22 January 1944 –

USS Tang (SS 306) Tang Begins her first War Patrol. Tang went on to be the most successful U.S. Navy submarine in World War Two. Under Command of Richard O’ Kane, Tang sank 33 ships totaling 116,454 tons. Tang, while concluding her Fifth War patrol, fired her last of 24 torpedoes, which broached, circled back to the left and struck Tang. Of the nine officers and men on the bridge only three survived, including O’Kane, others who escaped Tang swam through the night until picked up eight hours later, 78 others perished. O’Kane was among nine who were taken prisoner. After the war O’Kane was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

© Gregg Smith

Please share this post, especially with a Subvet in East Idaho.

Visit our Facebook page Sub vets of East Idaho