USS S-23
USS S-23 was an S-18-class submarine, also referred to as an S-1-class or "Holland"-type, of the United States Navy, in commission from 1923 to 1945. She served during World War II, seeing duty primarily in the Aleutian Islands campaign, until 1943, when she transferred to San Diego, to provide training there.
Design
The S-18-class had a length of overall, a beam of, and a mean draft of. They displaced on the surface and submerged. All S-class submarines had a crew of 4 officers and 34 enlisted men, when first commissioned. They had a diving depth of.For surface running, the S-18-class were powered by two NELSECO diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a Ridgway Dynamo & Engine Company electric motor. They could reach on the surface and underwater.
The boats were armed with four [American 21-inch torpedo|] torpedo tubes in the bow. They carried eight reloads, for a total of twelve torpedoes. The S-18-class submarines were also armed with a single /50 caliber deck gun.
Construction
S-23s keel was laid down on 18 January 1919, by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Fore River Shipyard, in Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched on 27 October 1920, sponsored by Miss Barbara Sears, the daughter of Russell Adams Sears, the former [List of mayors of Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy, Massachusetts|mayor] of Quincy, and commissioned on 30 October 1923.Service history
1923–1941
Initially assigned to Submarine Division 11, Control Force, S-23 was based at New London, Connecticut, until 1931. During that time, she operated off the New England coast, from late spring until early winter, then moved south for winter and spring exercises. From 1925 on, her annual deployments included participation in Fleet Problems, and those maneuvers occasionally took her from the Caribbean Sea into the Pacific Ocean.In 1931, S-23 was transferred to the Pacific Fleet, and on 5 January 1931, she departed New London, for the Panama Canal, California, and the Territory of Hawaii. Enroute, she participated in Fleet Problem XII. On 25 April 1931, she arrived at her new home port, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, whence she operated, with Submarine Division 7 for the next ten years.
In June 1941, Division 7 became Division 41, and on 1 September 1941, S-23 departed the Pearl Harbor for California. An overhaul and operations off the West Coast took her into December 1941, when the United States entered World War II, with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, on 7 December.
World War II
After the Pearl Harbor attack, S-23s crew prepared for service in the Aleutian Islands. Radiant-type heaters were purchased in San Diego, California, to augment the heat provided by the galley range. Heavier and more waterproof clothing, including ski masks, were added to the regular issue provided to submarine crews. The submarine itself was fitted out for wartime service and, in January 1942, S-23 moved north to Dutch Harbor, on Amaknak Island, off Unalaska, in the Aleutian Islands.First war patrol
On the afternoon of 7 February 1942, S-23 departed Dutch Harbor, on her first war patrol. Within hours, she encountered the heavy seas and poor visibility which characterized the Aleutians. Waves broke over the bridge, battering those on duty there, and sent water cascading down the conning tower hatch. On 10 February 1942, S-23 stopped to jettison torn sections of the superstructure, a procedure she was to repeat on her subsequent patrols. On 13 February 1942, the heavy seas caused broken bones to some men on the bridge. For another three days, the submarine patrolled the great circle route from Japan, then headed home, arriving at Dutch Harbor, on 17 February 1942.February–June 1942
From Dutch Harbor, S-23 was ordered back to San Diego, for overhaul and brief sound school duty. On her arrival at San Diego, her crew requested improved electrical, heating, and communications gear, and the installation of a fathometer, radar, and keel-mounted sonar. The latter requests were to be repeated after each of her next three patrols, but became available only after her fourth patrol.Second war patrol
On 20 May, S-23 again departed for the Aleutians. Proceeding via Port Angeles, Washington, she arrived back in Alaskan waters, on 29 May 1942, and was directed to patrol to the west of Unalaska, to guard against an anticipated Japanese attack. On 2 June 1942, however, waves broke over the bridge and seriously injured two men. She headed for Dutch Harbor, to transfer the men for medical treatment. Arriving the same day, she was still in the harbor the following morning, 3 June 1942, when planes from the Japanese Navy aircraft carriers and attacked Dutch Harbor.After the first raid, S-23 cleared the harbor and within hours arrived in her assigned patrol area, where she remained until 11 June 1942. She was then ordered back to Dutch Harbor, replenished and was sent to patrol southeast of Attu, which the Japanese had occupied, along with Kiska, a few days earlier.
For the next 19 days, she hunted for Japanese logistic and warships enroute to Attu, and reconnoitered Attu's bays and harbors. She made several attempts to close targets, but fog, her slow speed, and her poor maneuverability, precluded attacks in all but one case: On 17 June 1942, she fired on a tanker, but did not score. On 2 July 1942, she headed back to Unalaska, and arrived at Dutch Harbor, early on the morning of 4 July 1942.