Razorback (SS 394) - Naval Cruise Book

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CHANGE OF COMMAND Lt. Comdr. Brown pre- senting commission pen- ant to Comdr. Benson- Lt. Smith takes Executive Officer from Lt. Cmdr. Brown. Comdr. Benson readi,ng his orders on Change of Command. CREW ATTENTION! The fightingest crew in the Navy. '- 1+ -1- X T gmt? 2:11 L 95 i

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HISTORY OF THE U.S.S. RAZORBACK lSS394l Pre-commissioning and Commissioning Data. A Authorized under the wartime building DVOQVHYT1, the RAZORBACK is a good example Of Poffsmoufh Navy Yard's excellent workmanship. Hel' keel WHS laid on 9 September l943, she was launched 27 Janu- ary l944 and commissioned at Portsmouth, New Hamp- shire 3 April of the same year. Mrs. H. F. D. Davis, wife of Capt. H. F. D. Davis, U.S.N., lretl was sponsor. Commissioning Officers were: The late Lt. Comdr. A. M. Bontier, USN, lost on the U.S.S. SEAWOLF Lieut. J. L. Haines, USN Lieut. R. L. Smith, USNR Lieut. R. S. Thompson, USNR Lt. ljgl J. H. King, USN Lt, ljgl A. R. Hersh, USN Lt. ljgl L. S. Crann, USNR Ensign L. T. Adams, USNR. PRE-WAR PERIOD An intensive training period and Shakedown was conducted off Portsmouth, New Hampshire and New- port, Rhode lsland. On 5 June l944 Commander ROY S. BENSON, USN, a veteran submariner who had dis- tinguished himself as skipper of the U.S.S. TRlGGER, relieved Lt. Comdr. BONTIER. Further training was accomplished at New London, Connecticut, Key West, Florida and Panama. On l9 July l944, the RAZOR- BACK reported to the Commander Submarines Pacific Fleet and set course for Pearl Harbor where voyage repairs and the final training period were completed on 25 August, WAR NARRATIVE The first patrol took place east of Luzon with this ship a member of an offensive group in support of the Palau landings. The Jap Fleet did not venture forth to oppose this offensive and the only enemy contact consisted of frequent encounters with anti-submarine planes. The last week of the patrol was conducted in the Luzon Straits where the major consideration was f'Cll 1Q out a storm and keeping clear of JAPANESE aviators. The ship returned to Midway for rest and refvt by Submarine Division 2Ol and the U.S.S. PRO- TEUS lASl9l. On Ql October l944 Lt. Comdr. C DONALD BROWN, USN relieved Commander BENSON as Commanding Officer,

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x '7T'7'7 'T7 - ? T cf ' 1 . On l5 November the RAZORBACK left MidwaY and joined the U.S,S. TREPANG iSS4l2l and U.S.S. SEGUNDO iSS398l to form a coordinated attack QVOUD under 1-he command of comer, Rov DAVENPORT, USN- After refueling alongside the U.S.S. FULTON lASl.ll at Saipan the group headed for the Luzon Straits. First contact was made on two large vessels escorted by three gunboats and heavy air cover. An unsuccessful attack was made due to the inability of the submarines to close the enemy to good torpedo range. Many of the officers and crew had now heard their first depth charges, fortunately not close. At daybreak Several days later, radar contact was made on several enemy ships. Dived to avoid detection. The target was ap- proached and identified' as a hunter-killer group con- sisting of a destroyer and two smaller anti-sub craft. The former was attacked, but results were not seen due to the advisability of rapid retirement. Torpedo hits and breaking up noises were heard as were the depth charges planted by the JAPS. Several nights later the TREPANG reported a convoy about 40 miles away from us, By the time the RAZORBACK arrived the TREPANG and SEGUNDO had sunk all but one ship, that having been stopped by the latter submarine. After skirting an escort at ZOOO yards'and having been challenged by two JAP escorts, this submarine closed the target sufficiently for attack. Sudden appearance of the moon necessitated diving. On the way down, the timely re-opening and closing of the hatch by GUIDRY, C. J. SM lc, USN, prevented the loss of a tardy lookout who had not heard the order to clear the bridge. RAZORBACK torpedoes set fire to the large transport previously stopped by the SEGUNDO and she was left burning furiously as the submarine surfaced and eluded the angry escorts. Returned to Saipan for more torpedoes and rejoined the U.S.S. SEGUNDO with Comdr. J. D. FULP, Jr., USN, as the new pack com- mander. The last day of patrol, contact was made on a four-ship convoy escorted by an old destroyer, a D,E., and a float plane. Torpedo hits were obtained on a medium tanker, followed shortly by great relief to all hands as the bow was seen to blow off the destroyer which was closing in on the submarine. Though the plane flew up and down the torpedo wakes to mark the submarine's location, the latter retired without clamaoe from the remaining escort. That afternoon the RAZORBACK surfaced and pursued the convoy. As the enemy was closed at night, a bright moon again forced a submerged attack which was rewarded by a terrific explosion as one of the remaining three ships lighted up the sky. Hits on another small cargo 'ship were so violent that they knocked cork off the sub- marine conning tower bulkhead, but the JAP proved +ouQl and equipped with sound gear and depth charges, The Dersecutor was eluded with difficulty.