Naval History and Heritage Command
The Navy Department Library
Argonaut (SS 166)
While operating in the area southeast of New Britain between 5°-15'S and 6°-00'S and west of 150°-50'E during her third patrol, Argonaut (Lieutenant Commander J.R. Pierce) intercepted a Japanese convoy returning to Rabaul from Lae, on 10 January 1943. A U.S. Army plane which was out of bombs saw one destroyer hit by a torpedo, saw the explosion of two other destroyers, and reported five other vessels in the group.
After a severe depth charge attack Argonaut was forced to surface and the destroyers, according to the plane's report, circled and pumped shells into her bow, which was sticking up at a considerable angle. This action took place in 5°-40'S, 152°-02'E, and further efforts to contact Argonaut by radio were fruitless. It is quite certain, then, that Argonaut met her end in this action. Japanese reports made available since the end of the war record a depth charge attack followed by artillery fire, at which time the "destroyed top of the sub floated".
Argonaut's first patrol near Midway had resulted in no damage to enemy ships, but her second was a most successful one. It was conducted following a complete modernization at Mare Island. Her mission had been to cooperate with Nautilus in transporting 252 Marine officers and men to Makin Island for a diversionary raid against enemy shore installations. In the early morning of 17 August 1942, the raiders were debarked in boats. After nearly two days ashore, the Marines returned, and the submarines transported them back to Pearl Harbor, Argonaut arriving on 26 August.
On the basis of the report given by the Army flier who witnessed the attack in which Argonaut perished, this ship was credited with having damaged one Japanese destroyer on her last patrol.
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| U.S.S. Argonaut (SS-166) | ||||
| Name | Rate | Name | Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alexander, Charles H. |
Y1 |
|
Lewis Frederick H. |
EM3 |
Note: *DeGuzman was mistakenly included on this list in the 1963 edition. He transferred off the boat no later than 4 February 1942, served on USS Dolphin, and survived the war. Ramos was likewise mistakenly included in this list. He transferred off the boat prior to its loss and subsequently served on USS Plunger, USS Dolphin, and USS Sargo, and survived the war. Widener was also mistakenly included in this list. He transferred off the boat prior to its loss and subsequently served on USS Runner and survived the war.
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