Submarine #261

Can any one Identify a WW2 Submarine, Commissioned July1943, Sank Dec. ??, 1943, Number 261? No other information is currently available, other than American on duty in Atlantic Theater? or possible the Pacific Theater, I am getting conflicting reports, I am attempting to obtain information regarding this submarine and its cargo, it was on a special mission at the time of her sinking. The DOD has refused my requests for her cargo manifest, which is very curious. If you know of this Submarine, or anything about her, I would appreciate learning it .
CSM (Ret.) Thomas "Birdy" McKee

 

SS-261 was USS Mingo, but she survived the war.

 

According to Clay Blair, Silent Victory, the only US sub lost in Dec 1943 was Capelin (SS-289), in the East Indies. She was last seen by Bonefish on Dec 2. Capelin was commissioned in June 1943. Blair does not cite anything unusual about her last patrol.

 

They likely refused your request because absolutely nothing matches up with your story.

The only submarine possibly lost during December, 1943, would be the USS Capelin(SS-289). However, she was commissioned one June 4, 1943.
Concerning her loss, the Japanese minelayer reported attacking an American submarine contact with cooperation from Japanese aircraft on November 23, 1943 - which combinedfleet.com reports as inconclusive http://www.combinedfleet.com/Wakataka_t.htm
Further on December 1, 1943, USS Bowfin(SS-287) sighted the USS Capelin & USS Bonefish(SS-223) in Makassar Strait. On December 2, 1943, USS Bonefish sighted the USS Capelin at a distance of 5 miles, at which time USS Capelin dived shortly there after. USS Bonefish the contacted her by sonar.

The findings of fact for the investigation into the loss of the Capelin lists the Bonefish's geographic position as 1°-10' N, 123°-50' E, when Commander Hogan sighted the Capelin to seaward at a range of about five miles.

http://www.subsowespac.org/world_war_ii_submarines/uss_capelin_ss_289.shtml

You can find USS Capelin's first war patrol log and transcript of the investigation into her loss here: http://issuu.com/hnsa/docs/ss-289_capelin

 

I am almost certain of the number, and I do believe that the sub was sunk, but then DOD has refused every request for information regarding her cargo. I am researching the cargo, and found through cross-references the Sub #261, the print was quite small and I had to use a magnifying glass to figure out the number.

 

I have read this when I started on this journey, and nothing of interest here, unfortunately, I believe that this is a "blind alley" so to speak. It was my only lead to find the missing cargo .

 

I thank you all for your replies to my quiry, I believe that I have been led astray. It is most unfortunate, I have spent many years searching for this cargo, and though I had a clue as to its where-abouts, another blind alley (one of many).

Maybe someday I will learn where the missing cargo went.

 

Thank You. This is the first time that I have seen this site. This should be interesting

 

While I think you have definetly been misled, your comments have peaked my curiosity. What did the alleged cargo consist of, and what 'mission' was the submarine on?

A lot of the time seemingly extravagant stories have some historical fact behind them. That being said- to my knowledge - the USN never made a habit of using submarines as cargo vessels. Right now all I can think of are several supply runs to Phillipino guerillas. Its possible that someone twisted historical facts about KM and IJN cargo subs that ran between Occupied France and Japan / Japanese occupied territories in the Indian Ocean.

 

The "cargo" was a Japenese Engima Machine. I know it sounds silly, but this particular model was captured by my Grandfather and placed on (according to his diary, submarine 261 [there were lots of smudges on the pages and the number had one as well]). A little piece of family history and a promise to a dying old man, and years of searching, it has been hit and miss...

CSM (Ret.) Thomas "Birdy" McKee

 

The Japanese Enigma machine was the "T Enigma" and they also produced their own one rotor machine that coded in katakana.
http://cryptocellar.web.cern.ch/cryptocellar/pubs/opal.pdf

I'd also like to know and here some more of this, as I am very curious.

 

Read about it at one of my favorite fun websites I drop into. The Crypto Museum.com
http://www.cryptomuseum.com/crypto/enigma/t/index.htm

A very rare 4 Rotor Enigma T is on display at Bletchely Park.
http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/content/visit/whattosee/EnigmaFriends.rhtm

Photo at: http://dikwh.wordpress.com/2012/08/20/bletchley-park-home-of-the-codebreakers/

 

Birdy, this immediately adds some credence to the story. I second what Takao said -- a picture of the page might prove to be very helpful. You obviously know your grandfather better than anyone else here, but I can't think of a reason why he would enter a 'fake' event into his diary. With this in mind, especially if he stuck by it throughout his life, there's probably some truth behind it.

A lot of the others here are better at researching naval matters than I am, but I'll try to help. This story definitely has me interested.

 

Would such a machine be considered "cargo"? Even if it was just what sort of manifest would it show up on?

 

Some records of it being brought aboard are likely to be in the sub's log, on the other hand transporting an intact enemy cypher machine is likely reason enough to order a sub to avoid engaging the enemy and this argues against USS Capelin that, according to the reports, was lost during a normal offensive patrol.

 

I would think the records would be somewhat less than clear if posted in the sub's log. Too many have access to it.

 

I would not bet on mention appearing in the ship's log, nor anywhere else. Cargo manifest? For something the size of the average suitcase? Not likely.

I'd be more interested in the capture, where? when? what circumstances?

And if anyone wanted to get this machine into the hands of someone who could conceivably do some good with it, why not put it on a plane? Sooner the better, right?

The slow, and sometimes uncertain, passage of a submarine makes no sense to me.