U.S.S. Robalo (SS 273)
Launched 9 May 1943
Commissioned 28 September 1943
On 8 January 1944 the U.S.S. Robalo began her first patrol west of the Philippines. During her first 2 patrols, she earned the Asiatic-Pacific Area Service [sic – Campaign] Medal and 2 Battle Stars and was credited with sinking 1 vessel. The Robalo left Fremantle, Australia, on 22 June 1944 on her third and last patrol. She was sunk on 26 July 1944. It is believed that an enemy mine caused the sinking. Seventy-seven brave submariners perished in the Robalo. One officer and 3 enlisted men survived the sinking and swam to shore where they were captured by Military Police. On 15 August 1944 the Robalo survivors were put aboard a Japanese destroyer and were never heard from again. Fifty-two American submarines were lost during World War II. The U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II have assigned one of these lost submarines to each state. (Two were assigned to both California and New York.) The U.S.S. Robalo was designated the North Dakota state boat.
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Erected by Veterans and Concerned Citizens.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Still On Patrol series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 8, 1944.
Location. 44° 5.553′ N, 87° 39.329′ W. Marker is in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, in Manitowoc County. Marker is part of The Manitowoc Company 28 Boat Memorial Walk, adjacent to the submarine USS Cobia, at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 75 Maritime Drive, Manitowoc WI 54220, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. U.S.S. Peto (SS 265) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Pogy (SS 266) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Pompon (SS 267) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Puffer (SS 268) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Rasher (SS 269) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Raton (SS 270) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Ray (SS 271) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Redfin (SS 272) (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manitowoc.
Also see . . .
1. USS Robalo (SS 273). (Submitted on October 13, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Robalo (SS-273). (Submitted on October 13, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. USS Robalo (SS 273) - On Eternal Patrol. (Submitted on October 16, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 403 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 13, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on October 3, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 4, 5. submitted on October 16, 2016, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.