Navy confirms lost WWII sub has been found

AP via Yahoo ^ | Fri Oct 3, 2008 | Unknown

[Abathar]

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - The Navy has confirmed the wreckage of a sunken vessel found last year off the Aleutians Islands is that of the USS Grunion, which disappeared during World War II.

Underwater video footage and pictures captured by an expedition hired by sons of the commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. Mannert L. Abele, allowed the Navy to confirm the discovery, Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny said Thursday in a news release.

McAneny said the Navy was very grateful to the Abele family.

"We hope this announcement will help to give closure to the families of the 70 crewmen of Grunion," he said.

The Grunion was last heard from July 30, 1942. The submarine reported heavy anti-submarine activity at the entrance to Kiska, and that it had 10 torpedoes remaining forward. On the same day, the Grunion was directed to return to Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base. The submarine was reported lost Aug. 16, 1942.

Japanese anti-submarine attack data recorded no attack in the Aleutian area at the time of the Grunion's disappearance, so the submarine's fate remained an unsolved mystery for more than 60 years, the Navy said.

Abele's son's, Bruce, Brad, and John, began working on a plan to find the sub after finding information on the Internet in 2002 that helped pinpoint USS Grunion's possible location.

[Abathar]

Well done, these men can rest with honor and there can be closure for the families.

[poindexter]

Still on patrol.

[mountaineer1997]

Rest in Peace for those on their Last Patrol.

Bless them and their families.

Thank you.

[Clarinet_King]

Rest in peace and with Honor USS Grunion. God Bless the Abele sons and prayers to the families of those 70 brave sailors.

[SueRae]

God Bless those brave men. May their familes be at peace knowing their fate.

[major_gaff]

Rest In Peace. Semper Fi.

[Zakeet]

More about the USS Grunion and her crew here.

[Zakeet]

Sorry about the bad link in the previous post. Try this one instead.

[BlackElk]

ping for later

[Dan in Wichita]

These brave men lost their lives in the line of duty... defending America against tyranny. They forever deserve our respect and gratitude.

[Moose4]

The key point from your link about Grunion's fate, when she attacked the Kano Maru on 31 July 1942:

06:07 Third and fourth torpedo came, hit fore bridge and amidships on the port but both dud. The Grunion intended to surface and sink by gunfire, ripples was seen 400m distance from her. Kano Maru had two old 8cm guns on forecastle and stern. Stern's one malfunction by the torpedo shock, but forecastle gun fired to the periscope. 13mm machine guns on bridge fired as well. Before the sub appear the whole, fourth shot from Kano Maru hit the conning tower of the sub. It is thought the last of Grunion. The attack had ceased. Later rescue came from Kiska, three seaplanes, cable layer Ukishima, and sub chaser No. 26.

Sounds like another US WWII sub lost due to the dud torpedoes that plagued the fleet early in the war.

}:-)4

[Leisler]

The Navy's Torpedo bureaucracy refused to accept years of reports of failed torpedoes, and then basically dragged it's feet while manufacturing every possible cover your ass excuse.

A real scandal, and less in the mentality of bureaucratic organizations, in the military and out. Another scandal was the Sherman tank, and especially its low velocity gun.

[wizr]

IMHO, the worst atrocity was that these men were forgotten about. I know that many new undersea searching devices have been developed only recently, but it should not be at the expense of the families to determine the fate of their loved ones.

We owe our lives, our country, to those that sacrificed, some gave all, to conquer the enemies of WWII. I feel the same way about this ongoing battle for not only this country, but for all who wish to live peace throughout the world.

[myknowledge]

It would be better for the Navy to use captured Japanese torpedoes like the 21" Type 95 and the 24" Type 93 Long Lance. Unlike many other torpedoes of that era, they were powered by a combination of oxygen and kerosene, enhancing the maximum range threefold as opposed to their combined compressed air and ethanol counterparts. Also, they were safer to deploy in the combat arena. http://www.pacerfarm.org/i-400/ I remember reading this article where after the Japanese surrender, a cache of Type 93 and 95 torpedoes were discovered in a cave near the Sasebo IJN naval base and they were hauled outdoors, slick-covered in oil. A IJN junior seaman equipped with a monkey wrench loosened the bolts on one of the Long Lances sealing the oxygen tank and the pressurized O2 just hissed out. No explosion. These torpedoes were superior and safer to deploy in combat to the MK 14s and 18s because they possessed an anti-circular run mechanism, a vital feature that could have saved the USS Grunion and her 70 officers and crew.