On 27 september she topped off with fuel at midway and left there the same day, heading for an area between the northwest coast of formosa, and the china coast. During five war patrols under the command of richard h. Construction began 194950 and tang ss563 commissioned in 1951, the remainder in 1952. Before taking command of the submarine uss tang, lieutenant okane was the executive officer on the illfated uss wahoo ss238. Uss sculpin and uss s44 went down fighting, with only fortytwo men from the sculpin being taken prisoner and half of them perishing on the way to japan. The patrols of americas most famous world war ii submarine. Submarine losses world war ii, navpers 15,784, 1949 issue. From this pulitzer prizewinning journalist comes the powerful true story of richard okane, americas undersea ace of aces. She is credited with sinking 23 ships, the thirdmost of any allied world war ii submarine, behind only the uss tang and uss tautog. The tangs skipper, richard okane, was a survivor of the sinking. Tuohy captures the daytoday feel of life on board a wwii submarine as well as any, and his descriptions of tangs war patrols are a fitting tribute to dick okane and the men of the silent service. Books similar to clear the bridge the war patrols of the u.
Life aboard wwii submarines was brutal americas military. History through the viewfinder the national wwii museum. Enjoy the best, most challenging, and most popular questions from the hit discovery show cash caband theyre all no fare. Welcome to torpedo junction since 1994, the industry leader specializing in submarine and uboat books and memorabilia. On her fifth war patrol, tang launched a surface attack against a japanese transport. On october 25, 1951, the second uss tang ss 563 was commissioned and was the first of the modern fast attack submarines and surrogate parent of the u. Top 10 submarine books armchair general magazine we. Richard hetherington dick okane february 2, 1911 february 16, 1994 was a united states navy submarine commander in world war ii, who was awarded the medal of. Signed autographed submarine and uboat books torpedo. Richard okane and the amazing submarine adventures of the uss tang. The tonnage of the ships sunk by silversides amounted to 90,080 tons, second only to tangs total. Okane, the balao class fleet submarine uss tang was credited with sinking a total of 31 japanese ships, for a wartime total of 227,800 tons.
He died 24 october 1944 in the tragic sinking of uss tang ss306. The fastpaced, factdriven, backseat game show fans can now play without hailing a taxi. The victim of a circular running torpedo during her fifth war patrol, only eight members of her crew, including okane, survived to spend the rest of the war in japanese captivity. Signed autographed submarine and uboat books beach, captain edward submarine heinemann 1953. Uss wahoo ss565 the second wahoo ss565 was laid down on 24october 1949 by the portsmouth n. Richard okane and the amazing submarine adventures of the uss tang ebook written by william tuohy. The leadership skills during wwii submarine patrols in the pacific demonstrated every day by the captain the author and his officers were spectacular. Submarine books store used and rare submarine and uboat. Richard okane hailed as the ace of aces, captain richard okane, winner of the congressional medal of honor for his consummate skill and heroism as a submarine skipper, sank more enemy ships and saved more downed fliers than anyone else. Bright, agressive officers like dick okane were the ramaining element to gain ultimate seccess.
Both of these books are recommended reading for any sub buff. Despite the dangers, american submarines performed admirably. In the pacific, american crews sank almost 1,400 japanese ships of different types, totaling more than 5. Wwii submarine history books us submarine rc submarine model submarine ww2 submarine book store submarine plan submarine models submarine picture nuclear submarine book store specializing in new, used, and rare submarine and u boat books. The bravest man richard okane and the amazing submarine adventures of the uss tang richard okane and the amazing submarine adventures of the uss tang by william tuohy by william tuohy by william tuohy by william tuohy by william tuohy read by e. The uss tang was a balaoclass submarine, and fortunately the new jersey naval museum in hackensack, new jersey, features another balaoclass submarine, the uss ling. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the bravest man. Uss tang ssagss563, the lead ship of her class was the second ship of the united states navy to be named for the tang.
You may have read the history and headlines article there is no such thing as friendly fire. Navy says wreck found off japan is legendary sub uss wahoo. The bravest man richard okane and the amazing submarine adventures of the uss tang. The worlds largest inventory and the finest selection of new, used and rare submarine and u boat books. Listed below are 4 books covering ww2 usn submarine action. The true story of one of americas topscoring world war ii submarinesuss tang ss306, written by her only skipper, richard dick okane. Nineteen fortyfour, cruising, i think, north of formosa ph, present day taiwan, the final torpedo onboard was fired. On eternal patrol the loss of uss tang ss 306 tang ss306 compiled by paul w. Okane, set out from pearl harbor on 24 september 1944, to begin her fifth war patrol. Clear the bridge privides a well written and consise chronology of the operations of tang. Uss tang submarine experience places visitors aboard the most successful submarine in world war ii for its fifth and final war patrol on october 25, 1944.
Tang arrived at the naval submarine facility at san diego. He then became a naval and submarine legend on the u s s tang. Okane went on to command uss tang ss 306 and to receive the medal of honor. This is the 1144 scale deutsches uboot type xxi german submarine with interior plastic kit by revell. Tuohy captures the daytoday feel of life on board a wwii submarine as well as any, and his descriptions of tang s war patrols are a fitting tribute to dick okane and the men of the silent service. The uss tang, a balao class fleet submarine of the united states navy, is todays subject. Richard okane and the amazing submarine adventures of the uss tang,pulitzer prize winning author william tuohy weaves a multicolored blanket of history about the silent service of the early 1940s, and especially about the tang and her only commanding officer, commander richard dick okane, a naval academy graduate from. Commander richard okane received the medal of honor for her last two engagements 23 and 24 october 1944 tang was sunk during the last engagement. The true story of one of americas topscoring world war ii submarine s uss tang ss306, written by her only skipper, richard dick okane. Top 10 submarine books armchair general magazine we put.
One of the most outstanding of those 288 submarines was the uss tang, launched on august 16, 1943, at the mare island calif. On lifeguard duty in 1944, okane and his men rescued 22 navy flyers. But uss tang s last torpedo turned out to be faulty. Richard hetherington dick okane february 2, 1911 february 16, 1994 was a united states navy submarine commander in world war ii, who was awarded the medal of honor for commanding uss tang in pacific war against japan to the most successful record of any united states submarine. The bravest man theres no margin for mistakes in submarines. Aug 24, 2016 the second piece of evidence is a document named the loss of the uss tang, pages 250259. In order to reach her area, tang had to pass through narrow waters known to be heavily patrolled by the enemy. Shop online for 106 submarine models at discounts up to 32%. Uss tang ss306 was a balaoclass submarine of world war ii, the first ship of the united states navy to bear the name tang. From its initial planning, the new tang introduced the fast. The tang s skipper, richard okane, was a survivor of the sinking. Submarine books store used and rare submarine and uboat books. Navy submarine tang was legendaryshe had sunk more enemy ships, rescued more downed airmen, and pulled off more daring surface attacks than any other allied submarine in. The world war two combat patrols of uss trigger, seawolf, tang, harder, archerfish, wahoo and other famous u.
Uss tang ss 306 was a balao class submarine of world war ii, the first ship of the united states navy to bear the name tang. That book was about the experience of one man while this book is really about an entire crew and ultimately the 9 survivors of that crew. The book also covers the story of other fearless submariners all set against the backdrop of the pacific war. Commander richard okane received the medal of honor for her last two engagements 23 and 24. Guests relive the last epic battle of the uss tang and feel a deeper appreciation for the bravery and sacrifice of those who served in the intense, confined world of underwater warfare. The tang had been making a nighttime surface attack when it was sunk by one of its own torpedoes, which ran errantly in a circle, hitting the 300foot sub in the stern. The tang sank 33 ships more than any other american submarine before okanes luck ran out. See more ideas about uss tang, submarines and wwii. Wahoo the patrols of americas most famous wwii submarine.
Her commander, richard okane, a 1934 graduate of the naval academy, would earn the medal of honor and the tang would receive two presidential unit citations. If you like action, accuracy, and professionalism reading about wwii, you cant go wrong with these two books. The uss tang portion of this report is part of a larger document titled medical study of the experiences of submariners as recorded in 1,471 submarine patrol reports in world war ii. The tonnage of the ships sunk by silversides amounted to 90,080 tons, second only to tang s total. See more ideas about uss tang, submarines and world war ii. Okane is acknowledged as the top submarine skipper of world war ii. The story of tang and her gallant crew ranks with the most amazing of naval history. American submarine war patrol reports during five war patrols under the command of richard h. Okane personalizes tang s history by including some of the stories of the men who served on her. Okane also wrote a book about his earlier experiences as exec officer of the sub, uss wahoo. Okane personalizes tangs history by including some of the stories of the men who served on her. Commissioned in october 1943, she deployed to hawaii in december 1943 to begin an intense and eventful combat career under the leadership of commander richard h. The bravest man richard okane and the amazing submarine adventures of the uss tang richard okane and the amazing submarine adventures of the uss tang by william tuohy by william tuohy by william tuohy by william tuohy by william tuohy read by. The book is a very accurately detailed telling of the final mission of wwiis most decorated submarine, the uss tang.
Mar 14, 2020 the uss tang, a balao class fleet submarine of the united states navy, is todays subject. Tang was among the best submarines deployed in the pacific. Dec 07, 2012 uss tang was a 1525ton balao class submarine that was built at the mare island navy yard, california. Uss tang was a 1525ton balao class submarine that was built at the mare island navy yard, california. Oral history appendectomy performed on fourth war patrol. Richard hetherington dick okane february 2, 1911 february 16, 1994 was a united states navy submarine commander in world war ii, who was awarded the medal of honor for commanding uss tang in pacific war against japan to the most successful record of any united states submarine ever. The second piece of evidence is a document named the loss of the uss tang, pages 250259. There, she joined submarine division 32 of subron 3. Richard okane was the executive officer on wahoo and authored that book.
Judged by such standards, silversides has the most prolific combat record of any stillextant american submarine. He wrote two great submarine books, clear the bridge. Written by richard o kane, the top scoring american submarine skipper of world war two, it tells of o kanes life in both uss wahoo, serving as executive officer to the legendary mush morton and on uss tang as captain. Tangs first war patrol, conducted in the central pacific during january and february 1944 during which she sank. This wonderful book about the record breaking uss barb is unique in its first person voice and story of naval heroics for which we can be forever proud. Firstperson account by the tang s skipper later a japanese pow is a classic. Thunder below the uss barb revolutionizes submarine. Following trials and training along the east coast, the submarine was assigned to submarine squadron 1, submarine force, pacific fleet. I read unbroken about a year or so ago and that book moved me greatly. Whether rescuing navy fliers off truk or stalking enemy convoys off japan, tang carried the war to the enemy with unparalleled ferocity. Tang averaged one enemy ship sunk every 11 days, a rate twice that of any other u. From her base at pearl harbor, tang operated in the hawaiian islands, providing services to surface and air antisubmarine warfare asw forces. Oral history appendectomy performed on fourth war patrol of.
Uss tang and uss tullibee, victims of their own faulty, circling torpedoes, had few survivors, five of whom managed to escape from the sunken, burning tang when it was 180 feet below the. Aug 20, 2000 the tang had been making a nighttime surface attack when it was sunk by one of its own torpedoes, which ran errantly in a circle, hitting the 300foot sub in the stern. In her short career in the pacific war, tang sank 33 ships totalling 116,454 tons. Tangs skipper on all five of her war patrols, rear admiral richard h. So in november 2011, my colleague seth paridon then our manager of research services and i accompanied staff members from cortina productions to the ling to document what the.