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USS Lagarto SS-371

The USS Lagarto was a United States Navy Balao-class submarine who was awarded one Battle Star for her World War II service. At 312 feet long, she carried a complement of 81 sailors, as well as an armament of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 5-inch/5 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. Her top speeds were 20 knots per hour when surfaced and 9 when submerged, but she could endure 75 patrol days or 48 hours (at 2 knots), to a depth of 400 feet. This was possible due to her propulsion system, which consisted of 4 x V16 diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, 4 x high-speed electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers.

An Unlucky Beginning

After Legato's keel was laid down by Wisconsin's Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company in 1944, she was launched and commissioned before the year was out. She was towed down the Mississippi in dry-dock, then embarked on her maiden voyage from New Orleans, Louisiana, in November. Her shakedown and final trials took place in waters near Panama; from there she traveled to Pearl Harbor. Arriving in Hawaii on Christmas Day, this period was marked with the sad and sudden death of one of her crew members from a heart attack. Legarto received additional modifications in her armory as well as final war preparations before setting sail for the Marianas. On February 5th, while moored in Tanapag Harbor, two of her officers were seriously injured in a car accident on Saipan. With two tragic incidents already haunting her, USS Lagarto thus began her career. She was assigned to Task Group 17.13 as part of a formed column wolf pack, and set sail for the Bonin Islands. Her mission was to destroy picket boats prior to carrier strikes by Task Force 38. It was at this time she received news of the death of Lieutenant Walter R. Shaw, one of the injured officers in the recent car accident. Her first military encounter, partnered with USS Sennet, resulted in the sinking of No.8 Kotoshiro Maru and No.3 Showa Maru, before she had to dodge explosions from an enemy land attack plane. A few days later, she damaged the 98 ton guard boat, No.3 Kanno Maru, and before the month was out, she had also sunk Japanese submarine I-371. After a March refit at Subic Bay, Lagarto found herself with an untimely incident of a malfunctioning engine just when she sighted another enemy vessel; her bad luck was continuing. But, valiantly, Lagarto voyaged next to the South China Sea to patrol the Gulf of Siam.

The Worst Possible Fate

Her watch resulted in the find of four enemy ships and a large junk. USS Legarto and USS Baya entered into intense gunfire before escaping to plan their next move. On May 3rd, Baya continued the attack on her own, having not heard back from Legarto for about eight hours, but was driven off again. It was later discovered that USS Legarto had been sunk by the minelayer Hatsutaka in 30 fathoms of water at 07°55'N, 102°00'E. Five days before the war was declared over, Lagarto was officially proclaimed overdue from patrol and presumed lost; she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on September 1, 1945. British wreck divers found her 60 years later in 225 feet of water near the Gulf of Thailand, intact and sitting upright on the ocean floor. Investigation revealed a large rupture of the port bow area, which points to a depth charge. The identity of USS Legarto was proven by the word "Manitowoc" on her propellers and in the verification of her revised armament.

There is no greater sorrow than a loss of life; when it's 81 lives of men fighting for their country, it's almost incomprehensible. The grief of the sailors' families, friends, co-workers, the Navy, the United States government, and the entire country must have been overwhelming. The fate of the Legarto was the worst imaginable. The men who gave their lives would have received the highest honor, respect and recognition for their supreme sacrifice, one that is still remembered six decades later. Any sailors who received transfers from the Legarto prior to this tragedy may have questioned their fate, and sailors on other ships knew that this catastrophe could just as easily have happened to them. Navy life was not safe. Even ships that did not incur horrendous incidents saw danger. There was even the risk of exposure to asbestos, an insulation that might have been heavily utilized as additional precaution against the threat of flames. It is now known that asbestos sealant can be damaged, and when it is, tiny fibers escape. The inhalation or swallowing of asbestos fibers could be the reason for many diseases or malignancies that some people are battling today. That is why it is very important that sailors from all submarines see their doctor at the first sign of unusual symptoms, and then call us for additional 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-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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