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USS Harder SS-257

The USS Harder (SS-257) was a United States Navy Gato-class submarine, one of the most famous of World War II; for her service, she was awarded six Battle Stars and the Presidential Unit Citation. Her crew consisted of a complement of 60 sailors, and she carried an armament of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 3-inch / 50 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. Harder was 312 feet long; she could dive to 300 feet and remain there for 48 hours at 2 knots, and endure 75 on patrol days. Her top speeds were 21 knots per hour surfaced and 9 when submerged, and she had a range of 11,000 nautical miles if surfaced at 10 knots. This was from a propulsion system that was comprised of 4 x diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, 4 x high-speed electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers.

"Hit Em Again, Harder"

After being laid down by Connecticut's Electric Boat Company in 1941, Harder waited until 1942 for her launching and commission. Her fitting out and shakedown took place in nearby Atlantic waters, and Harder's maiden voyage took her first to Pearl Harbor in late spring of 1943. Ordered on war patrol off the coast of Japan, she sank Sagara Maru within weeks. Harder was next directed to the area near Honsh?, where, in September, she sank Koyo Maru and Yoko Maru. Days later, enemy planes and escorts kept her submerged and in the midst of intense depth charge attacks for more than 48 hours. Harder successfully avoided them, and shortly after, sank Kachisan Maru, Kowa Maru, and Daishin Maru. On her way back for replenishment, she also attacked two armed trawlers in late September. The following month found USS Harder in a "wolf pack" attack group in the Mariana Islands. During this mission, she first damaged a trawler-escort with depth charges before sinking it with gunfire, and then, on November 19, sank Udo Maru and Hokko Maru, and severely damaged Nikk? Maru. She then returned to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard for overhaul. USS Harder was ready for action again in March of 1944, and set sail for the western Caroline Islands to embark on lifeguard duty for downed aviators. The most notable incident concerned a rescue of an injured pilot from a small enemy-held island near Woleai; Harder hid against a reef and sent a boat ashore through Japanese snipers and boiling shoals to save the aviator. April brought Harder even greater recognition: she sank attacking ships Ikazuchi and Matsue Maru, damaged an escort, and sent shore bombardment to Woleai. In June, while traversing the waters of Sibutu Passage, Harder sank destroyers Minatsuki and Hayanami. As she continued to patrol the northeast coast of Borneo, she rescued six British coast-watchers, and on the same day, sank destroyer Tanikaze. Another destroyer off Tawi-Tawi was also sunk before the end of this patrol of Harder's, which some have termed "the most brilliant" of the war. Harder consistently turned her defensive position into offensive opportunities, and she significantly reduced the number of Japanese destroyers, thereby scaring Admiral Soemu Toyoda. In turn, the enemy fleet changed their schedule and jeopardized their plans, which led to their defeat in the battle of the Philippine Sea. USS Harder departed from Australia for her next job in August, and headed to the South China Sea off Luzon in another wolf pack. The United States vessels downed four passenger-cargo marus, frigates Matsuwa and Hiburi, and destroyer Asakaze.

A Sorrowful Conclusion

USS Harder took up position in Dasol Bay, and on August 24, enemy ships Kaibokan CD-22 and PB-102 attacked USS Harder and sister ship USS Hake with depth charges. Hake dove and evaded them overnight, and upon surfacing, found only a half mile spread of floating marker buoys, oil, wood chips, and cork. Harder and all of her men were lost. The career of the ship with the nickname of "Hit Em Again, Harder" had been hit too hard by depth charges to survive. Her career was thus ended prematurely, but she left a legendary record of daring exploits, as well as a posthumous Medal of Honor for Commander Samuel D. Dealey.

The path of history which USS Harder encountered contradicts the image that a ship could be either lucky or unlucky; she had a record of success until finding herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her results were unquestionably impressive and her battle plans were brilliant. She had an indisputably skillful crew and was led by a "submariner's submariner." It makes the tragic end of USS Harder even more horrendous. Every sailor on every ship faced untold danger in the face of enemy attack, as well as perils from onboard accidents and mishaps. Even if they may not have incurred horrific enemy gunfire, they may have had their lives shortened in other ways, such as exposure to asbestos. The insulation could have been placed inside their ship for fire protection, but escaped its sealant and been inhaled or swallowed. That is why any former sailor should see their doctor at the first sign of unusual physical symptoms and then contact us for more information involving disease or malignancy attributable to asbestos.

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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