View source for USS Crevalle

{{short description|Submarine of the United States}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}

{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 |image=USS Crevalle;0829102.jpg
 |image_caption=Crevalle (SS-291), under way, c. 1944.
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=
 |country=United States
 |flag={{USN flag|1942}}
 |name=
 |ordered=
 |builder=[[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard]], [[Kittery, Maine]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates">{{cite book
  | last = Friedman
  | first = Norman
  |author2=Stuart 
   | title = U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History
  | publisher = [[United States Naval Institute]]
  | year = 1995
  | location = [[Annapolis, Maryland]]
  | pages = 285–304
  | isbn = 1-55750-263-3 }}</ref>
 |laid_down=14 November 1942<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |launched=22 February 1943<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |acquired=
 |commissioned=24 June 1943<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |decommissioned=29 July 1946<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=yes
 |recommissioned=6 September 1951<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |decommissioned=19 August 1955<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=yes
 |recommissioned=11 April 1957<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |decommissioned=9 March 1962<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |in_service=
 |out_of_service=
 |struck=15 April 1968<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |reinstated=
 |fate=Sold for scrap, 17 March 1971<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 }}

|section5={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption=
 |class={{sclass|Balao|submarine|4}} [[diesel-electric]] [[submarine]]<ref name="Register">{{cite book
  | last = Bauer
  | first = K. Jack
  |author2=Roberts, Stephen S.
   | title = Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants
  | publisher = Greenwood Press
  | year = 1991
  | location = [[Westport, Connecticut]]
  | pages = 275–280
  | isbn = 0-313-26202-0 }}</ref>
 |displacement=*1,526&nbsp;[[long ton|ton]]s (1,550&nbsp;[[tonne|t]]) surfaced<ref name="Register"/>
               *2,414&nbsp;tons (2,453&nbsp;t) submerged<ref name="Register"/>
 |length={{convert|311|ft|9|in|abbr=on}}<ref name="Register"/>
 |beam={{convert|27|ft|3|in|abbr=on}}<ref name="Register"/>
 |draft={{convert|16|ft|10|in|abbr=on}} maximum<ref name="Register"/>
 |propulsion={{Fleet-boat-propulsion-early-GM-4-GE}}
 |speed=*{{convert|20.25|kn|km/h|0|lk=in}} surfaced<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs">''U.S. Submarines Through 1945'' pp. 305-311</ref>
        *{{convert|8.75|kn|km/h|0}} submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 |range={{convert|11000|nmi|km}} surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h)<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 |endurance=*48 hours at {{convert|2|kn|km/h}} submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
            *75 days on patrol
 |test_depth={{convert|400|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 |complement=10 officers, 70–71 enlisted<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 |sensors=
 |EW=
 |armament={{Fleet-boat-armament-5-inch}}
 }}
}}

'''USS ''Crevalle'' (SS/AGSS-291)''', a [[Balao class submarine|''Balao''-class]] [[submarine]], was a ship of the [[United States Navy]] named for the [[crevalle]], the [[Crevalle jack|yellow mackerel]], a food fish, found on both coasts of tropical America, and in the Atlantic as far north as Cape Cod.<ref name=DANFS/>

==Construction and commissioning==
''Crevalle'' was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] 22 February 1943 by the [[Portsmouth Navy Yard]] in [[Kittery, Maine]], sponsored by Mrs. C. W. Fisher; and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] 24 June 1943.<ref name=DANFS/>

== First and second war patrols, October 1943 – February 1944 ==
''Crevalle'' arrived at [[Brisbane]], Australia, from [[Naval Submarine Base New London|New London]] 11 October 1943, and after replenishing there and at [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]], put to sea 27 October on her first war patrol, in the [[Sulu Sea|Sulu]] and [[South China Sea]]s. On 15 November she sank the passenger-cargo ship ''Kyokko Maru'', almost 7,000&nbsp;tons.<ref name=DANFS/> On Thursday 18 November 1943, off the entrance to [[Manila Bay]], ''Crevalle'' torpedoed the {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Akitsu Maru||6}}, incorrectly reporting ''Akitsu Maru'' as sunk.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II |last=Cressman |pages=193&ndash;194 }}</ref>  ''Crevalle'' made two more attacks on merchant ships before returning to [[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle]], Australia, for refit 7 December.<ref name=DANFS/>

Her second war patrol, in the South China Sea from 30 December 1943 to 15 February 1944, found her attacking a submerged [[Japan]]ese submarine on 7 January, only to know the frustration of premature torpedo explosion.  On 9 January she sunk a sampan with gunfire<ref>[https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3037.html U-Boat allies]</ref> In a hazardous special mission, she laid [[Naval mine|mines]] off [[Saigon]] on 14 and 15 January, and on 26 January sent a Japanese freighter "Busho Maru" <ref name="Uboat allies">[https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3037.html Uboat allies]</ref> to the bottom. A surface action with a small patrol boat on 11 February sank the enemy craft, and on 15 February, ''Crevalle'' fired at several targets in a large [[convoy]], prudently clearing the area before the results of her firing could be verified.<ref name=DANFS/>

== Third and fourth war patrols, April – August 1944 ==
[[File:Ang Pagdaong ng USS Crevalle location - NHCP.jpg|thumb|left|Historical marker installed by the [[National Historical Commission of the Philippines]] in 2022 to mark the site where the USS ''Crevalle'' approached [[Negros]] on May 11, 1944]]

On 16 March 1944 while refitting at Fremantle, Commander F. D. Walker assumed command, and on 4 April, ''Crevalle'' sailed for the South China Sea. She sank a freighter ''Kashiwa Maru'' on 25 April,<ref name="Uboat allies"/> and the oiler, ''Nisshin Maru'' (16,801 tons) 6 May, and on 11 May surfaced off [[Negros Island]] in the [[Philippines]] on another daring special mission.<ref name=DANFS/> That special mission was to transport what appeared to be very important intelligence material regarding Japanese plans that had come into the hands of guerillas. The first idea of scheduling a submarine to deploy for that task developed into an urgent need both due to the realized imortance of the documents and the Japanese hunt for them.  ''Crevalle'', on patrol off northern Borneo, was the nearest deployed submarine and was sent orders to pick up the documents with evacuation of American refugees as a cover.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Bradsher | first = Greg | date = Fall 2005 | volume = 37 | issue = 3 | title = The "Z Plan" Story Japan's 1944 Naval Battle Strategy Drifts into U.S. Hands | journal = Prologue Magazine | url = https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2005/fall/z-plan | access-date = June 5, 2025}}</ref>

She rescued 40 refugees here, including 28 women and children, and 4 men who had survived the [[Bataan Death March]] and made their escape. She also took off the family of an American [[missionary]], who having seen his family to safety, returned ashore at the last minute to continue his ministry among the [[guerrilla warfare|guerrillas]]. Along with her passengers, ''Crevalle'' recovered the important documents (the Japanese "[[Z Plan (Japan)|Z plan]]"), and transferred all she could spare in the way of supplies to the guerrillas. In May 1944, while returning with her passengers to Darwin, ''Crevalle'' was spotted by a Japanese convoy on the third day of the journey. With four working torpedoes Capt. Walker maneuvered to attack, but was severely depth-charged by a Japanese bomber, a special ordeal for the passengers.  The periscopes and radar were knocked out. They were landed safely at Darwin 19 May, 8 days after leaving the Philippines. ''Crevalle'' sailed on to refit at Fremantle.<ref name=DANFS/>

For her fourth war patrol, ''Crevalle'' returned to the South China Sea, as well as cruising off the northern Philippines, between 21 June and 9 August 1944. In company with three other submarines for most of this patrol, ''Crevalle'' joined in a 30-hour pursuit and attack on a convoy on 25 July and 26 July, damaging one freighter ''Tosan Maru'', and sinking the freighter "Aki Maru" already crippled by one of her groups.<ref name="Uboat allies"/> Two days later, ''Crevalle'' sank another freighter "Hakubasan Maru".<ref>[https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1944.htmlUS Navy Chronology 1944]</ref><ref name=DANFS/>

== Fifth war patrol, September 1944 ==
Refitted once more at Fremantle, ''Crevalle'' put to sea on her fifth war patrol 1 September 1944. Ten days later, she surfaced after a routine trim dive.  A lookout, Bill Fritchen, was first through the hatch followed closely by the Officer of the Deck, Lt. Howard James Blind.  Fifteen seconds later, the boat took a sharp down angle, and submerged with the upper and lower [[conning tower]] hatches open, washing the lookout overboard. The flow of water through the upper hatch, which was latched opened, prevented anyone in the conning tower from closing it.<ref name=DANFS/> The lower hatch to the control was blocked by a piece of floor matting.

At {{convert|150|ft|-1}} the hatch was seen to close and lock. The ship continued diving to {{convert|190|ft|-1}} at an angle that reached 42 degrees down. With communications out, an alert machinist's mate, Robert L. Yeager, saved the submarine by backing full without orders. The pump room, control room and conning tower flooded completely, and all electrical equipment was inoperative.<ref name=DANFS/> Yeager received the [[Silver Star]] for his action.<ref>{{cite web |title=Robert Lee Yeager |publisher=Military Times, Hall of Valor |year=2024 |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-307734/ |accessdate=June 6, 2025}}</ref>

Bringing the submarine under control, her men surfaced and were able to recover the lookout, but not Lt. Blind.  It was later determined that the stern planes had jammed in the full dive position causing the sudden dive.  With Fritchen having been washed off the bridge when the submarine dived, it was concluded that Blind had hung on the ship, and sacrificed his life in unlatching the upper conning tower hatch,<ref name=DANFS/> saving the submarine.  Blind posthumously received the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] for his action.<ref>{{cite web |title=Howard James Blind |publisher=Military Times, Hall of Valor |year=2024 |url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-19795/ |accessdate=June 6, 2025}}</ref>  Blind, a graduate of [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]], had married a woman in [[Australia]] only two weeks before his death. ''Crevalle'' made her way back to Fremantle 22 September.

== October 1944–February 1945==
''Crevalle'' departed Fremantle to head for [[California]]. During her voyage, the [[United States Navy Armed Guard]] detachment aboard an American [[Liberty ship]] mistook her for a Japanese submarine and opened fire on her with a {{convert|5|in|mm|sigfig=3|adj=on}} gun when ''Crevalle'' was in the [[Bass Strait]] south of [[Melbourne]], Australia. ''Crevalle'' suffered no damage or casualties..<ref>Hinman & Campbell, p. 40.</ref> In California, she underwent an overhaul [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]], followed by training at [[Pearl Harbor]].<ref name=DANFS/> In the Pacific Ocean on 15 February 1945, the American Liberty ship {{SS|Charles F. Amidon}} — which reported her position as {{coord|36|55|N|126|05|W}} — mistook ''Crevalle'' for a Japanese submarine and opened gunfire on her at a range of {{convert|2,800|yd|sigfig=3}}, firing eight rounds and claiming two hits. All rounds actually missed, and ''Crevalle'' — which reported her own position as {{coord|36|54|N|126|02|W}} — suffered no damage or casualties.<ref>Hinman & Campbell, pp. 40–41.</ref>

== Sixth and seventh war patrols, March – July 1945 ==
The submarine put to sea on her sixth war patrol from Pearl Harbor 13 March 1945 under the command of Captain Everett Hartwell Steinmetz. Cruising in the [[East China Sea]], she took up a lifeguard station during air strikes preparing for the [[Battle of Okinawa|Okinawa invasion]], then on 23 – 25 April, made a hazardous search for a minefield believed to be located near the southern entrance to the [[Tsushima Strait]]s.<ref name=DANFS/>

She returned to [[Guam]] to refit from 3 to 27 May, then sailed for her seventh war patrol in the northeast section of the [[Sea of Japan]] under the command of Captain Everett Hartwell Steinmetz. She sank a freighter a day on 9 June (''Hokuto Maru''), 10 June (''Daiki Maru''), and 11 June (''Hakuzan Maru No. 5''); 13 June (two small [[sailing vessel]]s by gunfire) and on 22 June inflicted heavy damage on the [[escort ship]] {{ship|Japanese escort ship|Kasado||2}}.<ref name="Uboat allies"/> Returning to Pearl Harbor 5 July, she got underway once more on 11 August, but received word of the end of hostilities before entering her assigned patrol area. She called at Guam and [[Saipan]] before returning to Pearl Harbor 10 September, then on 13 September, cleared for [[New York City]], arriving 5 October.<ref name=DANFS/>

The captain of these patrols, Everett Hartwell Steinmetz, received a Navy Cross for each patrol.

== Post-war service ==
After a repair period, ''Crevalle'' reported at [[Naval Submarine Base New London|New London]], her assigned home port, 27 March 1946. She cruised to the [[Panama Canal Zone|Canal Zone]] and the [[Virgin Islands]] before being placed out of commission in reserve at New London 20 July 1946.<ref name=DANFS/>

Recommissioned 6 September 1951, ''Crevalle'' took part in training, exercises, and fleet operations along the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] and in the [[Caribbean Sea|Caribbean]] until 19 August 1955, when she was again placed out of commission in reserve at New London. Again recommissioned 11 April 1957, she resumed her East Coast and Caribbean operations through 1960.<ref name=DANFS/>

''Crevalle'' was reclassified an Auxiliary Research Submarine '''AGSS-291''' in 1960. She was decommissioned, 9 March 1962. ''Crevalle'' was struck from the [[Naval Register]], 15 April 1968, and sold for [[scrap]], 17 March 1971.

All of ''Crevalle''{{'s}} war patrols, save the interrupted fifth, were designated as "successful", and the first four won her the [[Navy Unit Commendation]] for distinguished performance of duty as well as four [[battle star]]s. Her last two war patrols were recognized with one battle star awarded for the [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] operation. She is credited with having sunk a total of 51,814&nbsp;tons of shipping, and shared in the credit for an additional 8,666&nbsp;tons.<ref name=DANFS>{{DANFS|https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/crevalle.html |inline=1}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* ''War in the Boats: My World War II Submarine Battles'', by Captain William J. Ruhe, describes life in ''Crevalle''.
* ''The Rescue: A True Story of Courage and Survival in World War II,'' by Steven Trent Smith, 40 Americans trapped in the Philippines, a set secret of Japanese battle plans and the submarine that saved them.

== External links ==
* {{navsource|08/08291|Crevalle}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090428090635/http://www.usscrevalle.us/ usscrevalle.us]}}
{{Balao class submarine}}
{{October 1944 shipwrecks}}
{{February 1945 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crevalle (SS-291)}}
[[Category:Balao-class submarines]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of the United States]]
[[Category:Cold War submarines of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kittery, Maine]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in October 1944]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in February 1945]]
[[Category:Friendly fire incidents of World War II]]