BATTLE OF THE SEAS: Pigboat Victory

U.S. submarines, prowling the far Pacific in ever-greater numbers, reported last week their juiciest bag: among 27 Japanese vessels sunk, seven were combat craft, and of the seven, one was a large aircraft carrier. Twice previously the undersea raiders had been credited with enemy flattops “probably sunk”; in the Battle of Midway, the Nautilus polished off the crippled Soryu. But this was the first time a sub had been credited with a certain kill, unassisted by other forces. No details were disclosed; Navy Secretary Forrestal regretted that the submarine fleet must remain the Navy’s silent service. Silent or not, it had run its toll of sinkings to 99 Jap combat ships and 835 tankers, transports and auxiliaries. The cost: 34 U.S. submarines lost from all causes. Latest victim was the Seawolf, with a brilliant record dating back to the Java campaign.