Joseph F. Enright
Encyclopedia
Joseph Francis Enright was a submarine
captain in the United States Navy
. November 29, 1944 USS Archer-Fish commanded by Enright sank Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano
- the largest vessel ever sunk by a submarine, "most significant single submarine sinking of World War II
."
Enright graduated from United States Naval Academy
in 1933, served three years on USS Maryland
and achieved submariner's qualification in 1936. During World War II lieutenant commander
Enright commanded USS O-10
, USS Dace
and USS Archer-Fish.
Enright assumed command of the newly built USS Dace on July 23, 1943 and in October sailed out on her first war patrol into busy Japanese waters. On November 15 an ULTRA
message alerted him to intercept aircraft carrier Shōkaku
; Enright located the target and "made a timid approach, abandoning the effort as daylight approached". He then found another target, a tanker
, but was depth charge
d by escort ships and withdrew from active pursuit. In the end the 49-day patrol brought no results. Enright took the blame for failure: "I was responsible for an unproductive patrol and request to be relieved by an officer who can perform more satisfactorily". Admiral Lockwood
granted the request and demoted Enright to administrative duties ashore. After half a year at Midway
submarine base, Enright requested to be given another submarine command and received "a rare second chance", command of USS Archer-Fish, in September 1944.
Archer-Fish left Pearl Harbor
on October 30, 1944 and reached Saipan
on November 9. For the next two weeks the submarine provided search and rescue
support to American aviators in the areas of planned air strikes. On November 28, when the submarine was patrolling south from Nagoya, radar
operator identified a surface contact 12 miles away. Visual contact with Shinano
became possible at 2140, and by 2300 Enright identified four escort ships protecting the carrier. At 0241 November 29 the target turned away from Archerfish and then straight at her. At 0317 at a mere 1,400 yards from the target, Enright fired all six available torpedoes at Shinano. Enright stayed at periscope depth to see first two torpedoes hit Shinano, then dived down to escape revenge from her escorts. Shinano struggled with damage for more than seven hours and finally capsized, becoming the largest vessel of World War II (and, as of 2010, in all history) to be sunk by a submarine. The action earned Enright his Navy Cross
.
On September 2, 1945, Enright and his crew, along with eleven other submarines, were honored with the task of protecting USS Missouri
during the signing of Japanese Instrument of Surrender
.
After the end of World War II Enright commanded Submarine Division 31 (1949–1950), USS Fulton
(1953–1954), Submarine Squadron 8 (1954–1955), has been chief of staff for the submarine force of the United States Atlantic Fleet (1955–1957) and commander of USS Boston
(1959–1963).
After retirement in 1963 Enright worked at Northrop
on the OMEGA Navigation System
.
He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
.
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
captain in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. November 29, 1944 USS Archer-Fish commanded by Enright sank Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano
Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano
named after the ancient Shinano Province, was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Initially laid down as the third of the battleships, Shinano′s partially complete hull was converted to an aircraft carrier in 1942, midway through construction. Over the next two...
- the largest vessel ever sunk by a submarine, "most significant single submarine sinking of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
."
Enright graduated from United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1933, served three years on USS Maryland
USS Maryland (BB-46)
USS Maryland , a , was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the seventh state.Her keel was laid down 24 April 1917 by Newport News Shipbuilding Company of Newport News, Virginia. She was launched on 20 March 1920, and sponsored by Mrs. E. Brook Lee, wife of the...
and achieved submariner's qualification in 1936. During World War II lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Enright commanded USS O-10
USS O-10 (SS-71)
USS O-10 was an O-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 27 February 1917 by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 21 February 1918 sponsored by Mrs. John E...
, USS Dace
USS Dace (SS-247)
, a Gato class submarine, was the first submarine of the United States Navy to be named for any of several small North American fresh-water fishes of the carp family....
and USS Archer-Fish.
Enright assumed command of the newly built USS Dace on July 23, 1943 and in October sailed out on her first war patrol into busy Japanese waters. On November 15 an ULTRA
Ultra
Ultra was the designation adopted by British military intelligence in June 1941 for wartime signals intelligence obtained by "breaking" high-level encrypted enemy radio and teleprinter communications at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park. "Ultra" eventually became the standard...
message alerted him to intercept aircraft carrier Shōkaku
Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku
Shōkaku was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy, the lead ship of her class. Along with her sister ship , she took part in several key naval battles during the Pacific War, including the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands...
; Enright located the target and "made a timid approach, abandoning the effort as daylight approached". He then found another target, a tanker
Tank ship
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
, but was depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
d by escort ships and withdrew from active pursuit. In the end the 49-day patrol brought no results. Enright took the blame for failure: "I was responsible for an unproductive patrol and request to be relieved by an officer who can perform more satisfactorily". Admiral Lockwood
Charles A. Lockwood
Charles Andrews Lockwood was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is known in submarine history as the legendary commander of Submarine Force Pacific Fleet during World War II...
granted the request and demoted Enright to administrative duties ashore. After half a year at Midway
Midway Atoll
Midway Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, near the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago, about one-third of the way between Honolulu, Hawaii, and Tokyo, Japan. Unique among the Hawaiian islands, Midway observes UTC-11 , eleven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time and one hour...
submarine base, Enright requested to be given another submarine command and received "a rare second chance", command of USS Archer-Fish, in September 1944.
Archer-Fish left Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
on October 30, 1944 and reached Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
on November 9. For the next two weeks the submarine provided search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
support to American aviators in the areas of planned air strikes. On November 28, when the submarine was patrolling south from Nagoya, radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
operator identified a surface contact 12 miles away. Visual contact with Shinano
Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano
named after the ancient Shinano Province, was an aircraft carrier of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Initially laid down as the third of the battleships, Shinano′s partially complete hull was converted to an aircraft carrier in 1942, midway through construction. Over the next two...
became possible at 2140, and by 2300 Enright identified four escort ships protecting the carrier. At 0241 November 29 the target turned away from Archerfish and then straight at her. At 0317 at a mere 1,400 yards from the target, Enright fired all six available torpedoes at Shinano. Enright stayed at periscope depth to see first two torpedoes hit Shinano, then dived down to escape revenge from her escorts. Shinano struggled with damage for more than seven hours and finally capsized, becoming the largest vessel of World War II (and, as of 2010, in all history) to be sunk by a submarine. The action earned Enright his Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
.
On September 2, 1945, Enright and his crew, along with eleven other submarines, were honored with the task of protecting USS Missouri
USS Missouri (BB-63)
|USS Missouri is a United States Navy Iowa-class battleship, and was the fourth ship of the U.S. Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Missouri...
during the signing of Japanese Instrument of Surrender
Japanese Instrument of Surrender
The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was the written agreement that enabled the Surrender of Japan, marking the end of World War II. It was signed by representatives from the Empire of Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist...
.
After the end of World War II Enright commanded Submarine Division 31 (1949–1950), USS Fulton
USS Fulton (AS-11)
USS Fulton was the leader of her class of seven submarine tenders, launched on 27 December 1940 by Mare Island Navy Yard and sponsored by Mrs. A. T. Sutcliffe, great-granddaughter of Robert Fulton. Fulton was commissioned on 12 September 1941, with Commander A. D...
(1953–1954), Submarine Squadron 8 (1954–1955), has been chief of staff for the submarine force of the United States Atlantic Fleet (1955–1957) and commander of USS Boston
USS Boston (CA-69)
USS Boston , a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser, was the sixth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Boston was launched 26 August 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Company's, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Mass.; sponsored by Mrs. Maurice J. Tobin, wife of the Mayor of...
(1959–1963).
After retirement in 1963 Enright worked at Northrop
Northrop Corporation
Northrop Corporation was a leading United States aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman in 1994. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, although only a few of these have entered service.-History:Jack...
on the OMEGA Navigation System
OMEGA Navigation System
OMEGA was the first truly global radio navigation system for aircraft, operated by the United States in cooperation with six partner nations.-History:OMEGA was originally developed by the United States Navy for military aviation users...
.
He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.