USS HARDER SS 257

USS HARDER SS 257 Gato Class

August 24, 1944. Sunk by enemy surface vessels. All hands lost.

From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Harder
A fish of the mullet family found off South Africa.

(SS-257: dp. 1,526; l. 311'9"; b. 27'3"; dr. 15'; s. 20 k.; cpl. 60; a. 13", 1021" tt.; cl. Gato)

On August 5, 1944, Harder, accompanied by Hake and Haddo, departed Fremantle for her sixth and last war patrol. Assigned to the South China Sea off Luzon, the wolf-pack headed northward. On August 21, Harder and Haddo joined Ray, Guitarro, and Raton in a coordinated attack against a convoy off Paluan Bay, Mindoro. The Japanese lost four passenger-cargo marus, possibly one by Harder.

Early the next day, Harder and Haado attacked and destroyed three coastal defense vessels off Bataan. Harder sank the frigates Matsuwa and Hiburi. Joined by Hake that night, they headed for Caiman Point, Luzon. At dawn on August 23, Haddo attacked and fatally damaged Asakaze off Cape Bolinao. Enemy trawlers towed the stricken destroyer to Dasol Bay. Haddo, her torpedoes expended, informed Harder and Hake the following night of the attack and left the wolf-pack for refit at Biak.

Harder and Hake remained off Dasol Bay, searching for new targets. Before dawn on August 24, they sighted a Japanese minesweeper and a three-stack Siamese destroyer. As Hake closed to attack, the destroyer turned away toward Dasol Bay. Hake broke off her approach, turned northward, and sighted Harder's periscope about 600 to 700 yards dead ahead. Swinging southward, Hake then sighted the minesweeper about 2,000 yards off her port quarter swinging toward them. To escape the charging minesweeper, Hake started deep and rigged for silent running. At 0728 she heard 15 rapid depth charges explode in the distance astern. She continued evasive action that morning, then returned to the general area of the attack shortly after noon. She swept the area at periscope depth but found only a ring of marker buoys covering a radius of one-half mile.

The vigorous depth charge attack thus ended the career of Harder, and she went down with all hands. The Japanese report of the attack concluded that "...much oil, wood chips, and cork floated in the vicinity." Dubbed "Hit 'Em again, Harder," this intrepid submarine had created havoc among Japanese shipping. Her record of aggressive daring exploits became almost legendary. All six of her patrols were designated successful. She received the Presidential Unit Citation, and in accordance with Navy custom it was presented to the second Harder upon commissioning. The resolute and resourceful Commander Samuel D. Dealey, "a submariner's submariner," was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

Harder received six battle stars for World War II service. She is credited with sinking 54,002 tons of Japanese shipping in 16 vessels.