Hull Number: SS-131
Last Captain: LCDR Earl Hawk
Date Lost: 24 January 1942
Location: Gulf of Panama
Fatalities: Fatalities: 46. The commanding officer, executive officer and one enlisted man survived. Three other men were in the base hospital at the time and were spared.
Cause: Collision
Construction
S-26 was an S-1 class submarine completed in October of 1923 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding in Quincy, MA.
Loss Narrative
S-26 left Balboa (Panama City) in the Canal Zone on her second war patrol accompanied by the submarines USS S-21 (SS-126), USS S-29 (SS-134) and USS S-44 (SS-155). They were escorted by the patrol craft PC-460. Running lights were not being used in wartime conditions. At 22:10, the PC-460 signaled by lamp that she was leaving the group. Apparently, only S-21 received the message. The escort then turned to leave the formation. It appears that, for some reason, the PC turned more than 180 degrees and went past the course which would have been parallel and reciprocal. Therefore, the patrol craft was now crossing through the formation of submarines she was escorting.
At 22:23, PC-460 collided with S-26 in the darkness. The patrol craft hit the S-26 on the starboard side of the torpedo room. The boat sank within seconds. The three survivors were on the bridge at the time. Salvage operations began immediately, but when divers reached the boat there were no signs of life. Because of the depth of the water, neither rescue or salvage of the S-26 was possible.
Captain Hawk went on to a successful command in the USS Pompon (SS-267). The executive officer, LT Robert E. M. Ward went on to successful commands in the USS Sailfish (SS-192) and then the USS Sea Leopard (SS-483).
At 22:23, PC-460 collided with S-26 in the darkness. The patrol craft hit the S-26 on the starboard side of the torpedo room. The boat sank within seconds. The three survivors were on the bridge at the time. Salvage operations began immediately, but when divers reached the boat there were no signs of life. Because of the depth of the water, neither rescue or salvage of the S-26 was possible.
Captain Hawk went on to a successful command in the USS Pompon (SS-267). The executive officer, LT Robert E. M. Ward went on to successful commands in the USS Sailfish (SS-192) and then the USS Sea Leopard (SS-483).
Prior History
S-26 operated from New London from 1923 to 1925, visiting the U. S. Virgin Islands and Hawaii. From 1925 to 1930, she operated out of West Coast ports and at times served in the Panama Canal area. In December of 1930, S-26 was transferred to Hawaii. She served at Pearl Harbor until October of 1938 when she returned to New London.
S-26 was in reserve with a partial crew from April of 1939 to July of 1940. She resumed full duty at that point, with duties out of New London and hydrogen tests at Washington D. C.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, she departed New London and arrived at Coco Solo, Panama on 19 December. She then conducted her first war patrol in the Pacific, but encountered no enemy forces.
S-26 was lost on her second war patrol. She was not credited with any sinkings.
S-26 was in reserve with a partial crew from April of 1939 to July of 1940. She resumed full duty at that point, with duties out of New London and hydrogen tests at Washington D. C.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, she departed New London and arrived at Coco Solo, Panama on 19 December. She then conducted her first war patrol in the Pacific, but encountered no enemy forces.
S-26 was lost on her second war patrol. She was not credited with any sinkings.
Submarine Photo
Captain Photo
LCDR Earl Hawk