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The
Champion Submarine-Killing Submarine of World War Two |
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War History &
Statistics |
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Batfish arriving in Fremantle, Australia after her 4th War Patrol |
On patrol, somewhere in the Pacific |
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WAR PATROL RESULTS
SUMMARY
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Patrol
# | Torpedoes Fired | Hits | Sunk (Patrol) | Sunk (Official) | Tonnage (Patrol) | Tonnage (Official) | Ships Damaged |
1 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15,678 | 5,486 | None |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | None |
3 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 9,500 | 990 | None |
4 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2,900 | 492 | None |
5 | 21 | 5 |
2 | 0 | 5,000 | 0 |
2 - 4,300 |
6 | 17 | 5 |
4 | 3 | 4,500 | 3,262 | 1 - 200 |
7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | None |
Totals | 71 | 24 | 15 | 6 | 37,484 | 10,230 |
3 - 4,500 tons |
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WAR PATROL ATTACK
SUMMARY
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Patrol |
Date |
Claimed
(Ship/Tonnage) |
Official
(Ship/Tonnage) |
Attack Type(*) |
1 |
1-20-1944 |
Ginyo Maru (8,613) |
Hidaka Maru (5,486) |
T2/5 NSV |
1-20-1944 |
Tatukami Maru (7,065) |
- -
- |
T3/3 NSR |
2 |
- -
- |
- -
- |
- -
- |
- -
- |
3 |
6-10-1944 |
Unknown ship (3,500) |
- -
- |
T1/3 DUP |
6-18-1944 |
Mayati Maru (2,232) |
- -
- |
T1/2 DUP |
6-22-1944 |
Anastasia Maru (3,110) |
Nagaragawa Maru (990) |
T2/4 DUP |
7-1-1944 |
Isuzugawa Maru #5 (226) |
- -
- |
GD |
7-1-1944 |
Kamoi or Kamo Maru (138) |
- -
- |
GD |
4 |
8-23-1944 |
Minekaze Class DD (1200) |
W22
(492) |
T3/3 DUP |
8-26-1944 |
Fubuki Class DD (1700) |
Samidare (1,580)** |
T2/2 TUP |
5 |
10-20-1944 |
Unidentified PC (300)* |
- -
- |
T1/1 NSR |
11-12-1944 |
Unidentified AK (4,000)* |
- -
- |
T1/2 DUP |
11-15-1944 |
Unidentified AK (4,000) |
- -
- |
T2/3 NSR |
11-15-1944 |
Unidentified DE (1,000) |
- -
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T1/1 NSR |
6 |
2-10-1945 |
I
Class Submarine |
I-41
(2,212) |
T1/3 NSR |
2-11-1945 |
I
Class Submarine |
RO-112 (525) |
T3/4 NUR |
2-13-1945 |
I
Class Submarine |
RO-113 (525) |
T1/3 NUR |
2-4-1945 |
Japanese LBV |
- -
- |
GD |
7 |
- -
- |
- -
- |
- -
- |
- -
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(*) |
"T" = Torpedo; 1st # /
2nd # = Torpedo hits / Torpedoes fired |
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D=Day; N-Night; T=Twilight
/// U=Underwater; S=Surface ///
V=Visual; P=Periscope; R=Radar; |
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GD=Gun Damage
*Assumed Sunk but listed as damaged **Some sources give 1/2 credit
to carrier planes |
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Batfish in seven war patrols, claimed a total of 15 ships sunk for 37,484
tons, and damaged 3 other ships. JANAC officially credited Batfish
with only 6 ships, for a total of 10,230 tons. This accreditation is par for the statistical
course. Generally, American submarines were credited with only half of
what they sank - or claimed twice as many ships as were later
substantiated.
At any rate, JANAC credited Batfish with the sinking of 3 enemy
submarines. But even here, the records are confused, particularly as to
the identity of the first submarine
Batfish sank on February 9, 1945. Some records indicated
I-41, others the RO-115, others the RO-55. To the best
available information, there is general agreement about the second and
third submarines: RO-112 and RO- 113. |
Captains Fyfe and Small, May 1945 |
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COMBAT AWARDS EARNED BY BATFISH AND HER CREW |
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Medals | Presidential Unit Citation |
10 Bronze Star Medals |
The entire crew serving aboard the
6th War Patrol was authorized to wear the Presidential Unit Citation
which read as follows:
"For extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese
combatant forces during the sixth War Patrol in the South China
Sea from December 30, 1944 to March 3, 1945. Persistent and
aggressive in her search for vital targets, the USS Batfish
relentlessly tracked down the enemy and in three separate,
brilliantly executed attacks, launched her torpedoes with
devastating speed and skill and demolished three Japanese
submarines. By the destruction of these formidable and
threatening hostile Fleet units in a single War Patrol, the
Batfish contributed significantly to the successful completion of
the war. The courage, superb seamanship and gallant fighting
spirit of her officers and men reflect the highest credit upon
herself and the United States Naval Services." |
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4 Silver Star Medals |
1 Navy Cross |
9 Battle Stars on the Asiatic-Pacific Area
Service Medal |
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USS
Batfish's List of Authorized Battle Stars, Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign, World War 2 |
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Dates |
Code |
World
War 2 Operation |
11 Dec 43 - 30 Jan 44 |
P208-36 |
Submarine War Patrols
(Pacific) |
26 May 44 - 7 Jul 44 |
P208-37 |
Submarine War Patrols
(Pacific) |
6 Sep 44 - 14 Oct 44 |
P30-2 |
Capture and occupation of
southern Palau Islands |
10 Oct 44 - 29 Nov 44 |
P31-1 |
Leyte landings |
9 Feb 45 |
P001 |
The "000" series
is given for Antisubmarine Assessments. P001 is given to a ship
for its first Assessment in Asiatic-Pacific waters, P002 for the
second, etc. The dates correspond to the three IJN submarines
BATFISH sank |
11 Feb 45 |
P002 |
12 Feb 45 |
P003 |
15 Feb 45 - 16 Feb 45 |
P33-1 |
Assault and occupation of Iwo
Jima |
17 Jul 45 - 13 Aug 45 |
P35 |
3d Fleet operations against
Japan |
Source:
Official Military Ribbons website |
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Commander Fyfe's Navy Cross
Citation |
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Batfish Battle flag
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