tablas Strait, there to reconnoiter until September 2, when she would patrol approaches to Manila until September 10. She was to return to Pearl Harbor for refit, passing from SubSoWesPac to Subpac on September 13. She was not heard from after August 19, 1943, and on September 30, 1943, Grayling was reported as presumed lost.

Grayling's total war record is 16 ships sunk, totaling 61,400 tons, and six ships damaged, for a total of 36,000 tons.