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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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| REFERENCE: U.S. Submarine Attacks During
World War II by John D. Alden |
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| Patrol
# | Torpedoes
Fired | Hits | Sunk
(Alden) | Sunk
(Official) | Tonnage
(Alden) | Tonnage
(Official) | Ships Damaged |
| 1 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15,700 | 5,486 | None |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | None |
| 3 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 9,500 | 1,251 | None |
| 4 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2,900 | 2,333 | None |
| 5 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5,300 | 0 | 1 - 4,000 AK |
| 6 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4,500 | 3,262 | 1 - 200 LBV |
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | None |
| Totals | 71 | 24 | 15 | 9 | 37,900 | 12,332 | 2 - 4,200 tons |
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WAR PATROL ATTACK
SUMMARY
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| Patrol |
Date |
Claimed
(Ship/Tonnage) |
Official
(Ship/Tonnage) |
Attack Type(*) |
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1 |
1-20-1944 |
Ginyo Maru (8,613) |
Hidaka Maru (5,486) |
T2/5 NSV |
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1-20-1944 |
Tatukami Maru (7,065) |
- -
- |
T3/3 NSR |
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2 |
- -
- |
- -
- |
- -
- |
- -
- |
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3 |
6-10-1944 |
Unknown ship (3,500) |
- -
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T1/3 DUP |
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6-18-1944 |
Mayati Maru (2,232) |
- -
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T1/2 DUP |
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6-22-1944 |
Anastasia Maru (3,110) |
Nagaragawa Maru (990) |
T2/4 DUP |
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7-1-1944 |
Isuzugawa Maru #5 (226) |
- -
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GD |
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7-1-1944 |
Kamoi or Kamo Maru (138) |
- -
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GD |
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4 |
8-23-1944 |
Minekaze Class DD (1200) |
W22
(492) |
T3/3 DUP |
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8-26-1944 |
Fubuki Class DD (1700) |
Samidare (1,580) |
T2/2 TUP |
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5 |
10-20-1944 |
Unidentified PC (300) |
- -
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T1/1 NSR |
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11-12-1944 |
Unidentified AK (4,000) |
- -
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T1/2 DUP |
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11-15-1944 |
Unidentified AK (4,000) |
- -
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T2/3 NSR |
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11-15-1944 |
Unidentified DE (1,000) |
- -
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T1/1 NSR |
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6 |
2-10-1945 |
I
Class Submarine |
I-41
(2,212) |
T1/3 NSR |
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2-11-1945 |
I
Class Submarine |
RO-112 (525) |
T3/4 NUR |
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2-13-1945 |
I
Class Submarine |
RO-113 (525) |
T1/3 NUR |
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2-4-1945 |
Japanese LBV |
- -
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GD |
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7 |
- -
- |
- -
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- -
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- -
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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 Dammage |
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Batfish in seven war patrols, claimed a total of 14 ships sunk for 37,000
tons, and damaged 2 other ships. JANAC officially credited Batfish
with only 6.5 ships, for a total of 11,248 tons. Cross-referencing
Lowder (who was on the Batfish and Alden (who used several
references), it seems most likely that Batfish sank 15 ships for
37,900 tons and damaged 2 others. However, official sources credit 9
ships for 12,332 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. For further
discussion, see Which Sub Was It?
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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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Commander Fyfe's Navy Cross
Citation |
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Batfish Battle flag
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