USS Tang (SS-306)

USS Tang (SS-306), commanded by CDR R.H. Kane, USN, was launched on 17 August 1943 and lost at sea on 24 October 1944. Under the leadership of Commander Richard H. O’Kane, Tang carried out five patrols in which she destroyed enemy ships at a remarkable pace. During her second war patrol, she rescued 22 downed naval pilots off Truk Lagoon, an operation that demonstrated the value of submarine lifeguard duty. Tang was one of only two American submarines to receive the Presidential Unit Citation twice, and her skipper received the Congressional Medal of Honor. Her career ended while patrolling the Formosa Straits after she had already sunk seven enemy ships. In a nighttime surface attack on an enemy transport on 24 October 1944, Tang fired her two remaining torpedoes, but the second malfunctioned, circled back, and struck the submarine. The blast threw nine men from the topside into the sea as Tang sank. Thirteen more escaped from the forward compartment using momsen lungs and rose 180 feet to the surface. By morning, only nine survivors remained and were picked up by a Japanese escort vessel. They spent the rest of the war as prisoners and survived to recount the last fight of their 78 shipmates aboard Tang.

Pearl City, Hawaii · United States