Grenadier

August 13, 1999
WW II submarine veteran visits USS Honolulu
By ET1 (SS) T.L. Wilson USS Honolulu
Copied from http://www.hnn.navy.mil/archives/990813/Honolulu.htm

Recently, USS HONOLULU (SSN 718) hosted retired Lt. Tim McCoy, a World War II submarine veteran from Austin, Tx.

Following warm greetings and a short briefing topside by the Honolulu’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. John Richardson, and the Chief of the Boat, Master Chief Machinist’s Mate (SS) Bill Cramer, the distinguished guest was escorted below for a tour that included crew-member duties at each operational and tactical station.

The torpedo room and control room, where the ship’s combat and information management systems come together, were the focus of the tour. McCoy commented that not much had changed since his days as a submarine Sailor.

The highlight of the day happened when McCoy took the floor in the crew’s mess to share his most memorable moments as a submariner aboard his submarine, USS GRENADIER (SS-210), with Honolulu’s crew.

Enroute to her final war patrol, USS GRENADIER sank a small freighter off the island of Phuket, Thailand, McCoy recalled.

She [GRENADIER] remained in the area. Late in the night of 20 April 1943, she sighted two merchant ships and closed in for the attack.

Running on the surface at dawn the next day, GRENADIER spotted a Japanese plane. As the sub crash-dived, the skipper, Cmdr. John A. Fitzgerald commented, We ought to be safe now, as we are between 120 and 130 feet.

Just then, bombs rocked GRENADIER and heeled her over 15 to 20 degrees. Power and lights failed completely and the wounded ship settled to the bottom at 267 feet. The crew tried to make repairs while a fierce fire blazed in the maneuvering room and flooding waters entered the ship. After a little more than 13 hours sweating it out on the bottom isolating the damage, GRENADIER managed to surface after dark to clear the boat of smoke and inspect damage.

Her propulsion system was irreparable. Attempting to bring his boat close to shore so that the crew could scuttle her and escape into the jungle, Cmdr. Fitzgerald even tried to jury-rig a sail.

As dawn broke, the weary crew sighted two enemy ships heading for them. The skipper did not think it would be prudent to dive the ship in 280 feet of water without power, so he gave the order to prepare to scuttle the ship. Enemy aircraft continued to attack our wounded submarine.

Although the GRENADIER was dead in the water and appeared to be helpless, we countered with her machine guns and hit the plane on its second pass, causing the plane to veer off target. Its torpedo landed about 200 yards from the boat and exploded.

Opening all vents, the crew abandoned ship and watched her sink to her final resting place. A merchant ship picked up eight officers and 68 enlisted men and took us to Penang, Malay States, before being sent to other prison camps.

We were then separated and transferred from camp to camp along the Malay Peninsula and finally to Japan. Throughout the war, the crew suffered brutal, cruel treatment.

Our refusal to give military information frustrated and angered our captors. Despite the brutal treatment, all but four of GRENADIER’s crew survived the two years in the prisoner of war camps.

After his speech, recalling the courage and heroism displayed by GRENADIER’s crew, Fire Control Technician 3rd Class Patrick A. Savea had the honor of having his Submariner’s Dolphins pinned on by McCoy, signifying Savea’s completion of all requirements for qualifications in submarines.

For Honolulu’s crew, McCoy’s visit and vivid personal account of his service and sacrifice made the submarine tradition come alive for a day that will be long remembered.