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USS Amberjack SS-219

The USS Amberjack, a Gato-class submarine, was named for a sport fish found in the western Atlantic ocean. Launched on March 6, 1942 and commissioned on June 19 of the same year, she was awarded three battle stars for her service during World War II, and is credited with sinking three ships during the three patrols she made between October 1942 and February 1943.

The USS Amberjack in World War II

After arriving in Pearl Harbor on August 20, 1942, the USS Amberjack began her first war patrol on September 3, with her patrol routes established around the Solomon Islands and the northeast coast of New Ireland. By September 15 she was patrolling near New Ireland, and just a few days later she fired her first torpedoes after spotting a pair of Japanese vessels. On September 19 while patrolling in Bougainville Strait, she fired at an enemy freighter, hitting with both shots, and sinking the Shirogane Maru, a passenger-cargo vessel.

Over the next ten days, the Amberjack patrolled the waters around Tau, Kilinailu, Greenhich Island, and Ocean Island, and spotted a cruiser and destroyer on September 25. However, as the destroyer charged and forced her to submerge she was unable to attack. On September 30 she spotted and missed a Japanese cruiser, but only a week later she scored a hit on an enemy cargo ship, the Senkai Maru, and quickly downed the vessel. During October she patrolled waters around Kavieng Harbor, attacking and damaging two vessels, and downed one, which was later salvaged and repaired. After two successive changes in her assigned duties she headed for Brisbane, Australia, and after docking there underwent a refit and some retraining exercises.

The USS Amberjack began her second patrol on November 21, and just six days later she was back in action, launching torpedoes against two enemy destroyers. Missing with all four torpedoes fired, she was then forced to submerge to avoid depth charges, and upon emerging several hours later found the destroyers had moved on. November 29 found her patrolling slightly east of the Treasury Islands. Over the next two weeks she spotted several enemy vessels, but scored no hits for the remainder of her patrol. On December 20, however, she herself was hit after being depthcharged by two Japanese destroyers. She sustained little damage, however, and was able to resume her patrol off the coast of New Ireland. As her patrol ended she arrived at Brisbane on January 11 and underwent a refit and short rest period before commencing her next war voyage.

The USS Amberjack's third patrol turned out to be her last. She left Brisbane on January 24, 1943, but was unexpectedly forced to return after minor leaks developed during a deep dive. After repairs were completed she departed again on January 26 to begin her third war patrol, this time in the Solomon Islands. After passing near Tetipari Island on January 29 she made for the Shortland Basin, and from there moved to patrol the western edge of Buka Passage. On February 3, around twenty miles from Buka, she sank a two-masted schooner, before moving south to patrol the eastern waters of Vella Lavella Island. On February 4, the Amberjack reported sinking an explosives-laden freighter in a night-surface attack lasting two hours. On February 8 she was ordered to move to the western waters off the coast of Ganongga Island, and from there to cover traffic routes between Rabaul, Buka, and Shortland Basin, where she was told to remain and hunt for targets for several days.

The Loss of the USS Amberjack

The USS Amberjack's final radio transmission was received on February 14, 1943, when she reported having been attacked by destroyers, but had recovered. She was given orders to hunt for further targets around Rabaul. The Amberjack neither sent nor responded to any further messages, and by March 23 she was presumed lost, after having failed to check in with routine reports.

Japanese Naval records indicate that the USS Amberjack may have been attacked, hit, and sunk by the Hiyodori, a torpedo boat. However, as another U.S. Navy vessel, the Grampus, was lost in the same area at approximately the same time, there is no conclusive proof that the Amberjack was downed by the Hiyodori.

United States Navy vessels often contained large amounts of asbestos, as the substance was once used extensively as an insulator and fire-proofing material. Many people who served onboard these vessels, or were involved in building, repairing, or outfitting them, have subsequently developed asbestos-related diseases due to asbestos exposure. If you've developed an asbestos-related disease as a result of involvement with Navy vessels, contact us for information about your legal options.

Submarines Index

USS Albacore SS 218 USS AmberJack SS 219 USS Angler SS 240 USS Apogon SS 308 USS Archer-fish SS 311 USS Argonaut-SM-1 USS Argonaut SS 475 USS Aspro SS 309 USS Atule SS 403 USS Balao SS 285 USS Bang SS 385 USS Barbel SS 316 USS Barbero SS 317 USS Barb SS 220 USS Barracuda SS 163 USS Bashaw SS 241 USS Bergall SS 320 USS Besugo SS 321 USS Billfish SS 286 USS Blackfin SS 322 USS Blackfish SS 221 USS Blenny SS 324 USS Blower SS 325 USS Blueback SS 326 USS Bluefish SS 222 USS Bluegill SS 242 USS Boarfish SS 327 USS Bonefish SS 223 USS Bonita SS 165 USS Bowfin SS 287 USS Bream SS 243 USS Brill SS 330 USS Bugara SS 331 USS Bullhead SS 332 USS Bumper SS 333 USS Burrfish SS 312 USS Cabezon SS 334 USS Carbonero SS 337 USS Hake SS 256 USS Hammerhead SS 364 USS Harder SS 257 USS Hardhead SS 365 USS Hawkbill SS 366

USS Herring SS 233 USS Hoe SS 258 USS Icefish SS 367 USS Jack SS 259 USS Jallao SS 368 USS Kete S 369 USS Kingfish SS 234 USS Kraken SS 370 USS Lagarto SS 371 USS Lizardfish SS 373 USS Loggerhead SS 374 USS Macabi SS 375 USS Mackerel-204 USS Manta SS 299 USS Mapiro SS 376 USS Marlin SS 205 USS Mingo SS 261 USS Moray SS 300 USS Muskallunge SS 262 USS Narwhal SS 263 USS Nautilus-ss-0024 USS Paddle SS 167 USS Pampanito SS 383 USS Parche SS 384 USS Pargo SS 264 USS Perch SS 176 USS Permit SS 178 USS Peto SS 265 USS Pickerel SS 177 USS Picuda SS 382 USS Pike SS 173 USS Pilotfish SS 386 USS Pintado SS 387 USS Pipefish SS 388 USS Pirahna SS 389 USS Plaice SS 390 USS Plunger SS 179 USS Pogy SS 266 USS Pollack SS 180 USS Pomfret SS 391 USS Pompano SS 181 USS Pompon SS 267 USS Porpoise SS 172

USS Puffer SS 268 USS Queenfish SS 393 USS Quillback SS 424 USS Rasher SS 269 USS Raton SS 270 USS Ray SS 271 USS Razorback SS 394 USS Redfin SS 272 USS Redfish SS 395 USS Robalo SS 273 USS Rock SS 274 USS Ronquil SS 396 USS Runner SS 275 USS Runner SS 476 USS S-1 SS 105 USS S-20 SS 125 USS S-46 SS 157 USS Sailfish SS 192 USS Salmon SS 182 USS Sand Lance SS 381 USS Sargo SS 188 USS Saury SS 189 USS Sawfish SS 276 USS Scabbardfish SS 397 USS Scamp SS 277 USS Scorpion SS 278 USS Sculpin SS 191 USS Sea Cat SS 399 USS Sea Devil SS 400 USS Sea Dog SS 401 USS Seadragon SS 194 USS Sea Fox SS 402 USS Seahorse SS 304 USS Sealion SS 195 USS Seal SS 183 USS Sea Owl SS 405 USS Sea Poacher SS 406 USS Searaven SS 196 USS Sea Robin SS 407 USS Seawolf SS 197 USS Segundo SS 398 USS Sennet SS 408

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