Using Three Subs As One Unit
The Grayback returned to Pearl Harbor and was prepared for yet another mission in the Pacific on September 12th, 1943. This was her eighth during the conflict. Commander John Anderson Moore was the new person in charge of the sub. Two weeks after it came back to Pearl Harbor, it left for Midway Atoll with the U.S.S. Shad. The two of them were also joined by the Cero. Collectively, this trio was called a “wolfpack.” The method of combining these subs as joint attack forces had been successful with German U-boats, but this was the first time the tactic was used by the U.S. Navy.
Using Three Subs As One Unit
It Was An Effective Strategy
Despite this, this new strategy turned out to be effective. The three vessels collectively sank 38,000 tons of Japanese craft and inflicted damage to 3,300 more tons. Once it used up all the torpedoes, the triad went back to Midway Atoll and arrived on November 10th, 1943. After all the success it saw, Moore became the second skipper on the Grayback to be awarded a Navy Cross. On December 2nd, 1943, the sub left Pearl Harbor for the East China Sea. This was the ninth patrol and saw the sub firing all of its torpedoes in a span of five days. It sank four Japanese vessels before it made its way back to Pearl Harbor. The exploits of Commander Moore during this tour got him yet another Navy Cross.
It Was An Effective Strategy