View source for USS Nautilus (SS-168)

{{short description|Submarine of the United States}}
{{other ships|USS Nautilus|Ships named Nautilus}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:USS Nautilus (SS-168).jpg|300px|USS Nautilus SS-168]]
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1945}}
|Ship name=USS ''Nautilus''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates">{{cite book
  | last = Friedman
  | first = Norman
  | 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>
|Ship laid down=2 August 1927<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Ship launched=15 March 1930<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=1 July 1930<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Ship decommissioned=30 June 1945<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=25 July 1945<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship fate=Sold for scrap, 16 November 1945<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=V-5 (''Narwhal'')-class composite direct-drive [[diesel engine|diesel]] and [[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 = 266–267
  | isbn = 0-313-26202-0 }}</ref>
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|2730|long ton|t|lk=on}} surfaced, standard<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs">''U.S. Submarines Through 1945'' pp. 305–311</ref>
*3,900&nbsp;tons (4,000&nbsp;t) submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship length={{convert|349|ft|abbr=on}} (waterline), {{convert|371|ft|abbr=on}} (overall)<ref>Lenton, H. T. ''American Submarines'' (New York: Doubleday, 1973), p.33.</ref>
|Ship beam={{convert|33|ft|3+1/4|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship draft={{convert|16|ft|11+1/4|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship propulsion=*'''As Built:'''
*2 × [[Bureau of Steam Engineering|BuEng]]-built, [[MAN SE|MAN]]-designed<ref name="Blair, Clay p.57">Blair, Clay Jr. ''Silent Victory'' (New York: Bantam 1976; reprints Lippincott 1975 edition), p.57.</ref> [[direct-drive]] main [[diesel engine]]s, {{convert|2350|hp|abbr=on}} each,
*2 × BuEng MAN<ref name="Alden, p.210">Alden, p.210.</ref>
*{{convert|300|kW|abbr=on}}<ref name="Alden, John D. 1979 p.211">Alden, John D., Commander, USN (retired). ''The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy'' (Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1979), p.211.</ref> auxiliary [[diesel generator]]s,<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-p259">''U.S. Submarines Through 1945'' pp. 259</ref>
*2 × 120-cell [[Exide]] ULS37 [[battery (electricity)|batteries]],<ref name="Alden, p.211">Alden, p.211.</ref>
*2 × [[Westinghouse Electric (1886)|Westinghouse]] [[electric motor]]s, {{convert|800|hp|abbr=on}} each<ref name="Register"/><ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
*'''Re-engined 1941-42:''' 4 × [[General Motors]] [[Electro-Motive Diesel|Winton]] Model 16-278A [[V16 engine|16]]-cylinder [[Two-stroke engine|two-cycle]] [[diesel-electric]] diesel engines, {{convert|1600|hp|abbr=on}} each,<ref name="Alden, p.210"/><ref name="Friedman, p. 180">Friedman, p. 180</ref>
*2 × GM Winton 8-268A 2-cycle auxiliary diesel generators, {{convert|300|kW|abbr=on}} each,<ref name="Alden, p.210"/><ref name="Friedman, p. 180"/>
*2 × 120-cell Exide UHS39B batteries,<ref name="Alden, p.211"/>
*2 × Westinghouse electric motors, {{convert|1270|hp|abbr=on}} each,
*[[Fairbanks-Morse]] [[Reduction drive|reduction gears]],<ref name="Alden, p.211"/>
*2 × shafts
|Ship speed=*{{convert|17.4|kn|km/h}} surfaced, trial<ref name="Register"/>
*{{convert|14|kn|km/h}} surfaced, service<ref name="Register"/>
*{{convert|8|kn|km/h}} submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
*{{convert|6.5|kn|km/h}} submerged, service, 1939<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship range=*{{convert|9380|nmi|km}} at {{convert|10|kn|km/h}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
*{{convert|25000|nmi|km}} at {{convert|5.7|kn|km/h}} with fuel in main [[ballast tank]]s<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship endurance=*10&nbsp;hours at {{convert|5|kn|km/h|0}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
*(bunkerage {{convert|178460|-|182778|USgal|L}}<ref name="Alden31">Alden, p.31.</ref>
*(as transport) {{convert|147344|USgal|L|0}} diesel and {{convert|18360|USgal|L|0}} [[gasoline]]
|Ship test depth={{convert|300|ft|-1|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship complement=*(as built) 9&nbsp;officers, 10&nbsp;[[Petty Officer|petty officer]]s, 70&nbsp;enlisted<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
*(1942) 9&nbsp;officers, 88&nbsp;enlisted<ref name="Alden31"/>
*(1943) 8&nbsp;officers, 80&nbsp;enlisted<ref name="Alden31"/>
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*6 × {{convert|21|in|0|adj=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s&nbsp;(four forward, two aft; 24-26 internal [[torpedo]]es)<ref name="Alden31"/>
*(four external tubes {two each bow and stern, four torpedoes} added 1941-42; provision for 8-12 additional torpedoes externally)<ref name="Alden31"/> 2 × [[6"/53 caliber gun|{{convert|6|in|0|adj=on}}/53]]&nbsp;[[Caliber#Caliber as measurement of length|caliber]] Mark XII Mod. 2<ref name="Alden31"/> wet type<ref name="Alden31"/> deck guns<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''USS ''Nautilus'' (SF-9/SS-168)''', a {{sclass|Narwhal|submarine}} and one of the "[[V-boat]]s", was the third ship of the [[United States Navy]] to bear the name.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n2/nautilus-iii.htm |title=Nautilus |work=[[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]] |year=1970 |publisher=Naval Historical Center |access-date=2007-07-18 |archive-date=2007-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613143601/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n2/nautilus-iii.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Construction and commissioning==
''Nautilus'' was originally named and designated '''''V-6'' (SF-9)''', but was redesignated and given [[hull classification symbol]] '''SC-2''' on 11 February 1925. Her keel was laid on 10 May 1927 by the [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]] of [[Vallejo, California]]. She was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on 15 March 1930 sponsored by Miss Joan Keesling, and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 1 July 1930. It was the first of many submarines built at Mare Island CA.

==Design==
The configuration of ''V-4'', ''V-5'', and ''V-6'' resulted from an evolving strategic concept that increasingly emphasized the possibility of a naval war with Japan in the far western Pacific. This factor, and the implications of the 1922 [[Washington Naval Treaty]], suggested the need for long-range submarine "cruisers", or "strategic scouts", as well as long-range minelayers, for which long endurance, not high speed, was most important. The design was possibly influenced by the German "U-cruisers" of the [[German Type U 139 submarine|Type U-139]] and [[German Type U 151 submarine|Type U-151]] [[U-boat]] classes, although ''V-4'', ''V-5'', and ''V-6'' were all larger than these. A raised gun platform was provided around the conning tower, and deck stowage for spare torpedoes was included under the platform and in the superstructure. ''V-6'' and her [[sister ship|near-sister]]s ''V-4'' ({{USS|Argonaut|SS-166|2}}) and ''V-5'' ({{USS|Narwhal|SS-167|2}}) were initially designed with larger and more powerful [[MAN SE|MAN-designed]] diesel engines than the [[Busch-Sulzer]] engines that propelled earlier V-boats, which were failures. Unfortunately, the specially built engines failed to produce their design power, and some developed dangerous crankcase explosions. The engineering plant was replaced in 1941-42.<ref name="Alden, p.210"/>

The as-built engine specifications were two [[Bureau of Steam Engineering|BuEng]]-built, [[MAN SE|MAN]]-designed<ref name="Blair, Clay p.57"/> [[direct-drive]] 10-[[Cylinder (engine)|cylinder]] [[Four-stroke engine|4-cycle]] main [[diesel engine]]s, {{convert|2350|hp|abbr=on}} each,  with two BuEng MAN<ref name="Alden, p.210">Alden, p.210.</ref> 4-cycle 6-cylinder auxiliary diesel engines, {{convert|450|hp|abbr=on}} each, driving {{convert|300|kW|abbr=on}}<ref name="Alden, John D. 1979 p.211"/> [[electrical generator]]s.<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-p259"/> The auxiliary engines were for charging batteries or for increased surface speed via a [[diesel-electric]] system providing power to the main [[electric motor]]s.

Similar to her sister built at Portsmouth, V-6 was built to a partial welded/partial riveted construction method. Welding was used to join the vertical keel plates, and also in other non-critical areas like the superstructure, piping brackets, and support framing. The inner and outer hulls were still entirely riveted.<ref>Johnston, "No More Heads or Tails", pp. 56-57</ref>

==Inter-war period==

''V-6'' operated out of [[Naval Submarine Base New London|New London]], conducting special submergence tests, until March 1931. She was renamed ''Nautilus'' on 19 February and given [[hull classification symbol|hull number]] SS-168 on 1 July. She proceeded to [[Pearl Harbor Naval Base|Pearl Harbor]] where she became [[flagship]] of Submarine Division 12 (SubDiv&nbsp;12). Reassigned to SubDiv&nbsp;13 at [[San Diego, California]], 1935–1938, then re-homeported at Pearl Harbor, she maintained a regular schedule of training activities and fleet exercises and problems throughout the decade. In July 1941, she entered the [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]] for modernization – radio equipment, external torpedo tubes (two bow and two stern-firing in the gun deck),<ref name="Alden31"/> re-engining (with four Winton diesels),<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-p261">''U.S. Submarines Through 1945'' pp. 261</ref> and air conditioning.

==First patrol – the Battle of Midway==
She departed [[San Francisco, California]], on 21 April 1942, reaching Pearl Harbor on 28 April. On 24 May, ''Nautilus'' (commanded by Lieutenant Commander [[William H. Brockman Jr.]]) got underway for her first war patrol, to [[Midway Island]] to help repel the expected attack by the Japanese fleet.

At 07:55, 4 June, while approaching the northern boundary of her patrol area near Midway Island, she sighted masts on the horizon. Japanese planes sighted the submarine at the same time and began [[strafing]]. After diving to {{convert|100|ft}}, she continued observation. At 08:00, a formation of four enemy ships was sighted: the [[battleship]] {{ship|Japanese battleship|Kirishima||2}},<ref name="kirishimamove">{{cite web |year = 2006 | url = http://www.combinedfleet.com/Kirishima.html | title = IJN KIRISHIMA: Tabular Record of Movement | work = Senkan! | publisher = combinedfleet.com | access-date = 2007-06-06}}</ref> the [[cruiser]] {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Nagara||2}},<ref>Bicheno, Hugh. ''Midway'' (Sterling Publishing Company, 2001), p.134.</ref> and two [[destroyer]]s (misidentified, as they often were early in the war, as cruisers)<ref>Blair, Clay Jr. ''Silent Victory'' (New York: Bantam, 1996; reprints 1975 edition), p.243.</ref> in company. Within minutes the submarine was again sighted from the air and was bombed. Two of the "cruisers" closed for a kill and nine [[depth charge]]s were dropped at a distance of about {{convert|1000|yd}}.

When the attack ceased, ''Nautilus'' rose to [[periscope depth]]. Ships surrounded her. Sighting on ''Kirishima'', she fired two bow tubes; one misfired, one missed. At 08:30, a destroyer immediately headed for the boat, which dived to {{convert|150|ft}} to wait out the depth charge attack. At 08:46, periscope depth was again ordered. The cruiser and two of the destroyers were now out of range; echo ranging by the third appeared too accurate for comfort. At 09:00, the periscope was raised again and an [[aircraft carrier]] was sighted. ''Nautilus'' changed course to close for an attack. The enemy destroyer followed suit and at 09:18 attacked with six depth charges.

[[File:Diorama of USS Nautilus attacking japanese aircraft carrier.jpg|thumbnail|left|[[Diorama]] simulating [[periscope]] view from ''Nautilus'', attacking a [[Japan]]ese aircraft carrier at the [[Battle of Midway]].]]

By 09:55 echo ranging ceased and ''Nautilus'' raised her periscope. The carrier, her escorts, and the attacking destroyer had disappeared. (Unbeknownst to her skipper at the time, the counter-attacking {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Arashi||6}}, in her rush to rejoin the carrier, was tracked by {{USS|Enterprise|CV-6|2}}'s [[Carrier Air Wing Six|VB-6]], led by [[Wade McClusky]], back to the Japanese task force.) At 12:53, a damaged aircraft carrier with two escorts was sighted. The carrier was identified as {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Sōryū||2}}, but later research suggests it was probably {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Kaga||2}}. An hour later, ''Nautilus'' had moved into attack position. Between 13:59 and 14:05, after the battle was largely over, ''Nautilus'' launched four torpedoes at the carrier from less than {{convert|3000|yd}}. One failed to run, two ran erratically, and the fourth was a dud (a familiar problem for the [[Mark 14 torpedo|Mark XIV]]), impacting amidships and breaking in half.<ref>Blair, ''Silent Victory'', p.243-5.</ref> ''Nautilus'' reported flames appeared along the length of the ship as the first hit, and the skeleton crew which had been aboard (survivors of which reported no torpedo hit) began going over the side, with the air flask of the dud torpedo acting as a life preserver for Japanese sailors.

''Nautilus'' went to {{convert|300|ft}} as a prolonged depth charge attack commenced. At 16:10, the submarine rose to periscope depth. The carrier, burning along her entire length, had been abandoned. At 19:41, ''Nautilus'' resumed her patrol, having expended five torpedoes and survived 42 depth charges, but accomplished little of substance. (Not until much later was the importance of her attack on the battleship, and its connection to McClusky, recognized.)<ref name="Lord, p. 213">Lord, ''Incredible Victory'' p. 213; Parshall & Tully, ''Shattered Sword'', pp.302–303.</ref> Brockman was awarded a [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] for his actions.<ref name="Lord, p. 213"/>

[[File:Torpedoed Japanese destroyer Yamakaze sinking on 25 June 1942.jpg|left|thumb|{{ship|Japanese destroyer|Yamakaze|1936|2}} sinks after being torpedoed]]
Between 7 June and 9 June, ''Nautilus'' replenished at Midway Island and then resumed her patrol to the west. By 20 June, she was operating off [[Honshū]] at the northern end of the [[Tokyo]]-[[Marshall Islands]] supply route. On 22 June, she damaged a destroyer guarding the entrance to the [[Sagami Sea]] off [[Izu Ōshima|Ōshima]]. Three days later, she sank the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Yamakaze|1936|2}} and damaged an oil tanker. On 27 June, she sent a [[sampan]] to the bottom and on 28 June, after damaging a merchantman, underwent her severest depth charging, which forced her back to Pearl Harbor for repairs, 11 July to 7 August.

==Second patrol – the Makin Raid==
[[File:MakinRaidPeriscope.jpg|thumb|left|[[Makin Atoll]] periscopic view]]
[[File:Nautilus Makin Raid.jpg|thumbnail|left|U.S. Marines arrive at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 26 August 1942 on board the U.S. submarine Nautilus following their raid on Makin Island]]
''Nautilus'' departed [[Hawaii]]an waters for her second war patrol, a special troop transport mission of three weeks duration, 8 August. Sailing with submarine {{USS|Argonaut|SM-1|2}} and carrying the [[Marine Raiders|Second Raider Battalion]] under Lieutenant Colonel [[Evans F. Carlson]] (the [[Marine Raiders]], or "Carlson's Raiders") she arrived off [[Makin Atoll]] on 16 August to stage a [[Makin Raid|raid]] to divert Japanese attention from the [[Solomon Islands]]. Early the following morning, she sent the Raiders ashore on Butaritari Island in rubber boats rigged with outboard motors. At 07:03, she provided gunfire support against enemy positions at [[Ukiangong Point]] on [[Butaritari]] and shelled enemy ships in the lagoon, sinking two, a troop barge and a patrol boat. At 10:39, an enemy plane appeared and ''Nautilus'' dove. Two aerial attacks followed at 11:30 and at 12:55. The latter flight was made up of 12&nbsp;planes, two of which landed in the lagoon to discharge troops. About 35 of the reinforcements made it to shore to fire on the Americans.

The Marines began to withdraw at 17:00. At 19:00, they launched their boats. Many were unable to clear the breakers without the aid of their damaged outboards. Only seven boats and less than 100 men returned that night. The remainder, less nine who were later captured and executed, discovered there were no Japanese left to fight and crossed to the lagoon side, whence they headed for the submarine after nightfall on 18 August. Thinking all surviving marines were on board, ''Nautilus'' and ''Argonaut'' set course for Pearl Harbor, arriving 25 August.

==3rd–5th patrols, September 1942 – April 1943==
On her third war patrol, from 15 September to 5 November, ''Nautilus'' returned to Japanese waters to join the submarine blockade chain stretched from the [[Kurile Islands]] to the [[Nansei Shoto]]. Despite heavy seas, which precluded periscope use and torpedo firing during much of the patrol, and mechanical breakdowns, which impeded approaches to targets, she torpedoed and sank three ''maru''s (Japanese [[merchant ship]]s) and, in surface action, destroyed three sampans to add over 12,000&nbsp;tons to her score. On 12 October, however, the patrol became one of her more perilous, as she took a heavy depth charging. Two days later, her crew noticed a slight oil slick in her wake. The hindering seas now protected by breaking up the trace. By 19 October, the leak had enlarged considerably and on 20 October, the first relatively calm day since the depth charging, air leaks were discovered. ''Nautilus'' was leaving a trail for Japanese defense patrols. Moving to a quieter area, with less aerial activity, she continued her patrol until 24 October when she sank ''Kenun Maru'', then headed for home without sighting enemy planes. She reached Midway Island 31 October, performed temporary repairs, and continued on to Pearl Harbor.

During her fourth patrol, conducted in the [[Solomon Islands]] from on 13 December 1942 to on 4 February 1943, ''Nautilus'' rescued 26 adults and three children from [[Teop Harbor]] on 31 December and 1 January, then added the cargo ship ''Yosinogawa Maru'' to her kills and damaged a [[tanker (ship)|tanker]], a [[cargo ship|freighter]], and a [[destroyer]]. On 4 February, she arrived at [[Brisbane]], debarked her passengers, and sailed for Pearl Harbor. Arriving 15 April, she departed five days later heading north. On 27 April, she put into [[Dutch Harbor, Alaska]], and commenced instructing the 7th Infantry Division Provisional Scout Battalion in amphibious landings. She then embarked 109 Scouts (including [[Alaskan Native]] scouts of the [[Alaska Territorial Guard]]){{citation needed|date=October 2021}} and on 1 May, headed for [[Attu Island|Attu]]. There, on 11 May, she landed her "passengers" five hours before the [[Battle of Attu|main assault]].

==6th–8th patrols, September 1943 – April 1944==
{{see also|United States Marine Corps Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion}}

Overhaul at Mare Island occupied most of the summer and on 16 September ''Nautilus'' left Pearl Harbor to spend her sixth war patrol conducting photo-reconnaissance of the [[Gilbert Islands]], concentrating on [[Tarawa Atoll|Tarawa]], [[Kuma Island|Kuma]], [[Butaritari]], [[Abemama]], and [[Makin (islands)|Makin]], all of which had been reinforced, particularly Tarawa, since the sub's 1942 excursion into those waters. The information, including continuous panoramic pictures of the coastlines and chart corrections, which she brought back to Pearl Harbor on 17 October, proved among the most useful intelligence gathered of the area prior to the [[Battle of Tarawa|invasion of Tarawa]].

She returned to Tarawa 18 November to obtain last-minute information on weather and surf conditions, landing hazards and the results of recent bombardments. At 21:59 on 19 November, mistaking her for a Japanese submarine, the destroyer {{USS|Ringgold|DD-500}} fired at her while she was off [[Maiana]] in the Gilbert Islands at {{coord|01|05|N|173|03|E}}, hitting her at the base of her [[conning tower]] with a five-inch (127&nbsp;mm) [[Shell (projectile)|shell]] which did not explode but damaged the main induction valve. Diving as soon as the water depth permitted, ''Nautilus'' was rigged for [[Depth charge|depth charging]] and the damage control party went to work. ''Nautilus'' avoided further damage and suffered no casualties, but reached a depth of {{convert|310|ft|0}} before her crew gained control of her.<ref>Hinman & Campbell, pp. 126–129.</ref> Within two hours repairs were sufficient to allow ''Nautilus'' to continue with her primary mission: landing a 78-man scouting party, composed of 5th Amphibious Reconnaissance Company [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]] and an Australian scout, on Abemama.

At midnight 20–21 November, ''Nautilus'' lay {{convert|3000|yd}} off an island in the Abemama Atoll, Kenna to discharge her passengers. By 15:00, all were safely ashore. On the afternoon of 22 November, ''Nautilus'' provided fire support to bring the tiny (25-man) enemy garrison out of their bunkers. This proved accurate, killing 14; the remainder committed suicide. By the time the main assault force arrived on 26 November, Abemama had been secured and preparations to turn it into an air base for the [[Marshall Islands campaign]] had begun.
[[File:AmericaMaru-1943.jpg|thumb|right|250px|America Maru]]
[[File:Darter wrackage.jpg|thumb|160px|right|USS Darter Destruction on the deck after she was grounded and destroyed by shellfire on Bombay Shoal off Palawan]] For actions during this mission, Commander William D. Irvin, Nautilus Commanding Officer, was awarded the Navy Cross.

''Nautilus'' returned to Pearl Harbor on 4 December to prepare for her eighth war patrol. Conducted north of [[Palau]] and west of the [[Mariana Islands]] from 27 January. On 21 March 1944 she sank the ex-[[hospital ship]] ''[[America Maru]]'' (she had been reverted to a transport December 1943)<ref>Lotz, Dave. ''Patrol Area 14: US Navy World War II Submarine Patrols to the Mariana Islands'', Xlibris US, Bloomington, ç2018. Chapter Six-Convoys Under Attack</ref> and damaged three cargo ships. On 26 April, ''Nautilus'' sailed for [[Brisbane]], whence she departed 29 May to begin a series of special missions in support of guerrilla and reconnaissance activities in the [[Philippines]].

==9th–14th patrols, May 1944 – January 1945==
On her ninth patrol, from 29 May to 11 June, she carried ammunition, oil, and dry stores to [[Philippine resistance against Japan|Philippine guerrillas]] under Colonel R.V. Bowler on [[Mindanao]]. Between 12 June and 27 June, she transported a similar cargo to [[Negros Island]] and embarked evacuees, including one German [[POW]], for [[Darwin, Australia|Darwin]]. During her 11th patrol, from 30 June to 27 July, she landed a reconnaissance party and 12&nbsp;tons of stores on North Pandan Island, and more supplies to Colonel [[Ruperto Kangleon|Kangleon]] on [[Leyte (island)|Leyte]] and Colonel [[Salvador Abcede|Abcede]] on Mindanao. On her 12th, 13th and 14th patrols, she returned to the central Philippines, landed personnel and supplies at various points on Mindanao and [[Luzon]], and carried evacuees to [[Australia]]. On 25 September, during the first of these three patrols, she grounded on [[Iuisan Shoal]]. Forced to lighten her load, her evacuees, mail, captured documents, and cargo were sent ashore. All secret materials were burned. Her reserve fuel tanks were blown dry, variable ballast was blown overboard and six-inch (152&nbsp;mm) ammunition jettisoned. With the blowing of her main ballast tanks she was finally able to get off the reef within three and a half hours, despite the receding tide, and clear the area by dawn.

During her 13th patrol, on 31 October 1944, ''Nautilus'' finished off {{USS|Darter|SS-227|6}}, which had run aground on a reef and could not be recovered. Numerous attempts to torpedo the wreck had failed as torpedoes detonated on the reef. ''Nautilus''{{'}}s six-inch (152&nbsp;mm) guns, however, scored 55&nbsp;hits, and her report states, "It is doubtful that any equipment in ''Darter'' at 11:30 this date would be of any value to Japan – except as scrap."

''Nautilus'' completed her 14th, and last, patrol at Darwin on 30 January 1945. From Australia, she was routed on to [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], where she arrived 25 May for inactivation. Decommissioned with a bottle of champagne over the forward 6 inch (152&nbsp;mm) gun on 30 June, she was stricken from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] 25 July and sold 16 November, to the North American Smelting Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for scrapping.

==In popular culture==
Season 2, Episode 26 of the American [[television series]] ''The Silent Service'', first broadcast in 1958, dramatizes the Teop Harbor rescue of 24 December 1942.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4892864/ |title=The Nautilus and the Nuns |work=The Silent Service |year=1958}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/07/14/the-remarkable-story-of-four-stranded-nuns-a-remote-island-and-a-heroic-submarine-rescue/ |title=The remarkable story of four stranded nuns, a remote island and a heroic submarine rescue|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |year=2018}}</ref>

==Awards==
*[[File:United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|106px]] [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]], for her aggressive war patrols in enemy-controlled waters.
*[[File:American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] [[American Defense Service Medal]]
*{{ribbon devices|number=14|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} [[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] with 14 [[battle star]]s
*[[File:World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] [[World War II Victory Medal]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{refbegin}}
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/nautilus-ss-168-iii.html}}
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Campbell, John ''Naval Weapons of World War Two'' (Naval Institute Press, 1985), {{ISBN|0-87021-459-4}}
* [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_6-53_mk12.htm DiGiulian, Tony Navweaps.com 6"/53 caliber gun]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140322093118/http://www.fleetsubmarine.com/sublist.html fleetsubmarine.com]
* Friedman, Norman "US Submarines through 1945: An Illustrated Design History", Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 1995, {{ISBN|1-55750-263-3}}.
* Gardiner, Robert and Chesneau, Roger ''Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946'', Conway Maritime Press, 1980. {{ISBN|0-83170-303-2}}.
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=hkupDwAAQBAJ&dq=LApon+raton&pg=PA181 Hinman, Charles R., and Douglas E. Campbell. ''The Submarine Has No Friends: Friendly Fire Incidents Involving U.S. Submarines During World War II''. Syneca Research Group, Inc., 2019.] {{ISBN|978-0-359-76906-3}}.
* Johnston, David [https://pigboats.com/images/3/37/NO_MORE_HEADS_OR_TAILS_TSR_version.pdf "No More Heads or Tails: The Adoption of Welding in U.S. Navy Submarines"], ''The Submarine Review'', June 2020, pp.&nbsp;46–64.
* Lenton, H. T. ''American Submarines (Navies of the Second World War)'' (Doubleday, 1973), {{ISBN|0-38504-761-4}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140228055444/http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08168a.htm Navsource.org USS Nautilus (SS-168) photo page]
* [https://pigboats.com/index.php?title=168 PigBoats.COM V-6 page]
* Silverstone, Paul H. ''U.S. Warships of World War II'' (Ian Allan, 1965), {{ISBN|0-87021-773-9}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150304052224/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/issue_20/vclass.htm Whitman, Edward C.  "The Navy's Variegated V-Class: Out of One, Many?" ''Undersea Warfare'', Fall 2003, Issue 20]

{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|USS Nautilus (SS-168)}}
* {{navsource|08/08168|Nautilus}}
* [http://www.navegar-es-preciso.com/news/un-episodio-tragico-de-la-guerra-submarina-el-us-nautilus-torpedea-al-vapor-japones-america-maru-en-el-mar-de-filipinas/ El USS ''Nautilus'' torpedea al America Maru] (Spanish)
* [https://www.navyhistory.org.au/category/navy-day-by-day/1943/ Naval Historical Society of Australia]

{{V-boats}}
{{November 1943 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nautilus (Ss-168)}}
[[Category:United States Narwhal-class submarines]]
[[Category:V-boats]]
[[Category:Ships built in Vallejo, California]]
[[Category:1930 ships]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships of the Aleutian Islands campaign]]
[[Category:Ships of the Battle of Midway]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in November 1943]]
[[Category:Friendly fire incidents of World War II]]