Submarine operations
are always potentially dangerous, in peace and war. In war even a sub’s own
torpedoes can be its own worst enemy.
The problem plagued US Mark 14, 21
inch torpedoes used by the US in WW2, could be programmed by a submarine to go
on a circular course for part of the torpedoe's run. Problem was the gyro
mechanism, supposed to ensure safety, was insufficient to prevent some
torpedoes completing a totally circular run – which could hit the parent
submarine. Hence the tale of USS Tullibee.
USS Tullibee has a short but fruitful career during her first 3 war
patrols, 1943-1944, sinking several
Japanese ships.
On her fourth patrol, on March 26, 1945, off the Palau Islands, Tullibee made radar contact on a six ship Japanese convoy. Tullibee closed to 3,000 yards of the convoy and launched two torpedoes. About two minutes later Tullibee was shaken by a violent explosion. It was only learned after the war that one of Tullibee's Mark 14 torpedoes ran a circular course and sunk Tullibee.
------------------------
Gunner's
Mate Clifford W. Kuykendall, on top of bridge at the time, was knocked unconscious
and thrown into the water. Only his life-preserver saved him. When he regained consciousness, he saw Tullibee rapidly sinking. Kuykendall heard voices in the water
for about ten minutes before they stopped. The next day, he was picked up by Japanese destroyer
Wakatake.
Japan's Wakatake-class destroyers were succeeded by the Kamikaze-class destroyers, would you believe. The first of class, named Kamikaze (of course) was launched in 1922, long before the "war winning" Kamikaze strategy became trendy.
Clifford W. Kuykendall survived being a prisoner of war and was released after V-J Day.
Here and below is a 2014
video of Tullibee survivor, Clifford W. Kuykendall, from Wichita,
Texas, recalling the tragic last few minutes of the Tullibee.
See more about USS Tullibee here and here (scrolling 1/3rd down) including more details about Clifford W. Kuykendall's survival in spite of Japanese "hospitality".
4 comments:
The US Mark 14 Torpedo is the greatest mystery of the Second World War - how nobody from the US Navy's Bureau of Ordnance was hung for incompetency, mismanagement and obstruction.
Other nations had development problems with their torpedoes, but it was more than simple obstinacy with the Mark 14, until the Commander Submarine Forces, Pacific Fleet had to develop the majority of fixes.
https://youtu.be/eQ5Ru7Zu_1I
Hi Shawn C
Very true. The Mark 14s may be associated with more prolonged capital city "experts" know best, as well as other Controversy and Problems - see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_14_torpedo#Controversy
than any major weapon system of WW2. And that includes weapon systems of all the belligerents (except the Italian Army, maybe).
With the massive US funding splashed around by 1940, to improve US weapons across the board, USN underfunding of the Mark 14's early 1930's development was no excuse.
Here's hoping Aus and the US's Mark 48s, never used in war(?) don't reveal nasty surprises to Aus, US and other submariners https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_48_torpedo
Pete
Hi Pete
Cheap Shot at the Italians !
In the submarine area they were really innovators (M.A.S) and bold destroying RN battleship(s) in La Souda and Alexandria in 1941
They gave the RN a run for their money!
The fact that they started to change gear after Pearl Harbour and the WH failure to take Moscow is a sign of... political vision at the minimum !
I have no connections with Italy , whatsoever
Anonymous
You neglected to comprehend I said Italian "Army". An Army is not a Navy.
Yes the "Commando Frogmen" of the Italian Navy were outstanding. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decima_Flottiglia_MAS
Pete
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