U.S.S. GRUNION (SS-216) — war patrol report SS-216_GRUNION.pdf

— page 1 —
START OF REEL
JOB NO. [HANDWRITTEN: E-108]
[HANDWRITTEN: AR-65-78]
[HANDWRITTEN: Gaunion (SS-216)]

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OPERATOR [SIGNATURE: R. Murch Jr.]

DATE [HANDWRITTEN: 4-11-78]

THIS MICROFILM IS
THE PROPERTY OF
THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT

[SEAL: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA]

MICROFILMED BY
NPPSO-NAVAL DISTRICT WASHINGTON
MICROFILM SECTION

REEL TARGET, START & END
NAVEXOS 3968

— page 2 —
[HANDWRITTEN: GRUNION (SS-216)
WWII FILE
DIARY APRIL-JUNE 1942
SUBMARINE WAS LOST ON THE FIRST PATROL

FOR DECK LOGS APRIL-JUNE 1942 CONSULT THE
NATIONAL ARCHIVES WHICH HAS CUSTODY.

ALL MATERIAL ON THIS REEL IS DECLASSIFIED

J.A. KOONTZ]

— page 3 —
Dictionary of
American Naval
Fighting Ships

VOLUME III • 1968

NAVY DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
NAVAL HISTORY DIVISION • WASHINGTON

— page 4 —
Grunion

A small fish of the silversides family, indigenous to the
western American coast.

(SS-216: dp. 1,525; l. 311'9"; b. 27'; dr. 17'; s. 21 k.;
cpl. 70; a. 1 4", 10 21" tt.; cl. Gato)

Grunion was launched by the Electric Boat Co., Groton,
Conn., 22 December 1941; sponsored by Mrs. Stanford C.
Hooper, wife of Rear Admiral Hooper; and commissioned
11 April 1942, Lt. Comdr. M. L. Abele in command.

After shakedown out of New London, Grunion sailed
for the Pacific 24 May. A week later, as she transited the
Caribbean for Panama, she rescued 16 survivors of USAT
Jack, torpedoed by a German U-boat, and conducted a
fruitless search for 13 other survivors presumed in the
vicinity. Arriving at Coco Solo 3 June, Grunion de-
posited her shipload of survivors and continued to Pearl
Harbor, arriving 20 June.

Departing Hawaii 30 June after 10 days of intensive
training, Grunion touched Midway; then headed toward
the Aleutians for her first war patrol. Her first report,
made as she patrolled north of Kiska Island, stated she
had been attacked by a Japanese destroyer and had fired
at him with inconclusive results. She operated off Kiska
throughout July and sank two enemy patrol boats while
in search for enemy shipping. On 29 July the submarine
reported intensive antisubmarine activity; and she was
ordered back to Dutch Harbor.

Grunion was never heard from nor seen again. Air
searches off Kiska were fruitless; and on 5 October Grun-
ion was reluctantly reported overdue from patrol and as-
sumed lost with all hands. Captured Japanese records
show no antisubmarine attacks in the Kiska area, and the
fate of Grunion remains a mystery. Her name was struck
from the Navy List 2 November 1942.

Grunion received one battle star for World War II
service.

— page 5 —
File No.
SS216/A16
Serial 017

U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)

c [STAMP: DECLASSIFIED] L
[STAMP: CONFIDENTIAL]
WAR DIARY

From: 11 April (Commissioning) To: 30 April 1942.

[STAMP: FILMED]
[STAMP: 40324]

Copy to: The Chief of Naval Operations
(Office of Naval Records and Library).
- 1 -
/

— page 6 —
File No.

                                                              U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)

Saturday, 11 April 1942.
        This vessel was commissioned in accordance with Secnav
        despatch 101850 of April 1942, at 1000 this date, and became
        a unit under the direct command of the Chief of Naval Operations.
        Commenced provisioning and fueling. Vessel was at Submarine Base,
        New London, Connecticut, at time of commissioning.

Sunday, 12 April 1942.
        At Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, continuing to
        provision ship. Vessel was "flashed" this date.

Monday, 13 April 1942.
        Reported to Cominch, Cinclant and Comsublant for duty and
        assumed status as a unit of task group 25.6.
        Conducted surface training out of Submarine Base, New London,
        Connecticut.

Tuesday, 14 April 1942.
        Underway from Submarine Base. Conducted first submerged
        operations in Area LOVE, FALCON in attendance. Moored at Electric
        Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut, at conclusion of day's operations.

Wednesday, 15 April 1942.
        Operated out of Electric Boat Company. Conducted submerged
        and surface training.

CONFIDENTIAL
                                                                - 2 -

— page 7 —
File No.
U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)

Thursday, 16 April 1942.
Operated out of Electric Boat Company, conducting surface
and submerged training.

Friday, 17 April 1942.
Operated out of Electric Boat Company, conducting surface
and submerged training.

Saturday, 18 April 1942.
Operated from Electric Boat Company. Calibrated DQ direction
finder and conducted one hour battery discharge. Moored Submarine
Base, New London, Connecticut.

Sunday, 19 April 1942.
Moored Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut. Shifted
berth to Electric Boat Company.

Monday, 20 April 1942.
Operating out of Electric Boat Company.

Tuesday, 21 April 1942.
Operating out of Electric Boat Company. Conducted 3"50
structural test firing.

Wednesday, 22 April 1942.
Operating out of Electric Boat Company.

CONFIDENTIAL
- 3 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 3]

— page 8 —
File No.                                                              U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)

Thursday, 23 April 1942.
     Operating out of Electric Boat Company.

Friday, 24 April 1942.
     Operating out of Electric Boat Company. Moored Submarine
Base, New London, Connecticut.

Saturday, 25 April 1942.
     Conducted training mine plant and returned to Electric Boat
Company.

Sunday, 26 April 1942.
     At Electric Boat Company.

Monday, 27 April 1942.
     Enroute and at Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island, for
contract torpedo tube trials.

Tuesday, 28 April 1942.
     Contract torpedo trials at Newport.

Wednesday, 29 April 1942.
     Contract torpedo trials at Newport.

Thursday, 30 April 1942.
     Enroute New London, Connecticut. Conducted 4 hour full
power trial.

CONFIDENTIAL                                                      M. L. ABELE,
                                                                  Lieutenant-Commander, U.S.N.,
                                                                  Commanding Officer.
                                                              - 4 -                               [HANDWRITTEN: 4]

— page 9 —
File No.

U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)

[STAMP: DECLASSIFIED]
CONFIDENTIAL

WAR DIARY

U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)

From: 1 May, 1942 To: 31 May, 1942

Copy to:
Chief of Naval Operations
(Office of Naval Records and Library).

41045 [STAMP: FILMED]
- 1 -

— page 10 —
File No.
U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)
Friday, 1 May 1942
At New London, Connecticut.
Saturday, 2 May 1942
At Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut.
Sunday, 3 May 1942
At Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut.
Monday, 4 May 1942
Operating out of Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut.
Conducted sound listening test, ballasting dive and maneuvering
trials.
Tuesday, 5 May 1942
Trained for and fired ETP-Z2. Operating out of Groton, Conn.
Wednesday, 6 May 1942
Calibrated DQ direction finder off southern end of Fishers
Island, Long Island Sound. Enroute area for deep dive - invest-
igated light about 30 miles (137°T) from Montauk Point. Light was
plainly visible at times and appeared to be turned on and off. A
sound level was noted at 26 kes on the QB listening device which
may have been generated by the unidentified craft. Lost all con-
tact after about 1½ hour intermittent sight contact. Resumed base
course, zig zagging.
Thursday, 7 May 1942
Conducted deep dive to 315 feet 65 miles (137°T) from Montauk
Point. Minor leaks noted. Returned to Submarine Base, New London,
Connecticut, due to reduced visibility requiring cancellation of
scheduled exercises.
Friday, 8 May 1942
Operated out of New London. Operations cancelled by Comsublant
due reported presence of unidentified submarine in area. Returned
to moor at State Pior, New London, Connecticut.
Saturday, 9 May 1942
Operated out of New London. Conducted Engineering Trials for
Buships.
- 2 -
2

— page 11 —
File No.
U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)

Sunday, 10 May 1942
At Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut.

Monday, 11 May 1942
Operated out of Electric Boat Company making main motor control
trials on surface only. Moored at State Pier.

Tuesday, 12 May 1942
Operated out of New London. Fired two ETP "P" practices.

Wednesday, 13 May 1942
Operated out of New London. Fired two ETP "Z-1" practices.

Thursday, 14 May 1942
Shifted berth from Submarine Base to Electric Boat Company.

Friday, 15 May 1942
At Electric Boat Company.

Saturday, 16 May 1942
Shifted berth to Submarine Base, New London.

Sunday, 17 May 1942
At Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut.

Monday, 18 May 1942
Underway from Submarine Base, New London. Fired one ETP "Z"
practice.

Tuesday, 19 May 1942
At Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut.

Wednesday, 20 May 1942
Entered Marine Railway at Electric Boat Company, Groton,
Connecticut.

Thursday, 21 May 1942
On Marine Railway at Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut.
- 3 -

— page 12 —
File No.                                                U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)

Friday, 22 May 1942
     On Marine Railway at Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut.

Saturday, 23 May 1942
     Undocked, returned to Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut.

Sunday, 24 May 1942
     Underway independently as task group 25.5 a unit of Submarines,
Atlantic Fleet (Task Force 25.) in accordance with Comsublant Opera-
tion Order 5SA-42. Took departure from a point seven miles east of
Montauk Point Light at 2100 zone plus 4 time. Zig zagged on base
course 180° and at 16 knots.

     At 2205, (+4) sighted lighted vessel on northerly course bear-
ing 248°T, distance 3 miles. Unidentified.

Monday, 25 May 1942
     At 0306 sighted vessel bearing 100°T. Attempted to identify
without success. Believed to be own surface patrol. 0358 Dived and
lost contact. Surfaced at 2055.

     Positions: 0800 Lat. 39 - 19 - 00 N. Long. 71 - 37 - 30 W.
                1200 Lat. 39 - 15 - 00 N. Long. 71 - 37 - 30 W.
                2000 Lat. 38 - 51 - 00 N. Long. 71 - 37 - 30 W.

     Distance made good 2100, 24 May to 1200, 25 May, 115 miles.
Course 180°T. Average speed 7.7 knots.

Tuesday, 26 May 1942
     At 1706 (Lat. 38 - 30 N. - Long. 71 - 43 W.) sighted freighter
on estimated course 285°T., speed 10, flying colors. Unable to
identify painted color board, but consisted of 3 vertical bars.
Range of 7000 yards made identification difficult and successful
approach impossible. Following were characteristics of freighter:

               Superstructure arrangement - mast bridge mast.
               Well deck forward and aft of bridge and super-
               structure. Dark hull, white superstructure.
               Buff stack with green band and white mark on
               band. Estimated 6000 tons. Resembled American
               Export freighter.

                                  - 4 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 4]

— page 13 —
File No.

Position: 0800
1200
2000
U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)
Lat. 36 - 42 - 15 N.
Lat. 36 - 35 - 15 N.
Lat. 36 - 15 - 30 N.
Long. 71 - 37 - 15 W.
Long. 71 - 37 - 30 W.
Long. 71 - 41 - 15 W.

Distance made good 1200, 25 May to 1200, 26 May, 160 miles.
Course 172°T. Submerged 0431. Surfaced 2031. Average speed 7.1
knots.

Wednesday, 27 May 1942

At 0030 (Lat. 35 - 30 N. - Long. 71 - 43 W.) sighted ship on
port bow on westerly course showing running lights at about 7000
yards. Use of lights, slow speed and courses steered appeared
irregular. Closed to approximately 2000yards. Identified as sur-
face ship. Actions led to belief vessel might be a tender servic-
ing Axis submarines. Notified Cominch of presence of vessel in my
270602 of May. Abandoned further chase. 0058 Submerged to close
on target. Target turned out lights. Surfaced 0116. Target no
longer in sight.

At 0645 (Lat. 34 - 08 N. - Long. 71 - 43 - 05 W.) sighted
rubber tube floating in water resembling a plane tire. Nothing
else sighted.

At 0820 (Lat. 33 - 30 N. - Long. 71 - 40 W.) sighted another
rubber ring like one mentioned above.

Position: 0800
1200
2000
Lat. 33 - 33.0 N.
Lat. 32 - 23.0 N.
Lat. 29 - 45.5 N.
Long. 71 - 43.5 W.
Long. 71 - 40.0 W.
Long. 71 - 53.0 W.

Distance made good 1200, 26 May to 1200, 27 May, 252 miles
on course 180°T. Average speed 10.5 knots.

Thursday, 28 May 1942

At 1615 made possible sound contact bearing 309°T (Lat. 24 -
53 N., Long. 72 - 42 W.) At 1628 heard what appeared to be pings
on 34 kcs. 1629 Submerged to develop contact. 1659 Heard four
long ping like noises. Decided contact was not another ship.
1716 Surfaced and resumed course and speed.

Position: 0800
1200
2000
Lat. 26 - 55.5 N.
Lat. 25 - 59 N.
Lat. 24 - 21 N.
Long. 71 - 48.0 W.
Long. 72 - 02.0 W.
Long. 72 - 21.0 W.

Distance made good 1200, 27 May to 1200, 28 May, 382.5 miles
on course 183°T. Average speed 15.9 knots.

- 5 -

5

— page 14 —
File No.

U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)

Friday, 29 May 1942

At 0618 Sighted Mayaguana Island and commenced passage through
Mayaguana and Windward Passages. Submerged at 0835. Surfaced at 1955.

Positions: 0800 Lat. 22 - 07.5 N. Long. 73 - 29 W.
           1200 Lat. 21 - 57.0 N. Long. 73 - 31 W.
           2000 Lat. 21 - 37.5 N. Long. 73 - 37.7 W.

Distance made good 1200, 28 May to 1200, 29 May, 255 miles on
course 199°T. Average speed 10.6 knots.

Saturday, 30 May 1942

At 0539 submerged in Windward Passage. 1937 Surfaced.

Positions: 0800 Lat. 20 - 00.0 N. Long. 74 - 06.0 W.
           1200 Lat. 19 - 51.7 N. Long. 74 - 11.5 W.
           2000 Lat. 19 - 34.5 N. Long. 74 - 22.5 W.

Distance made good 1200, 29 May to 1200, 30 May, 140 miles on
course 203°T. Average speed 5.8 knots.

Sunday, 31 May 1942

At 1355 (Lat. 15 - 55 N., Long. 75 - 05 W.) sighted life boat
with sixteen survivors from U.S.A.T. JACK, reported by them to have
been sunk in latitude 17 - 36 N., longitude 74 - 42 W., at 0448,
Wednesday 27 May 1942, by a submarine. Survivors picked up by this
vessel reported thirteen others adrift in two life rafts. At 1445,
changed course to investigate reported area of
sinking in an effort to pick up remaining survivors. Survivors
taken aboard are listed below:

NAME                               RATE OR RANK

LIND, Albert Olof                  Lieutenant (jg), USNR.
LEVERETT, Millard                  Sea2c (636-16-93), USNR.
MOORE, Ralph F.                    Sea2c (269-75-28), USNR.
RUMFORD, Clifford A.               Sea2c (660-12-28), USNR.
CAILLOUETTE, Percy John            Wiper.
CARTER, Charles H.                 Chief Cook.
DREW, George Fredrick              First Engineer.
HIGGINS, Paul Jackson              O.S.
HOUDE, Horace Clement              Sgt. USA.
KORB, Peter                        Chief Mate.
MOTULLE, Wilbert                   Wiper
MUIR, Norman McNab                 O.S.
MURTHA, Matthew Boniface           Fireman
NARANJO, Jose Ramon Vecente        Messman
NORHEIM, Sky Iver                  O.S.
ORTIC, Angeul                      Head Waiter.

- 6 -

— page 15 —
File No.

U. S. S. GRUNION (SS216)

At 2200 arrived at scene of sinking and commenced search for sur-
vivors in latitude 17 - 36 N., longitude 74 - 42 W.

Positions: 0800 Lat. 17 - 06.0 N. Long. 75 - 10.0 W.
           1200 Lat. 16 - 59.5 N. Long. 75 - 06.5 W.
           2000 Lat. 17 - 07.0 N. Long. 74 - 46.5 W.

Distance made good 1200, 30 May to 1200, 31 May, 212 miles on
course 193°T. Average speed 9.0 knots.

H. L. ABELE,
Lieut-Comdr., U.S.N.,
Commanding Officer.

- 7 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 7]

— page 16 —
DECLASSIFIED
CONFIDENTIAL

WAR DIARY

U. S. S. GRUNION(SS216)

From: June 1, 1942 To: June 6, 1942

Copies to:
  Chief of Naval Operations
  (Office of Naval Records and Library)

41654 [STAMP: FILMED]
- 1 -

— page 17 —
CONFIDENTIAL
Monday, 1 June 1942

At 0800 ceased further search for remaining 13 known survivors
of USAT JACK and resumed original track for Colon. So reported
to Cominch in my 011250 of June.

Position: 0800 Lat. 16 - 15 N - Long. 75 - 19.0 W
           1200 Lat. 15 - 33.5 N - Long. 75 - 22.5 W
           2000 Lat. 14 - 30.0 N - Long. 75 - 23.0 W

Distance 1200/31 to 1200/1, 38 miles on 205. Average speed 1.6
knots (due doubling back on course for survivor search).

Tuesday, 2 June 1942

At 0455 (Lat. 12 - 50 N, Long. 76 - 15 W) sighted vessel bearing
225°, distant 5000 yards on crossing course. Closed to 1200 yard
range. Unable to identify vessel at this range. 0509 Submerged
and continued approach. Vessel turned away. Range increased to
4000 yards. Abandoned approach and surfaced at 0601. The vessel
remained unidentified but superstructure resembled that of any number of
tankers similar to type T depicted on page 3 of ONI 208. It was a steam vessel.

During 0800 - 1200 watch considerable drift wood was sighted some
of which looked like sections of spars.

Positions: 0800 Lat. 12 - 19.0 N - Long. 76 - 19.0 W
           1200 Lat. 12 - 06.0 N - Long. 77 - 12.0 W
           2000 Lat. 11 - 03.0 N - Long. 78 - 17.5 W

Distance made good 1200/1 to 1200/2 - 242 on course 206°T.
Average speed 10.1.

Wednesday, 3 June 1942

Arrived off entrance to Coco Solo, C.Z., at 0645(+5). Moored at
Submarine Base at 1056.

Thursday, 4 June 1942

At Submarine Base, Coco Solo, C.Z.

Friday, 5 June 1942

At Submarine Base, Coco Solo, C.Z.

Saturday, 6 June 1942

Transitted Canal and reported to Comsubpac for duty in Radio
Balboa despatch 070155 of June 1942, and assumed status as Task
Unit 7.8.7 of Submarines, Pacific Fleet.
[SIGNATURE: M. Abele]
M. L. ABELE,
Lieut-Comdr., U.S.N.,
Commanding Officer.

- 2 - [HANDWRITTEN: 2]

— page 18 —
CONFIDENTIAL

WAR DIARY

U. S. S. GRUNION (SS213)

From: June 6, 1942 To: June 30, 1942

Copies to:
Chief of Naval Operations
(Office of Naval Records and Library)
Commander Submarines, Pacific Fleet.

[STAMP: FILMED]

- 1 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 3]

— page 19 —
CONFIDENTIAL
REPORT FOR COMMANDER TASK FORCE SEVEN (COMMANDER SUBMARINES,
PACIFIC FLEET)

Operating under Commander Submarines, Pacific Fleet Secret Des-
patch 022315 of June, 1942.

TASK ORGANIZATION:

G7 Task Force 7, Rear Admiral R.H. English,
Commander Submarines, Pacific Fleet.

Saturday, June 6, 1942

GCT LCT
1220 0720 Transitted Panama Canal and reported to Comsubpac
for duty in Balboa Radio despatch 070155 of June
1942 and assumed status as Task Unit 7.8.7 of
Submarines Pacific Fleet.

0015/7 1915 Moored Pier 18 Balboa Harbor.

Sunday, June 7, 1942

GCT LCT
1505 1005 Underway in accordance with Comsubpac secret
despatch 022315 of June for Pearl Harbor, T.H.

1700 1200 Position - Lat. 08 - 35 N - Long. 79 - 30 W.

0100/8 2000 Position - Lat. 06 - 37.5 N - Long. 79 - 59.5 W.

0200/8 2100 Set clocks to Zone +5½ time.

Distance made good 1005/7 to 1200/7 - 23 miles on
course 180°. Average speed 12 knots.

- 2 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 4]

— page 20 —
CONFIDENTIAL
Monday, June 8, 1942

GCT | LCT
1330 | 0800 | Position - Lat. 07 - 02.0 N - Long. 83 - 10.9 W.
1550 | 1020 | Sighted patrol bomber (US) bearing 150°T, distant
| | 8 miles from Lat. 07 - 13 N, Long. 83 - 55 W.
| | crossing stern. Gave no indication of sighting
| | this vessel.
1730 | 1200 | Position - Lat. 07 - 11 N - Long. 84 - 17 W.
1830 | 1300 | Set clocks to Zone +6 time.
2138 | 1538 | Sighted merchant ship, having the appearance of a
| | Dona Aniceta class, bearing 230°T, distant 10
| | miles from Lat. 07 - 35 N, Long. 85 - 15 W. Ship
| | on course approximating 110°T.
0200/9 | 2000 | Position - Lat. 08 - 07.5 N - Long. 86 - 04.0 W.
| | Distance made good 1200/7 to 1200/8 - 372 miles on
| | course 255°T. Average speed 14.9 knots.

Tuesday, June 9, 1942

GCT | LCT
1400 | 0800 | Position - Lat. 09 - 04.0 N - Long. 89 - 02.5 W.
1800 | 1200 | Position - Lat. 09 - 35.5 N - Long. 90 - 10.0 W.
0200/10 | 2000 | Position - Lat. 10 - 12.0 N - Long. 91 - 55.0 W.
| | Distance made good 377 miles on course 290°T.
| | Average speed 15.4 knots.

Wednesday, June 10, 1942

GCT | LCT
1100 | 0500 | Set clocks to Zone +6½ time.
1430 | 0800 | Position - Lat. 11 - 19.0 N - Long. 95 - 04.0 W.
1830 | 1200 | Position - Lat. 11 - 24.5 N - Long. 96 - 04.5 W.
0230/11 | 2000 | Position - Lat. 11 - 52.0 N - Long. 97 - 47.0 W.
| | Distance made good 1200/9 to 1200/10 - 363 miles
| | on course 287°T. Average speed 14.8 knots.
[HANDWRITTEN: - 3 -]

— page 21 —
CONFIDENTIAL
Thursday, June 11, 1942
GCT LCT
1430 0800 Position - Lat. 13 - 27.5 N - Long. 101 - 22.0 W.
1530 0900 Set clocks to Zone +7 time.
1900 1200 Position - Lat. 13 - 49.0 N - Long. 102 - 07.0 W.
0300/12 2000 Position - Lat. 14 - 09.0 N - Long. 103 - 38.0 W.
          Distance made good 1200/10 to 1200/11 - 372 miles
          on course 287°T. Average speed 15.2 knots.

Friday, June 12, 1942
GCT LCT
1500 0800 Position - Lat. 14 - 47.0 N - Long. 106 - 36.0 W.
1900 1200 Position - Lat. 15 - 01.5 N - Long. 107 - 54.5 W.
2000 1300 Set clocks to Zone +7½ time.
0330/13 2000 Position - Lat. 15 - 41.0 N - Long. 109 - 49.0 W.
          Distance made good 1200/11 to 1200/12 - 327 miles
          on course 287°T. Average speed 13.6.

Saturday, June 13, 1942
GCT LCT
1530 0800 Position - Lat. 16 - 46.5 N. - Long. 113 - 09.0 W.
1755 1025 Submerged to conduct training exercises.
1850 1120 Surfaced.
1930 1200 Position - Lat. 16 - 57 N - Long. 114 - 08.0 W.
0330/14 2000 Position - Lat. 17 - 25 N - Long. 116 - 02.5 W.
          Distance made good 1200/12 to 1200/13 - 377 on
          course 284°T. Average speed 15.4 knots.

- 4 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 6]

— page 22 —
CONFIDENTIAL
Sunday, June 14, 1942
GCT LCT
1330 0600 Set clocks to Zone +8 time.
1600 0800 Position - Lat. 18 - 14.0 N - Long. 119 - 41.0 W.
2000 1200 Position - Lat. 18 - 32.0 N - Long. 120 - 52.0 W.
0400/15 2000 Position - Lat. 18 - 50.5 N - Long. 123 - 10.5 W.
0500/15 2100 Set clocks to Zone +8½ time.

Distance made good 1200/13 to 1200/14 - 398 miles
on course 283°T. Average speed 16.2 knots.

Monday, June 15, 1942
GCT LCT
1630 0800 Position - Lat. 19 - 42.5 N - Long. 126 - 36.5 W.
2030 1200 Position - Lat. 19 - 50.5 N - Long. 127 - 45.0 W.
0019/16 1549 Sighted merchant vessel zig-zagging on base course
indicating West Coast of U.S. as possible destination.
Range on sighting 20000 yards bearing 265°T. Changed
course toward him. Ship resembled U.S. President
class and was flying colors.
1600/16 Resumed own base course.
0230/16 1800 Set clocks to Zone +9 time.
0500/16 2000 Position - Lat. 20 - 17.0 N - Long. 130 - 16.0 W.

Distance made good 1200/14 to 1200/15 - 412 miles
on course 281°T. Average speed 16.8 knots.

- 5 -

— page 23 —
CONFIDENTIAL
Tuesday, June 16, 1942
GCT     LCT
1700    0800    Position - Lat. 20 - 44.0 N - Long. 133 - 45.0 W.
2100    1200    Position - Lat. 20 - 59.5 N - Long. 135 - 01.0 W.
2150    1250    Submerged for trim dive.
2222    1322    Surfaced.
0500/17 2000    Position - Lat. 21 - 00.5 N - Long. 137 - 13.5 W.
0600/17 2100    Set clocks to zone +9 time.
                Distance made good 1200/15 to 1200/16 - 417 miles
                on course 279°T. Average speed 17.0 knots.

Wednesday, June 17, 1942
GCT     LCT
1730    0800    Position - Lat. 21 - 14 N - Long. 140 - 49.5 W.
2130    1200    Position - Lat. 21 - 15 N - Long. 141 - 54.0 W.
0530/18 2000    Position - Lat. 21 - 32.5 N - Long. 143 - 38.0 W.
0530/18 2000    Conducted night 3"/50 and night .30 cal. machine
                gun training.
                Distance made good 1200/16 to 1200/17 - 385 miles
                on course 272°T. Average speed 15.7 knots.

Thursday, June 18, 1942
GCT     LCT
0930    0100    Set clocks to zone +10 time.
1737    0737    Sighted patch of discolored water about 50 feet by
                10 feet and passed it close aboard. Resembled oil.
                Searched area by sound and heard nothing.
1800    0800    Position - Lat. 21 - 30.0 N - Long. 146 - 45.0 W.
2200    1200    Position - Lat. 21 - 34.5 N - Long. 147 - 45.0 W.
0600/19 2000    Position - Lat. 21 - 32.0 N - Long. 149 - 42.5 W.
                Distance made good 1200/17 to 1200/18 - 328 miles
                on course 271°T. Average speed 13.4 knots.

                - 6 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 8]

— page 24 —
CONFIDENTIAL
Friday, June 19, 1942

GCT     LCT
1600    0600 Set clocks to Zone +10½ time.
1700    0630 Sighted patrol plane on starboard bow about 5 miles,
             believed to be own patrol plane. Dived, making
             emergency identification signal. Flare involved
             blew up into small fragments without damage to
             personnel except slight cut to OOD's hand.
1710    0650 Surfaced.
1830    0800 Position - Lat. 21 - 32.0 N - Long. 152 - 37.5 W.
1917    0847 Sighted U.S. Navy patrol bomber on starboard beam
             about 3 miles. Submerged and fired recognition
             flare.
1923    0853 Plane changed course toward vessel. Fired smoke
             bomb. Plane went out of sight.
1943    0911 Surfaced - continued on base course.
2230    1200 Position - Lat. 21 - 46.0 N - Long. 153 - 29.0 W.
0630    2000 Position - Lat. 21 - 30.0 N - Long. 155 - 00.0 W.
             Distance made good 1200/19 to 1200/19 - 339 miles
             on course 271°T. Average speed 13.8 knots.

Saturday, June 20, 1942

GCT     LCT
1830    0800 Position - Lat. 21 - 20 N - Long. 157 - 25 W.
1930    0910 Moored at Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor. Fueled ship.
             Distance made good 1200/19 to 0910/20 - 250 miles on
             course 265°T. Average speed 11.8 knots.

Sunday, June 21, 1942

             At Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T.H. Made pre-
             parations for training period operations.

- 7 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 9]

— page 25 —
CONFIDENTIAL
Monday, June 22, 1942
     Fired 3 exercise torpedoes in Submarine Sanctuary
     southwest of Oahu. Acted as target for destroyers.

     Moored at Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T.H.

Tuesday, June 23, 1942
     Fired four exercise torpedoes in submarine sanctuary.
     Acted as target for destroyers.

     Moored at Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T.H.

Wednesday, June 24, 1942
     Fired four exercise torpedoes in submarine sanctuary.
     Acted as target for destroyers. Conducted night
     training runs (Exercise G3) in area V3 - V4.

Thursday, June 25, 1942
     Fired three exercise torpedoes in submarine sanctuary.
     Acted as target for destroyers exercise One Sail and
     for destroyer depth charge training runs. Moored at
     Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T.H.

Friday, June 26, 1942
     At Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T.H.

Saturday, June 27, 1942
     At Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T.H.

Sunday, June 28, 1942
     At Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T.H.

Monday, June 29, 1942
     At Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T.H. Fueled and
     provisioned.

- 8 -
[HANDWRITTEN: 10]

— page 26 —
CONFIDENTIAL
Tuesday, June 30, 1942

OGT    LCT
1835   0905   Underway for Midway in company with LITCHFIELD
              (Task Unit 7.10.7). Assumed status of Task Unit
              7.8.14, a unit of Task Group 7.8 and Task Force 7
              (Submarines Pacific Fleet)

              Operating under Comtaskfor 7 despatch 240004 of
              June 1942 as modified by Comtaskfor 7 despatch
              282317 of June 1942.

1930   1000   Set clocks to Zone +10½ time.

2200   1130   Submerged for trim dive and deep submergence test.

2230   1200   Position - Lat. 21 - 25.0 N - Long. 158 - 20.0 W.

2335   1305   Surfaced. Made battle surface training attack on
              target towed by LITCHFIELD. Fired 10 rounds 3"-50
              target ammunition and several rounds .45 calibre
              machine gun. Resumed base course
              through Kauai Channel.

0600   1930   LITCHFIELD released and left formation.

0630/1 2000   Position - Lat. 22 - 23.0 N - Long. 159 - 24.0 W.

              Distance made good 0905(9½) to 2000(10½), 102 miles
              on course 309°T. Average speed 8.4 knots.

[SIGNATURE: M. L. Abele]
M. L. ABELE,
Lieut-Comdr., U.S.N.,
Commanding Officer.

- 9 -

— page 27 —
UNITED STATES
SUBMARINE LOSSES

WORLD WAR II

Reissued with an Appendix of
Axis Submarine Losses, fully indexed,
by
Naval History Division
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
Washington: 1963

— page 28 —
GRUNION (SS 216)

The submarine GRUNION arrived at Pearl Harbor on
20 June 1942, reporting for duty from the west coast.
This vessel engaged in the pre-patrol training given
to all submarines reporting from new construction
yards, and on 30 June, left for patrol.

Lt. Cdr. Mannert L. Abele, in command, was ordered
to proceed to the Aleutian theater and patrol westward
from Attu on routes between the Aleutians and the
Japanese Empire. On 10 July GRUNION was reassigned
to the area north of Kiska. GRUNION made her first
report on 15 July: Dutch Harbor received her message
that, attacked by an enemy destroyer, she had fired
three torpedoes at it, and missed with all.

Shortly after this message was received, Dutch Harbor
sent another relating that she had sunk three patrol-
type vessels on 15 July. This message was garbled to
the extent that details of the attacks were never learned
(Japanese information reveals that GRUNION sank
patrol boats 25 and 27 and damaged a third ves-
sel). On 19 July GRUNION, S-32, TRITON and TUNA
were assigned areas in the approaches to Kiska, all to
be there by daylight 22 July.

There was a strong concentration of enemy vessels
at Kiska, this time being only a month and a half after
the enemy had taken that island. The vessels there
were told to watch particularly on the afternoon
of 22 July 1942 for departing enemy naval vessels,
since our own surface forces were scheduled to bom-
bard Kiska that afternoon. The bombardment did not
take place in accordance with the original plans, but
our forces did stage the operation on 28 July. GRUN-
ION was told to guard the exits from Kiska during dark-
ness on this date. On this day GRUNION reported an
attack on unidentified enemy ships six miles southeast
of Sirius Point, Kiska. She had fired two torpedoes,
made no hits, and been depth charged, but sustained no
damage.

GRUNION's last transmission was received 30 July
1942. She reported heavy antisubmarine activity at the

M. L. Abele

entrance to Kiska, and that she had ten torpedoes re-
maining. On the same day, GRUNION was directed to
return to Dutch Harbor. She was not contacted or
sighted after 30 July, despite every effort to do so, and
on 16 August was reported lost. Planes observing the
approaches to Kiska for indications of enemy salvage
operations in connection with GRUNION reported nega-
tively.

Japanese antisubmarine attack data available now
record no attack in the Aleutian area at this time, and
GRUNION's fate remains an unsolved mystery. We know
of no enemy minefields which were in her area; thus
her loss may be presumed to have been operational,
as a result of an unrecorded enemy attack.

28

— page 29 —
U. S. S. GRUNION (SS-216)

Name                               Rate                               Name                               Rate
ABELE, Mannert L. . . . . LCDR--CO                               LUNSFORD, Samuel, Jr . . . EM2
ALEXANDER, Frank E. . . . . SM3                               LYON, J. WF1
ALLEN, Daniel E. . . . . . . SM3                               MARTIN, Carson R . . . . . CMOMM
ARVAN, Herbert J . . . . . . MA2                               MARTIN, Thomas E . . . . . EM1
BANES, Paul ECMOMM                               MATHISON, Ryder . . . . . . EM1
BEDARD, Leo J. I. . . . . . . CMOMM                               McCUTCHEON, Richard G . . TM3
BLINSTON, Wesley H . . . . . RM3                               McMAHON, John M. . . . . . LT
BONADIES, Nicholas R . . . . S1                               MILLER, E. CF2
BOO, Robert FEM3                               MYERS, David O . . . . . . . F1
BOUVIA, Chester L. . . . . . MM1                               NAVE, Frank TMoMM2
CALDWELL, George E . . . . . CEM                               NEWCOMB, Arthur G. . . . . RM1
CARROLL, Richard H. . . . . . S2                               NOBLES, John W. . . . . . . MoMM1
CLIFT, John S TM2                               PANCOAST, Jack E. . . . . . MoMM2
COLLINS, Michael F. . . . . . F2                               PARZIALE, Carmine A . . . . TM3
COOKSEY, Lee D . . . . . . . MoMM1                               PAUL, Cornelius, Jr. . . . . . MA2
CUTHBERTSON, W. H. Jr . . . ENS                               PICKEL, Bernard J. . . . . . S1
DE STOOP, Albert E. . . . . . CTM                               POST, Arnold C. . . . . . . S2
DIGHTON, Samuel R., Jr . . . LTJG                               RANDALL, William H . . . . . RM2
DEVANEY, William P., Jr . . . S2                               RYAN, Loyal, Jr. . . . . . . S2
DOELL, Louis H., Jr . . . . . RM2                               SANDERS, Howard A. . . . . MoMM1
FRANCK, Leon H. . . . . . . S1                               SCHUMANN, Elmer T . . . . . CQM
GRAHAM, Merritt D . . . . . CTM                               SULLIVAN, Paul P . . . . . . PhM1
HALL, Kenneth E . . . . . . S2                               SUROFCHIK, Steven . . . . . SC1
HELENSMIH, Ernest G . . . . . EM3                               SWARTWOOD, David N. . . . S2
HENDERSON, Hollice B. . . . MoMM2                               TEMPLETON, Samuel A . . . . GM1
HUTCHINSON, Charles R . . . TM3                               THOMAS, Millener W . . . . LT--XO
KENNEDY, Sylvester J. . . . MoMM2                               TRAVISS, Byron A. . . . . . S2
KNOWLES, Edward E., Jr . . . S2                               ULLMANN, Albert . . . . . . S1
KOCKLER, Lawrence R. . . . . TM1                               VAN VOGGELUM, Marshall F. F3
KORNAHRENS, William G. . . LTJG                               WALTER, Melvin H. . . . . . F3
LEDFORD, Moore J . . . . . . CY                               WEBSTER, Raymond E. . . . . EM2
LEHMAN, Woodrow W . . . . . EM1                               WELCH, Donald F. . . . . . FC2
LOE, Sidney AMoMM2                               WELLS, John H. . . . . . . TM2
                                                               WILSON, John E., Jr. . . . . SC3
                                                               YOUNGMAN, Ralph J. . . . . F2

29

— page 30 —
END OF REEL
[HANDWRITTEN: E-108]
JOB NO.[HANDWRITTEN: AR-65-78]

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THIS MICROFILM IS
THE PROPERTY OF
THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT

[SEAL: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, with eagle emblem]

MICROFILMED BY
NPPSO—NAVAL DISTRICT WASHINGTON
MICROFILM SECTION

D-62264