On this day in in 1944, USS Salmon survived, barely.
 

This remains one of the more amazing stories of survival from the annals of the Silent Service. One of the older boats still out on patrol in 1944, the Japanese had their ASW game together finally, the chase of a high valued target, the near destruction and dramatic escape, on the surface after exchanging gunfire with an escort, killing all on her (escorts) bridge. If there is ever a sub series along the lines of Band of Brothers or the Pacific, what an episode or two this would make. First time I read it, had to read it again. Skill, bravery, and luck were involved.

See below.
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN...8/WDR58-7.html



I had a experience in TMO RSRD that came out very similar to the real life experience. When I googled trying to find a link to post (somehow lost it!) my post from 2013 came up in Google results lol. When I was reworking traffic for my TMO Update, I added the Salmon's target and her escorts to show at historic time and place as I did in RSRD. I have to encounter it but will eventually, will be interesting to see how it plays out. Remains one of the most intense depth charge attacks have had in SH 4, even all these years later.


https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...95#post2119095

This is amazing! Thank you.

Your're welcome. Really is one of the more harrowing stories and surprisingly few people know about it.

Just to clarify :arrgh!: https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN.../WDR58-VII.jpg<klik 2 enlarge

Scary stuff, can you imagine being one of the crew?

I have tried, especially when visit the actual boats, walking through, can imagine it was horrible but of course am sure it was way worse than one can imagine, one of those had to be there things. I often wonder about what we now know PTSD among WW II submariners, especially from incidents such as what SALMON endured.

Thanks for sharing this. :Kaleun_Salute:

Here's the Silent Service episode for the Salmon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVgZvsaNlQI

I went on a submarine tour (I think it was HMS Ocelot, which is a post war sub, as one of the former crew was doing the tour) and he explained the system of overhead pipes with points to charge your air supply with in the case of an emergency evacuation. This was in the torpedo room and explained how they would flood the room and open the escape hatch to get out. It sounded pretty dire.

Then he turned out the lights and it was pitch black. No light at all. Couldn't even see a hand in front of your face. Then he said 'now imagine you've been injured, with maybe a broken arm'. That was I thought that I was glad I wouldn't be doing that for real that day.

On the US subs the escape system wasn't as quick.

Thanks for sharing, never watched that one before ( I do not believe so anyways) . My favorite thing is this was made when majority of those who survived the war, were still alive, so get to see/hear some of the actual people involved. Admiral Dykers for instance, he was the first CO of USS Jack and in the book "Silent Running" by Admiral (then a young Ensign/LT jg) he described Dykers and after seeing him on the show, he was spot on.

Oh man, the lights out, really gives one some perspective.

"She'll be comin' round the mountain ... "

Great watch. Thank you.