Razorback (SS 394) - Naval Cruise Book

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On 5'January arrived at Guam for refit by the U.S.S. SPERRY lASl2l and Submarine Divsion 82 Com- mander Submarine Squadron TEN presented the officers and crew with combat insignias, the first for all but thirteen. After rest at Camp Dealy and training, the RAZORBACK, with the U.S.S. SEGUNDO lComdr, J. D. Fulp, Jr. as pack commanderl and the U.S.S. SEA- CAT, set out for the East China Sea for the third patrol. Difficulty was encountered in finding targets. Two unsuccessful torpedo attacks were conducted on a transport and three-masted schooner respectively. With the patrol coming to a close and the score still zero, the RAZORBACK surfaced and in three separate gun actions, sunk four wooden ships which we.e too small for torpedoes. Three Jap prisoners were obtained. Of interest was the fact that a bad grease fire in the galley necessitated surfacing and a subsequent gun engage- ment with the schooner which was nearby. Prisoners were deposited in Guam and th: RAZOR- BACK finished her patrol on arrival Pearl Harbor 26 March l945. Although the patrol had not been con- sidered successful for award of the combat insignia, morale was high and a good rest at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel soon had the crew in even higher spirits, The Submarine Division 45 and Submarine Base, Pearl Har- bor completed refit and training on 7 May at which time the submarine headed for Nanpo Shoto and Tokyo Bay area for lifeguard work. She refueled at Midway on ll May enroute to patrol area. Much of the fourth patrol was spent on the surface uncomfortably close to Tokyo, day and night. Top- side personnel often saw the fires resulting from the air raids. Efforts were rewarded by rescue of a fighter pilot who bailed out of his plane 20 miles from Tokyo and clambered aboard the RAZORBACK seven minutes later. Subsequently four B-29 pilots were picked up after an extensive search had been conducted for them. The presence of enemy planes and proximity of enemy land l5 to 8 milesl made this rescue a ticklish opera- tion, but lack of Jap intestinal fortitude for our two cover planes made the operation a success. Returned to Midway on 27 June for refit by the U.S.S. AEGIR lAS23l and Submarine Division 242. Commander Submarine Squadron 24 presented the crew with their second combat insignia, On i8 July while proceeding to operating area Lt. ljgl PATTILLO, USNR and LANGFORD, D,D., MoMM 3c, USNR, risked their lives by going over the side in heavy seas near a dangerous reef to save a Chief Gunner's Mate who had been washed overboard from the submarine pre- ceding the RAZORBACK in the outer channel, The rescuers received a Navy Marine Corps Medal for their unselfish act. ff' On 22 July the RAZORBACK departed Midway for patrol in the Okhotsk Sea. On 2 August a number of wooden cargo ships were discovered skirting a point for a certain harbor. They were too small for torpedoes, so surface gun action was necessary. Six ships were sunk and two damaged in what was to be the last en- counter with the KIRK, J. F., RM 3c, USNR, were this engagement, fered from enemy enemy for this submarine. OUDER- 2c, USNR, and LAWSON, L.C., EM wounded sfightly by return fire in the only personnel casualties suf- action. The remainder of the patrol was spent performing lifeguard services off Paramu- shiro for Alaskan based planes. On 3l August the RAZORBACK entered Tokyo Harbor in company with e'even other submarines where she took part in the formal surrender of JAPAN. On September 3 she departed, arriving at Pearl l-larbor ll September, and San Diego 20 September. ComSubRon TEN presented the officers and crew with their third combat insignia for a successful 5th and last patrol, SUMMARY OF PATROL RESULTS Number Total of Ships Tonnage Patrol Sunk Sunk l 0 0 Di Large Transport l Medium Tanker 2 l Destroyer 20,800 l Large Cargo 2 Sea Trucks 2 l Schooner 350 l Junk 4 0 0 5 6 Sea Trucks l,700 Total Total Ships Tonnage Aviators Damaged Damaged Rescued 0 0 0 l Destroyer l Medium Cargo 5,400 0 O 0 0 O 0 5 l Trawler l Sea Truck 400 0 TOTAL 22,850 Tons 5,800 Tons 5 NAVY DEPT Sv!

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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.

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ag? ., xl ii I THE SKIPPER AFTER RECEIVING THE NAVY CROSS TO ALL HANDS: As Commanding Officer, l wish to emphasize that my acceptance of the Navy Cross and any other awards has been a tribute not to me, but rather to a fighting ship and a fighting crew. I will always have great pride, respect, and appre- ciation for the-loyalty, ability, and cooperation of every officer and man who has served on this ship, Each of you played an important part in every creditable ac- complishment of the RAZORBACK. In the same man- ner that you rate an equal share in the performance of your ship, you rate an equal share in any award for that performance. With sincere admiration, C. DONALD BROWN