Arranged in seven sections.
Please report errors / changes to this webmaster.
SubVetPaul@aol.com

First posting on DEC. 1, 2004. Up-dated Dec. 7, 2004, Dec. 24, 2004

Listing: Name and Rate/Rank, associated boat, deceased date if known, information useful for family genealogists and other data.


CREDITS, REFERENCES and SOURCES of DATA:

Thanks go to Ron Smith for making most of the initial data available
in electronic format on his website which is at:
http://www.submarinevets.com/~subvetsww2/lostboats.html

Thanks go to Bob Moore for his expertise and
prior research on locating deceased WWII Submarine men.

A special thank you to Bob Moore for his research assistance,
cooperation,suggestions and advise of corrections.

A special thank you goes to Herman Smith of Jefferson City, Missouri,
who researched the hometowns of the deceased men who came from Missouri.

A truly extraordinary contribution of the computer talents and time spent in doing much of the NARA cross checking was done by: Robert C. Emery. Special thanks go to this Submarine man.

The two books, original release and the revised edition
by The Naval History Division,
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington: 1963

UNITED STATES SUBMARINE LOSSES WORLD WAR II

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) resources are utilized in searching for HOMETOWN information.
NOTE: HOMETOWN information is also presented as "last known" location of family members and friends of the deceased.
The NARA data appears to be based on the sailing lists prepared prior to a boat leaving on a war patrol.
Thus "HOMETOWN" information does not always refer to place of birth.
Use of the data from the American Battlefields Monument Commission has been used in some presentations. Discrepancies on this commissions "Dates of Death" require further in depth research.

A variety of computer search engines were utilized
as an aid in this research.

This body of work was researched and encoded for use on the
World Wide Web for all to view by:
©Paul W. Wittmer, November 2004

A REMINDER: ALL WORK ON THIS
(www.subvetpaul.com) WEBSITE IS COPYRIGHTED.

NOTE: Comments from the webmaster / researcher regarding this presentation.
Every reasonable effort has been made to provide accurate data.
However, the sources utilized were found to have many typos, discrepancies and errors.
A best judgment on which piece or pieces of data should be presented had to be made.
It is left to future researchers to refine the data.

The assistance of next of kin and relatives would be appreciated in sorting out errors and separating fact from family lore.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF NAMES

-The man shall have been in the US Navy and attached to a US Submarine or a US Relief Crew, during the period Dec. 7, 1941 through Sept. 2, 1945

-Documentation from a US Archive, Navy or other Government source showing the US Submarine, Submarine Relief Crew or other Naval Unit attached to and date of death.

-A brief statement describing the cause of death

Documentation will be required to support claims in order to make changes, or additions to this presentation.

This compilation is intended for use by members of the deceased families, serious historians, genealogists and researchers.

Copying, without permission from the webmaster,
for resale is strictly prohibited.

The equipment used is personal property and the use of
space on the web site is paid for monthly by this webmaster.

Support in the form of research talent
or monetary contributions will be gratefully accepted.
If you like what you see, a simple note of appreciation would also be nice.

INFORMATION USED IN THIS PRESENTATION

USN RATES and RANKS
DESCRIPTIONS IN USE DURING WWI IN THE SUBMARINE SERVICE

Rating Abbreviation

Officer Ranks

Ensign ENS

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) LT(jg)

Lieutenant LT

Lieutenant Commander LCDR

Commander (Commodore) CDR

Rear Admiral RADM

Vice Admiral VADM

Admiral ADM

Enlisted Mens' Ratings

Rating Abbreviation Duties

Baker Bkr
Operate ovens. Do any kind of baking.

Boatswain's Mate BM
Work with canvas and hoisting with block and tackle. Handle rope, wire, and anchor chain. Handle power and sail boats. Steer ship and chart courses. Direct salvage.

Commissary Steward CS
Supervise ship's galley.

Cook Ck
Take charge of galley.

Coxswain COX
Work with canvas and handle boats. Know signaling.

Electrician's Mate EM
Use electrical tools and repair electrical equipment. Charge storage batteries. Wind armatures. Stand watch on main gyrocompass and in main control room of electrically driven ships. Repair telephone circuits. Apply first aid in case of electrical shock.

Fire Controlman FC
Stow, inspect and repair fire control instruments. Take charge of fire control equipment. Know electricity - A.C. and D.C. Man fire control stations.

Fire Controlman S FCS Submarine fire controlman.

Fireman F
Operate, adjust and repair pumps.

Gunner's Mate GM
Take charge of gun and crew. Assemble and fire all types of guns. Handle ammunition. Handle mines and depth charges.

Machinist MACH or Machinist's Mate MM
Operate main and auxiliary engines. Adjust, repair, and overhaul engines. Be familiar with ship's drainage systems, distilling plants, evaporators and pumps.

Mess Attendant MATT

Motor Machinist's Mate MoMM
Operate machine tools. Operate and maintain internal combustion engines and engine auxiliaries. Knowledge of pressure and air systems. Be familiar with electrical apparatus.

Officer's Cook OC

Pharmacist's Mate PhM
Take charge of sick bay. Do minor surgery and administer simple medicines.

Quartermaster QM
Steer ship and take soundings. Use range finder. Plot bearings. Know signal control and navigation. Send and receive International Code by blinker, searchlight and semaphore.

Radarman RdM
Stand radar watch and operate radar equipment.

Radio Electrician RE

Radio Technician RT
Maintain radio equipment.

Radioman RM
Transmit and receive radio messages. Encipher and decipher messages.

Seaman S
Know naval drill duties, knots, steering and signaling. Stand watch and gunnery duties.

Ship's Cook SC
Supervise and prepare cooking.

Signalman SM
Stand signal watch on bridge. Identify flags. Use blinker, searchlight and semaphore. Use range finder, searchlights, signal apparatus.

Steward St
Take charge of mess arrangements.

Steward's Mate StM Serve at table in officers' mess.

Storekeeper SK
Take charge of ship's storeroom. Issue and account for stock and clothing.

Torpedoman's Mate TM
Lubricate, assemble, charge and fire torpedoes. Lay mines and drop depth charges.

Warrant Officer WO

Yeoman
Take charge of ship's office. Take dictation, write Navy letters. Prepare reports and keep personnel records.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RESEARCHING:
Locate the man you are searching for in one of the alphabetical sections.
Note the Boat he is associated with.
For information about the last story of a Lost Boat, look in this website under:
BOAT MEMORIALS - A LIST and
52 Stories of WWII Boats which may be reached at:
http://www.subvetpaul.com/52BoatsIndex.htm
Most of the boats recorded in the alphabetical listings on this site should be amoung the Lost Boats.

Start your investigations with the first section which lists passengers lost on the USS R 12 (SS-89) and the USS SEAWOLF (SS-197)
Click on the appropriate links at the bottom of each page.