Naval History and Heritage Command
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Capelin (SS 289)
Returning from her first war patrol after only 17 days out, Capelin (Commander E.E. Marshall) came into Darwin 16 November 1943 with a defective conning tower hatch mechanism, excessively noisy bow planes, and a defective radar tube. These flaws were corrected to the satisfaction of the Commanding Officer, and the ship then departed for her second patrol on 17 November. Her area was in the Molukka and Celebes seas, and she was to pay particular attention to Kaoe Bay, Morotai Strait, Davao Gulf and trade routes in the vicinity of Siaoe, Sangi, Talaud and Sarangani Islands. She was to leave her area at dark 6 December.
Nothing has been positively heard from Capelin since she departed. However, Bonefish reported having seen a U.S. submarine at 1°-14'N, 123°-50'E on 2 December 1943. This position is in the area assigned to Capelin at this time. An attempt to reach Capelin by radio, on 9 December 1943, elicited no response.
On 23 November an American submarine was attacked off Kaoe Bay, Halmahera, 1°-34'N, 123°-07'E. However, the Japanese state that this attack was broken off, and the evidence of contact was rather thin. The only positive statement which can be made is that Capelin was lost in Celebes Sea, or in Molukka Passage or the Molukka Sea, probably in December 1943. Enemy minefields are now known to have been placed in various positions along the north coast of Celebes in Capelin's area, and she may have been lost because of a mine explosion. In her 17-day first patrol, Capelin sank two Japanese medium freighters for 7,400 tons of merchant shipping. This first patrol was conducted among the islands immediately west of New Guinea.
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| U.S.S. Capelin (SS-289) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Rate | Name | Rate | |
| Arney, Buford Y. Ball, Clarence M. Beck, Claude I., Jr. Blair, Gerald R. Bragg, Perry C. Britton, Richard L. Brown, Ellis S., Jr. Butler, Marcy H. Callahan, Foster T. Callahan, John J. Cavanaugh, Joseph P. Cheatham, Earl Clifford, Everett Colyer, Charles W. Cross, Joe L. Crowley, James D. De Freytas, Charles F. Devine, William F. Devine, William J. Dill, Paul L. Eklund, Lester T. Everhart, Charles L. Ganley, John F., Jr. Gillen, Philip J. Grabnickas, Peter Hicks, Melvin J. Holt, James W., Jr. Jacobs, Dick Keaton, Leyle O. Kennedy, D.G., Jr. Klein, Isidore I. Koziol, John W. Krall, Eugene J. Lafferty, William A. Landres, L.A. Lange, Donald W. Lester, Edwin J. Lewitt, William M. Lutley, John L. |
S2 SM2 CTM EM3 QM3 LTJG S1 CRM MoMM2 MoMM2 S1 StM1 TM2 TM1 MM1 F2 EM3 TM3 TM2 TM3 FC3 PhM1 CMoMM MoMM2 SC2 EM2 CEM F1 TM3 EM1 EM2 F3 EM1 S1 CMoMM S1 MoMM1 EM2 F2 |
Maddox, John W. Madey, Alfred Marshall, Elliot E. Mason, William B., Jr. Melvin, George R. Moeller, Otto F. Morgan, Henry F. Norris, Elmer A. Novotny, Cyril R. O'Donnell, Melvin B. Olsen, Stanley R. O'Neal, Thomas F. O'Neil, Clinton F. Perry, Finon Pettigrew, Herman E., Jr. Pilkington, William N. Powell, Richard Raminski, William E. *Rhimann, R.C. Rhodes, John E., Jr. Roberts, Claude W. Robertson, Edward D. Sharer, Walter A. Simon, Harry *Smith, D.T. Smith, Leon C. Smith, Robert L. Smolenski, Edward Snyder, Norman W. Stasik, Walter W. Stickle, Robert G. Steege, Erwin H. Terrell, Robert W. Thibeault, Jerry L. Uhlmann, Roy C. Vaughan, Charles W. Vassar, Curtis L., Jr. Wellman, Ernest E. Winkler, Herman R., Jr. |
S1 EM1 LCDR-CO LCDR S1 TM2 RM1 F1 EM1 RM2 MoMM1 TM2 LTJG StM2 MoMM1 RT2 MoMM1 MoMM2 LTJG MoMM2 MoMM1 LCDR-XO LT GM1 MoMM2 MoMM2 RM2 S1 F3 MoMM2 EM3 TM1 MoMM2 TM3 LT S1 SC1 F1 QM3 |
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Note: *Rhimann and D.T. Smith were apparently not on the boat when it was lost.
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