Raton hit by two torpedoes from USS Lapon in WWII

Since 12-12-04

From: Bill Decker [bdecker@shentel.net]
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 11:16 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: Just Stories

Roy,

Thanks for the story and I do have at least two versions of that story in the Raton scrapbooks. I believe I also have it in the Raton History on our web page which Joe Sabol researched and wrote. Just think if it hadn't been dud torpedoes you wouldn't be telling this story and many of us would never have served aboard the Raton. Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: RoyHilda@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2004 1:34 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Just Stories

Bill, I'm sure you have heard about the Raton/Lapon incident, if not, here is one for your scrapbook. A copy of what I sent Kenny. Roy

Kenny, don't know if you ever heard this story about our fighting lady or not. It is true and for a long time was not known. Thought you might enjoy this true story. Roy

WWII Submarine Story

On the 27th of May, 1944, it was a clear dawn in the South China Sea in the Palawan passage. RADM J.W. (Jim) Davis was the skipper of the USS Raton (270) and received an "ultra" message for his eyes only and was to be destroyed after decoding. The message had information that a Japanese Submarine was in route from Singapore to Tokyo with an important German Scientist on board along with some secret materials. The Ratons orders were to intercept and sink. Another submarine, the USS Lapon was also in the area. Subs were assigned area's to patrol and not to overlap each other's area, unless ordered to, thus preventing any sinking of friendlies.

The Executive officer, Pete Sencenbaugh, had the bridge along with three Lookouts. The OOD, Boloslaw Krauze had just gone below to make a quick sweep of the area before we dived. When the sub dived, two of the Lookouts would man the Bow and Stern planes. At 19 minutes before dawn, two explosions occurred after two hard thunks. The Raton shuddered badly and listed a bit. Nobody seemed to have any idea as to what happened as the sub was in 1,000 fathoms of water. The Captain is called to the bridge, a 30 degree course change is made to investigate. All men on watch were told to zip their lips as to this incident. No Japanese sub was sighted or located. The Lapon had fired two torpedo's at the Raton, both hitting in the area of the Safety Tanks, several feet further aft, if they had hit the Ballast Tank, those 'fish' would have penetrated and of course the Raton would have sunk. The Lapon was ready to fire two more torpedoes, when the OOD yelled that he thought this was an American Submarine. During that time of the war, our Navy had bad exploders on some of the fish. Several times in that period, Raton would fire spreads, hear them hit the enemy ships, but no explosions. In this incident, the fish hit, bounced off then exploded. An Angel was riding with the Raton and it's men that morning along with faulty ordnance. Those Angels must have had their hands on those exploders that morning. "Steamie" Stone was skipper of the Lapon and reported that he had fired on the Japanese submarine, had hit the submerged sub, but did not sink it. Of course this was not true, as reported, the Raton was on the surface.

Upon returning to Perth/Freemantle, the Raton was put up on the Marine Railway. Two big dents were in the Safety Tank area's. The crew were instructed to say the sub had hit a mine or tree, both reported, not to have exploded. Even then, everybody was trying to cover their rear ends from any court martial or reprimands. You bet, dents that big caused by a floating palm tree!

This incident was the only time in US Naval History that an American Submarine fired on another American Submarine. Oh yes, for those of you interested, I was the Battle Lookout that morning in the South China Sea! Hope you enjoyed my story.

Roy Christensen