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  USS Rasher SS-269 (SSR-269, SSR-269, AGSS-269, IXSS-269)
USN
Gato Class Submarine

1,526 Tons (surfaced)
2,424 Tons (submerged)
307' x 27.3' x 19.3'
10 × 21" torpedo tubes
(6 fwd, 4 aft)
with 24 torpedoes
1 x 3" deck gun
2 × .50cal MG
2 × 30cal MG

Click For Enlargement
Click For Enlargement
USN 1944
Sub History
Built by Manitowoc Shipbuilding in Manitowic, Wisconsin. Laid down May 4, 1942 as a Gato Class Submarine. Launched December 20, 1942 sponsored by Mrs. G. C. Weaver. Commissioned June 8, 1943 in the U.S. Navy (USN) as USS Rasher (SS-269) with Commander E. S. Hutchinson in command who had been relieved from command of USS Grampus SS-207.

Wartime History
Afterwards, the submarine underwent trials in in Lake Michigan. Afterwards, decommissioned and placed on a floating dry dock and towed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and recommissioning and fitted out then departed into the Gulf of Mexico then transited the Panama Canal and underwent training exercises in Panama Bay. On August 8, 1943 departed Balboa across the Pacific arriving at Brisbane on September 11, 1943.

First War Patrol
On September 24, 1943 departed on her first war patrol operating in Makassar Strait and Celebes Sea area. On October 9, 1943 at dawn made a submerged torpedo attack and sank Kogane Maru. On October 13, 1943 spotted a convoy escorted by two destroyers off Ambon Harbor and a single F1M2 Pete seaplane and fired two salvos of three torpedoes each then crash dived, hitting Kenkoku Maru although the destroyers counterattacked, she survived without damage.

On October 31, 1943 in the afternoon while patrolling the shipping lanes off the Borneo spotted Koryo Maru with a floatplane escorting. After dark, Rasher made an attack against the tanker with explosions as it sank. On November 8, 1943 in the afternoon fired a spread of three torpedoes at Tango Maru that was hit in the stern and sunk then avoided escorts by diving deep and slipping away. Afterwards, made a midnight against another convoy in the Makassar Strait off Mangkalihat Peninsula and hit a tanker but then was driven away by escorts.

With all her torpedoes expended, she departed the patrol area and ended the patrol at Fremantle on November 24, 1943 and began a refit. With the success of the patrol, Commander Hutchinson had cleared his record for lacking aggressiveness and was promoted to command a submarine division and Willard Ross Laughon took command of Rasher.

Second War Patrol
On December 19, 1943 departed Fremantle on her second war patrol to the South China Sea.

PARTIAL HISTORY

On August 18, 1944 off Cape Bolinao on Luzon spotted a convoy bound for Manila and fires torpedoes at Taiyō hitting fuel and oil tanks causing an explosion. Rasher claims the target sinks in 26 minutes.

During World War II, USS Rasher credited with sinking 99,901 tons of enemy shipping and ranked third among U.S. Navy (USN) submarines for total tonnage sunk. Alternately, Rasher ranks second if a disputed destroyer claimed as sunk by USS Flasher SS-249 is discounted).

Postwar
On May 27, 1967 decommissioned and later was reclassified an unclassified miscellaneous submarine IXSS-269 and towed to Portland and was used as a training submarine for reservists. On December 20, 1971 struck from the Navy List and later sold for scrap.

Fate
On August 7, 1974 sold for scrap and later broken up.

Display
Parts of the conning tower are displayed at Manitwoc museum.

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Last Updated
October 20, 2022

 

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