Full Description
Submarines were responsible for about 55 percent of the tonnage of the Japanese fleets sunk during World War II. The 22 percent casualty rate of U.S. submariners was the highest of the military services. This volume traces the career of the submarine the USS Puffer from the laying of her keel and her commissioning on April 27, 1943, until her departure for the scrap yard in late 1960. Compiled from interviews with former crew members, including the author's father, Donald B. McDonald, as well as other contemporary sources, it follows the crew of the Puffer through nine war patrols.
Events recollected include the First War Patrol, which resulted in a record-setting 38 hour submergence because of enemy fire; the dangerous transfer of torpedoes while surfaced in enemy waters; and the wild bombardment of Japanese shore installations with the 5-inch deck gun. There are numerous wartime photographs and appendices providing a list of awards earned by the crew and a summary of claimed successful attacks. Brief biographies of the seven commissioned officers are also included.
Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Commander John D. Alden, USN (Retired)
Foreword by Rear Admiral Maurice H. Rindskopf, USN (Retired)
Preface
1. QUALIFYING FOR THE SUBMARINE SERVICE
Boot Camp
Specialty School
Submarine School
2. BUILDING THE PUFFER AND THE BONDING OF THE CREW
Submarines in Wisconsin
Building the Puffer
Plank Owners
The Bonding of the Crew
Down the Mississippi River
Final Training and on to Brisbane
3. THE INITIAL OFFICERS OF THE PUFFER
Commander Marvin J. Jensen
Franklin G. Hess
Lawrence G. Bernard
Carl R. Dwyer
William M. Pugh II
Walter Mazzone
Kenneth Dobson
4. THE POLITICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
Torpedo Politics
The Physical Environment
Lack of Light
Sleep Deprivation and Irregular Sleep
Perception of Time
Heat and Humidity
Hypoxia and Carbon Dioxide Poisoning
Adrenaline
Summary
5. THE FIRST WAR PATROL BEGINNINGS
Repairs and Rest at Brisbane
The First Attack
Bad Weather and Disaster
6. THE DEPTH CHARGING OF THE PUFFER
The Dangerous Escorts
Caught at Periscope Depth
Heat and Humidity Rise
Sinking Deeper
Waiting It Out
Decision Time
Surface! Surface!
The Puffer's Return
Awards
7. THE SECOND WAR PATROL
Distorted History
Corrected History
New Crew and Boat Repairs
The New Commander
Departure for Subic Bay
The First Attack
Frustration Again
Waiting for Action
No Christmas Presents
Happy New Year
Deck Gun Action
8. THE THIRD WAR PATROL
New Crew Members and Training
Lombok and Makassar Straits
Invasion Scare
A Second Chance
A Dangerous Destroyer
No Contacts and Return to Fremantle
9. R & R AT PERTH AND FREMANTLE
Companionship and Craziness
The Extreme
The Tragic
10. THE FOURTH WAR PATROL
New Crew Members
Repairs and More Repairs
Lifeguard Duty
Tawi Tawi—Carrier Carrier
Tanker Tanker
Mechanical Troubles
Resistance in the Sibutu Passage
Friendly Natives
Awards
11. THE FIFTH WAR PATROL
New Men and New Equipment
Return to the Makassar Strait
Shallow Water
Sibutu Passage
Basilan Strait Attack
Torpedo Transfer
Cape Calavite Attack
Another Assignment?
Awards
30 Days Leave
12. THE SIXTH WAR PATROL
A New Commander and a Larger Crew
New Weapons and Technology
Waikiki Bound
Okinawa
Dive! Dive!
Heavy Seas and Heavy Action
A Trap
R & R at Guam
13. THE SEVENTH WAR PATROL
A Full Boat and Refit
Lifeguard Duty
A Near Miss
Man Overboard!
Thirsty Lookouts
Air Support
Junks
Artillery Action
Return to Saipan
Midway via Wake
14. R & R AT MIDWAY
Arrival
Fun and Games
Navy Cross
Victory in Europe Day
Training
Good-Bye
15. THE EIGHTH WAR PATROL
More Personnel Changes
Back to Saipan
Back to War
Tragedy
The South China Sea
Java Sea and Bali
Fremantle
R & R in Perth
16. THE NINTH WAR PATROL
The Last Departure
The Numbers Game
Peace
The Last Loss
17. BACK TO THE STATES
54 or Bust
Subic Bay Wait
Off to Pearl Harbor
San Francisco
Navy Day Celebration
Home Again
What Next?
18. POSTWAR SERVICE
Hawaii
Seattle
The End of the Puffer
Reunions
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
Appendix 1. List of Awards
Appendix 2. Summary of Claimed Successful Attacks
Appendix 3. Postwar Puffer Service Roster
Bibliography
Index
