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Click on Photo for a high resolution version of Plaque showing the names of the lost.
Click on Photo for a high resolution version of Plaque showing the names of the lost.
Compiled by Paul W. Wittmer and Charles R. Hinman, originally from: U.S. Submarine Losses World War II, NAVPERS 15,784, 1949 ISSUE
While operating in the area southeast of New Britain between 05° 15'S and 06° 00'S, and west of 153° 50'E during her third patrol, ARGONAUT (Lt. Cdr. J. R. Pierce) intercepted a Japanese convoy returning to Rabaul from Lae on 10 January 1943. A U. S. Army plane which was out of bombs saw one destroyer hit by a torpedo, saw the explosion of two other destroyers, and reported that there were five other vessels in the group.
After a severe depth charge attack ARGONAUT was forced to surface and the destroyers, according to the plane's report, circled and pumped shells into her bow, which was sticking up at a considerable angle. This action took place in 05° 40'S, 152° 02'E, and further efforts to contact ARGONAUT by radio were fruitless. It is quite certain, then, that ARGONAUT met her end in this action. Japanese reports made available since the end of the war record this attack as a depth charge attack followed by artillery fire, at which time the "destroyed top of the sub floated."
Google Earth image
ARGONAUT's first patrol near Midway had resulted in no damage to enemy ships, but her second was a most successful one. It was conducted following a complete modernization, at Mare Island. Her mission on this one had been to cooperate with NAUTILUS in transporting 252 Marine officers and men to Makin Island for a diversionary raid against enemy shore installations. In the early morning of 17 August 1942, the raiders were debarked in boats. After nearly two days ashore, the Marines returned, and the submarines transported them back to Pearl Harbor, ARGONAUT arriving on 26 August.
On the basis of the report given by the Army flier who witnessed the attack in which ARGONAUT perished, this ship was credited with having damaged one Japanese destroyer on her last patrol.
Click here for complete and accurate listing of men lost on USS Argonaut
See also Ed Howard's Final Patrol page on USS Argonaut (external link).
The Los Angeles Pasadena Base of the USSVI is the officially recognized custodian of the National Submarine Memorial, West. 