Submarine vs Train - No, Really...

Members of the submarine’s demolition squad pose with her battle flag at the conclusion of her 12th war patrol at Pearl Harbor, August 1945. During the night of July 22-23, 1945 these men went ashore at Karafuto, Japan, and planted an explosive charge that subsequently wrecked a train. They are (from left to right): Chief Gunner’s Mate Paul G. Saunders; Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Billy R. Hatfield; Signalman 2nd Class Francis N. Sevei; Ship’s Cook 1st Class Lawrence W. Newland; Torpedoman’s Mate 3rd Class Edward W. Klingesmith; Motor Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class James E. Richard; Motor Machinist’s Mate 1st Class John Markuson; and Lt. William M. Walker. This raid is represented by the train symbol in the middle bottom of the battle flag. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the UNITED STATES SHIP Barb (SS-220) for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

"For extraordinary heroism in action during the Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh War Patrols against enemy Japanese surface forces in restricted waters of the Pacific. Persistent in her search for vital targets, the USS BARB relentlessly tracked down the enemy and struck with indomitable fury despite unfavorable attack opportunity and severe countermeasures. Handled superbly, she held undeviatingly to her aggressive course and, on contacting a concentration of hostile ships in the lower reaches of a harbor, boldly penetrated the formidable screen. Riding dangerously, surfaced, in shallow water, the BARB launched her torpedoes into the enemy group to score devastating hits on the major targets, thereafter retiring at high speed on the surface in a full hour's run through uncharted, heavily mined and rock obstructed waters. Inexorable in combat, the BARB also braved the perils of a topical typhoon to rescue fourteen British and Australian prisoners of war who had survived the torpedoing and sinking of a hostile transport ship en route from Singapore to the Japanese Empire. Determined in carrying the fight to the enemy, the BARB has achieved an illustrious record of gallantry in action, reflecting the highest credit upon her valiant officers and men and upon the United States Naval Service." (Source)

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION to the UNITED STATES SHIP Barb (SS-220) for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

"For outstanding heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces during her Twelfth War Patrol in the area north of Hokkaido and east of Karafuto from June 8 to August 2, 1945. Despite severe enemy countermeasures, including six aerial bombing attacks, gunfire from hostile ships and shore batteries, and relentless depth charging, the USS BARB fearlessly attacked the enemy at every opportunity. Striking with devastating force in a series of brilliantly executed torpedo and gun assaults, she sank three Japanese ships including a frigate, and sent to the bottom or destroyed in shipyards fifty small craft totalling 11,225 tons. By skillful planning and ingenuity, she risked extremely shallow water to approach numerous enemy coastal towns and effected four highly successful rocket assaults, the first of their kind in submarine warfare, and three gun bombardments, inflicting extensive damage upon important installations. Climaxing her daring Twelfth Patrol by an audacious commando raid, she sent a party of saboteurs ashore in rubber boats to blow up an enemy rail train with one of her self-scuttling charges. This splendid record of achievement attests the BARB's readiness for combat and reflects the highest credit upon her gallant officers and men and upon the United States Naval Service." (Source)

Awards and decorations earned by the officers and men of the USS Barb (SS-220): One Medal of Honor, six awards of the Navy Cross, twenty-three Silver Stars, and 23 Bronze Stars. The final version of USS Barb's battle flag reflects those awards and the ships and shore installations attacked by USS Barb. The oddest thing though is at the bottom center of the flag - a train!

(Source)

So why does USS Barb's battle flag have a train on it? Well, because the skipper of that boat, one CDR Eugene Fluckey (whom we met yesterday) had observed Japanese troop and freight trains moving along the coast. Being a rather aggressive chap, as most successful submarine commanders were in World War II, he decided that it would be just the thing for him to lead a small party ashore and sabotage the railroad tracks.

There was no shortage of volunteers, including a Japanese POW onboard the Barb, Fluckey recalled in his book. First, they had to meet Fluckey’s criteria: The remaining seven volunteers had to be unmarried, a fair mix of regular Navy and reserve, represent all departments, and at least half were former Boy Scouts. Why Boy Scouts? As a former Scout, Fluckey knew they had been trained for medical emergencies and what to do if they got lost.

The skipper had his way with all of his criteria, with the exception of one: He wanted to lead the shore party, but was overruled by his officers who threatened to tattle to COMSUBPAC if he did not remain on the boat.* (Go, read the whole thing.)

That wasn't the only first accomplished by USS Barb on this, her Twelfth War Patrol, CDR Fluckey had had rocket launchers (!) installed so that he could also bombard Japanese coastal installations.

Upon completion of her 11th patrol, Barb was sent to the U.S. for a yard overhaul and alterations, which included the installation of 5 in rocket launchers at the Captain's request. Returning to the Pacific, she commenced her 12th and final patrol on 8 June. This patrol was conducted along the coasts of the Sea of Okhotsk. For the first time in U.S. submarine warfare, Barb successfully employed rockets, against the towns of Shari, Hokkaido; Shikuka, Kashiho; and Shiritoru on Karafuto**. She also bombarded the town of Kaihyo To with her regular armament, destroying 60 percent of the town. (Source)

USS Barb and her crew contributed substantially to Allied victory in World War II.

The submarine’s battle flag reflected Barb’s remarkable accomplishments: 12 war patrols, five in the European Theater and seven in the Pacific; six Navy Crosses, 23 Silver Stars, 23 Bronze Stars and a Medal of Honor earned by members of the crew; a Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy Unit Commendation, and eight battle stars; 34 merchant ships damaged or sunk; five Japanese warships damaged or sunk, including the 22,500-ton escort carrier Unyo; rocket and gun symbols to denote shore bombardments, and ever so improbably, a train to commemorate Barb’s final war patrol.

Yet if you asked Fluckey which of the awards and recognitions represented on Barb’s battle flag he was most proud of, he would say it was the one medal not on the flag – the Purple Heart. Despite sinking the third most tonnage during World War II – 17 enemy vessels, 96,628 tons and a 16-car train — not a single Sailor’s life was lost or wounded on USS Barb. (Source)

Patrol	Date	Name of Vessel	Type of Vessel	Tonnage	Commanding Officer
7	28-Mar-44	Fukusei Maru	Cargo	2,219	LCDR John R. Waterman
8	31-May-44	Koto Maru	Cargo	1,053	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
8	31-May-44	Madras Maru	Passenger-Cargo	3,802	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
8	11-Jun-44	Toten Maru	Cargo	3,823	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
8	11-Jun-44	Chihaya Maru	Cargo	1,161	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
8	13-Jun-44	Takashima Maru	Passenger-Cargo	5,633	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
9	31-Aug-44	Okuni Maru	Cargo	5,633	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
9	16-Sep-44	Azusa	Tanker	11,177	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
9	16-Sep-44	Unyo	Escort Aircraft Carrier	20,000	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
10	10-Nov-44	Gokoku Maru	Ex-Light Cruiser	10,438	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
10	12-Nov-44	Naruo Maru	Cargo	4,823	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
11	8-Jan-45	Shinyo Maru	Cargo	5,892	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
11	8-Jan-45	Anyo Maru	Passenger-Cargo	9,256	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
11	8-Jan-45	Sanyo Maru	Tanker	2,854	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
11	23-Jan-45	Taikyo Maru	Cargo	5,244	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
12	5-Jul-45	Sapporo Maru No 11	Cargo	2,820	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
12	18-Jul-45	Coast Def Vessel No 112	Frigate	800 (est)	CDR Eugene B. Fluckey
			17 Vessels	96,628

Warriors all!

Sources:

• USN History - Navy Live - Navy Legends
• We Are the Mighty
• National Interest
• NavSource
• History at Navy.Mil
• Hyper War
• USN History - Navy Live - Leaders of the Deep
• War Is Boring
• The Galloping Ghost of the China Coast***

* CDR Fluckey had bargained with COMSUBPAC, Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood, for a fifth war patrol in command of USS Barb. Typically submarine commanders were swapped out after four patrols because the thought was that after four, they would be either too cautious or too aggressive.
** Karafuto is the Japanese name for Sakhalin. At one time Japan claimed, and administered, the entire island, as did Russia. In the mid 19th Century the island was split with Russia running the northern half, Japan the southern. Of course, at the end of World War II the Soviets took the whole thing. What a surprise!
*** The nickname applies to CDR Fluckey and USS Barb. Two US Navy gunboats claim that nickname as well - USS Sacramento (PG-19) and USS Tulsa (PG-22).