SUCCESS AND FRUSTRATION
 by Cornelius Russell Bartholomew

Getting underway on 5 April, a routine test dive turned out to be not so routine. Water poured into the conning tower. A hole had been burned the hull while the Relief Crew had stalled the new radars. After another day in port for the patch job, the intensive training commenced. The training ended 13 April and BONEFISH departed for the assigned patrol area via Exmouth Gulf, a fuel stop on the Northwest coast of Australia.

The SJ radar broke down. Parts were ordered by radio to be delivered to Exmouth Gulf. As the fuel tanks were topped off, the radar repairs were made. BONEFISH headed north and then east toward Ombia Strait. The usual and shorter route north, Balabac Strait was mined and patrolled by many antisubmarine vessels. There were also many shore batteries on both sides of the narrow strait ready to blast any submarine that came in range. The Ombia Strait transit was uneventful. By radio, BONEFISH’S patrol area was changed to the Celebes Sea. This was greeted with enthusiasm because of her earlier good luck in that area.

In the Celebes Sea at 1050 AM on 1 April, smoke and then the mast of ship was sighted by a lookout. The enemy AK, AGUN MARU, was escort6d by a CHIDORI, a very effective antisubmarine ship, and six minelayers. The BONEFISH was in good position for the intercept, so she dove.

The forward torpedoes were made ready. Through the periscope the range and course of the enemy was checked. After belching a cloud of lack smoke, the AK and escorts changed course and headed for the shallow coastal waters. Surfacing and using four main engines even though the mufflers on number three and four leaked exhaust gas and sprayed sparks, the chase was on.

Six loaded sea trucks heading the same direction were bypassed. It was decided they would be sunk with gunfire after sinking the AK and CHIDORI using torpedoes. Arriving at the point where the AK would have to leave allow water, speed was slowed to one engine. Staying on the surface after sunrise and keeping the AK in sight by using the raised periscope, BONEFISH came under attack.

Barreling out of the sun, an enemy aircraft forced BONEFISH to crash dive. Later surfacing and with the watch scrambling to the bridge, two planes again forced BONEFISH to dive. After waiting an hour to surface, neither the AK nor escorts or the sea trucks could be located. That night two target blips appeared on the radar screen at 15,000 yards.

The targets were sampans and low visibility prevented sinking them by gunfire. Two days later in the afternoon, an enemy AK, MYOGI MARU, heavily laden and escorted by a subchaser was sighted heading into the Sarangania Strait.

BONEFISH reached the Strait first and dove for the attack. The strong current in the Strait prevented BONEFISH from getting into firing position. The AK, leaving a trail of black smoke, was easy to follow. Using three engines for propulsion and one for battery charging, BONEFISH raced ahead on the surface and reached torpedo firing position. It was a black, misty night with no moonlight.

Using the electric motors because the diesel engine exhaust would give her position away, BONEFISH charged the enemy ship. Four torpedoes were fired. One blew an escort out of the water. A second burst under the AK. Turning sharply, BONEFISH sped way while the two remaining sub chasers dropped depth charges at random. The AK disappeared from the radar screen indicating it had sunk. Exploding depth charges could be heard astern as the torpedo tubes were reloaded. After midnight BONEFISH returned to the Sarangania Strait south of Mindoro Island in the northern part of the Celebes Sea.

That night an enemy patrol boat was avoided. Before sunrise the 4,468-ton HEITO MARU fully loaded, making thirteen knots and escorted by a depth charge carrying minelayer, came into the area. The enemy's high speed made it impossible for the BONEFISH to get into optimum torpedo range. At 3,800 yards four torpedoes were fired.

The first torpedo ran erratic leaving a trail of smoke alerting the minelayer. The minelayer dashed toward BONEFISH forcing her to dive. Three torpedo hits were heard as the angry minelayer passed over the BONEFISH.

Two heavy depth charges set to explode deep rattled the hull. A third depth charge shook the stern. Several aerial bombs followed. Evasive maneuvers were successful. The torpedo tubes were reloaded. Ten hours later with no aircraft in sight, BONEFISH surfaced and continued her hunt for torpedo or gun targets.

Enemy aircraft played hide and seek with BONEFISH on 28, 29 and 30 April. She was up and down like a roller coaster. At 2016 on 30 April, three enemy ships appeared on the SJ radar screen. They were at 15,000 yards.

Because of the dark land background and rain, the ships could not be identified from the bridge. Flashes of lightning and short periods of moonlight between squalls did not help. While waiting for the moon to set, BONEFISH maneuvered into torpedo attack position. Shortly after midnight, the hunter became the hunted.

Peering through binoculars, the bridge crew saw what they believed could be gun flashes from the enemy ships. Projectiles plopping in the water, some exploding, around BONEFISH made the bridge crew realize they were under fire. A convenient rain cloud allowed her to hide. After moonset, BONEFISH dove and waited. The three ships were sub-chasers making a sweep to clear the area of submarines. Rigged for silent running, BONEFISH was not detected as the sub-chasers passed overhead. After surfacing, BONEFISH was ordered by radio to patrol the Sulu Sea.

Twice on 2 May BONEFISH was forced to crash dive by enemy air patrols. That evening she entered the Sibutu Passage. A gun firing PT boat chased her. Using four engines and reversing course, she left the Passage and the PT boat behind. After moonset, BONEFISH submerged at the north entrance of the Sibutu Passage. Taking advantage of the two and a half-knot current pushing her, she avoided the many patrol boats wandering back and forth. Surfacing she headed for the convoy lanes in the Sulu Sea.

Air patrols were numerous and many crash dives were made. On 4 May at 0710, surfacing from a forced dive, smoke from three ships was sighted. While racing to get into torpedo firing position, an enemy aircraft came screaming out of a cloud catching BONEFISH by surprise.

The emergency dive took her to two hundred feet and no aerial bombs exploded. It was decided the plane hadn't detected her. BONEFISH planned up to periscope depth. As the periscope broke the water's surface, one aerial bomb violently shook the conning tower. While going deep, the second bomb jolted the hull. Leveling off at 250 feet, a check was made for damage.

Internal paint chips and other damage put number two periscope out of commission. Number one was out of collimation and could only be used with great effort. The radio antenna trunk was flooded. The main hydraulic system was out of commission. That made hand steering and operation of the bow and stern planes tiring. Many rivets and bolts on the bulkhead stiffeners had been sheared. Broken light bulbs, dishes, cork and paint chips were scattered throughout. While cleaning up, light fast screws and echo ranging, the sign of an enemy destroyer, was picked up on sonar.

The destroyers started dropping depth charges at 0830 AM. Twenty-five heavy charges set to explode deep bounced BONEFISH around. A wicked salvo of eleven shook the hull before evasive maneuvers were successful. The attacker's propellers sounds faded. BONEFISH came up to periscope depth for a look. The enemy ships were seen disappearing behind Pangutaran Island. A RUFE aircraft-patrolling overhead kept BONEFISH submerged until 1754. Upon surfacing, more damage was discovered.

The searchlight was demolished. The glass cover to the bridge gyro repeater was smashed and the instrument flooded. The bridge talkback system wouldn't work and some bridge superstructure plating were badly warped. The next two days was spent dodging sub-chasers. On 7 May, the USS FLASHER (SS249) radioed BONEFISH that a MARU was entering her patrol area.

The MARU turned out to be a well-marked enemy hospital ship. Later that day sonar picked up echo ranging indicating an escorted convoy was in the area. The convoy was identified as a 8,800-ton AP, a smaller AK, three sub- chasers and a CHIDORI escort doing the echo ranging. The stern torpedo tubes were made ready.

The four torpedoes parted the water, making forty-five knots. Three ran hot, straight and normal. The fourth was smoking and sighted by the crew of the CHIDORI. She charged BONEFISH while three of the torpedoes blasted holes in the AP.

BONEFISH was passing 250 feet when the first depth charges exploded over her while she hid under a thermal layer of water and reloaded the stern torpedo tubes. When the enemy left, BONEFISH surfaced. The air patrols made crash dives almost routine. During a lull in the air coverage, a thirty-ton sailboat was investigated.

Manned by a hungry Filipino crew, it carried six logs as cargo. Food and cigarettes were given to the crew. Two days later the ITUKUSIMA, a large minelayer, came into view with a TIDORI torpedo boat escort.

A submerged approach was made. Four electric torpedoes, the last in the after torpedo room, were fired. An error in the torpedo setup caused them to miss. Exploding at the end of their run, they alerted the TIDORI. It dropped four depth charges but none near BONEFISH. Later while patrolling on the surface off Tawi Tawi Bay, a three-tanker convoy with three destroyer escorts was intercepted.

The convoy was making fourteen knots. The largest tanker, GENYO MARU, was selected to receive BONEFISH'S last six torpedoes. A destroyer, HIBIKI class, passed close ahead of BONEFISH as the convoy zigged bringing the GENYO MARU into 3,000 yards.

The forward torpedo tubes were fired. Number six tube refused to fire electrically or manually. The first Mark XIV torpedo exploded against the tanker's bow. The second exploded under her bridge, and the third blew her stern off. The tanker was enveloped in smoke and flame. The fourth torpedo exploded under the destroyer, INAZUMA, which blew apart and sank. Down emergency was ordered as the two remaining destroyers charged in to work her over with depth charges.

The first charge shook the bull as BONEFISH was passing 200 feet. The attackers dropped twenty heavy depth charges before quitting. The crew felt, with only one defective torpedo aboard, it was time to leave the area. It wasn't.

The crew faced their most frustrating days. After the attackers faded away, BONEFISH planned up to periscope depth. When the periscope was raised, a destroyer charged it and a circling RUFE airplane dropped two aerial bombs. The destroyer used echo ranging trying to locate BONEFISH as she ran silent and deep. No depth charges were dropped, surprising the crew. But several sets of fast screws were heard passing overhead. They were followed by slower and heavy screws indicating large ships. Risking being mauled by the destroyers, BONEFISH planed up to periscope depth. The view brought tears to the Captain's eyes.

A large enemy task force was passing overhead. Three battleships, three heavy cruisers, one light cruiser, one aircraft carrier and eight destroyers were in the group. BONEFISH'S one defective torpedo and her 4"50 caliber deck gun were no match for the armada.

The one chance in the war to wreak havoc on the enemy fleet passed. After twenty hours and twenty-seven minutes submerged, BONEFISH surfaced and followed the task force toward Sibutu Passage.

Destroyers blocked the way through the Passage so BONEFISH headed for Doc Can Island Passage. After midnight when radio conditions were best, the sighting message was sent. BONEFISH was ordered to patrol off Tawi Tawi Bay where the task force had headed.

The next five days were spent surveying the task force anchored in Tawi Tawi Bay. More ships arrived to join the task force. Enemy air patrols were seen with every periscope look. Destroyers made racetrack shaped patrols outside the Bay and dropped a depth charge at each turn. A U.S. submarine with a full load of torpedoes relieved BONEFISH on 21 May 1944.

BONEFISH crossed the equator heading south on 23 May. Enemy aircraft were sighted daily until the Indian Ocean was entered. She arrived at Fremantle on 30 May 1944. The Captain and fifteen others who had been aboard since the commissioning were transferred to new construction in the

States or to a submarine relief crews. Five successful attacks had been made. BONEFISH had been on the receiving end of over eighty depth charges and fifty aerial bombs. The successful patrol earned another star for the Submarine Combat Pin and the Navy Unit Citation.

Under a new Skipper, BONEFISH continued her aggressive attacks on the enemy. Eleven cargo ships, one destroyer, and a small intercoastal steamer have been credited to her record. She earned eight stars for the Navy Submarine Combat Pin and five stars for the Navy Unit Citation. She had two Skippers each earning three Navy Crosses, a Silver Star and Bronze Star. Other crewmembers received Silver and Bronze Stars for specific acts of bravery or service. BONEFISH and her entire crew were lost in the Japan Sea on 18 June 19,45 two years and eighteen days after commissioning at New London, Connecticut.

Lost June 18, 1945

ADAMS, T. B., JR.

ADAMS, W. S.

AMBURGEY, L. M.

ANDERSON, G. I., JR.

AURELI, S. J.

BECK, M. L.

BROWN, R. W.

BROWNING, J. A.

BURDICK, C. A.

CANFIELD, K. T.

COLEMAN, J. A.

COOLEY, Q. L.

DANIELSON, 0 . C.

DUNN, D. H.

EDGE, L. L

ENOS, E. R.

EPPS, W. H., JR.

FELD, P. E.

FOX, D. C.

FRANK, R. E.

FUGETT, M. A.

FULLER, G. M.

HACKSTAFF, H. J.

HARMAN, G. P.

HASIAK, J. J.

HESS, R. D.

HOUGHTON, W. S.

JENKINS, R. W.

JOHNSON, J. C.

JOHNSON, S. E., JR.

JOHNSTON, T. M.

KALINOFF, M. W.

KARR,W.G.

KEEFER, R.,T.

KERN, F. B.

KING, E. W.

KISSANE, J. E.

KNIGHT, F. S.

LAMOTHE, J. N.

LARACY, J. J. JR.

LEWIS, M. A.

LOCKWOOD, T. G.

LYNCH, J. F.

MAGHAN, A. G.

MARKLE, J. E.

McBRIDE R. J.

MILES, H. V., JR.

NESTER, S. A.

NEWBERRY, J. R.

OLSON,D.H.

O'TOOLE, W. P.

PARTON, J.F.

PASKIN,T.

PAULEY, G. W.

PHENICIE, J. E.

PRIMAVERA, L. J.

PRUNIER, G. A.

QUENETT, C. F.

RALEY, C. H.

RAY, R. C., JR.

RAYNES, J. A.

REID, J. A.

RHANOR, C. J.

RICE, R. M.

ROSE, R. A., II

SCHILLER, R. G.

SCHMIDLING, C. J.

SCHWEYER, R. G.

SLATER, R.

SMITH, L.G., JR.

SNODGRASS, R. L.

STAMM, R. S.

SURBER, R. M.

TIERNEY, D. R.

VELIE, R. C.

VINCENT, T. F., JR.

WHITRIGHT, W.

WILSON, J. R.

WILLIAMS, J. J.

WILLIAMS, I. R., JR.

WILLIAMS, T. F.

WINEGAR, C. D.

WOLFE, L. E.

WRIGHT, G. W., JR.

Patrol 1 - Patrol 2 - Patrol 3 - Patrol 4 
Moonlight Surface Torpedo Attack

Bonefish Home - SubmarineSailor.com Home