USS Capelin (SS-289) LOST BOAT - Lost between 23 November 1943 and 3 December 1943 The USS Capelin (SS-289) was lost 71 years ago today between 23 November and 3 December 1943 The USS Capelin (SS-289) was a Balao Class Submarine laid down 14 September 1942 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. Launched 20 January 1943 the Capelin was commissioned on 4 June 1943. The Capelin sailed from New London, Connecticut, on 3 September 1943, bound for Brisbane, Australia, and duty with Submarine Force, Southwest Pacific. Her first war patrol, conducted in the Molucca Sea, Flores Sea, and Banda Sea between 30 October and 15 November, found her sinking a 3127-ton Japanese cargo ship on 11 November off Ambon Island. The Capelin then returned to Darwin, Australia, with a defective conning tower hatch mechanism, excessively noisy bow planes, and a defective radar tube. These flaws were corrected, and Capelin put out on her second war patrol 17 November 1943, in the Molucca Sea and Celebes Sea, and she was to pay particular attention to Kaoe Bay, Morotai Strait, Davao Gulf, and trade routes in the vicinity of Siaoe Island, Sangi Island, Talaud Islands and Sarangani Island. The Capelin was lost with all hands (76 men) between 23 November and 3 December 1943 in the Celebes Sea due to unknown causes on her 2nd war patrol, but her exact location and cause of loss remain a mystery. She may have been lost to mines or an operational casualty. The Capelin earned one battle star for her World War II service. oneternalpatrol/uss-capelin-289.htm
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:47:17 +0000
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