Salvor Sailors to Dive on Presumed WWII Submarine Resting Site

Navy NewsStand ^ | Jun 11, 2006 | Commander Task Force 73 Public Affairs

[SandRat]

ABOARD USS SALVOR, Gulf of Thailand (NNS) -- The rescue and salvage ship USS Salvor (ARS 52) and divers of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 arrived June 11 at the site in the Gulf of Thailand presumed to be the resting place of the WWII–era USS Lagarto (SS 371) and its crew.

In May 2005, British diver Jamie MacLeod reported finding Lagarto, which was last seen May 3, 1945. On May 8, 2006, MacLeod joined U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force Commander Rear Adm. Jeffrey Cassias and families of crew members who served aboard Lagarto at a memorial service in the crew’s honor hosted by the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wis.

Over the next several days the divers from Salvor and MDSU-1 will conduct diving operations in an attempt to confirm MacLeod’s discovery, in keeping with a longstanding Navy practice of independently verifying such finds when possible.

Salvor is in the midst of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series in Southeast Asia and with the agreement of the Royal Thai navy – a CARAT exercise partner – was able to incorporate the Lagarto operation into the Thailand phase.

“We greatly appreciate the willingness of the Royal Thai navy to integrate this important real-world operation into the CARAT Thailand exercise plan,” said Lt. Cmdr. John Howard, Salvor’s commanding officer. “The crew of Salvor is especially honored to participate in an operation that may identify the final resting place of Lagarto and pay tribute to her brave crew.”

Salvor will utilize MDSU-1’s fly away mixed-gas system for the dives, as the wreck sits in approximately 225 feet of water. “This is a challenging dive, and any opportunity we have to utilize this system is great training and experience for the crew,” Howard said. The training benefit is furthered by the presence of a Royal Thai navy liaison officer on board. “Sharing experiences and expertise is what CARAT is all about,” Howard said.

On May 16, the mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7), which was operating in the area, conducted sonar operations at the location provided by MacLeod and provided its findings to Salvor. The information from Patriot allowed Salvor to accurately moor over the wreck without endangering the site.

The Salvor crew has been working closely with the Naval Historical Center (NHC) in preparation for this operation, and the divers’ findings, including underwater digital photography, will be provided to NHC electronically as quickly as possible for analysis.

While at the site, Salvor’s crew intends to conduct a traditional bell tolling memorial ceremony in honor of the Lagarto crew.

Salvor is homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and has a crew of approximately 100.

CARAT is a three-month series of bilateral exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand designed to enhance the operational cohesiveness of the participants.

For more on CARAT, visit www.clwp.navy.mil/carat2006.

[SandRat]

South China Sea (June 7, 2006) - Rescue and salvage ship USS Salvor (ARS 52) operates at sea during the Singapore phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2006. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the U.S. and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kathryn Whittenberger (RELEASED)

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Lagarto (SS-371), 1944-1945

USS Lagarto, a 1526-ton Balao class submarine, was built at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Commissioned in mid-October 1944, she passed down the Mississippi River to salt water in early December and soon went through the Panama Canal to join the war against Japan. Her first war patrol, in February-March 1945, took her into the waters off Japan as part of a three-submarine action group. During this patrol Lagarto sank a small freighter and a submarine, as well as participating in the destruction of a number of picket boats. In April, operating out of Subic Bay in the Philippines, she went into the Gulf of Siam for her second combat patrol, this time in company with the submarine Baya. During the night of 3-4 May 1945, while attacking a Japanese convoy, Lagarto was apparently sunk by the Japanese minelayer Hatsutaka. Her entire crew of 85 officers and men was lost with her.

This page features the only views we have related to USS Lagarto (SS-371).

[SandRat]

We haven't forgotten you.

[ErnBatavia]

Everyone - without exception - that visits Honolulu must see the USS Bowfin Museum...it's underpublicized, and literally across the parking lot from the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

Touring that skinny little sub made my claustrophobia want to kick in; makes you really admire those submariners and what they did.

[LeoWindhorse]

and :

http://www.csp.navy.mil/ww2boats/lagarto.htm

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in
great waters; these see the works of the Lord and His wonders
in the deep. For He commands and raises the stormy wind,
which brings up the waves. These men mount up to heaven,
they go down again to the depths and their soul is melted
because of this trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like
a drunken man, then come to their wit's end."

Psalms 107:23-7

[SandRat]

Now you know why the Pig-Boats were called Iron Coffins.

[cmsgop]

Great News, Hopefully they will someday go after the Dorado.

[SmithL]

Active Ping to the Steely-eyed Killers of the Deep list.

[Sundog]

That is a very touching web page and tribute to the Lagarto.

[mcshot]

Not forgotten and only waiting to be found.
God bless

[TXnMA]

I hope (and expect) that someone has prepared a memorial plaque to be affixed to the Lagarto when they reach and identify her.

[mylife]

Cool website here USS Largato

[EricT.]

Cool, my baby sister got to do two WestPacs on the Salvor. She earned a NAM on it, too.

[quietolong]

>>>> This page features the only views we have related to USS Lagarto (SS-371). <<<<

Try here:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08371a.htm

http://www.csp.navy.mil/ww2boats/lagarto.htm

[HiTech RedNeck]

We pulled China's hiney out of the fire. And what do we get but cheap walmart junk.