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just watched Run Silent, Run Deep

Discussion in 'Naval Warfare in the Pacific' started by Hummel, Sep 14, 2010.

  1. Hummel

    Hummel Member

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    Was the movie correct in that the US designated areas of operation for subs? If so, is there a map available online that some kind person might link? Thanks!
     
    Hummel, Sep 14, 2010
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  2. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    lwd, Sep 14, 2010
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  3. Hummel

    Hummel Member

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    interesting site, no joy on maps though, thanks :)
     
    Hummel, Sep 14, 2010
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  4. brndirt1

    brndirt1 Saddle Tramp

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    I don't think you will find any "maps" really, since the subs were sent to "patrol" areas on each sortie. It would or at least could be a different patrol zone on each sortie for every sub. It find it unlikely that each sub went to the same spots every patrol. They would finish their patrol zone time, return to base while another sub took their zone, then they would re-fuel, re-fit, and perhaps be sent to a completely different area for their next patrol.

    Makes maximum use of minimum sub numbers in a HUGE ocean area to cover.
     
    brndirt1, Sep 14, 2010
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  5. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    I think Clint is on the right track. While there are no maps on this site, there is a series of descriptions of the patrol areas of the Wahoo, a Gato class sub. Scroll through the pages to find each war patrol and where it took place. There are also lots of cool pics to see.
    http://www.mareisland.org/Wahoo/documents/Presentation.pdf

    Be sure to look through the entire presentation to see some pictures of her underwater today. Quite a story.
     
    LRusso216, Sep 14, 2010
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  6. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    The US Navy did not make use of maps the same way the German navy did. The Germans had divided the Atlantic up into many grids, these grids were then divided and subdivided. See: uboat.net - The U-boat War in Maps

    To the Americans, the map was simply a way to show you were you were at. Operation orders were straight forward and simple. American subs were told what areas to patrol, say the Surabaya-Ambon traffic route north of Bali or Patrol Celebes as far north as the Talaud Islands. Patrol areas varied greatly in size, however the submarine's maps were marked with known Japanese shipping routes, so that the submarine would know where the best chances for success lay.

    As for estimated course charts of American submarines during patrol, I can only suggest books.
    "Red Scorpion: The War Patrols of the USS Rasher" by Peter Sasgen
    "Find 'Em, Chase 'Em. Sink 'Em: The Mysterious Loss of the WWII Submarine USS Gudgeon" by Mike Ostlund
    "Thunder Below!" by Eugene B. Fluckey
     
    Takao, Sep 14, 2010
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