![]() ![]() She began her career as a patroller in February 1942, in the Bonin Islands. In the first nine patrols of this vessel, she is credited with 22 ships sunk, for 83,900 tons, and 9 damaged for 49,300 tons. GRAYBACK was credited with an estimated 25,000 tons sunk and 25,000 tons damaged on her final patrol. A carrier plane "gave a direct hit at the sub, which exploded and sank immediately." The attack was continued by surface craft at the point where bubbles rose, and an oil slick appeared covering an area of 100 by 250 meters. ![]() The enemy tells of finding a surfaced sub 25° 47'N, 128° 45'E. It came on 26 February 1944, and in about the expected position of GRAYBACK at that time. Japanese information made available since the cessation of hostilities records an anti-submarine attack which probably explains GRAYBACK's fate. Commander Moore had been known for his conservative estimates of damage inflicted on the enemy, and at the time of the report concerning her loss, it was recommended that GRAYBACK be credited with the claims made by him in his despatches. No answer was received, and on 30 March 1944, GRAYBACK was reported as presumed lost. On 10 March, in an effort to establish her position, GRAYBACK was requested to furnish information as to where she had found the best hunting. Had she failed to receive this message and remained her full time on station she would have reached Midway about 23 March. When this message was received, she was ordered to return to Midway, and she was expected about 7 March 1944. She had fired four torpedoes aft, and had made three hits on two enemy freighters. The following day she reported from a position about 22 miles northeast of her former position, telling of new successes. She had five torpedoes left aft and one left forward. ![]() She had sunk a TARAYASU MARU class ship on 19 February and sunk a TATSUTA MARU class on 24 February, also damaging a freighter and tanker of unknown classes during the latter attack. GRAYBACK made her first report on 24 February at 25° 14'N, 122° 58' E, stating that she had sunk or damaged 44,000 tons of shipping thus far on her patrol. On 12 February, she was sent orders to patrol the area running east and west between Luzon and Formosa from that date until sunset 20 February 1944, and then to proceed to her original area. She topped off with fuel at Midway, and departed from there on 3 February. Moore, left Pearl Harbor on 28 January 1944, to begin her tenth war patrol in the East China Sea east of the coast Of Chekiang Province, China. Submarine Losses World War II, NAVPERS 15,784, 1949 ISSUE ![]()
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