Calendar: Events NPS Press Room

What to Visit: USS Pampanito Balclutha C.A. Thayer Eureka Alma Hercules Eppleton Hall Small Craft Visitor Center Museum Library

How to Visit: Directions & Hours Education Programs Facility Rentals Maps

Maritime Store: Books & Gifts Membership Donate

About Us: Join Us! Donate Volunteer Wish List Contact Us Publications History Trustees Bylaws(pdf) Jobs Search Maritime.org

The decisive role played by the Silent Service during WW II is often overlooked, or the significance of their contribution is not fully understood. The Submarine Service represented only 1.6% of all Navy personnel during the war but they accounted for over 55% of all Japanese ships sunk, including one-third of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Submariners paid a high price for this accomplishment, however, with the highest percentage causality rate of any branch of the service, almost 23%. Fifty-two U.S. submarines were lost during WW II with over 3,500 men. Many additional men were lost either from gunfire or tragic mishap. It should always be remembered that these men were all volunteers.

Below is a list of each of the fifty-two submarines lost during WW II. Click on a submarine to see a list of the personnel lost on each submarine.

Other U.S. Submarine Losses follow the WW II list.

There have also been tragic mishaps that have taken the lives of submariners outside of WW II in the service of their country which include:
USS E-2 (SS-25), 3 Men, 1916
USS L-10 (SS-50), 1 Man, 1918
HMS H-5 (US sailor), 1 Man, 1918
USS A-7 (SS-8), 6 Men, 1918
USS O-5 (SS-66), 2 Men, 1918
USS O-12 (SS-73), 1 Man, 1919
USS S-49 (SS-160), 4 Men, 1920
USS O-9 (SS-70), 1 Man, 1921
USS R-6 (SS-83), 4 Men, 1921
USS L-9 (SS-49), 1 Man, 1922
USS O-15 (SS-76), 1 Man, 1922
USS R-23 (SS-100), 1 Man, 1923
USS T-2 (SS-60), 1 Man, 1923
USS S-37 (SS-142), 3 Men, 1923
USS S-11 (SS-116), 1 Man, 1924
USS S-2 (SS-106), 1 Man, 1924
USS R-15 (SS-92), 1 Man, 1924
USS S-40 (SS-145), 1 Man, 1924
USS S-15(SS-120), 1 Man, 1925
USS S-14(SS-119), 1 Man, 1925
USS S-10(SS-115), 1 Man, 1926
USS S-24(SS-129), 1 Man, 1926
USS S-31(SS-131), 1 Man, 1927
USS SEA ROBIN (SS-407), 1 Man, 1948
USS COCHINO (SS-345), 1 Man, 1949
USS TUSK (SS-426), 6 Men, 1949
USS POMODON (SS-486), 5 Men, 1955
USS CUTLASS (SS-478), 1 Man, 1958
USS THORNBACK (SS-418), 1 Man, 1959
USS SARGO (SSN-583), 1 Man, 1960
USS TRITON (SSRN-586), 1 Man, 1962
USS REQUIN (SS-481), 1 Man, 1962
USS PIPER (SS-409), 1 Man, 1964
USS SKIPJACK (SSN-585), 1 Man, 1964
USS PICUDA (SS-382), 1 Man, 1967
USS GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER (SSBN-656), 1 Man, 1968
USS SEAHORSE (SSN-669), 1 Man, 1972
USS GUARDFISH (SSN-612), 1 Man, 1972
USS STURGEON (SSN-637), 1 Man, 1972
USS PLUNGER (SSN-595), 1 Man, 1973
USS ALEXANDER HAMILTON (SSBN-617), 1 Man, 1974
USS JOHN.C. CALHOUN (SSBN-630), 1 Man, 1975
USS DACE (SSN-607), 1 Man, 1978
USS JOHN ADAMS (SSBN-620), 1 Man, 1978
USS STURGEON (SSN-637), 1 Man, 1980
USS BOSTON (SSN-703), 1 Man, 1982
USS BATON ROUGE(SSN-689), 1 Man, 1983
USS GEORGIA (SSBN-729), 1 Man, 1986
USS U.S.GRANT (SSBN-631), 2 Men, 1987
USS BONEFISH (SS-582), 3 Men, 1988
USS BARBEL (SS-580)< 2 Men, 1989
USS HOUSTON (SS-713), 1 Man, 1989
USS SAN FRANCISCO (SSN-711), 2 Men, 2002
USS VIRGINIA (SSN-774), 1 Man, 2005
USS MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL (SSN-708), 2 Men, 2006
USS NEBRASKA (SSBN-739), 1 Man, 2008

USS GUITARO (SS-363), 1 Man, TBA
USS C-4 (SS-15), 1 Man, TBA
USS GRAYBACK (SSG-574, 5 Men, TBA
USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (SSBN-600), 1 Man, TBA
USS REDFIN (SS-272), 1 Man, TBA
USS FLYING FISH (SSN-673), 1 Man, TBA

The WW II lists were first transcribed from "U.S. Submarine Losses of World War II", 1963 edition. They were later corrected from the research results of Aldona Sendzikas during the 1990s. Extensive revision, including full names, dates and research results from Naval Personnel records that where recently declassified was provided in 2011 by Charles R. Hinman. For an even more up to date listing, and more details on most of the men, who was included, etc. please see his site: http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/.

Please note that in some cases the boat was lost but the men where rescued. If there are records of their death during the war their names were included with the lost boat. In other cases they were crew of the boat, but on leave at the time of the loss of the boat, again if they died during the war an attempt was made to include them with their boat. The Additional Losses page includes the men that died without the loss of a boat.

The non-WW II lists were first provided by Jim Christley.

All the lists have been transcribed and in some cases updated by the webmaster who remains responsible for any errors.