Circular Torpedo Runs

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Sidebar – US subs and Circular Run Torpedoes
USS Tang (SS-306), 25 October 1944. The Mark 18 torpedo broached and curved to the left 
in a circular run. Tang  fishtailed under emergency power to clear the turning circle of the 
torpedo,  but  it  struck  her  abreast  the  aft  torpedo  room  approximately  20  seconds  after  it 
was fired. The explosion was violent, and people as far forward as the control room received 
broken limbs. The ship went down by the stern with the after three compartments flooded. 
Nine survivors, including the commanding officer, were picked up the next morning by a 
Japanese destroyer escort.  
USS  Tullibee  ( SS-284),  25  March  1944.  Two  torpedoes  fired  during  a  surface  approach. 
One  of  the  torpedoes  (either  a  Mark  14,  18  or  23  torpedo)  ran  a  circular  course  and 
sank  the  submarine  that  had  launched  it.  There  was  a  single  survivor,  who  also  survived 
imprisonment by the Japanese.
USS Ta utog (SS-199), 16 May 1942. One of two torpedoes fired was heard making a circular 
run and the sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it.
USS Sargo (SS-188), 25 September 1942. One of the five torpedoes fired ran a circular path, 
exploding  off  the  sub’s  stern.    The  torpedo  accidentally  ran  a  circular  course...the  cause 
for  the  torpedo’s  malfunction  was  that  the  gyro  had  not  been  installed  (a  torpedo  man 
discovered the gyro in its storage can after the fish had been fired), so the torpedo’s path of 
travel was entirely random. USS Greenling (SS-213), 18 October 1942.  Two torpedoes fired during a surface approach 
circled back around, both passing close aboard.
USS Seawolf (SS-197), 3 November 1942. One torpedo was heard making a circular run and 
the sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it.
USS Triton  (SS-201), 6 March 1943.  One torpedo was heard making a circular run and the 
sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it. USS Trigger (SS-237), 15 March 1943.  Five torpedoes were fired, and one circled around 
and passed directly over the engine room.  Shaken by the near miss, the sub’s crew broke 
off the attack.
USS  Harder  ( SS-257),  20  November  1943.  One  of  five  torpedoes  fired  during  a  surface 
approach circled back around, forcing the sub to break off the attack and submerge in order 
to avoid being hit.
USS Barb (SS-220), 8 September 1944. One torpedo was heard making a circular run and 
the sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it.
USS  Blueback  ( SS-326),  October  1944.  One  of  three  torpedoes  fired  was  heard  making  a 
circular run.   The sub dived for the depths and the torpedo was heard passing over the after 
battery hatch (slightly aft of amidships).
USS  Tinosa  ( SS-283),  10  June  1945.    One  of  three  torpedoes  fired  was  heard  making  a 
circular run.   The sub dived for the depths and the torpedo was heard passing overhead. 
The sub dove deeper as a second pass was anticipated, but the torpedo never came back.

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Rontini599 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 23 Aug 2016 Location: Sheridan, WY Status: Offline Points: 706	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rontini599 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Circular Torpedo Runs Posted: 01 Aug 2021 at 9:53am
	Sidebar – US subs and Circular Run Torpedoes USS Tang (SS-306), 25 October 1944. The Mark 18 torpedo broached and curved to the left in a circular run. Tang fishtailed under emergency power to clear the turning circle of the torpedo, but it struck her abreast the aft torpedo room approximately 20 seconds after it was fired. The explosion was violent, and people as far forward as the control room received broken limbs. The ship went down by the stern with the after three compartments flooded. Nine survivors, including the commanding officer, were picked up the next morning by a Japanese destroyer escort. USS Tullibee ( SS-284), 25 March 1944. Two torpedoes fired during a surface approach. One of the torpedoes (either a Mark 14, 18 or 23 torpedo) ran a circular course and sank the submarine that had launched it. There was a single survivor, who also survived imprisonment by the Japanese. USS Ta utog (SS-199), 16 May 1942. One of two torpedoes fired was heard making a circular run and the sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it. USS Sargo (SS-188), 25 September 1942. One of the five torpedoes fired ran a circular path, exploding off the sub’s stern. The torpedo accidentally ran a circular course...the cause for the torpedo’s malfunction was that the gyro had not been installed (a torpedo man discovered the gyro in its storage can after the fish had been fired), so the torpedo’s path of travel was entirely random. USS Greenling (SS-213), 18 October 1942. Two torpedoes fired during a surface approach circled back around, both passing close aboard. USS Seawolf (SS-197), 3 November 1942. One torpedo was heard making a circular run and the sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it. USS Triton (SS-201), 6 March 1943. One torpedo was heard making a circular run and the sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it. USS Trigger (SS-237), 15 March 1943. Five torpedoes were fired, and one circled around and passed directly over the engine room. Shaken by the near miss, the sub’s crew broke off the attack. USS Harder ( SS-257), 20 November 1943. One of five torpedoes fired during a surface approach circled back around, forcing the sub to break off the attack and submerge in order to avoid being hit. USS Barb (SS-220), 8 September 1944. One torpedo was heard making a circular run and the sub had to emergency dive in order to evade it. USS Blueback ( SS-326), October 1944. One of three torpedoes fired was heard making a circular run. The sub dived for the depths and the torpedo was heard passing over the after battery hatch (slightly aft of amidships). USS Tinosa ( SS-283), 10 June 1945. One of three torpedoes fired was heard making a circular run. The sub dived for the depths and the torpedo was heard passing overhead. The sub dove deeper as a second pass was anticipated, but the torpedo never came back.
	My heroes wear dog tags, not shoulder pads

SaltiDawg Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rickover Joined: 03 Jan 2016 Location: Rockville, MD Status: Offline Points: 2865	Post Options Post Reply Quote SaltiDawg Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 Aug 2021 at 9:55am
	There have been additional circular runs post-WWII involving exercise shots.

PaulR Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List BBS Supporter Joined: 16 Dec 2015 Location: Hopewell Jct NY Status: Offline Points: 1467	Post Options Post Reply Quote PaulR Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Aug 2021 at 7:28am
	True. USS SEA ROBIN 1964 MK 14 hit us high up on the starboard sail.
	Paul ETN2(SS) 63-67