March 5th - On This Date - USN Submarine Service

1912 - 

The Secretary of the Navy established the Atlantic Submarine Flotilla, commanded by LT Chester W. Nimitz.

1919 - 

PCU S-40 (SS-145) keel laid as S-40 at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, CA.

1943 -  

USS GRAMPUS (SS-207) was ordered on 20 February to patrol north of 4°30‘S until dawn on 21 February and then to patrol east of Buka and Bouganville. On 2 March she was told to round Cape Henpan, proceed down the west coast of Bouganville, south of Treasury Island, north of Vella Lavella and into Vella Gulf on the afternoon of 5 March. She was to sink enemy ships trying to pass westward through Blackett Strait in attempting to escape our surface ships scheduled to bombard Vila and Stanmore airstrip on 6 March. USS GRAYBACK (SS-208) was teamed with GRAMPUS in the above operation, and each was informed of the other’s assignment.

The evening of 5 March, GRAYBACK and GRAMPUS were warned that two destroyers were proceeding from Faisi (off southeastern Bouganville) toward Wilson Strait (between Vella Lavella and Ganogga). These destroyers later went through Blackett Strait into Kula Gulf, where they sere sunk by our surface forces, but GRAYBACK did not report having seen or heard them. Shortly after the report concerning these destroyers was sent, GRAYBACK heard and saw a ship in the part of Vella Gulf assigned to GRAMPUS, and, assuming it was she, maneuvered to avoid. She was unable to track it or exchange recognition signals by radar, since her SJ radar was not functioning. When GRAMPUS made no radio transmission up to 6-7 March, she was ordered by ComTaskFor 72 on 7 March to do so. No transmission was received, and on 8 March she was ordered again to make one, again without results. She was reported lost on 22 March, 1943. Any further discussion about her demise is pure conjecture.

She was the eleventh U.S. submarine loss of World War II.

Seventy-one men were lost with GRAMPUS that day.

GRAMPUS received three battle stars for World War II service. Her first, fourth, and fifth war patrols were designated successful.

1945 - 

PCU REMORA (SS-487) keel laid as REMORA at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.

1962 -  

PCU JAMES MADISON (SSBN-627) keel laid as JAMES MADISON at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Newport News, VA.

COB