71 Men Lost

• Gar Class Submarine
• Keel laid: February 14, 1940, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT
• Launched: December 23, 1940
• Commissioned: May 23, 1941
• Displacement: 1,475 tons surfaced; 2,370 tons submerged
• Length: 307′ 2″
• Beam: 27′ 3″
• Test depth: 250′
• Complement: 5 officers, 54 enlisted
• Armament: ten 21″ torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, one 3″/50 dual purpose deck gun, two .50 cal. machine guns, two .30 cal. machine guns

In company with GRAYBACK, GRAMPUS departed Brisbane on February 11, 1943 for her sixth war patrol from which she failed to return; the manner of her loss still remains a mystery today.

Japanese seaplanes reported sinking a submarine on February 18th in GRAMPUS’ patrol area, but GRAYBACK reported seeing GRAMPUS in that same area March 4th. On March 5th two Japanese destroyers, themselves lost 2 days later, conducted an attack in Blackett Strait, where a heavy oil slick was sighted the following day, indicating that GRAMPUS may have been lost there in a night attack or gun battle against the DD’s.

When repeated attempts failed to contact GRAMPUS, the valiant submarine was reluctantly declared missing and presumed lost with all hands.

Naval Historical Center

Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Patch(es) were obtained from:
NavSource Online (Submarine Photo Archive).
Originally contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)