Taylor acquired a Distinguished Public Service Award from the Navy in 2021 for Misplaced 52 Challenge’s work to find, uncover and memorialize the 52 submarines misplaced throughout World Struggle II. Earlier submarines situated by Misplaced 52 mission embody USS Grayback (SS 208), USS Stickleback (SS 415), USS R-12 (SS 89), USS S-26 (SS 131), USS S-28 (SS 133), and USS Grunion (SS 216).
The primary USS Tougher (SS 257) was commissioned on Dec. 2, 1942, with Cmdr. Samuel D. Dealey in command; and misplaced at sea with 79 souls aboard on Aug. 24, 1944.
Resting at a depth of greater than 3,000 ft, the vessel sits upright on her keel comparatively intact apart from the depth-charge injury aft of the conning tower. Submarines by their very design could be a problem to establish, however the wonderful state of preservation of the positioning and the standard of the information collected by Misplaced 52 allowed for NHHC to substantiate the identification of the wreck as Tougher.
“Tougher was misplaced in the middle of victory. We should not overlook that victory has a value, as does freedom,” mentioned NHHC Director Samuel J. Cox, U.S. Navy rear admiral (retired). “We’re grateful that Misplaced 52 has given us the chance to as soon as once more honor the valor of the crew of the ‘Hit ‘em HARDER’ submarine that sank probably the most Japanese warships – in significantly audacious assaults – below her legendary skipper, Cmdr. Sam Dealey.”
Tougher’s fifth struggle patrol was the submarine’s most profitable. Tougher depleted the vital provide of destroyers by sinking three of them and closely damaging or destroying two others in 4 days, and her frequent assaults resulted in Adm. Ozawa’s Cellular Fleet departing Tawi-Tawi a day forward of schedule. The untimely departure upset the Japanese battle plans and compelled Ozawa to delay his service pressure within the Philippine Sea, contributing to the defeat suffered by the Japanese within the ensuing battle.
The submarine’s final identified location was within the South China Sea off Luzon throughout her sixth and last struggle patrol. Early on Aug. 22, Tougher and USS Haddo (SS 255) attacked and destroyed three escort ships off Bataan – Tougher sinking escort ships Matsuwa and Hiburi. Joined by USS Hake (SS 256) that evening, the coordinated assault group headed for Caiman Level, Luzon. At daybreak on Aug. 23, Haddo attacked and fatally broken the destroyer Asakaze off Cape Bolinao. Haddo knowledgeable Tougher and Hake that her torpedoes had been expended and left for replenishment. Tougher and Hake remained off Dasol Bay, trying to find new targets. Earlier than daybreak on Aug. 24, Hake sighted the escort ship CD-22 and Patrol Boat No. 102. As Hake closed to assault, the patrol boat turned away towards Dasol Bay. Hake broke off method, turned northward, sighting Tougher’s periscope 600 to 700 yards lifeless forward. Swinging southward, Hake sighted CD-22 about 2,000 yards off her port quarter. To flee, Hake went deep and rigged for silent operating. At 07:28 Hake’s crew reported listening to fifteen speedy depth prices explode within the distance astern. Hake continued evasive motion, returning to the assault space shortly after midday to comb the realm at periscope depth – solely discovering a hoop of marker buoys overlaying a radius of one-half mile. Japanese data later revealed Tougher fired three torpedoes at CD-22. The Japanese ship evaded the torpedoes and started a sequence of depth cost assaults at 07:28. The fifth depth cost assault sinking Tougher and her crew.
Tougher acquired the Presidential Unit Quotation for her first 5 patrols, six battle stars for World Struggle II service. Cmdr. Dealey was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his excellent contribution to the struggle effort on Tougher’s fifth patrol. Dealey’s different awards included a Navy Cross (Sept. 1943) for Tougher’s first struggle patrol; a Gold Star in lieu of second Navy Cross (Nov. 1943) for second struggle patrol; second Gold Star in lieu of third Navy Cross (Feb. 1944) for third struggle patrol; the Distinguished Service Cross (July 1944); a 3rd Gold Star in lieu of forth Navy Cross (July 1944) for forth struggle patrol; and the Silver Star (posthumously, Oct. 1948) for the sixth struggle patrol.
The wreck of USS Tougher (SS 257) is a U.S. sunken navy craft protected by U.S. regulation and below the jurisdiction of the Division of the Navy. Whereas non-intrusive actions, akin to distant sensing documentation, on U.S. Navy sunken navy craft are allowed, any exercise which will consequence within the disturbance of a sunken navy craft have to be coordinated with NHHC and, if applicable, licensed via a related allowing program. Most significantly, the wreck represents the ultimate resting place of Sailors that gave their life in protection of the nation and must be revered by all events as a struggle grave.
For extra data on USS Tougher (SS 257), go to www.historical past.navy.mil/analysis/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/harder-i.html.
NHHC, situated on the Washington Navy Yard, is chargeable for preserving, analyzing, and disseminating U.S. naval historical past and heritage. It supplies the data basis for the Navy by sustaining traditionally related assets and merchandise that replicate the Navy’s distinctive and enduring contributions via our nation’s historical past and helps the fleet by aiding with and delivering skilled analysis, evaluation, and interpretive providers. NHHC includes many actions, together with the Navy Division Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy artwork and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, 10 museums, USS Structure restore facility, and the historic ship Nautilus.
