This is
a tale, of Submarine Lore.
We’ll
begin with a brave boat, the old S-Forty Four.
What
she thought was a maru, in the dark of the night.
Turned
into a destroyer, who gave her a fight.
The
S-Boat was courageous, she had come a long way.
Her
sailors' battle surfaced, and jumped into the fray.
Out-gunned
ten to one, she did all she could do.
Then
God in heaven took in, that gallant submarine crew.
The
Squalus and Sailfish, were one in the same.
The
Sculpin was there, in the tragedies, triumphs and fame.
A pilot
named Bush, was saved by the Finback.
Torpedoes
were tested, by "Red" Coe and the Skipjack
The
Torsk and her crew, made a formidable pair.
She
sank the last two, and did her fair share.
To this
day she sits quietly, in memory of war.
So pay
her a visit, if you're ever in Baltimore.
The
Halibut thanked Portsmouth, for a boat strongly built.
History
recalls "shots down the throat" and "shots up the
kilt."
War
patrols could be stressful, but every now and then.
Those
clever submariners, had some "depth charge medicine."
Tigrone
saved thirty-one, so they could fly another day.
In
September of 45, she was moored in Tokyo Bay.
She was
credited with firing, the last shots of the war.
And
went on to serve, for almost 30 years more.
Names
like Gilmore, Cromwell, Dealey and Street.
Have a
place of great honor, within the submarine fleet.
The
Seawolf, the Bowfin, the Robalo had heart.
The
tenders and relief crews, all did their part.
There
were other fearless boats, like the Ray and the Rasher.
The
Bluefish, the Batfish, the Flier and Flasher.
We’ve
heard the bell toll, for the Shark and the Amberjack.
The
Grenadier, Growler, Grampus and Grayback.
In
almost 4 years of war, 52 boats met their fate.
The
last being Bullhead, transiting Lombok Strait.
During
World War II, the "Silent Service" paid a dear cost.
And the
saddest words heard, were "overdue and presumed lost."
By John
Chaffey
SSN639, SSN687, SSBN619
