Pa START OF REEL JOB NO.w: He OPERATOR 4. Frye lh LES ES 28 Wes Wes THIS MICROFILM IS THE PROPERTY OF | DATE %-7¢- re THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT MICROFILMED BY NPPSO-NAVAL DISTRICT WASHINGTON MICROFILM SECTIONWS 0116-97 DodlbemnW Tas tear |s DEUISSIFIED alec lee S835. Yer Ms BUS, Ssmesucs Meremin Qacaves. Wie) Hits. Cocrond.Dévicion of Maval tMetery Buipe’ istories Sectiva Novy Department, HISTORY OF USS SBALTON (ASSP 325) (EX.69 315) Japenese hopes for victory sn Morld Var IE vere bated on a epeedy congvest 1 the Tith IsLinde of the Pacific, hey then hoped to use supplies fron their feivel “empire” to fignt a long war, ending in a negotiated peuce. Aided by Ccntscl of the sen after Pearl Harter, she scou nod pussession Of these prises Sut foundste her diemny, that she could not fully utilise it. Only © snail count of the oL1 Preddetion got through to the Japaneee nook islanis, because the Untted St: tee eutmerine force, largely dsccunted in pre-war Japcese ‘thiaking, ut Japan's Leng lanes of supply, sinking her mexenint shipping foster tian she eoild usa new bettans: one the the atalvarts anong these silent grey wirriors wis the USS ceauron (69 315). For tho ix patrols wich che completed the sutmsrine was ardes tee Prosidential Unit Citation, whieh eredites ber with sinking or dan- ging more than 95,297 tone of exeay shippins, avenging the Loss cf her nane- ik ‘The SEALION was the second vessel 9 nancd foro species of Lanse, cared tule, mitives of the Pacific Oceaa. ‘the first GEALION ($8 195) wae wilt by the Blectrie Bost Co., Groton, connecticut, where the Heel wag Iaid on 20 June 1938. At the Isunciiing on 25 Nay 1939, the submarine wis christened by Mes. Claude C. Bloch, wife of Adnirel Bisch, VGN, Comsnder-in-Ciiet of the U. G. Plect. Sve vas couiscioved cn 27 Tloventer 1939, and upon eampletion of siskedomm cruise Joined the Ariutic Flset, At the time of the infenoue attack on Pearl Harbor 7 Docenber 1941 the SEALION ae undergoing overioul et the Cuvite Navy Yard, Manila. Taree Jays, Teter, on 10 Decesher 1941, the Japamees cnelaugh= etruck Mantle. ben the Grerutd alara split the quiet vith Ste Banshee wll, tho SEALION's skipper Satenant Casmatder RG. Voge, aiid a number of the erey vero cn the bridge ‘The plance draned overiend, and the Doubs cae tows. The vlseting shock Wechtoa Wirt, und Cinmander Voge ordered the bridge cleared. A fey sinutes leter the planet aide weather rua, ond tvo bones struck the SELION slnost sinultamcusly one struck the after ent of the conning-tover- The explosion vrucked the resin induction, the battery veutilation ani the after conmingetover bulkhead, End completely denolieled the michine-gun mount which had Just boon vocated Benb frageats rippec through the subsirioe's pressure hull. an instant later, the second busb eamehod through the SEALTON'e mein ballast tank and preseure hull, exploting in the manewering epace in the after cia of the engine recs, The fom flooded demeliately, and the GEELION xettlea by the etera. In the “ter torpedo-roaa and forwasd engine-roon, vater surged ia tarougs holes ripped in the bullticade, Ae vhe subecrine settled, chose of tho crov etiil 1iving eseaped through the hatches which Were tii above water. With a Liut to sta beard, the SHALTON sank by the stern ond finally cape to rest cp te bottom with doogt half of her min deck submerged. Several days later, divers cut a Bole aft of tho ccuntag tover, and entered the flooded eubsarine. 41 ator controls, reduction gears aid mein hotere were wrecked), tolally iescUilteing the ab{p. Ths bosbing vhich wrecked