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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Wahoo (SS-238)
War Patrols

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Keel Laying - Launching
Loss & Memorium
Discovery

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

Presidential Unit Citation

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 28 June 1941, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 14 February 1942; Commissioned USS Wahoo (SS-238), 15 May 1942; Final Disposition, sunk on seventh patrol by Japanese aircraft in LaPerouse Strait, 11 October 1943, all hands lost; Struck from the Naval Register, 6 December 1943. Wahoo earned six battle stars for World War II service in addition to being awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her third patrol.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 t.; Length 311' 10"; Beam 27' 4"; Draft 15' 2"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Complement 6 Officers 54 Enlisted; Maximum Operating Depth, 300 ft; Submerged Endurance, 48 hrs at 2 kts; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10 kts; Fuel Capacity, 97,140 gal.; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 3"/50 dual purpose deck gun, two .50 cal machine guns, two .30 cal machine guns; Propulsion, four GM diesel, 5,400hp, electric reduction gear with four main GE generator engines, 2,740shp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws.

Size	Image Description	Source
113k	The Wahoo (SS-238) provides food and water to the crew of a becalmed fishing boat, circa January 1943. The original caption, released with this photograph on 3 March 1943, reads: "Act of Mercy -- While on the war patrol during which she sank a Japanese destroyer and a convoy of four ships, the submarine *Wahoo, commanded by LCdr. Dudley W. Morton, USN, of Miami, Fla., came across a small fishing boat, becalmed. Three of the crew of nine aboard the fishing vessel had died when the submarine found her. Three remaining crew members were without food and water. This picture shows members of the submarine's crew handing water and food to the men in the fishing vessel. A few days later the Wahoo* destroyed the Japanese destroyer and convoy." View looks forward from *Wahoo's* machinegun platform.	Official U.S. Navy Photograph # NH 42275, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
83k	The Japanese destroyer *Harusame* shown in this periscope photograph, taken from Wahoo (SS-238) after she had been torpedoed by the submarine near Wewak, New Guinea, on 24 January 1943. *Harusame's* back is clearly broken, but she was repaired and returned to service despite this heavy damage. Wartime intelligence evaluated this photo as showing one of the *Asashio class* (see Photographic Intelligence Report # 82, 17 March 1943). However, the ship's bridge structure identifies her as a *Shiratsuyu class* destroyer, with the # 2 (single) 5" gun mount removed.	Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-35738, now in the collections of the National Archives.
39k	Scene in the control room during Wahoo's (SS-238) 27 January 1943 action with a Japanese destroyer. When the photo was taken the submarine was at 300 feet, rigged for depth charges. Six charges had just gone off and the crew was awaiting more. Lieutenant Commander Dudley W. Morton, *Wahoo's* Commanding Officer, reported this action as: "Another running gun fight ... destroyer gunning ... *Wahoo* running". Shaved head on crewman at right is a product of an Equator crossing ceremony three days previously.	US Navy photo, courtesy of Theodore Roscoe, from his book "U.S. Submarine Operations of WW II", published by USNI. Text from US Naval Historical Center photo # 80-G-38602.
425k	The Wahoo (SS-238) is shown arriving at Pearl Harbor on 7 Feb 1943. She is flying Captain Morton's hand made "Shoot The Sun Za-Bitches" pennant. She is also flying eight victory pennants. This number matches SUBPAC's credit sinking for her first three war patrol. She also has a broom attached to her attack scope.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
93k	The Wahoo (SS-238) arrives at Pearl Harbor at the end of her third war patrol, circa 7 February 1943. The original caption, released with this photograph on 3 March 1943, reads: "Hero's Wecome -- A Navy band is on hand to greet the submarine *Wahoo* on her return to Pearl Harbor following a patrol during which she sank a Japanese destroyer and an entire enemy convoy of four ships. The battle with the convoy lasted for a period of 14 hours." Note that *Wahoo's* radar antennas have been crudely censored out of the image.	Official U.S. Navy Photograph # NH 42274, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
94k	Lieutenant Commander Dudley W. Morton, USN, Commanding Officer, Wahoo (SS-238), describes his submarine's successful third war patrol, during a press conference at Pearl Harbor, circa mid-February 1943. He is holding a rough chart of what appears to be a small part of the northern New Guinea coast. On the wall at right are charts of western New Guinea and of the Iron Bottom Sound area between Guadalcanal and Tulagi.	US National Archives photo # 80-G-35733, a US Navy photo from the US Naval Historical Center.
345k	The Wahoo (SS-238) is shown returning from her 4th war patrol on 6 Apr 1943. The photo was been censored. *Wahoo's* SD mast and two ships have been marked out. She could be entering Midway. She is now showing 16 victory pennants and this matches SUBPAC's sinking credit for her first four war patrol.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
115k	The Wahoo (SS-238) at Midway 6 Apr 1943 with battle flags flying. Foreground: BM3c (later BM1c) Donald O. Smith who was lost with *Wahoo* the following October.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
118k	RADM W. L. Friedell, Commandant Mare Island Navy Yard, welcomes LCDR Mush Morton, Commanding Officer of the Wahoo (SS-238), back to Mare Island for an overhual on 29 May 1943. Morton is flanked by his father and his wife Harriet.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
94k	RADM W. L. Friedell, Commandant Mare Island Navy Yard, welcomes LCDR Richard O'Kane, Executive Officer, Wahoo (SS-238) back to Mare Island for an overhual on 29 May 1943. O'Kane's family are with him.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
285k	A sign at Mare Island Navy Yard welcomes the Wahoo (SS-238) back from the war for an overhaul. *Wahoo* was in overhaul from 29 May to 21 July 1943.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
58k	Wahoo (SS-238), off Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 14 July 1943.	US National Archives photo # 19-N-48937, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection, courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center.
57k	Wahoo (SS-238), off Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 14 July 1943.	US National Archives photo # 19-N-50192, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection, courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center.
102k	Wahoo (SS-238), off Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 14 July 1943.	US National Archives photo # 19-N-48940, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection, courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center.
176k	Broadside view of Wahoo (SS-238) off Mare Island ready for her sixth war patrol on 14 July 1943.	USN photo # 5149-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 02/17/07.
137k	Wahoo (SS-238) departing Mare Island Navy Yard on bay trials on 14 July 1943. This was during her overhaul which ran from 29 May to 21 July 1943.	USN photo # 5152-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
116k	Wahoo (SS-238), at Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 16 July 1943. Circles mark recent alterations to the submarine. The lighter *YC-312* is alongside. *YF-239* and *YF-200* are in the left-center distance.	US National Archives photo # 19-N-48941, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection now in the US National Archives, courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center.
122k	Wahoo (SS-238), at Mare Island Navy Yard, CA., 16 July 1943. White outlines mark recent alterations to the submarine. The lighter *YC-312* is alongside.	US National Archives photo # 19-N-48942, a US Navy photo from the Bureau of Ships Collection courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center.
34k	Wahoo (SS-238) July 1943 wearing the Ms 9 overall black camoflage.	Photo and text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
244k	View of the starboard side of the bridge of the Wahoo (SS-238) taken from the periscope shears on 20 July 1943. *Wahoo* was in berth at Mare Island Navy Yard.	USN photo # 5276-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
202k	View of the port side of the bridge of the Wahoo (SS-238) taken from the periscope shears on 20 July 1943.	USN photo # 5277-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
11k	Starboard broadside view of the Wahoo (SS-238) underway as she departs on her sixth war patrol. She arrived at Hawaii on 27 July 1943 and departed on 2 August for her patrol area....She had the worst possible luck with her torpedoes. Within four days, 12 Japanese vessels were sighted; nine were hunted down and attacked to no avail. Ten torpedoes broached, made erratic runs, or thumped against target hulls "like derelict motorboats." Morton wrote in wrath, "Damn the torpedoes!" He reported the poor torpedo performance to ComSubPac and received orders to return to base.	USN photo courtesy of Robert Hirst. Text courtesy of DANFS.
27k	Painting of the Wahoo (SS-238) surfaced and attacking a ship.	Courtesy of community.webshots.