Island Bay war memorial

Island Bay war memorial in c1986.

These additional images show the memorial in 2007, at which time the US Navy Submarines plaque was badly corroded. The last image shows this plaque in its restored condition. (See discussion about this below).

Credit

Top image: Jock Phillips and Chris Maclean, c 1986

Other images: Jamie Mackay, 2007 and US Embassy, 2012

Find out more about the people listed on this memorial from Auckland Museum's Cenotaph database

How to cite this page

Island Bay war memorial, URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/memorial/island-bay-war-memorial, (Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 29-May-2024

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Community contributions

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David Ryrie Posted: 4 Jul 2008

We have published an article on this memorial in our 2005 magazine. We could send a copy o the article. We may have further information.
You do not show photos of the American plaques.
How would our Society get included on the same page in this website as the Karori Historical Society?

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admin Posted: 4 Jul 2008

Hi David
If you could send us an electronic copy of the article I'd be happy to add it to this page.

I think I do have an image of the American plaque, but it isn't very clear - it would be great to add a good quality one.

Just send an email to [email protected] if you would like to contribute information or images.

Happy to add the web address of your society to our local history links page too.

Regards
Jamie Mackay
Web Editor
www.nzhistory.net.nz

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Dave Wilson Posted: 15 Sep 2008

I too have been concerned for quite a few years about the American Submarine Memorial Plaque on the Island Bay Bandstand and I recently wrote to the American Embassy to see if they would be able to find a more suitable site for it. I received a very nice reply from them promising to look into the possibility, but so far have received no further information.

I do feel that they deserve more recognition for their contribution and sacrifice in the Pacific theatre of World War 2. To be hidden away in obscurity is just not good enough.

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admin Posted: 15 Sep 2008

I've found my image of the submariner's plaque now and have added it to the page.

Jamie

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Dave Wilson Posted: 10 Oct 2008

Submarine Lost Through Enemy Action

Date of Loss Casualties
Shark (SS-174) 11 Feb 42 58 killed
Sunk by Japanese destroyer Yamakaze; Makassar Strait, 120
miles east of Menado, Celebes.

Perch (SS-176) 3 Mar 42 59 POWs, 6 later died
Scuttled after severe damage from Japanese destroyers Ushio
and Sazanami.

Grunion (SS-216) 31 Jul 42 70 killed
Sunk by gunfire from torpedoed Japanese transport Kashima Maru;
10 miles north Segula, near Kiska Island, Aleutians.

Argonaut (APS-1) 10 Jan 43 105 killed
Sunk by aircraft (582d Kokutai) and Japanese destroyers Isokaze
and Maikaze southeast of New Britain in Solomon Sea.

Amberjack (SS-219) 14 Feb 43 74 killed
Probably sunk by combined efforts of a Japanese seaplane
(958th Kokutai), torpedo boat Hiyodori, and submarine chaser Ch 18
off Cape St. George, New Britain.

Grampus (SS-207) Feb or Mar 43 71 killed
Sunk either by Japanese naval aircraft (958th Kokutai) southeast
of New Britain on 19 February or by destroyer Minegumo in Blackett
Strait on the night of 5-6 March.

Triton (SS-201) 15 Mar 43 74 killed
Sunk either by Japanese destroyer Satsuki or submarine chaser Ch 24
north of Admiralty Islands.

Pickerel (SS-177) 3 Apr 43 74 killed
Sunk by Japanese minelayer Shirakami and auxiliary subchaser
Bunzan Maru off northern Honshu, Japan.

Grenadier (SS-210) 22 Apr 43 76 POWs, 4 later died
Scuttled after Japanese seaplane attacks (936 Kokutai) damaged
the boat the previous day, off Penang, Malaysia.

Runner (SS-275) Jun 43 78 killed
Unknown, possibly a Japanese mine or combined air and surface
attack off northeastern Honshu, Japan.

Pompano (SS-181) Aug or Sep 43 76 killed
Unknown, possibly a Japanese mine or combined air and surface
attack off northeastern Honshu, Japan.

Grayling (SS-209) 9 Sep 43 76 killed
Probably rammed and sunk by Japanese transport Hokuan Maru,
South China Sea west of Luzon.

Cisco (SS-290) 28 Sep 43 76 killed
Sunk by Japanese observation seaplane (945th Kokutai) and gunboat
Karatsu [ex-U.S. river gunboat Luzon (PR-7)] in Sulu Sea off Panay
Island.

S 44 (SS-155) 7 Oct 43 55 killed
Lost to Japanese escort destroyer Ishigaki, northeast Araito Island
off Kamchatka.

Dorado (SS-248) Oct 43 76 killed
Unknown, either accidently bombed and sunk by friendly
Guantanamo-based flying boat on 13 October or sunk by a
German submarine mine in the West Indies.

Wahoo (SS-238) 11 Oct 43 80 killed
Sunk by Japanese naval aircraft, submarine chasers Ch 15 and Ch 43,
and minesweeper W.18 in La Perouse Strait off Japan.

Corvina (SS-226) 16 Nov 43 82 killed
Torpedoed and sunk by Japanese submarine I 176 south of Truk.

Capelin (SS-289) Nov 43 78 killed
Sunk by unknown causes, either Japanese aircraft (934 Kokutai)
and minelayer Wanatake, a Japanese mine in the northern Celebes,
or perhaps a hull defect reported prior to her departure from
Darwin.

Sculpin (SS-191) 19 Nov 43 12 killed, 51 POWs
Damaged by Japanese destroyer Yamagumo and later scuttled north
of Truk.

Scorpion (SS-278) Jan 44 76 killed
Unknown, probably a Japanese mine in Yellow or East China Sea.

Grayback (SS-208) 27 Feb 44 80 killed
Probably succumbed to damage inflicted by land-based Japanese
naval aircraft suffered the day before in the East China Sea.

Trout (SS-202) 29 Feb 44 81 killed
Most likely sunk by Japanese destroyer Asashimo in Philippine Sea.

Gudgeon (SS-211) 18 April 44 78 killed
Probably sunk by Japanese naval aircraft (901st Kokutai)
southwest of Iwo Jima.

Herring (SS-233) 1 Jun 44 84 killed
Sunk by Japanese Army shore battery (Guards Division 52)
off Matsuwa Island, Kuriles.

Golet (SS-361) 14 Jun 44 82 killed
Probably sunk by Japanese guardboat Miya Maru, auxiliary
submarine chaser Bunzan Maru, and naval aircraft off northern
Honshu, Japan.

Robalo (SS-273) 26 Jul 44 74 killed, 4 POWs
Sunk by a mine off western Palawan, Philippines.

Flier (SS-250) 13 Aug 44 78 killed
Sunk by a Japanese mine south of Palawan in Balabac Strait.

Harder (SS-257) 24 Aug 44 79 killed
Sunk by Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No. 22 off west coast of
Luzon, Philippines.

Escolar (SS-294) 17 Oct 44 82 killed
Possibly sunk by a Japanese mine in the Yellow Sea.

Shark (SS-314) 24 Oct 44 87 killed
Sunk by Japanese depth charges from Harukaze, South China Sea
west of Luzon.

Albacore (SS-218) 7 Nov 44 86 killed
Possible Japanese mine off northern tip of Honshu, Japan.

Growler (SS-215) 8 Nov 44 85 killed
Probably sunk by Japanese destroyer Shigure, escort vessel
Chiburi, and Coast Defense Vessel No. 19 off Mindoro.

Scamp (SS-277) 11 Nov 44 83 killed
Sunk by Japanese naval aircraft and Coast Defense Vessel No.4
in Tokyo Bay area.

Swordfish (SS-193) Jan 45 89 killed
Possibly sunk by Japanese Coast Defense Vessel No. 4 on 5
January or sunk by a mine off Okinawa on 9 January.

Barbel (SS-316) 4 Feb 45 81 killed
Sunk by Japanese naval aircraft in South China Sea in Palawan
Passage.

Kete (SS-369) 20 Mar 45 87 killed
Probably sunk by a mine or a Japanese submarine (perhaps RO 41)
east of Okinawa.

Trigger (SS-237) 28 Mar 45 89 killed
Sunk by Japanese patrol vessel Mikura, Coast Defense Vessel No.33,
and Coast Defense Vessel No. 59 in the Nansei Soto.

Snook (SS-279) 9 Apr 45 84 killed
Probably sunk by a combination of Japanese naval aircraft (256th,
453rd, and 951st Kokutais); escort vessel Okinawa, Coast Defense
Vessel No. 8 , Coast Defense Vessel No. 32 , and Coast Defense
Vessel No. 52; and/or submarine I-56 in the Nansei Soto.

Lagarto (SS-371) 3 May 45 85 killed
Sunk by Japanese minelayer Hatsutaka in Gulf of Siam.

Bonefish (SS-223) 18 Jun 45 85 killed
Sunk by combined efforts of escort destroyer Okinawa, Coast
Defense Vessel No. 63, Coast Defense Vessel No. 75, Coast
Defense Vessel No. 158, and Coast Defense Vessel No. 207
off southern coast of Honshu, Japan.

Bullhead (SS-332) 6 Aug 45 84 killed
Probably sunk by Japanese Army aircraft (73rd Chitai) off
Bali in the Java Sea.

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Dave Wilson Posted: 10 Oct 2008

I was browsing through American Naval Museum websites and came across the list I have just sent, of most, if not all the Submarines listed on the Plaque and how they were lost.

I just thought it would add to the knowledge of the History,

Dave Wilson

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Dave Wilson Posted: 10 Oct 2008

I have discovered a better plaque on a Submariners website. I have saved it, but am not sure how to transfer a copy to be placed on this website, please advise,

Dave Wilson

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admin Posted: 10 Oct 2008

Hi Dave

Thanks very much for all this extra information. You would need to email me the image to put up - [email protected]

Regards
Jamie Mackay
Web editor

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Dave Wilson Posted: 12 Oct 2008

www.ussvi.org/mem/submem.htm

Further fossicking on the web pulled up this website, which gives very clear images of the Plaque and information of other Memorials.

D. Wilson

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Dave Wilson Posted: 12 Oct 2008

Hi Jamie,

I meant to add this interesting website on one of the few Submarines that had survivors.

www.csp.navy.mil/ww2boats/perch.htm USS Perch details

Dave Wilson

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