The USS Seawolf (SS-197) was a Sargo Class World War II era submarine.
The namesake of the USS Seawolf is the Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus), also known as the seawolf, Atlantic catfish, ocean catfish, wolf eel (the common name for its Pacific relative), or sea cat. It is a marine fish, the largest of the wolffish family (Anarhichadidae). They are commonly sighted throughout Asia.
The radio call sign of the USS Seawolf was NAN-EASY-LOVE-WILLIAM.
On September 21, 1944, captained by Lieutenant Commander Albert M. Bontier, the Seawolf left Brisbane on her fifteenth and final war patrol. She arrived at the Manus Island submarine base on September 29, 1944, where she embarked a seventeen-man army reconnaissance party and ten tons of supplies. After topping off her fuel, she sailed the same day to land them on Samar Island in the Philippines, north of General Douglas MacArthur's planned invasion site on Leyte Island. 1
On October 3, 1944, at 0756 hours, the Seawolf exchanged recognition signals by radar with the USS Narwhal (SS-167). Both boats were in a safety lane in which American surface forces were prohibited from attacking any submarine unless it was positively identified as an enemy. At 0807 hours, 35 miles east of Morotai Island, the commanding officer of the Japanese submarine RO-41 fired his last four torpedoes at two American escort carriers, the USS St. Lo (CVE-63) and the USS Fanshaw Bay (CVE-70). The torpedoes missed both escort carriers. However, the destroyer escort USS Shelton (DE-407), while turning to evade one of the oncoming torpedoes, was hit on the starboard screw by a second torpedo, which caused severe damage and flooding. The destroyer escort USS Rowell (DE-403) came alongside and removed the crew, after counterattacking the RO-41 unsuccessfully with depth charges. The Shelton was taken under tow, but eventually capsized and sank. Three hours later, one of the St. Lo's aircraft sighted a submarine in the safety lane and dropped two bombs and dye marked its position as the boat submerged. The destroyer escort USS Rowell (DE-403) got to the scene and detected the submarine on sonar. The sonar operator reported his equipment was receiving signals consisting of long dots and dashes from the submarine. The Rowell's commander dismissed these as an attempt to jam his sonar and pressed on with firing Mark 10 "hedgehog" projector mortars. Following a second barrage of twenty-four projectiles, the Rowell reported, "Three explosions heard. Two large boils [bubbles] observed off port beam. Debris observed in the boils." Four submarines were in the safety lane at the time of these events. Urgent calls from the surface forces to the submarines to report their positions brought responses from three of them, but there was only silence from the Seawolf. At that point it became obvious that the submarine the Rowell had sunk was the Seawolf and not the RO-41. 2
The attack against the Seawolf by the Rowell occurred in the vicinity of 02°-32'N, 129°-18'E. This location is off the east coast of Morotai Island, which is located in the Halmahera group of eastern Indonesia's Maluku Islands (Moluccas). The orange marker in the map below marks these coordinates.
On October 5, 1944, an inquiry into the incident was held at Manus Island. It was found that the Rowell had sunk the Seawolf. The Rowell's captain, Commander Harry A. Barnard, Jr., was censured for making insufficient efforts to identify his target, for dismissing the sound signals, and for attacking the Seawolf. 3
Ned Beach wrote that the Seawolf tragedy was due to "...a lack of the rudiments of common sense." He also penned the following poignant visualization of the Seawolf's final moments: 4
And so, alone and friendless, unable to defend herself, frantically striving to make her identity known to her attacker, the old Wolf came to the end of the trail. Who can know what terror her crew must have tasted, when it became plain to them that the American destroyer escort above them, specially built and trained to sink German submarines, was determined to sink them also? Who can appreciate their desperation when they realized that the genius of their own countrymen had, by a monstrous miscast of the dice, been pitted against them?
And who can visualize the hopeless, futile, unutterable bitterness of the final disaster, when, combined with the shock of the frame-smashing depth charges, came the rapier-like punch of the hedgehogs, piercing Seawolf's stout old hull, starting the hydrant flow of black sea water, and ending forever all hopes of seeing sunlight again. 5
The loss of the Seawolf was made public on December 28, 1944:
Navy Department Communiqué No. 564, December 28, 1944
1. The submarine USS Seawolf is overdue from patrol and presumed lost.
2. Next of kin of casualties have been informed.
She was struck from the Navy list on January 20, 1945.
The Seawolf received thirteen battle stars for World War II service. Her JANAC score is eighteen vessels sunk for 71,609 tons. Her Alden-McDonald score is twenty-seven vessels sunk for 97,035 tons and six vessels damaged for 32,950 tons. Her SORG score is twenty vessels sunk for 109,600 tons and fourteen vessels damaged for 74,100 tons. 6
A list of the personnel lost with Seawolf is maintained at http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-seawolf-197.htm. Seventeen U. S. Army personnel who were being transported by the Seawolf were also lost.
Patrol Data and Captains for the USS Seawolf (SS-197)
| Patrol No. |
Patrol Area |
Patrol Duration DD-MM-YY |
Captain's Rank & Name |
Sailed From |
| 1 | East Luzon | 08-Dec-41 to 26-Dec-41 | LCDR Frederick B. Warder | Manila |
| 2 | Special Mission | 31-Dec-41 to 09-Jan-42 | Same | Manila 7 |
| 3 | Special Mission | 16-Jan-42 to 07-Feb-42 | Same | Port Darwin 8 |
| 4 | Barrier | 15-Feb-42 to 07-Apr-42 | Same | Java 9 |
| 5 | Manila Area | 12-May-42 to 02-Jul-42 | Same | Fremantle |
| 6 | Celebes | 25-Jul-42 to 15-Sep-42 | Same | Fremantle |
| 7 | Davao Gulf | 07-Oct-42 to 01-Dec-42 | Same | Fremantle 10 |
| 8 | East China Sea |
03-Apr-43 to 03-May-43 | LCDR Royce L. Gross | Pearl 11 |
| 9 | East China Sea |
17-May-43 to 12-Jul-43 | same | Midway 12 |
| 10 | East China Sea |
14-Aug-43 to 15-Sep-43 | Same | Pearl |
| 11 | East China Sea |
05-Oct-43 to 27-Nov-43 | Same | Pearl |
| 12 | East China Sea |
22-Dec-43 to 27-Jan-44 | Same | Pearl |
| 13 | Palau | 04-Jun-44 to 07-Jul-44 | LCDR Richard B. Lynch | Pearl 13 |
| 14 | Special Missions | 01-Aug-44 to 23-Aug-44 | LCDR Albert M. Bontier | Port Darwin 14 |
| 15 | Special Mission | 21-Sep-44 to 03-Oct-44 Lost |
Same | Brisbane |
JANAC Score for the USS Seawolf (SS-197)
| Patrol No. |
Date DD-MM-YY |
Vessel Name |
Vessel Type |
Tonnage Sunk |
Location Sunk |
| 5 | 15-Jun-42 | Nampo Maru | Converted Gunboat |
1,206 | 14-20N, 120-20E |
| 6 | 14-Aug-42 | Hachigen Maru | Passenger- Cargo |
3,113 | 5-07N, 119-37E |
| 6 | 25-Aug-42 | Showa Maru | Cargo | 1,349 P | 3-55N, 118-59E |
| 7 | 02-Nov-42 | Gifu Maru | Cargo | 2,933 | 6-14N, 126-07E |
| 7 | 03-Nov-42 | Sagami Maru | Passenger- Cargo |
7,189 | 7-02N, 125-33E |
| 7 | 08-Nov-42 | Keiko Maru | Converted Gunboat |
2,929 | 6-22N, 126-03E |
| 8 | 15-Apr-43 | Kaihei Maru | Cargo | 4,575 | 21-06N, 151-45E |
| 8 | 23-Apr-43 | Patrol Boat No. 39 |
Old Destroyer | 820 e | 23-45N, 122-45E |
| 9 | 20-Jun-43 | Shojin Maru | Cargo | 4,739 | 24-39N, 118-52E |
| 10 | 31-Aug-43 | Shoto Maru | Passenger- Cargo |
5,254 | 28-27N, 123-03E |
| 10 | 31-Aug-43 | Kokko Maru | Cargo | 5,486 | 28-27N, 123-03E |
| 10 | 01-Sep-43 | Fusei Maru | Passenger- Cargo |
2,256 | 31-28N, 127-24E |
| 11 | 29-Oct-43 | Wuhu Maru | Cargo | 3,222 | 22-30N, 115-25E |
| 11 | 04-Nov-43 | Kaifuku Maru | Passenger- Cargo |
3,177 | 21-22N, 113-20E |
| 12 | 10-Jan-44 | Asuka Maru | Cargo | 7,523 | 27-35N, 127-30E |
| 12 | 10-Jan-44 | Getsuyo Maru | Cargo | 6,440 | 27-22N, 127-31E |
| 12 | 11-Jan-44 | Yahiko Maru | Cargo | 5,747 | 27-10N, 127-28E |
| 12 | 14-Jan-44 | Yamatsuru Maru | Cargo | 3,651 | 28-30N, 133-40E |
| TOTALS | e = estimated P = probably sunk |
18 vessels | 71,609 tons | ||
Alden-McDonald Score for the USS Seawolf (SS-197)
| Patrol No. |
Date DD-MM-YY |
Vessel Name |
Vessel Type |
Tonnage Sunk |
Tonnage Damaged |
| 1 | 14-Dec-41 | Sanyo Maru | Converted Seaplane Tender |
8,360 | |
| 4 | 01-Apr-42 | Naka | Light Cruiser | 5,195 | |
| 5 | 15-Jun-42 | Nanho Maru | Converted Gunboat |
1,206 | |
| 6 | 14-Aug-42 | Hachigen Maru | Passenger Cargo |
3,113 | |
| 6 | 25-Aug-42 | Showa Maru | Cargo | 1,349 | |
| 7 | 02-Nov-42 | Gifu Maru | Cargo | 2,933 | |
| 7 | 03-Nov-42 | Sagami Maru | Cargo | 9,264 | |
| 7 | 08-Nov-42 | Keiko Maru | Converted Gunboat |
2,929 | |
| 8 | 15-Apr-43 | Kaihei Maru | Cargo | 4,575 | |
| 8 | 19-Apr-43 | Banshu Maru #5 | Converted Supply Ship |
389 | |
| 8 | 20-Apr-43 | Kotoku Maru | Picket Boat | 58 | |
| 8 | 23-Apr-43 | P39 | Frigate | 935 | |
| 8 | 23-Apr-43 | Nisshin Maru #2 | Tanker | 17,579 | |
| 8 | 26-Apr-43 | Unknown | Sampan | 75 | |
| 9 | 27-May-43 | Unknown | Sampan | 75 | |
| 9 | 20-Jun-43 | Shojin Maru | Cargo | 4,739 | |
| 10 | 31-Aug-43 | Kokko Maru | Ore Carrier | 5,486 | |
| 10 | 31-Aug-43 | Shoto Maru | Cargo | 5,253 | |
| 10 | 31-Aug-43 | Sagi | Torpedo Boat | 960 | |
| 10 | 01-Sep-43 | Durban Maru | Cargo | 7,163 | |
| 10 | 02-Sep-43 | Fusei Maru | Cargo | 2,256 | |
| 10 | 05-Sep-43 | Unknown | Sampan | 75 | |
| 10 | 05-Sep-43 | Unknown | Sampan | 75 | |
| 10 | 07-Sep-43 | Kaio Maru #2 | Picket Boat | 75 | |
| 11 | 29-Oct-43 | Wuhu Maru | Passenger Cargo |
3,222 | |
| 11 | 04-Nov-43 | Kaifuku Maru | Cargo | 3,177 | |
| 11 | 09-Nov-45 | Amatsu Maru | Tanker | 10,567 | |
| 12 | 10-Jan-44 | Asuka Maru | Cargo | 7,523 | |
| 12 | 10-Jan-44 | Getsuyo Maru | Cargo | 6,440 | |
| 12 | 11-Jan-44 | Yahiko Maru | Repair Ship | 5,747 | |
| 12 | 14-Jan-44 | Yamazuru Maru | Tanker | 3,651 | |
| 12 | 14-Jan-44 | HA-51 | Midget Submarine |
46 | |
| 12 | 16-Jan-44 | Tarushima Maru |
Cargo | 4,865 sh | |
| TOTALS | 27 vessels sunk 6 vessels damaged |
sh = Shared credit with Whale (SS-239) |
Tons sunk 97,035 |
Tons damaged 32,590 |
|
SORG Score for the USS Seawolf (SS-197)
SORG totals for Seawolf
20 vessels sunk for 109,600 tons
14 vessels damaged for 74,100 tons
Updated Sunday, 06-Nov-2011 12:39:33 EST
1. United States Submarine Losses World War II, p. 109-110.
2. Ibid. Also see Jones, David and Peter Noonan, U. S. Subs Down Under: Brisbane, 1942-1945, p. 218-219; Hackett, Bob and Sander Kingsepp, "HIJMS Submarine RO-41: Tabular Record of Movement," published online at http://www.combinedfleet.com/RO-41.htm (accessed October 3, 2011).
3. Jones, David and Peter Noonan, op. cit., p. 218-219.
4. Beach, Edward L., Submarine!, p. 101.
5. Ibid.
6. Alden, John D., and Craig R. McDonald, United States and Allied Submarine Successes in the Pacific and Far East During World War II, Fourth Edition, see USS Seawolf (SS-197), Attack Nos. 13, 68, 69, 74, 75, 76, 111, 112, 113, 203, 256, 275, 295, 407, 409, 410, 420, 751, 752, 756, 757, 765, 766, 773, 840, 858, 903, 1067, 1068, 1069, 1070, 1071, 1073, 1081, 1082, 1092, 1244, 1263, 1283, 1482, 1483, 1484, 1485, 1500, 1501, 1502, and 1516; Submarine war patrol reports on CD, USS Seawolf (SS-197), data collected by the Submarine Operations Research Group (SORG) in the report "Results of U. S. Submarine War Patrols Listed Alphabetically by Name of Submarine"; Japanese Naval And Merchant Shipping Losses During World War II By All Causes, Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee, USS Seawolf (SS-197), published online at http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/Japan/IJN/JANAC-Losses/JANAC-Losses-6.html#seawolf (accessed September 29, 2011).
7. The Seawolf transported staff to Australia. The patrol ended at Port Darwin.
8. On January 27-28, 1942, the Seawolf delivered to Corregidor 72,585 pounds of ammunition and embarked twenty-five Army-Navy pilots, submarine spare parts, and sixteen torpedoes, for evacuation to Java.
9. The Seawolf ended her fourth war patrol at Fremantle, Australia. Her patrol areas included the Surabaya and Java Sea areas, the southern approaches to the Sunda Strait, the Australian-Sunda traffic lanes, and the waters surrounding Christmas Island.
10. The Seawolf conducted her fourth patrol incidental to her transfer to Submarines Pacific Fleet. She ended the patrol at Pearl Harbor.
11. The Seawolf underwent a complete overhaul at the Mare Island Navy Yard, December 9, 1942 to February 24, 1943. Her eighth war patrol terminated at Midway Island. On January 18, 1943, Lieutenant Commander Royce L. Gross relieved Commander Frederick B. Warder as the commanding officer of the USS Seawolf.
12. The Seawolf ended her ninth patrol at Pearl Harbor on March 13, 1943.
13. After her twelfth war patrol, the Seawolf underwent a major overhaul at Hunters Point. During the interim period, Lieutenant Commander Richard B. Lynch relieved Lieutenant Commander Royce L. Gross. Pursuant to orders, on July 17 to 30, 1944, the Seawolf sailed to Port Darwin for transfer to the Seventh Fleet. On July 30, 1944, Lieutenant Commander Albert M. Bontier relieved Lieutenant Commander Royce L. Gross as the commanding officer of the USS Seawolf. The Seawolf conducted a special photographic reconnaissance mission during her thirteenth war patrol in the Palau area.
14. The Seawolf completed two Spyron missions during her her fourteenth patrol. She successfully landed troops and supplies at Tongehatan Point on Tawi-Tawi Island and at Pirata Head on Palawan Island. She ended her fourteenth patrol at Brisbane.
