Shadow Warriors-Submarine Special Operations in
World War Two by Daniel T. Rean, CWO3 USN Ret. Professor of History Franklin Pierce University
Shadow Warriors
-
Submarine Special Operations in
World War Two
by
Daniel T. Rean, CWO3 USN Ret. Professor of History Franklin Pierce University
"I'm the Galloping Ghost of the Japanese Coast,
You don't hear of me or my crew
But just ask any man off
the coast of Japan
If he knows of the Trigger Maru
Constantine Guiness, US Navy, 1943"
"The submarine's ability to penetrate a hostile area independently, covertly and for a long duration, provides a unique tactical advantage. Submarines operating undetected near the enemy's coastline provide a complete picture of the undersea, surface and near shore military conditions, including enemy force dispositions and preparations. The submarine, with itsextremely capable communications ability, operating well inside the enemy's defensive barriers, provides valuable tactical information to assist Army and Marine Corps field commanders in making timely, informed decisions. In that role, submarines pave the way for the effective employment of special covert forces and insulate those same forces from unnecessary risks during the initial phases of guerrilla warfare operations.Between January 1942 and August 1945, dozens of American submarines participated in special operations ranging from destroying enemy mines to serving as lighthouse beacons in order to guide Allied ships through uncharted hostile waters. Oftentimes, those special operations were documented by single-line entries in ships' logs, or mentioned in passing in the official reports of the supported units. Those special operations could not have been performed by any other naval assets, military organizations, or land-based forces at the time, yet their documentation is incomplete and relatively unknown outside military fraternities. The historiography of the special operations of World War II submarines is documented in countless publications scattered throughout museums, military archives and libraries, but no single comprehensive record exists to adequately provide authoritative information on the numerous support missions participated in on a routine basis by members of America's "Silent Service."
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