Honolulu in Honolulu County, Hawaii — Hawaiian Island Archipelago (Pacific Ocean)
USS Tang (SS-306)
Bowfin Park
— Pearl Harbor —
CDR R.H. Kane, USN, Commanding Officer; Launched 17 August 1943; Lost at sea, 24 October 1944.
The exploits of Tang are legendary in submarine history. Under the bold leadership of Commander Richard H. O’Kane, Tang executed five brilliant patrols, destroying enemy ships almost as fast as the Japanese could build them. Tang’s rescue of 22 downed naval pilots off Truk Lagoon during her second war patrol made headlines and proved the value of submarine lifeguard duty. Tang was one of only two American submarines to receive the Presidential Unit Citation twice, and her skipper earned the nation’s highest award for valor, the Congressional Medal of Honor. It was not the enemy but fate that finally ended Tang’s career. Patrolling the Formosa Straits, Tang had already sunk seven enemy ships when, on 24 October 1944, she launched a nighttime surface attack on an enemy transport, firing her two remaining torpedoes. The second torpedo malfunctioned, circled back, and struck Tang. The explosion was violent. Nine men topside catapulted into the sea as Tang plunged toward the bottom. Thirteen other men escaped from the forward compartment and, using momsen lungs, ascended 180 feet to the surface. By morning only nine survivors remained to be pulled from the water by a Japanese escort vessel. They were imprisoned for the duration of the war, but lived to tell the story of their 78 shipmates’ final epic battle aboard the renowned submarine Tang.
Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lost at Sea, and the Still On Patrol series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is October 24, 1944.
Location. 21° 22.098′ N, 157° 56.346′ W. Marker is in Honolulu, Hawaii, in Honolulu County. Memorial is on Arizona Memorial Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Honolulu HI 96818, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. USS Seawolf (SS-197) (here, next to this marker); USS Swordfish (SS-193) (here, next to this marker); USS Wahoo (SS-238) (here, next to this marker); Mark 37 Electric Torpedo (within shouting distance of this marker); Regulus (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Marine Corps (within shouting distance of this marker); Mark 14 Steam-Driven Torpedo (within shouting distance of this marker); Lost Submarine Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Honolulu.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 14, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 502 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 14, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.