USS Albacore SS-218

Type:
Submarine
Class:
Gato
Builder:
Electric Boat Company
Groton, Connecticut, USA
Hull Number:
SS-218
Ordered:
July 1, 1940
Commissioned:
June 1, 1942
Keel Laid:
April 21, 1941
Decommissioned:
Launched:
February 17, 1942
Stricken:
March 30, 1945
Fate:
Departed Pearl Harbor Oct. 24, 1944 on 11th War Patrol, refueled and departed Midway
Oct. 28, 1944, missing since then.
Declared lost Dec. 21, 1944.
Post war assessment, sunk by mine Nov. 7, 1944 (mines laid by Bangkok Maru).

Location: North Pacific, off Esan Misaki (Cape Esan), Hokkaido, Japan.
(41.49N - 141.11E.)

Eighty-five men lost, no survivors.
(Roll of Honor)

As of 2014 the wreck has not been found.


Commanding Officers
From
To
Name
Notes
June 1, 1942
June 12, 1943
Lt. Commander Richard Cross Lake, U.S.N.
a
June 12, 1943
Dec. 5, 1943
Lt. Commander Oscar Emil Hagberg, U.S.N.
b
Dec. 5, 1943
Oct. 3, 1944
Lt. Commander James William Blanchard, U.S.N.
c
Oct. 3, 1944
Nov. 7, 1944
Lt. Commander Hugh Raynor Rimmer, U.S.N.
d
(a):
Also served in Wyoming BB-32. Arizona BB-39, Nautilus SS-168, S-40 SS-119 (C.O.),
S-14 SS-119 (C.O.), Proteus AS-19 (C.O.).
Awarded Silver Star and 2 Gold Stars in lieu of Silver Stars.
Retired as Captain.
Died June 21, 1953.
(b):
Also served in Lexington CV-2, Arkansas BB-35, Nitro AE-2, Bonita SS-165,
S-13 SS-118, Permit SS-178, R-10 SS-87, Barracuda SS-163 (X.O.),
S-16 SS-121 (C.O.).
Later Head Football Coach U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen (1944-45).
Served in Korean War.
Retired as Captain.
Died Aug. 2, 1992.
(c):
Also served in Concord CL-10, S-17 SS-122, S-13 SS-118, S-44 SS-158 (X.O.),
S-47 SS-158 (C.O.).
Awarded Silver Star, Gold Star (in lieu of a 2nd Silver Star), Navy Cross.
Served in Korean War.
Retired as Captain (posthumously promoted to Rear Admiral).
Died Mar. 5, 1987.

(d):
Also served in California BB-44. Rock SS-274 (X.O. for 1 war patrol),
Tautog SS-199 (X.O. for 2 war patrols).
Awarded Silver Star.
Died in Albacore SS-218.
 


War Patrols
No.
Start Date
Port
End Date
Port
Commander
1
Aug. 28, 1942
Pearl Harbor
Oct. 20, 1942
Midway
R. C. Lake
2
Nov. 11, 1942
Midway
Dec. 30, 1942
Brisbane
R. C. Lake
3
Jan. 20, 1943
Brisbane
Mar. 11, 1943
Brisbane
R. C. Lake
4
Apr. 6, 1943
Brisbane
May 26, 1943
Brisbane
R. C. Lake
5
June 16, 1943
Brisbane
July 31, 1943
Brisbane
O. E. Hagberg
6
Aug. 23, 1943
Brisbane
Sept. 26, 1943
Brisbane
O. E. Hagberg
7
Oct. 12, 1943
Brisbane
Dec. 5, 1943
Brisbane
O. E. Hagberg
8
Dec. 26, 1943
Brisbane
Feb. 22, 1944
Pearl Harbor
J. W. Blanchard
9
May 29, 1944
Pearl Harbor
July 16, 1944
Majuro
J. W. Blanchard
10
Aug. 8, 1944
Majuro
Sept. 25, 1944
Pearl Harbor
J. W. Blanchard
11
Oct. 24, 1944
Pearl Harbor
Nov. 7, 1944
Boat Lost
H. R. Rimmer


Combat Victories
Date
Name
Type
Tons
Flag
Patrol
Notes
Dec. 18, 1942
Tenryu
Light Cruiser
3,948
Japan
2
Feb. 20, 1943
Oshio
Destroyer
1,961
Japan
3
Sept. 4, 1943
Heijo Maru (1941)
Cargo
2,627
Japan
6
Nov. 25, 1943
Kenzan Maru (1919)
Cargo
4,705
Japan
7
Jan. 12, 1944
Choko Maru 2 (1927)
Passenger/Cargo
2,629
Japan
8
Jan. 14, 1944
Sazanami
Destroyer
1,750
Japan
8
June 19, 1944
Taihō
Aircraft Carrier
29,300
Japan
9
July 3, 1944
Taimei Maru (1918)
Cargo
976
Japan
9
a
Sept. 5, 1944
Shingetsu Maru (1944)
Cargo
880
Japan
10
Sept. 6, 1944
Eguchi Maru 3 (1935)
Aux. Minesweeper
198
Japan
10
Sept. 11, 1944
Sub Chaser 165
Aux. Sub Chaser
130
Japan
10
(a):
Vessel may have been salvaged, also reported sunk Oct. 24, 1944 by U.S. Aircraft.
Total
Sunk
Tons
Merchant Ships Sunk
5
11,817
 
Warships Sunk
6
37,286
 
Total Sunk
11
49,103


Awards
Presidential Unit Citation (Awarded for combined 2, 3, 8 & 9th War Patrols.)


Battle Stars
From
To
Engagement
Aug. 28, 1942
Oct. 20, 1942
Capture and defense of Guadalcanal
Dec. 17, 1942
Jan. 30, 1943
Eastern New Guinea operation: 7th Fleet supporting operations
Feb. 8, 1943
Mar. 11, 1943
Consolidation of Southern Solomons
June 20, 1943
July 31, 1943
New Georgia Group Ops.: New Georgia-Rendova-Vangunu occupation
Aug. 23, 1943
Sept. 26, 1943
6th War Patrol
Oct. 12, 1943
Dec. 5, 1943
7th War Patrol
Dec. 26, 1943
Feb. 22, 1944
Bismarck Archipelago operation: Arawe, New Britain
June 19, 1944
Marianas operation: Battle of the Philippine Sea
Aug. 31, 1944
Sept. 8, 1944
Western Caroline Islands: Raids on Volcano-Bonin Islands and Yap Isl.


Class Overview
Builder's Data / History
Page published Mar. 22, 2014