View source for USS S-38

{{short description|Submarine of the United States}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= USS Harris (APA-2).jpg
|Ship caption=USS ''S-38'' at [[San Diego, California|San Diego]], [[California]], in April 1943 following [[wikt:overhaul|overhaul]].
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag= {{USN flag|1944}}
|Ship name= USS ''S-38''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered= 
|Ship builder= [[Union Iron Works]]
|Ship laid down= 15 January 1919
|Ship launched= 17 June 1919
|Ship sponsor= Mrs. Grace M. Collins
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned= 11 May 1923
|Ship decommissioned= 14 December 1944
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck= 20 January 1945
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto= 
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honors=
|Ship fate= Sunk as target 20&nbsp;February&nbsp;1945
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class= [[United States S class submarine|S-class]] [[submarine]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|854|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} surfaced
*{{convert|1062|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length=*{{cvt|211|ft|abbr=on}} [[Length at the waterline|w/l]]
*{{cvt|219|ft|3|in|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|o/a]]
|Ship beam= {{cvt|20|ft|9|in|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft= {{cvt|16|ft|abbr=on}}<ref>Lenton, H.T. ''American Submarines'' (Doubleday, 1973), p.19.</ref>
|Ship propulsion=*NLSE [[Diesel engine|diesels]], {{convert|1200|hp|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="Lenton, p.19">Lenton, p.19.</ref>
*General Electric motors, {{convert|1500|hp|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="Lenton, p.19"/>
*120-cell [[Exide]] battery<ref name="Lenton, p.19"/>
*2 shafts
*168 tons oil fuel<ref name="Lenton, p.19"/> 
|Ship speed=*{{convert|14.5|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}} surfaced
*{{convert|11|kn|mph km/h}} submerged
|Ship range= 
|Ship test depth=
|Ship complement=42 officers and men
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*1 × [[4"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|4|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}]]/50 [[deck gun]]
*4 × [[American 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s
*12 torpedoes
|Ship armor=
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label= 
|partof=
|codes=
|commanders=
|operations=[[World War II]]
|victories=*''Hayo Maru'', {{GRT|5445}}, 22 December 1941
*''Meiyo Maru'', {{GRT|5628}}, 8 August 1942
|awards=3 [[battle star]]s
}}
|}
'''USS ''S-38'' (SS-143)''' was an [[United States S class submarine|''S''-class submarine]] of the [[United States Navy]].

==Construction and commissioning==
''S-38''′s [[keel]] was [[Keel-laying|laid down]] on 15 January 1919 by the [[Union Iron Works]] in [[San Francisco]], [[California]]. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 17 June 1919, sponsored by Mrs. Grace M. Collins, and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 11 May 1923.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Blair |first=Clay |date=1975 |title=Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War against Japan |location=Philadelphia |publisher=[[J. B. Lippincott & Co.|Lippincott]] |page=889 |isbn=978-0-397-01089-9}}</ref>

==Service history==
Fitted out at [[Mare Island]], ''S-38'' joined Submarine Division 17 (SubDiv 17) at [[San Pedro, California]], on 24 May and immediately began preparations for a cruise to the [[Aleutian Islands]]. On 9 June, she moved north with [[submarine tender]]s {{USS|Beaver|AS-5|2}},
{{USS|Ortolan|AM-45|2}}, and three other [[United States S class submarine|S-boat]]s. On 21 June, they reached [[Dutch Harbor]], whence the boats conducted evaluation tests and exercises for the next three and a half weeks. On 16 July, the force put into [[Anchorage, Alaska]].

On 17 July, while performing routine maintenance on ''S-38'''s motors, a crewman removed a valve cover, creating an opening to sea below the boat's waterline, flooding the motor room.<ref name=USSubCasualties1966>{{cite web |title=Submarine Casualties Booklet |publisher=U.S. Naval Submarine School |year=1966 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/8200 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911042946/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/8200 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=11 September 2009 |access-date=2009-09-08}}</ref> The submarine was alongside her tender, {{USS|Ortolan|AM-45|6}}, and no personnel were injured. She was easily raised, but the motors were crippled.{{sfn|DANFS: ''S-38''}}{{sfn|Bartholomew|Milwee|2009|p=32}} Temporary repairs took until 23 July, when the boat was taken in tow by ''Ortolan''.{{sfn|DANFS: ''S-38''}}

===Asiatic Fleet===
''S-38'' reached Mare Island on 1 August, remained there for repairs and alterations until April 1924, then returned to San Pedro, whence she conducted local exercises into the summer. In August, she prepared for duty with the [[Asiatic Fleet]], and, in mid-September she headed west across the Pacific. She stood into [[Manila Bay]] on 4 November 1924 and, for the next 17 years, operated out of [[Cavite]], with annual summer deployments to the [[China]] coast. Division operations occupied Asiatic Fleet submarines during most of the period; but, as [[Chinese Civil War|civil war]] intensified on the mainland, submarine schedules became more varied. Annual deployments and regular exercises of the boats as a division were shortened in length, while exercises and patrols of individual boats were increased in number, duration, and range. During these operations, the submarines cruised off the [[Philippines]], along the [[Indo-China]] coast, and into the [[Netherlands East Indies]].

===World War II===
In June 1940, ''S-38'' completed her last cruise to China; and, from then into the fall of 1941,<ref>Roper now ComSubDiv 42. Blair, p.83.</ref> she conducted exercises, including joint Army-Navy war games, and practice war patrols in the waters off [[Luzon]] and neighboring islands. On 8 December 1941 (7 December east of the [[International Date Line]]), the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] brought the [[United States]] into [[World War II]], and ''S-38'' departed Manila Bay on her first war patrol.

====1941====
Initially assigned to patrol in [[Verde Island Passage]], she shifted to the west coast of [[Mindoro]] on 9 December. On 11 December, ''S-38'' mistakenly torpedoed and sank [[Norway|Norwegian]] freighter ''Hydra II'' west of Mindoro's Cape Calavite.<ref name=USNChron1941>{{cite book | url = https://archive.org/details/TheOfficialChronologyOfTheUSNavyInWorldWarII | title = The official chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II | chapter = Chapter III: 1941 | chapter-url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1941.html | first = Robert | last = Cressman | location = Annapolis, Maryland | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 2000 | isbn = 978-1-55750-149-3 | oclc = 41977179 | access-date = 2007-12-15 | url-access = registration }}</ref> On 12 December, she moved into the [[Cape Calavite]] area and, on the night of 19/20 December, set a course toward the Luzon coast. The following night, she put into [[Camens Cove]]; repaired damage caused by an explosion of pressure built up in the port engine lube oil cooler; and, with dawn on 21 December, resumed her patrol.

Receiving orders to penetrate shallow, hazard-filled<ref name="Blair, p.147">Blair, p.147.</ref> [[Lingayen Gulf]] and attack hostile shipping,<ref name="Blair, p.147"/> she entered the gulf just before dawn<ref name="Blair, p.147"/> on 22 December. At 06:45, she sighted an enemy convoy of four transports,<ref name="Blair, p.147"/> escorted by two [[destroyer]]s. Waiting for the range to drop to a very short {{convert|1000|yd|m}}, at 07:10, she fired four bow tubes — all misses. As she reloaded, the enemy destroyers closed in, [[sonar|pinging]], but no [[depth charge]]s came.<ref name="Blair, p.147"/> At 07:58, she launched two torpedoes at an anchored enemy cargo ship. Less than a minute later, the {{GRT|5445}} ''Hayo Maru'' blew up. Enemy destroyers again closed the submarine, and she went "deep", to {{convert|80|ft|abbr=on}}, and lay doggo as depth charges rained, none close.<ref name="Blair, p.148">Blair, p.148.</ref> From 08:04 to 09:30, the S-boat ran silent, using evasive tactics. At 09:30, she grounded on the muddy bottom; she remained there most of the day,<ref name="Blair, p.147"/> destroyers, joined by small boats, continuing to search, without success. At 21:30, the hunted submarine began efforts to clear by backing. During the maneuvering, her port propeller was damaged; but, by 22:01, she was free and underway for the [[Hundred Islands]] area on the western side of the gulf. ''S-38'' surfaced to change the air and charge batteries, then dove at dawn, remaining on the bottom all the next day, giving her crew a rest.<ref name="Blair, p.148"/>

''S-38'' remained undetected through 23 December; on 24 December, she moved to the southern section of the gulf where she closed a formation of six large auxiliaries just prior to 11:30. At 11:52, there was a huge explosion on her port side, evidently a patrol plane's bomb.<ref name="Blair, p.147"/> She went deeper. Between 12:06 and 12:08, eight more exploded around her. At 12:09, she stopped all motors and sank to the bottom in 180&nbsp;feet of water. The depth charging continued, but the explosions were more distant. At 12:30, the submarine began to move again. At 12:45, the enemy hunters again located her and resumed depth charging. ''S-38'' again settled to the bottom. The depth charging continued until after 13:00. The search continued until after 18:00.

At 18:42, the submarine got underway, heading back to the Hundred Islands area. At 22:35, she surfaced to recharge her batteries. Five minutes later, her improperly-vented<ref name="Blair, p.148"/> after [[battery (electricity)|battery]] exploded. At 23:04, she went ahead on her starboard engine, making her way out of Lingayen Gulf.

Soon after 02:00 on 25 December, she sighted two enemy destroyers, but remained undetected. At 03:46, however, she sighted a third, which sighted her. ''S-38'' submerged. The destroyer closed the submarine's last surface position and, at 03:50, commenced depth charging. From then until after 09:00, the submarine evaded the destroyer, using her one quiet propeller. She then grounded on a steep bank at {{convert|85|ft|0}}. For the next two hours, the destroyer circled. ''S-38'' slid down to {{convert|200|ft|-1}}, used her motor to bring herself up, then repeated the maneuver. The destroyer moved off and, at 12:35, the S-boat got underway for Manila. An hour later, she grounded, but only briefly; and, at 21:45 on 26 December she entered the outer [[naval mine|minefield]] at the entrance to Manila Bay.

====1942====
Cavite had now become untenable, and ''S-38'' was ordered to [[Soerabaja]] and after repairs ''S-38'' was to operate with other Allied forces attempting to stem the Japanese thrust into the [[East Indies]]. On 14 January 1942, the submarine arrived at the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] base on the north coast of [[Java (island)|Java]]. On 15 January, the [[American-British-Dutch-Australian Command|ABDA Command]] was officially established. On 24 January, the Japanese reached [[Balikpapan]]. On 25 January, ''S-38'', hurriedly repaired, departed Soerabaja to patrol in [[Makassar Strait]] off Balikpapan.

During the next two weeks, ''S-38'' underwent two severe depth charge attacks. On 7 February, she penetrated close to Balikpapan to examine shipping in the harbor, activity along the coast road, and new defenses in the area. On 8 February, she resumed offensive operations, but poor weather hindered success. On 9 February, the Japanese moved on [[Makassar City]], and ''S-38'' was ordered to patrol off [[Cape William]] on the [[Sulawesi|Celebes]] side of the strait, where she remained until 12 February.

Then ordered back to Soerabaja the submarine arrived at her Javanese base on 16 February. Six days later, she again put to sea. Moving east, she patrolled initially off [[Meinderts Reef]], off the northeast coast of Java; then headed north to round the eastern end of [[Madoera Island]] en route to [[Bawean Island]]. On 26 February, she shelled Japanese facilities at [[Sangkapura]]; then patrolled between Bawean and the western approach to Soerabaja. On 28 February, she picked up 58<ref>lair, p.186.</ref> survivors from destroyer {{HMS|Electra|H27|6}}, sunk the day before at the [[Battle of the Java Sea]]; and, on 1 March, transferred the British sailors to a surface ship in [[Madoera Strait]]. She then resumed her hunt for Japanese shipping which had put the enemy ashore at [[Jakarta|Batavia]], [[Indramajoe]], and [[Rembang]], the latter the last large oil center in the Netherlands East Indies and only {{convert|110|mi|km|abbr=on}}<!--this is a correct conversion, don't change it--> from Soerabaja.

On the morning of 2 March, ''S-38'' fired four torpedoes at a Japanese [[light cruiser]] and two at a destroyer, believing he damaged the cruiser, perhaps sank it.<ref>Blair, p.187. Japanese records do not reveal it.</ref> In fact, the torpedoes had missed light cruiser {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Kinu||2}}. S-38 then waited on the bottom as destroyers searched for her. In mid-afternoon, she moved out of the immediate area. That evening, she unsuccessfully attacked another enemy warship and, although damaged, survived another hunt by hiding beneath a [[halocline]]. On 3 March, she was ordered to western [[Australia]].

''S-38'' transited the whirlpool and rapids area at the lower end of [[Lombok Strait]] on 5 March. On 13 March she arrived at [[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle]]; and, at the end of the month, proceeded to [[Brisbane]] to join other Asiatic Fleet S-boats in forming the nucleus of TF&nbsp;42 and to prepare for operations in the [[New Guinea]]-[[Bismarck Archipelago]]-[[Solomon Islands]] area.

During March and April, enemy air raids against [[Port Moresby]] intensified in preparation to move into [[Papua (Australian territory)|Papua]] from northeast New Guinea. On 28 April, ''S-38'' cleared [[Moreton Bay]] and headed north to patrol the Papuan coast. In mid-May, she shifted to [[Jomard Passage]], where she remained, unable to communicate with Brisbane, until the night of 18 May. She then set a course for the [[Queensland]] coast. On 20 May, she passed debris believed to be a result of the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]], and that night she successfully transmitted a message to Brisbane. On 24 May, she returned to Moreton Bay.

A month-long repair and test period followed during which cells damaged in the battery explosion on her first war patrol were finally replaced. On 24 June, she again stood down the [[Brisbane River]], cleared Moreton Bay, and entered the [[Coral Sea]] bound for the Solomons. On 29 June, she entered her assigned patrol area and headed for the passage between the [[Russell Islands]] and [[Guadalcanal]]. On 30 June, she was standing down [[Lunga Roads]], and, on 1 July, she arrived off [[Tulagi]] where she closed her first target of the patrol. Detected as she prepared to fire, she evaded a depth-charging destroyer and gradually gained sea room. The depth charging, however, aggravated problems of old age and corrosion. Depth control became difficult as leaks developed in an auxiliary tank and in the motor room bilges. The leaks in the latter worsened as she moved out of the immediate area and resulted in a stream of air bubbles which led to aerial detection two hours after she had left the destroyer behind. Thereafter, mechanical problems multiplied; and ''S-38'', unable to remain effective on her station, set a course for Brisbane, arriving on 7 July.

For the better part of the next 20 days, ''S-38'' underwent intensive, round-the-clock repairs at the [[Queensland Government Dry Dock]], and, on 28 July, she again headed out across the Coral Sea. On 4 August, she entered her assigned area, [[New Britain]]-[[New Ireland (island)|New Ireland]], and commenced patrolling along the [[Rabaul]]-New Guinea traffic lanes. By 6 August, she had moved eastward along the New Britain coast, crossed the shipping lanes at the southern entrance to [[St. George's Channel]], and closed the coast of New Ireland. On 7 August, she shifted her search for Japanese shipping further seaward and within hours sighted several targets; but distance, lack of speed and maneuverability, and mechanical breakdowns precluded successful attacks. This was later the main Japanese attack force for the [[Battle of Savo Island]]. On 8 August, however, approximately eight miles south of [[Cape St. George]], she sighted a transport escorted by a destroyer and approaching so as to pass close ahead. At 23:09, ''S-38'' rigged for depth charging and prepared to fire. At 23:24, she fired two torpedoes at the transport. Less than a minute later, both exploded on target. The {{GRT|5628}} ''Meiyo Maru'' went dead in the water. ''S-38'' commenced evasive tactics. At 23:30, the destroyer dropped its first depth charge. At 23:32, ''Meiyo Maru'' began breaking up (the second of just two ships confirmed sunk by ''S-38''<ref>Blair, p.902-5, 912-3, 932.</ref>) and, at 23:39, ''S-38'' headed south.

The sunken transport's escort continued searching but, by 01:45 on 9 August, ''S-38'' had moved out of the area and all sounds of the search had faded behind her. On the night of 9/10 August, the S-boat returned to the traffic lanes eight miles (15&nbsp;km)<!--this is a correct conversion, don't change it--> off the southwest coast of New Ireland, where she continued her hunting until 12 August. She then moved westward returning to the southeastern coast of New Britain to attempt to intercept traffic between Rabaul and New Guinea. On 15 August, she headed for Australia and reached Brisbane a week later.

Fleet submarines were now ranging the Pacific, and the S-boats were being ordered back to the United States for modernization overhauls. On 21 September, ''S-38'', carrying only four torpedoes to avoid depleting the supply at Brisbane, departed Australia for the United States. Ordered to reconnoiter several of the [[Gilbert Islands]] en route, she fueled and took on lube oil and provisions at [[Nouméa]] on 25 and 26 September, then moved toward the Gilberts. On 30 September, she altered her course and headed for [[Anuda]] in the [[Santa Cruz Islands]] where she transferred an acute [[appendicitis]] case to a Navy [[PBY Catalina]] on 1 October; then resumed her original mission. On 5 October, she was in the Gilberts and two days later was off [[Tarawa Atoll|Tarawa]] where she attempted to sink a tanker as it emerged from the lagoon. The "fish", however, exploded on the reef and ''S-38'' was forced to clear the area as the Japanese sent both aerial and surface antisubmarine forces into the action. By midnight, the submarine was patrolling the [[Makin (islands)|Makin]]-Tarawa traffic lane, and, on 10 October, she completed her reconnaissance mission at Makin and headed for [[Pearl Harbor]].

====1943–1944====
From Hawaii, ''S-38'' went to [[San Diego, California]], arriving on 6 November. Overhaul followed. Her engines, motors, and all auxiliary equipment were removed and completely overhauled; the superstructure was modified to reduce her silhouette, air conditioning and new radar, sound, and radio equipment were installed, and a four-inch (102&nbsp;mm)/fifty caliber gun replaced her three-inch. On 13 April 1943, she completed overhaul; and, on 15 April, she sailed west.

The next day, ''S-38'' began suffering mechanical breakdowns again, and, on 29 April, she arrived at Pearl Harbor. Repairs took her into June. Tests followed and, on 26 June, she again moved west to the [[Marshall Islands]] where she conducted her last war patrol which, although scoreless and plagued by mechanical failures, was successful in gaining photographs of Japanese activity on future target islands.

On 22 July, ''S-38'' set a course for the [[New Hebrides]]; and, on 27 July, she arrived at [[Espiritu Santo]] to commence antisubmarine warfare training duties. With only two interruptions, she remained in the New Hebrides-[[New Caledonia]] area on that duty into the summer of 1944. At 10:17 on 16 August 1944, a U.S. Navy [[Grumman TBF Avenger|TBM Avenger]] [[torpedo bomber]] from the [[escort carrier]] {{USS|White Plains|CVE-66}} mistook ''S-38'' for a Japanese submarine about {{convert|12|nmi}} ahead of the ''White Plains'' [[task unit]] while ''S-38'' was conducting [[antisubmarine warfare]] exercises near Espiritu Santo with two [[Douglas SBD Dauntless|SBD Dauntless]] [[dive bomber]]s and the [[yard patrol boat]] {{USS|YP-414}}.<ref name=hinmanpp218220>Hinman & Campbell, pp. 218–220.</ref> The TBM dropped two {{convert|300|lb|0|adj=on}} [[depth charge]]s as ''S-38'' [[Crash dive|crash-dived]].<ref name=hinmanpp218220/> The first depth charge detonated close aboard as ''S-38'' passed {{convert|38|ft}}, causing ''S-38'' to lose all power temporarily.<ref name=hinmanpp218220/> ''S-38'' claimed that the second exploded as she resurfaced, while the TBM pilot reported that it did not detonate.<ref name=hinmanpp218220/>

On 27 August 1944, ''S-38'' departed Espiritu Santo for [[California]]; and, on 7 September, she arrived at San Diego. The following month, she was ordered inactivated.

==Fate==
''S-38'' was decommissioned on 14 December 1944, struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 20 January 1945, and expended as a target by aerial bombing on 20 February 1945.

==Awards==
*[[File:Yangtze Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] [[Yangtze Service Medal]]
*[[File:China Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] [[China Service Medal]]
*[[File:American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] [[American Defense Service Medal]]
*{{ribbon devices|number=3|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} [[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] with three [[battle star]]s
*[[File:World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] [[World War II Victory Medal]]

==In popular culture==
The ''S-38'' is the subject of an episode of the [[Television syndication|syndicated]] [[television]] [[anthology series]], ''The Silent Service'', which aired in the United States during the [[1957–1958 United States network television schedule|1957–1958 season]].

== References ==
===Citations===
{{reflist|2}}
**{{DANFS|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/s-38.html}}
===Bibliography===
*{{cite book |last1=Bartholomew |first1=Charles A. |last2=Milwee |first2=William I. Jr. |year=2009 |title=Mud, Muscle, And Miracles—Marine Salvage in the United States Navy |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=Naval History & Heritage Command/Naval Sea Systems Command |isbn=978-0-945274-60-5 |lccn=2009014668 |url=https://archive.org/details/MudMuscleAndMiracles |url-access=registration }}
*Blair, Clay, Jr. ''Silent Victory''. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1975.
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=hkupDwAAQBAJ&dq=LApon+raton&pg=PA181 Hinman, Charles R., and Douglas E. Campbell. ''The Submarine Has No Friends: Friendly Fire Incidents Involving U.S. Submarines During World War II''. Syneca Research Group, Inc., 2019.] {{ISBN|978-0-359-76906-3}}.
*Lenton, H.T. ''American Submarines''. New York: Doubleday & Co., 1973.
* {{Cite web|ref={{sfnRef|DANFS: ''S-38''}}|title=S-38|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/s-38.html|access-date=2022-02-05|website=history.navy.mil|language=en-US}}

==External links==
*[http://www.pigboats.com/ww2/s38.html Kill record: USS ''S-38'']

{{United States S_class submarine}}
{{August 1944 shipwrecks}}
{{February 1945 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:S-38}}
[[Category:United States S-class submarines]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in San Francisco]]
[[Category:1919 ships]]
[[Category:Ships of the Aleutian Islands campaign]]
[[Category:Friendly fire incidents of World War II]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in August 1944]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in February 1945]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as targets]]