CDR. D. W. MORTON, USN COMMANDING OFFICER LOST AT SEA, 11 OCTOBER 1943IF ONE SUBMARINE COULD BE SAID TO EMBODY THE SPRIT AND PRIDE OF THE U.S. SUBMARINE FORCE, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE WAHOO. CERTAINLY THE ENEMY CONVOYS UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ENCOUNTER HER WOULD AGREE THAT SHE CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN HER SHARE TO THE WAR EFFORT. THEY OFTEN REPORTED BEING ATTACKED BY MORE THAN ONE SUBMARINE, A FACT THAT EARNED WAHOO THE NICKNAME "THE ONE-SUBMARINE WOLF PACK." HER BRASH YOUNG COMMANDING OFFICER, COMMANDER DUDLEY W. "MUSH" MORTON, WAS THE EPITOME OF THE WARRIOR-SUBMARINER: DARING, TENACIOUS AND AGGRESSIVE. HER AND WAHOO'S FIGHTING CREW RAVAGED THE PACIFIC, SINKING AT LEAST 20 ENEMY SHIPS TOTALING OVER 60,000 TONS IN JUST OVER A YEAR. WAHOO INSPIRED THE SUBMARINE FORCE WITH A SWASHBUCKLING STYLE THAT INCLUDED LIVELY RADIO MESSAGES, "DOWN THE THROAT" TORPEDO SHOTS, AND BROOMS LASHED TO HER PERISCOPE TO SIGNIFY A CLEAN SWEEP OF ENEMY SHIPPING. IN THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC, FEW SHIPS ACHIEVED A MORE LEGENDARY STATUS. ON 2 DECEMBER 1943, THE U.S. SUBMARINE FORCE WAS DEALT A SHOCKING BLOW WHEN IT WAS REPORTED THAT WAHOO, HAVING DEPARTED MIDWAY ISLAND ON 13 SEPTEMBER TO COMMENCE HER SEVENTH WAR PATROL AGAINST THE ENEMY, WAS OVERDUE AND PRESUMED LOST. SHE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN SUNK ON 11 OCTOBER BY A COMBINATION OF AIR, LAND AND SEA ANTI-SUBMARINE FOCUS IN LA PEROUSE STRAIT, NORTH OF HOKKAIDO.
Bryan MacKinnon