Hull Number: SS-294
Last Captain: CDR William Millican
Date Lost: Estimated 17 October 1944
Location: Estimated to be Tsushima Strait
Fatalities: 82
Cause: Likely a mine
Construction
Escolar was a Balao class submarine completed by the Cramp Shipbuilding Company at Philadelphia, PA in June of 1944.
Loss Narrative
Escolar departed Pearl Harbor for her first patrol on 18 September 1944. After topping off fuel at Midway, she joined USS Croaker (SS-246) and USS Perch II (SS-313) as the lead in a wolfpack. CDR Millican was experienced and the senior officer.
On 30 September, she reported to the other wolfpack members that she had attacked a patrol boat with guns. The transmission was breaking up but Escolar did not indicate any damage to herself nor the status of the patrol boat. On 17 October Croaker reported receiving a message from Escolar indicating she was heading for the Tsushima Strait. Escolar did not respond to messages after that and was never heard from again. It was assumed that she was lost to a mine since there are no records of Japanese attacks in the area.
Escolar was lost on her first war patrol and JANAC credited her with no sinkings.
On 30 September, she reported to the other wolfpack members that she had attacked a patrol boat with guns. The transmission was breaking up but Escolar did not indicate any damage to herself nor the status of the patrol boat. On 17 October Croaker reported receiving a message from Escolar indicating she was heading for the Tsushima Strait. Escolar did not respond to messages after that and was never heard from again. It was assumed that she was lost to a mine since there are no records of Japanese attacks in the area.
Escolar was lost on her first war patrol and JANAC credited her with no sinkings.
Submarine Photo
