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Discovery of USS Harder Submarine

Image Credit: NavSource/PRNewswire

Eighty years after being lost in combat during World War II, the final resting place of one of the Navy’s most distinguished submarines and her crew was discovered last month.

 

Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) confirmed the wreck site of the USS Harder (SS 257) at a depth of more than 3,000 feet in the South China Sea off Luzon of the Philippines. Using data collected and provided by Tim Taylor, CEO of Tiburon Subsea and the Lost 52 Project, NHHC’s Underwater Archaeology Branch confirmed the found debris as the Harder.

Harder is one of 52 U.S. submarines and 3,500 submariners lost in combat during World War II and are now deemed on “Eternal Patrol.” She was commissioned on Dec. 2, 1942, with Cmdr. Samuel D. Dealey in command; and lost at sea with 79 souls aboard on Aug. 24, 1944.

Dubbed "Hit 'Em Harder," the submarine during the war had wreaked havoc on Japanese shipping and was credited with sinking 20.5 enemy ships and damaging seven more.

“Harder was lost in the course of victory. We must not forget that victory has a price, as does freedom,” said NHHC Director and retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Samuel J. Cox in a news release. 

Honoring King Kamehameha

Earlier this month, Hawaii celebrated King Kamehameha Day, honoring the first ruler of the Hawaiian kingdom. Several of our museum exhibits highlight the USS Kamehameha, a former Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine and the only ship in the United States to be named after King Kamehameha I.

The USS Kamehameha is one of only two U.S. ships named after a monarch. Commissioned in 1965, it was later converted into an attack submarine and designated SSN-642 in 1992. Throughout its service, the submarine operated from various ports worldwide, including a significant period homeported at Pearl Harbor in the Pacific.

The USS Kamehameha was decommissioned in 2002, serving for nearly 37 years as the longest nuclear-powered submarine. Click on the interview above with submarine museum board chairman Pete Miller, who discusses the vessel’s history.

National Parks and Recreation Month

July is National Parks and Recreation Month, an opportune time to explore the history and exhibits at the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum. Whether you are a history buff, a military enthusiast, or looking for an educational outing with the family, we have something for everyone.

Honoring Our Bowfin Crew: Jerry Crane

Jerry Crane, born in New York City on September 3, 1924, served as an Electrician’s Mate on the USS Bowfin (SS-287) during its first three patrols. From a young age, Crane dreamed of becoming a submarine sailor. To pursue this goal, he trained at the Navy’s National Submarine Training School in New London, Connecticut. Following his training, he was assigned to the USS Bowfin (SS-287).

As an Electrician’s Mate, Crane was responsible for all the electrical equipment on board. While underway, he was busy in the maneuvering room as the driver, supplying power to the propellers. Click the interview above to learn more about Crane and his experiences as part of the original commissioning group.