L’USS Harder had the reputation of being the submarine that sank the most Japanese ships during the Pacific War. It was found in the northern Philippines.
He was a true legend of the United States Navy. Thursday, May 23, the Naval History & Heritage Command (NHHC), the US Navy agency responsible for preserving America’s naval heritage, announced the discovery of the wreck of the submarine USS Harder , in the north of the Philippines. Sent to the bottom on August 24, 1944, it had the reputation of being the submersible that sank the most Japanese ships during the Pacific War. It was discovered more than 900 meters deep, “relatively” intact except for depth charge damage to the rear of her turret.
Tim Taylor/Lost 52 Project
L’USS Harderwhich sailed under the motto “Hit’em harder” (“Hit them the hardest”), was discovered by a private organization called Lost 52 Project. This structure, founded by Tim Taylor, set itself the mission of finding the 52 American submarines lost at sea during the Second World War. L’USS Harder is the thirteenth submersible discovered since 2005. A destroyer, theUSS Mannert L. Abelewas also found in 2022.
54,000 tons of enemy ships sunk
Commissioned on December 2, 1942, theUSS Harder very quickly distinguished himself by his audacity. Ordered by the order (the equivalent of frigate captain in France) Sam Dealey, it belonged to the Gato class and was equipped with 10 torpedo tubes, a 76 mm cannon and 12.7 mm machine guns. Assigned to Pearl Harbor, he damaged a first 1,200-ton Japanese tanker and then a 7,200-ton seaplane carrier in three days. During her second patrol, she torpedoed and sank a 3,000-ton cargo ship, and two days later, a 1,000-ton troop transport.
His most glorious mission will be the fifth. Between June 6 and 9, 1944, theUSS Harder sinks three Imperial Japanese Navy destroyers and damages two others. But his sixth outing will be his last. After sinking two escort ships, it did not resist the grenade attack of a third on August 24, 1944. The entire crew, made up of 79 men, disappeared. In total, theUSS Harder sank the equivalent of 54,000 tons of enemy ships in six patrols, a record for the American Navy during World War II. The submarine received six Battlestars and an Presidential unit quotefor his extraordinary heroism.
“USS Harder sank in race to victory”saluted Samuel J. Cox, NHHC director and retired rear admiral. “We must not forget that victory has a cost, just like freedom”. The NHHC also recalled that the wreck was protected by American law and placed under its jurisdiction as “burial place”.
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