Discover the heroic last patrol of USS Sculpin (SS-191) and how her crew faced overwhelming odds during World War II.
On November 5, 1943, USS Sculpin, under the leadership of Commander Fred Connaway, departed Pearl Harbor for her ninth war patrol. Ordered to prowl the waters north of Truk, the mission would be Sculpin’s last.
Sculpin was tasked with intercepting Japanese forces leaving the island to oppose the upcoming invasion of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands. Once there, she was to form a wolf-pack with other US submarines in the area. Also aboard was Captain John P. Cromwell, who had been fully briefed on the Tarawa operation and had knowledge of the top-secret ULTRA program.
Plot Points
After refueling at Johnston Island on November 7, Sculpin proceeded to her station. On November 29, Captain Cromwell was ordered to activate the wolf pack. When she failed to acknowledge, the message was repeated 48 hours later. The submarine was eventually presumed lost on December 30.
This is the remarkable story of USS Sculpin’s last patrol. For more stories from history, check out The Reliable Narrator.
The Final Patrol of USS Sculpin
The story of Sculpin’s final patrol was given by the surviving members of her crew, who were liberated from Japanese prisoner-of-war camps after V-J Day, having spent almost two years in captivity.
On the night of November 18, Sculpin made contact with a fast-moving Japanese convoy and maneuvered for an attack. As dawn broke, she submerged along the enemy’s track, but as she closed in, the convoy unexpectedly zigged toward her, forcing Sculpin to dive.
An hour later, Sculpin surfaced for another attempt, only to find herself just 600 yards from a lagging Japanese destroyer, Yamagumo. She immediately dove again, but this time, the enemy ship unleashed a fierce depth charge attack. The first run, consisting of eighteen 600-pound depth charges, inflicted serious damage, including a crack in an engine room exhaust valve and numerous leaks throughout the hull.
The second salvo was even more devastating, knocking out the submarine’s lighting system, worsening leaks, and causing interior temperatures to soar. Despite the desperate conditions, Sculpin’s crew fought to regain control, even using a bucket brigade to shift water. They momentarily escaped detection by hiding in a rain squall, but when they attempted to adjust their trim, a malfunctioning depth gauge caused the submarine to unexpectedly broach the surface. She submerged again, but Yamagumo quickly spotted her and resumed the attack.
A temporary loss of depth control sent the submarine plummeting below safe depth levels, resulting in several leaks opening in the hull. As Sculpin flooded, she was forced to run at higher speeds, making her an easy target for the Japanese sonar. A second depth charge attack knocked out Sculpin’s sonar.
With battery reserves running low and six hours until nightfall, Captain Connaway made the fateful decision: they would surface and fight it out with the destroyer rather than endure another depth charge barrage that could result in complete loss.
Sculpin’s Last Stand
As Sculpin surfaced, her crew sprang into action, manning deck guns in a last-ditch effort. The day was clear, and whitecaps rolled over the decks as sailors fired at the approaching Yamagumo. But their single 3-inch gun was no match for the Japanese destroyer’s main battery of 5-inch guns. Within moments, a shell struck the submarine’s conning tower, killing Connaway and several others. Additional shells raked the deck, killing the American crew members attempting to fire back. Despite their valiant effort, the odds were insurmountable.
With Sculpin mortally wounded, her senior surviving officer, Lieutenant George Brown, took command. Recognizing the ship’s situation, Brown ordered the remaining crew to prepare to scuttle and abandon the ship. Before the vents were opened to flood the sub, Brown informed Captain Cromwell of his decision. Cromwell, knowing that he carried vital intelligence regarding the upcoming Tarawa invasion and ULTRA codebreaking, chose to remain aboard, fearing that under torture, he might reveal American secrets.
Cromwell went down with the ship, sacrificing himself to protect his country’s war efforts. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. Despite the order to abandon ship, other crew members refused to leave, preferring death to capture. Ensign Max Fiedler and several others remained at their stations, ensuring Sculpin would never fall into enemy hands as she slipped beneath the waves for the final time.
The Survivors’ Struggle
Forty-three of Sculpin’s crew of 84 survived the sinking and were picked up by Yamagumo. One severely wounded sailor, William Henry Welsh, was thrown back into the sea by the Japanese because of his condition. The survivors were interrogated at the Japanese base at Truk for 12 days, enduring harsh conditions and beatings.
Upon arrival, the prisoners were taken to a cramped outdoor compound with three cells. Their food rations consisted of a single rice ball per day and a few ounces of water. Lieutenant Brown repeatedly sought medical attention for his wounded men, but the Japanese refused. After days of suffering, their wounds began to smell, and they were finally taken to the hospital.
The prisoners were let out twice a day for brief intervals and were regularly blindfolded and interrogated. If they hesitated in answering, they were beaten with wooden bats. After ten days, their heads were shaved, and they were given Japanese uniforms.
The 42 were then divided into two groups and transferred to the aircraft carriers, Unyo and Chūyō. At midnight on December 31, 1943, Chūyō was struck by a torpedo from USS Sailfish. The twenty-one American prisoners cheered, even though they knew it likely meant their deaths.
As Chūyō took on water, desperate Japanese crews fought to contain the flooding. The Americans broke out of their cells and made their way to the deck, where they attempted to lash together makeshift rafts. Then, another torpedo struck.
As the doomed carrier sank, American prisoners and Japanese sailors struggled in the water. The other Japanese ships, afraid to stop because of the submarine threat, threw lines to the men in the water. Machinist’s Mate George Rocek managed to grab ahold of a ladder, but he never saw his fellow prisoners from Chūyō again.
Rocek and the Sculpin survivors from Unyo would be forced to work in the copper mines of Ashio for the remainder of the war.
Reliable Thoughts
The story of USS Sculpin is a lesson of determination in the face of overwhelming odds. From her valiant attempts to strike at a heavily guarded convoy to the courage of her crew in their final stand, Sculpin’s last mission epitomized the spirit of the Silent Service.
Though Sculpin was lost, her story endures.
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