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USS Jack SS-259

The USS Jack was a United States Navy Gato-class submarine, which earned seven Battle Stars for her service in World War II and a Presidential Unit Citation. At 312 feet long, she carried 60 sailors and an armament of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 3-inch /50 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. Her endurance was 48 hours at 2 knots when submerged to 300 feet, and 75 patrol days; her range was 11,000 nautical miles if surfaced at 10 knots. Jack's top speeds could reach 21 knots per hour while surfaced and 9 knots underwater. This was due to her propulsion system 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.

Unstoppable

Jack's keel was laid down in February of 1942 in Connecticut; her builder was the Electric Boat Company. She was launched eight months later and commissioned in January of the following year at New London. After her trials and shakedown training off the shores of New England coast, Jack embarked on her maiden voyage in April for Pearl Harbor, and continued war patrol off Honsh?. Within three weeks, she sank passenger-cargo ships Toyo Maru and Shozan Maru. However, as she tried to score kills from other ships in the enemy convoy, she suffered the effects of an aerial torpedo, which were soon repaired. On July 4th, USS Jack downed Nikkyo Maru with an escort, which was to be her final strike that year. The fall saw her back in Hawaii due to technical problems, but she was able to set sail for the South China Sea in January, 1944. A month later, USS Jack spied several vessels in the Singapore-Japan shipping lanes, and sank four tankers: Kokuie Maru, Nanei Maru, Nichirin Maru, and Ichiyo Maru. A trip home to Fremantle, Australia, occupied her until April. On her next patrol, Jack was responsible for sinking Yoshida Maru and an enemy trawler, Daisun, as well as for damaging two other Japanese ships. She appeared to be unstoppable; weeks later she sank San Pedro Maru, and cargo ships Matsukawa Maru and Tsukushima Maru. Jack returned to Fremantle for replenishing, but stood out again in August. Ordered to patrol in the Celebes Sea, Jack sank a minesweeper and Mexico Maru before being directed to the South China Sea once more. There, USS Jack continued her run of fortune and expertise by sinking cargo ships Nichiei Maru and Yusan Maru before her patrol came to an end on Christmas Eve. A major overhaul at San Francisco followed, so she was off the battle lines until April 26, 1945. Her new role was that of lifeguard during carrier strikes and bomber missions, but that task was completed by June. Sent to the waters near Luzon and Okinawa in July, she remained in that area until the war ended on August 15, and was back in New York by October.

Desired by Greece

Jack's de-commissioning took place at New London in June of 1946, which placed her in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. USS Jack, however, still had more life to live. Eleven years later she was re-commissioned and readied for the next phase of her career, which was to take place across the ocean. The Navy transferred her to Greece's Royal Hellenic Navy on loan, effective April 21, 1958. Her new name was HHMS Amfitriti, and she performed various operations for the next nine years. Upon her transfer back to the United States in 1967, USS Jack was sunk in the Mediterranean Sea by the US 6th Fleet.

Jack certainly did her crew-and her country-proud in the execution of her assigned missions and perseverance in the face of adversity. She will be remembered in history as a ship that never lost sight of her goal, with the good fortune of finding herself near targets. Her luck in not incurring severe, irreparable damage allowed her to continue in her jobs, and she was blessed with no loss of American life. There are no recorded incidents of minor collisions or mishaps on board, which also speaks well of the crew's skill and carefulness. Some ships did not do so well, and suffered a range of situations including onboard fires. Such occurrences were often feared as much as enemy attack, due to the limited escape routes and resources. The Navy, therefore, demanded as much protection against fire as possible, in all likelihood employing the use of asbestos. This insulation was widely used in all construction in the mid-twentieth century, as it was perceived as an excellent retardant against heat, flame, and electricity. Unfortunately, although seemingly ideal for ships-being lightweight and flexible-asbestos could have escaped its sealant had that sealant become damaged from depth charge explosions or rapid dives. If tiny asbestos fibers had become airborne, anyone could have inhaled or swallowed them. Such fibers could have been retained in their bodies for decades, and only now may the results of long-term, asbestos irritation be seen, in the form of serious diseases and even malignancies. Therefore, any former crew member of the USS Jack who experiences unusual physical symptoms is advised to see a doctor immediately and then contact us for immediate information.

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 168 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 Piranha 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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