Submarines at Midway
June 5 1942

Since 06-12-03

Extracted from U.S. Submarine Operations in WWII -

RADM Robert H. English had relieved RADM Thomas Withers as COMSUBPAC in May 1942 with 29 submarines assigned to his command. RADM English established three Task Groups using 25 of his submarines in scouting roles. Task Group 7.1, consisting of 12 submarines, was deployed in a opening fan originating from Midway to the northwest. Task Group 7.2, consisting of three submarines, was deployed on a scouting line to the northeast of Midway, halfway between Midway and Oahu as a precaution against a diversionary strike at Oahu. Task Group 7.3, consisting of four submarines, was deployed on a scouting line some 300 miles north of Oahu. Six other submarines, already on patrol, were tasked to intercept Japanese ships as they retreated from the battle. These Task Groups were in position as the Battle of Midway began.

For the submarines, the battle began at 0700 June 4 when CUTTLEFISH sent a contact report on a tanker bearing 260 degrees, 600 miles from Midway. Two hours later the Task Groups were provided the position, course and speed of the Japanese Occupation Force and ordered to close the enemy. Meanwhile, the PBY patrols from Midway sighted the Japanese Striking Force 150 miles northwest of Midway and reported that Japanese bombers were in the air. Nine submarines in Task Group 7.1 were ordered to head for the enemy at best speed. However, the air battle was conducted before they arrived in the area.

NAUTILUS and GROUPER were the only two submarines that made further contact with the enemy that morning. GROUPER was sighted and strafed by a Japanese plane while diving and she remained submerged for the rest of the day. NAUTILUS had submerged at 0420 and was patrolling northwest of Midway at periscope depth. About 0530 she intercepted a radio report that planes were bearing 320 about 150 miles from Midway, close to her position. At 0755 she picked up masts on the horizon and simultaneously a plane opened fire on her periscope and bombed the submarine. NAUTILUS went down to 100 feet and cleared the area. LCDR William Brockman, her skipper, ordered the ship back to periscope depth after a five minute run and quickly identified four large Japanese warships - a battleship and three cruisers. Attacked again by aircraft, Brockman went "deep" again to 90 feet and was straddled by at least 20 depth bombs, one of which resulted in a hot run of a torpedo stored in a "deck tube", provide a good sound source and wake for the Japanese. Nevertheless, Brockman was back at periscope depth in about 20 minutes, and found himself in the middle of the Japanese Striking Force. He fired two torpedoes at a battleship, but one stuck in the tube and the other was evaded while the battleship fired a broadside at the periscope.

Retribution for the attack was quick. The screening vessels were running down the torpedo wake charging in for the kill. Brockman gave the order to go deep while depth charges were launched against him. Back at periscope depth at 0846, Brockman found only a destroyer searching for him and he quickly evaded. At 0900 Brockman sighted an aircraft carrier at 16000 yards under attack during the air battle. Sighted by the destroyer, Brockman maneuvered to take on his adversary and at 2500 yards launched one torpedo. The attacker avoided the torpedo and NAUTILUS dove as six more depth charges exploded close astern. NAUTILUS returned to periscope depth at 0955 and located masts on the horizon at 1029. Alerted by a radio intercept that the carrier was under attack, Brockman headed for the nearest cloud of smoke at best speed.

At 1145, Brockman identified the nearest smoke as the carrier some eight miles distant. Disregarding a depleting battery, he increased speed to close the carrier and at 1359 was close enough to launch three torpedoes with three hits! The crew took turns looking at the damaged carrier until the escorts came storming into view. Brockman took NAUTILUS down to 300 feet and endured yet another depth charge barrage. At 1800 NAUTILUS returned to periscope depth and located only the carrier drifting, still burning. Brockman turned over the conn to the Officer of the Deck and went to get something to eat when the boat was rocked by a large explosion. It was determined that the carrier was exploding underwater. At 1941 NAUTILUS surfaced to recharge her exhausted batteries, and recover from depth bombs, broadsides, 42 depth charges, hot running torpedoes and a successful attack on the 17500 to carrier SORYU. She was the only submarine to inflict damage on the Japanese Fleet.

C. Michael Garverick
Executive Director
Naval Submarine League www.navalsubleague.com 
(703) 256-0891(V) - (703) 642-5815 (FAX)