Newsletter #112 – July 2025  

USS CHIVO (SS-341) All Hands Newsletter

Reunion Plans

Bob Bernhardt (1971), our organization president, is researching hotels in Myrtle Beach, SC for a Chivo reunion in the fall of 2026.   Stay tuned, Bob expects to have more details in the next newsletter.   If you would like to help Bob, you can contact him at e-mail rbern3469@yahoo.com or phone: ‭(440) 725-7180‬.

Some Submarine Notes

My last newsletter included a few odd facts about German U-boats and their commanders in World War II.   To be fair and balanced, here are some interesting facts about U.S. and Japanese submarines and their commanders in the Pacific war:

• During World War II, the United States built a total of 205 submarines.   These were part of three different classes: Gato (77), Balao (120), and Tench (8).   In addition to these, the US had 111 submarines in service at the start of the war, bringing the total number of US submarines during WWII to 316.   Submarines were built by Electric Boat in Groton, CT., Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, ME., Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California, and Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company in Wisconsin.   By contrast Germany built 1,162 U-boats and Japan built 174 ocean-going submarines.

• Boats built in Manitowoc were transported to the ocean via a series of waterways, canals and barges.   First they were launched into the Manitowoc River using a side-launch technique due to the narrow river and shallow depth.   Then they sailed down Lake Michigan to Chicago where periscopes, antennas, and other sensitive components were temporarily removed so they could pass under bridges.   In Chicago they were put on floating dry docks and transported down the Chicago River, thru canals to the Illinois River, and finally down the Mississippi River to New Orleans.   Once in New Orleans, they were taken off the floating dry docks, reassembled, and sailed into the Gulf of Mexico.   28 boats were built and transported to the sea this way.   Unfortunately none remain.   If you visit the Manitowoc Maritime Museum you can tour the USS Cobia (SS-245), a Gato class submarine built by Electric Boat in Groton, CT.   She is almost identical to the boats built at Manitowoc.

• The first submarine force casualty in World War II was G. A. Myers, Seaman Second Class, who was shot through the right lung when the USS Cachalot (SS-170) was strafed during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.   Myers survived and was hospitalized.   USS Cachalot left on her first war patrol five days after the attack . . . without Seaman Myers.

• There were officially 1,682 U.S. submarine war patrols during World War II in the Pacific.   A total of 465 different skippers commanded at least one of those patrols.   Sixty of those who commanded a sub would eventually become rear admirals.   Twelve advanced to the rank of vice admiral.   Three others became full admirals.   Two eventually served terms in the U.S. Congress.

• George W. Grider served on USS Wahoo (SS-238), USS Pollack (SS-180), and USS Hawkbill (SS-366), before taking command of the USS Flasher (SS-249) and USS Cubera (SS-347).   Later, he served as a Democratic U.S. Representative from the Tennessee’s 9th congressional district from 1965 to 1967.

• William Robert Anderson served on USS Tarpon (SS-175), USS Narwhal (SS-167), USS Trutta (SS-421), and USS Sarda (SS-488).   Then he commanded USS Wahoo(SS-565).   Years later he became the second commanding officer of the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) and led the first transpolar voyage under the ice.   Anderson was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Tennessee’s 6th congressional district from 1965 to 1973. 

• One of those former WWII skippers, Tom Dykers (USS Jack SS-250), became a television producer and in 1957-58 developed the series The Silent Service, which told the true stories of many of the submarines that took part in World War II and The Korean War.   Dykers also hosted and narrated the series.

• Three former WorldWar II submarine skippers committed suicide.   Another, upon his natural death, had his final wishes honored when he was cremated and his ashes were launched from a submarine’s torpedo tube off Key West, Florida.

• Japan started WWII with 63 ocean-going submarines and built another 111 during the war bringing their total to 174.   During the war Japan lost 128 submarines, making a loss rate that is comparable to Germany’s U-boat loss rate.

• The Japanese submarine I-176 was the only Japanese sub to sink an American submarine during the war.   The USS Corvina (SS-226) was lost with eighty-two men on November 16, 1943.

• U.S. submarines sank 23 Japanese submarines during the war.   The USS Gudgeon (SS-211) was the first U.S. to sink a Japanese submarine, the I-173 on January 27, 1942.   The USS Batfish (SS-310) is famous for sinking three Japanese submarines (RO-55, RO-112, and RO-113) in a 76-hour period during February 1945.

• The last American submarine lost in World War II with casualties was the USS Bullhead (SS-332).   It was sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Java Sea on August 6, 1945, just days before the end of the war.

Much of the above material came from the book Final Patrol by Don Keith.   His historical work recounts interesting stories and background about the sixteen U.S. submarines and the one German U-boat that saw action in World War II that remain open for visitors today.

* * * From The Quartermaster's Notebook * * *

Donations . . .  Donations help to make our reunions possible.

• Special thanks to ET2(SS) Dale & Nancy Work (1961-1962) for their generous contribution.

Donation checks should be made payable to the “Chivo Reunion Organization” and mailed directly to our Treasurer: Robert Kuphal, 3520 New Hartford Rd., Suite 301 Owensboro KY 42303.

Eternal Patrol . . .  Recently we learned that the following shipmates have passed away:

• FA Henry J. Baer (1956) departed April 08, 2025.
• QMC(SS) Alan W. Dempster (1968) departed May 23, 2025.
  
  
• ET1(SS) James E. Winpisinger (1968) departed May 01, 2019.

Binnacle List . . .   These shipmates are facing some serious challenges:

• ENC(SS) Stephen "Budda" Bien (62-64)   email: 3kisses@bellsouth.net
• TM2(SS) John & Joanne Hedum (1952-1956)   email: jnjhedum@bellsouth.net

• FN(SS) Richard V. Holland (1971 decom)   email: rvholland@hotmail.com
• ETRSN(SS) William C. Priest (64-65)   c/o Ruthann Priest,   13230 Elkwood Ct., Midlothian VA 23112-1434

* * * Current Chivo Board Members * * *

The mission of the CHIVO Reunion Organization is:

1. to perpetuate the memory of our shipmates and their deeds, to promote good fellowship and comradeship, and to pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United States of America.

2. to participate in activities that foster recognition of the contributions made by  members of all Armed Forces and their families, both Past and Present, that uphold the spirit of the Declaration of Independence.

3. to provide aid and comfort to service members in need.

We have no dues, and we have a lot of fun!

USS CHIVO (SS-341) Reunion Organization
All Hands Newsletter #112 – July 2025

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