USS SHARK SS 174

USS SHARK SS 174 Porpoise Class

February 11, 1942. Unknown causes. 59 men lost.

From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

(SS-174: dp. 1,316 (surf.), 1,968 (subm.); l. 298'8"; b. 21'1"; dr. 13'10"; s. 19.5 k. (surf.), 8.2 k. (subm.); cpl. 50; a. 1 3", 6 21" tt; cl. Porpoise)

Departing Manila on December 9, 1941, Shark was at sea during the Japanese bombing raids there the next day. For the next week, Shark patrolled Tayabas Bay until ordered back to Manila on the 19th to embark Admiral Thomas C. Hart, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet, for transportation to Soerabaja, Java. On January 6, 1942, she was barely missed by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine. A few days later, she was ordered to Ambon Island, where an enemy invasion was expected. On January 27, 1942, she was directed to join the submarines patrolling in Molucca Passage, then to cover the passage east of Lifamatola and Bangka Strait. On February 2, 1942, Shark reported to her base at Soerabaja that she had been depth-charged ten miles off Tifore Island and had failed to sink a Japanese ship during a torpedo attack. Five days later, she reported chasing an empty cargo ship headed northwest. No further messages were received from Shark. On February 8, 1942, she was told to proceed to Makassar Strait and later was told to report information. Nothing was heard and, on March 7, 1942, Shark was reported as presumed lost, the victim of unknown causes. Post war records point to the probability that Shark was lost through enemy depth charge attack, however specific responsibilty for the loss cannot be determined. She was struck from the Navy list on June 24, 1942.

Shark received one battle star for World War II service.