Hull Number: SS-278
Last Captain: CDR Maximilian Schmidt
Date Lost: Unknown, likely between 6 January and 16 February 1944
Location: Near the entrance to the Yellow Sea
Fatalities: 76
Cause: Likely a mine
Construction
Scorpion was a Gato class submarine completed by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at Kittery, Maine in October of 1942.
Loss Narrative
On her fourth patrol, Scorpion left Pearl Harbor, TH after a brief break for Christmas of 1943. She topped off fuel at Midway and departed for the area of the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea on 3 January 1944. On 5 January, Scorpion reported that they had a man with a badly broken arm. She requested that they meet with USS Herring (SS-233), which was ending a patrol, to transfer the injured man. The boats did meet, but the transfer was prevented by heavy weather. Scorpion was never seen or heard from again.
Prior History
On previous patrols, Scorpion had an eventful career. Her first assignment was to lay 22 mines off the Japanese island of Honshu which she completed on 19 April 1943. On the next day, she sank a converted gunboat. That was followed by damaging a large freighter and sinking four sampans, which were too small for JANAC credit. Then she sank a medium passenger/cargo ship.
During this attack, Scorpion used a new device called a bathythermograph or BT. This device shows the water temperature at various levels as the boat descends or ascends through the water. Sonar is distorted by changes in temperature and may even be reflected by an abrupt change, allowing a submarine to “hide” beneath a “layer.” Scorpion used this device effectively, and enemy depth charges were not accurate.
While returning to base, Scorpion engaged a heavily armed patrol boat with her guns. After her main gun jammed, she turned and fired a torpedo into the vessel. The patrol boat exploded and went down. Scorpion did not get credit for this sinking.
During the fight, the XO, LCDR Reginald Raymond, was killed while manning a Browning automatic rifle. LCDR Raymond was due to assume command of the USS Runner (SS-275) at the end of the patrol. As the Scorpion was preparing to bury LCDR Raymond at sea, the boat was attacked and forced to dive. The XO’s body was washed over the side, and the formal service had to be carried out later that evening. A new destroyer escort would be named in his honor.
Scorpion’s second patrol began on 29 May 1943. After topping off fuel at Midway, she headed for the Yellow Sea. She spotted a five-ship convoy and fired torpedoes at overlapping targets. (Two or more targets in the same line of fire with the nearest partially blocking the view of the more distant.) Scorpion had to go deep when escorts attacked. In the shallow water, she hit bottom at only 90 feet and destroyed her sonar heads. She did get credit for sinking a freighter and a passenger/cargo ship but had to return to Midway for repairs. During training after the repairs, Scorpion ran aground on the coral which surrounds Midway. This time she had to return to Pearl Harbor for major repairs.
Her third patrol began on 13 October 1943 with the usual stop at Midway for fuel. Scorpion spotted a Japanese heavy cruiser but was unable to gain firing position. Later, Scorpion went after a freighter. However, the target turned out to be a “Q” ship which attacked the submarine. Scorpion opted to clear the area.
She then attacked a large tanker and managed to hit it with one torpedo before being driven deep by escorts. The tanker had to be towed to Singapore and did not return to the war. Scorpion ended this patrol on 5 December 1943 at Pearl Harbor.
Scorpion was lost on her fourth war patrol. JANAC credited her with four sinkings for 18,316 tons total for her WW2 service.
During this attack, Scorpion used a new device called a bathythermograph or BT. This device shows the water temperature at various levels as the boat descends or ascends through the water. Sonar is distorted by changes in temperature and may even be reflected by an abrupt change, allowing a submarine to “hide” beneath a “layer.” Scorpion used this device effectively, and enemy depth charges were not accurate.
While returning to base, Scorpion engaged a heavily armed patrol boat with her guns. After her main gun jammed, she turned and fired a torpedo into the vessel. The patrol boat exploded and went down. Scorpion did not get credit for this sinking.
During the fight, the XO, LCDR Reginald Raymond, was killed while manning a Browning automatic rifle. LCDR Raymond was due to assume command of the USS Runner (SS-275) at the end of the patrol. As the Scorpion was preparing to bury LCDR Raymond at sea, the boat was attacked and forced to dive. The XO’s body was washed over the side, and the formal service had to be carried out later that evening. A new destroyer escort would be named in his honor.
Scorpion’s second patrol began on 29 May 1943. After topping off fuel at Midway, she headed for the Yellow Sea. She spotted a five-ship convoy and fired torpedoes at overlapping targets. (Two or more targets in the same line of fire with the nearest partially blocking the view of the more distant.) Scorpion had to go deep when escorts attacked. In the shallow water, she hit bottom at only 90 feet and destroyed her sonar heads. She did get credit for sinking a freighter and a passenger/cargo ship but had to return to Midway for repairs. During training after the repairs, Scorpion ran aground on the coral which surrounds Midway. This time she had to return to Pearl Harbor for major repairs.
Her third patrol began on 13 October 1943 with the usual stop at Midway for fuel. Scorpion spotted a Japanese heavy cruiser but was unable to gain firing position. Later, Scorpion went after a freighter. However, the target turned out to be a “Q” ship which attacked the submarine. Scorpion opted to clear the area.
She then attacked a large tanker and managed to hit it with one torpedo before being driven deep by escorts. The tanker had to be towed to Singapore and did not return to the war. Scorpion ended this patrol on 5 December 1943 at Pearl Harbor.
Scorpion was lost on her fourth war patrol. JANAC credited her with four sinkings for 18,316 tons total for her WW2 service.
Submarine Photo
