The USS Puffer in World War II

by McDonald, Craig R.

• ISBN13: 9780786432097
• ISBN10: 0786432098
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-01-25
• Publisher: McFarland Publishing

Summary

Submarines were responsible for about 55 percent of the tonnage of the Japanese fleets sunk during World War II. The 22 percent casualty rate of U.S. submariners was the highest of the military services. This volume traces the career of the submarine the USS Puffer from the laying of her keel and her commissioning on April 27, 1943, until her departure for the scrap yard in late 1960. Compiled from interviews with former crew members, including the author's father, Donald B. McDonald, as well as other contemporary sources, it follows the crew of the Puffer through nine war patrols. Events recollected include the First War Patrol, which resulted in a record-setting 38 hour submergence because of enemy fire; the dangerous transfer of torpedoes while surfaced in enemy waters; and the wild bombardment of Japanese shore installations with the 5-inch deck gun. There are numerous wartime photographs and appendices providing a list of awards earned by the crew and a summary of claimed successful attacks. Brief biographies of the seven commissioned officers are also included.

Author Biography

Craig R. McDonald is director of information and data services within the University Division at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Foreword	p. 1
Foreword	p. 3
Preface	p. 5
Qualifying for the Submarine Service
Boot Camp	p. 7
Specialty School	p. 11
Submarine School	p. 13
Building the Puffer and the Bonding of the Crew
Submarines in Wisconsin	p. 16
Building the Puffer	p. 18
Plank Owners	p. 22
The Bonding of the Crew	p. 29
Down the Mississippi River	p. 30
Final Training and on to Brisbane	p. 32
The Initial Officers of the Puffer
Commander Marvin J. Jensen	p. 34
Franklin G. Hess	p. 36
Lawrence G. Bernard	p. 38
Carl R. Dwyer	p. 40
William M. Pugh II	p. 41
Walter Mazzone	p. 41
Kenneth Dobson	p. 42
The Political, Physiological and Psychological
Torpedo Politics	p. 43
The Physical Environment	p. 45
Lack of Light	p. 47
Sleep Deprivation and Irregular Sleep	p. 47
Perception of Time	p. 48
Heat and Humidity	p. 48
Hypoxia and Carbon Dioxide Poisoning	p. 50
Adrenaline	p. 51
Summary	p. 52
The First War Patrol Beginnings
Repairs and Rest at Brisbane	p. 54
The First Attack	p. 56
Bad Weather and Disaster	p. 58
The Depth Charging of the Puffer
The Dangerous Escorts	p. 61
Caught at Periscope Depth	p. 64
Heat and Humidity Rise	p. 68
Sinking Deeper	p. 70
Waiting It Out	p. 72
Decision Time	p. 73
Surface! Surface!	p. 76
The Puffer's Return	p. 78
Awards	p. 80
The Second War Patrol
Distorted History	p. 81
Corrected History	p. 82
New Crew and Boat Repairs	p. 84
The New Commander	p. 86
Departure for Subic Bay	p. 87
The First Attack	p. 88
Frustration Again	p. 89
Waiting for Action	p. 90
No Christmas Presents	p. 92
Happy New Year	p. 93
Deck Gun Action	p. 95
The Third War Patrol
New Crew Members and Training	p. 98
Lombok and Makassar Straits	p. 101
Invasion Scare	p. 102
A Second Chance	p. 103
A Dangerous Destroyer	p. 110
No Contacts and Return to Fremantle	p. 112
R & R at Perth and Fremantle
Companionship and Craziness	p. 114
The Extreme	p. 116
The Tragic	p. 117
The Fourth War Patrol
New Crew Members	p. 120
Repairs and More Repairs	p. 121
Lifeguard Duty	p. 124
Tawi Tawi - Carrier Carrier	p. 130
Tanker Tanker	p. 134
Mechanical Troubles	p. 138
Resistance in the Sibutu Passage	p. 139
Friendly Natives	p. 140
Awards	p. 140
The Fifth War Patrol
New Men and New Equipment	p. 142
Return to the Makassar Strait	p. 144
Shallow Water	p. 147
Sibutu Passage	p. 149
Basilan Strait Attack	p. 153
Torpedo Transfer	p. 154
Cape Calavite Attack	p. 156
Another Assignment?	p. 161
Awards	p. 162
30 Days Leave	p. 162
The Sixth War Patrol
A New Commander and a Larger Crew	p. 166
New Weapons and Technology	p. 170
Waikiki Bound	p. 171
Okinawa	p. 177
Dive! Dive!	p. 180
Heavy Seas and Heavy Action	p. 181
A Trap	p. 186
R & R at Guam	p. 187
The Seventh War Patrol
A Full Boat and Refit	p. 189
Lifeguard Duty	p. 192
A Near Miss	p. 193
Man Overboard!	p. 196
Thirsty Lookouts	p. 197
Air Support	p. 200
Junks	p. 201
Artillery Action	p. 203
Return to Saipan	p. 203
Midway via Wake	p. 206
R & R at Midway
Arrival	p. 211
Fun and Games	p. 213
Navy Cross	p. 216
Victory in Europe Day	p. 220
Training	p. 220
Good-Bye	p. 224
The Eighth War Patrol
More Personnel Changes	p. 226
Back to Saipan	p. 229
Back to War	p. 231
Tragedy	p. 233
The South China Sea	p. 235
Java Sea and Bali	p. 237
Fremantle	p. 240
R & R in Perth	p. 241
The Ninth War Patrol
The Last Departure	p. 248
The Numbers Game	p. 251
Peace	p. 254
The Last Loss	p. 256
Back to the States
54 or Bust	p. 258
Subic Bay Wait	p. 260
Off to Pearl Harbor	p. 267
San Francisco	p. 275
Navy Day Celebration	p. 277
Home Again	p. 279
What Next?	p. 282
Postwar Service
Hawaii	p. 284
Seattle	p. 289
The End of the Puffer	p. 292
Reunions	p. 293
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations	p. 295
List of Awards	p. 301
Summary of Claimed Successful Attacks	p. 303
Postwar Puffer Service Roster	p. 306
Bibliography	p. 309
Index	p. 315
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