Conway Maritime Press - Warship 44

Grampta (SS-207).23lrllay 1941 at Groton, CT. Only wartime
change prior to loss was painting out of white ID numbers and
name on stern.
Natianal Archiue s N egative 19-N-23818
GRAMPUS (SS-207)
LCDR John R Craig. All 71 crew lost.
Last Transmission Date: Never heard from after
departing Brisbane 12 February 1943 for sixth patrol.
Loss Cause: Two loss possibilities exist, neither with
sufficient evidence to permit any definite conclusions:
(1) Probably sunk by gunfire during night of 5-6 March
1943 in Blackett Strait, Solomon Islands, while surfaced,
by Japanese destroyer Minegumo.
(2) Possibly bombed and sunk 19 February 1943 at about
1540hrs southeast of New Britain, at 05o, 4A5,I52" ,18'E, by
Japanese naval aircraft of958th Air Group.
Supporting Euidence: (1) Japanese destroyers Minegurno
and Murasame were both sunk after conducting supply
mission to Kolombanagara. Murasame reported no antisubmarine
activity. Minegumo sank with entire
complement. In as much as there were no survivors to
report any anti-submarine activity, it becomes feasible to
assume that Minegurno alone was responsible for any
sinking. Grayback (SS-208) was within 15 miles of the
location and heard no depth charging. Thus it is more
feasible to assume lhat Grampus was caught on the
surface and sunk by gunfire. A large oil slick was
reported in Blackett Strait 6 March. Grarnpus could not be
contacted by radio on 7 March.
(2) Japanese claim one direct hit on conning tower and
reported large amount of oil surfaced after attack.
Analysis: Japanese also reported, sighting a submarine
on 24 February 1943 at 06", 15'S, 156",3yE. This could
only have been Grampus, which indicates either that
Grarnpus escaped serious damage on 19 February or that
Amberiack was victim of that attack.
GBAYBACK (SS-208)
CDR John A Moore. All 80 crew lost.
Last Transrnission Date: On 25 February t944 aft.er
departing Midway 3 February 1944 for tenth patrol.
Loss Cause: Probably bombed and sunk 26 February 1944
in East China Sea, at 25a, 47'N, I28', 4UE, by Japanese
naval aircrafb.
Supporting Euidence : Aircraft detected surfaced
submarine and dropped 250-kilo type bombs. Japanese
claim one direct hit, causing the submarine to explode
and sink immediately. Air bubbles surfaced, and there
was an oil slick covering an area 100 meters wide and 250
meters long.
Analysis: Accounts of this sinking often mention carrierbased
aircraft. This is an incorrect translation for carriertype
aircraft. The aircraft involved were based on
Okinawa and were Nakaiima B5N2 Kate attack bombers.
205