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USS S-36 (SS-141)
Encyclopedia
USS S-36 (SS-141) was a S-class submarine
United States S class submarine
The United States' S-class submarines, often simply called S-boats , were the first class of submarines built to a United States Navy design....
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...
.
Her keel was laid down on 10 December 1918 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
Bethlehem Steel Corporation Shipbuilding Division was created in 1905 when Bethlehem Steel Corporation acquired the San Francisco shipyard Union Iron Works in 1905...
of San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 3 June 1919 sponsored by Miss Helen Russell, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 4 April 1923 with Lieutenant Leon C. Alford in command.
Service history
Following trials, S-36 operated along the West Coast with interruptions for exercises in AlaskaAlaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
n waters in June 1923 and for fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
during the winter of 1924, until the following summer. Then assigned to the Asiatic Fleet, she moved west in mid-September and arrived at the Submarine Base, Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, on 4 November.
Asiatic Fleet
For the next sixteen years, she remained in the western Pacific, conducting exercises and patrols and undergoing overhauls in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during the winter and operating off the China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
coast, out of Tsingtao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
, during the summer months. With the increase of hostilities on the mainland, however, summer deployments were shortened and individual patrols were extended throughout the Philippines, into the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
, and, in 1938, to the Netherlands East Indies.
From April to June 1940, the S-boat conducted her last China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
deployment and for the next year and a half remained in Philippine waters. By December 1941, the fleet had been alerted to the possibility of a Japanese attack. On 2 June, S-36’s scheduled overhaul was cancelled and she was ordered north on patrol.
Water, stores, and torpedoes were taken on; and, at 01:00 on 3 June, she got underway. By late afternoon, she was off Cape Bolinao, where she passed several Yangtze Patrol
Yangtze Patrol
The Yangtze Patrol, from 1854 to 1945, was a prolonged naval operation to protect American interests in the Yangtze River's treaty ports. Initially the patrol was carried out by ships of the United States Navy's East India and Asiatic Squadrons. In 1922, the "YangPat" was established as a formal...
gunboats working their way to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. At 19:30, she entered Bolinao
Bolinao
Bolinao or Bolinaon may refer to:*Bolinao, Pangasinan*Bolinao language*The Philippine Anchovy , which is known in Cebuano as bolinao....
harbor, where she remained on continuous alert for the next week. On 8 December, she received the news that the Japanese had started hostilities.
World War II
A few hours later, S-36 began sighting enemy planes; and, that afternoon, she took up patrol duties between Cape Bolinao and San FernandoSan Fernando City, La Union
The City of San Fernando in La Union is a 1st class component city in the Philippines. It is the capital city of La Union and the regional center of the Ilocos Region...
. On 9 December excessive air leaks developed, but she remained on patrol. On 10 December, the crew listened to radio traffic as the Japanese bombed Cavite
Cavite
Cavite is a province of the Philippines located on the southern shores of Manila Bay in the CALABARZON region in Luzon, just 30 kilometers south of Manila. Cavite is surrounded by Laguna to the east, Metro Manila to the northeast, and Batangas to the south...
. After the raid, the submarine's radio operator was unable to raise the station. On 12 December, S-36’s electrical steering failed. She was still unable to contact Cavite. Exhaust valve leaks appeared on 13 December, and, on 14 December, she received an urgent message requesting her position. None of her previous messages had gotten through. Two days later, she was ordered back to Mariveles
Mariveles, Bataan
Mariveles is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 102,844 people in 19,460 households...
, if able.
She headed back, still unable to transmit and with worsening air and salt water leaks. Four days later, she anchored off Mariveles. Before the end of the month, repairs had been made; stores had been replenished, and the S-boat had begun a final patrol in Philippine waters before heading south to join the Allied forces gathering in the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
.
Clearing Mariveles
Mariveles
Mariveles may refer to:* Mariveles, Bataan * Mariveles Mountains...
harbor on 30 December, she immediately commenced patrolling the Verde Island Passage. On 1 January, she reconnoitered the north and east coast of Batangas Bay
Batangas Bay
Batangas Bay is a semi-enclosed body of water located in the Philippines. The municipalities of Mabini, Bauan, San Pascual, Tingloy on Maribacan Island and Batangas City are located on the coast of the bay. The water surface area of the bay is about 220 km² , and the coastline has an...
, thence moved to the west and south of Verde Island
Verde Island
This article refers to an island, for the body of water see Verde Island Passage.Verde Island is situated along the bodies of Verde Island Passage between the islands of Luzon and Mindoro, Philippines. It was on 1988 when a small village was created through the effort of an European project using...
. In mid-afternoon, she sighted a small transport moored to the seawall at Calapan, Mindoro
Mindoro
Mindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
; fired one torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
; and sank the target-not however confirmed by Japanese Loss records.
For seven more days, she maintained her patrol in the Verde Island Passage. On 8 January, the port engine air compressor failed, and, because of battery water consumption and the distance and time to be involved in the transit to the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
, she began making her way south. On 10 January, the starboard engine air compressor became troublesome. On 12 January, she hunted in the Sulu Sea
Sulu Sea
The Sulu Sea is a body of water in the southwestern area of the Philippines, separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan and from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago. Borneo is found to the southwest and Visayas to the northeast.Sulu Sea contains a number of...
. On 13 January, her port main motor went out of commission. On 14 January, she continued her hunting in the Sulu Sea.
On the morning of 15 January, at the approximate intersection of the Sibutu-Makassar
Makassar
Makassar, is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the largest city on Sulawesi Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was named Ujung Pandang, after a precolonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably...
and Davao
Davao
Davao refers to several closely related places in Mindanao in the Philippines. The term is used most often to refer to the city.*Davao Region, an administrative region*Davao del Norte province*Davao del Sur province*Davao Oriental province...
-Tarakan
Tarakan Island
Tarakan is an island off the coast of East Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is a marshy island situated in the eastern Celebes Sea, off the northeastern coast of Borneo. The island occupies an area of .-Petroleum:...
routes, diving was delayed by oil supply failures to the starboard engine, and she was sighted by a Japanese destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
.
Without correcting the lubrication failure and with one engine out, S-36 submerged and prepared to fire within minutes. But the destroyer was the quicker. Before the submarine could fire, the enemy had dropped seven 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...
s which exploded off both quarters of the S-boat.
Immediate damage included the loss of power control over the bow planes; gyro compass failure; blown fuses on the starboard lighting circuit, and broken lights in the motor room. By the time she reached 150 feet (46 m), her gyrocompass
Gyrocompass
A gyrocompass is a type of non-magnetic compass which bases on a fast-spinning disc and rotation of our planet to automatically find geographical direction...
was again working and she began turning slowly to starboard. The destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
was kept astern.
S-36 ran at one-third speed, her depth control and trim poor. Soon her main motor bearing began smoking; oil was applied by hand squirt gun. At about 06:30, almost an hour and a half after the initial contact, she lost depth control. Her trim pump stalled. The No. 2 main ballast was blown and at 230 feet (70 m) the boat began to rise. Previously taken steps were reversed; venting and flooding was begun. She stopped at 90 feet (27 m).
The destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
continued to hunt. S-36 continued to fluctuate between 100–200 ft (30.5–61 m). Life jackets and escape lungs were issued. At 07:00, control was reestablished; and, at 07:05, she heard the last efforts of the destroyer to locate her. Still in critical condition of trim and propulsion, she cleared the area and about noontime began making repairs to her port main motor. By 20:30, the motor was operating "after a fashion." Within six hours, however, it was smoking. The battery charge was secured. At 03:20, on 16 January, the starboard motor lubrication supply again failed.
With dawn, S-36 submerged. Two hours later, she sighted the Sulawesi
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
(Celebes) coast. At noon, fire broke out in the main motor auxiliary circulating pump and was extinguished. After 19:00, she surfaced; and, at 23:08, she passed North Watcher Island.
On 17 January, she received orders to proceed to Surabaya ("Soerabaja"). Both port and starboard shafts went out of commission during the day and one man collapsed from heat, but the main motor lube oil pumps were repaired. On 18 January, S-36 had her "1st day since January 8 with no major part of engineering plant out of commission." She continued through Makassar Strait
Makassar Strait
Makassar Strait is a strait between the islands of Borneo and Sulawesi in Indonesia. To the north it joins the Celebes Sea, while to the south it meets the Java Sea.The Mahakam River of Borneo empties into the strait....
.
Loss
At 04:04 on the morning of 20 January, she ran hard aground on Taka Bakang Reef. For over 24 hours, the crew battled to save the submarine. But chlorineChlorine
Chlorine is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is the second lightest halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17. The element forms diatomic molecules under standard conditions, called dichlorine...
gas, generated by her flooded forward battery, and the hostile waves and currents of the sea combined against them. A plain language request for aid was sent out and, on the morning of 21 January, a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
launch, Attla, was dispatched from Makassar City. By noon, the launch had taken off most of the officers and men of S-36. At 13:30, the fight and the submarine were abandoned. The last to leave left her rigged to flood.
The crew, transferred to SS Siberote, were taken to Makassar City, then to Surabaya (Soerabaja), whence they were reassigned.
S-36 was awarded one battle star for her 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...
service.