McClusky, C. Wade, Commander-
| Clarence Wade McClusky, Jr | |
|---|---|
McClusky in 1943-1944
| |
| Nickname(s) | Wade |
| Born | June 1, 1902 Buffalo, New York |
| Died | June 27, 1976 (aged 74) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1926–1956 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | VF-6 Enterprise Air Group USS Corregidor (CVE-58) NAS Glenview |
| Battles/wars |
World War II
|
| Awards | Navy Cross Presidential Unit Citation |
Rear Admiral Clarence Wade McClusky, Jr., (1 June 1902 – 27 June 1976) was a United States Navy aviator during World War II. He is credited with playing a major part in the Battle of Midway. In the words of Admiral Chester Nimitz, McClusky's decision to continue the search for the enemy and his judgment as to where the enemy might be found, "decided the fate of our carrier task force and our forces at Midway...".
[edit]
C. Wade McClusky, Jr. was born in Buffalo, New York, on 1 June 1902. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1926, the same class as Max Leslie, and became a Naval Aviator three years later. Over the next decade, he served in several air units, as well as on command staffs, as an instructor at the Naval Academy and at shore facilities. In 1940 he was assigned to Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6), based onUSS Enterprise, and assumed command of that squadron in April 1941.
Battle of Midway[edit]
Lieutenant Commander McClusky became Enterprise air groupcommander in April 1942. During the Battle of Midway, while leading his air group's scout bombers on 4 June 1942, he made the critical tactical decision that led to the sinking of two of Japan's fleet carriers, Kaga, and Akagi. When McClusky could not find the Japanese carriers where he expected them, and with his air group's fuel running dangerously low, he spotted the Japanese destroyer Arashi steaming north at flank speed. (The Arashi had stayed behind to attack the USS Nautilus, which had been harassing the Japanese fleet.) Taking the Arashi's heading led him directly to the enemy carriers. He then directed his dive-bombers into an attack which led to the destruction of both Kagaand Akagi. A squadron from the Yorktown, led by Max Leslie, had taken off an hour later, but it used a more recent, and hence more accurate, sighting for the location of the Japanese carriers. It arrived at the same moment as the Enterprise's bombers and attacked the Soryu, and within minutes, three of the four Japanese carriers had been turned into burning hulks. McClusky, through his intelligence, courage and sheer luck, had thus made a vital contribution to the outcome of this pivotal battle. For his actions, McClusky was awarded the Navy Cross. Later in World War II, he commanded the escort carrier USS Corregidor.
USS Nautilus- .
.jpg) | |
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Builder: | Mare Island Naval Shipyard[1] |
| Laid down: | 2 August 1927[1] |
| Launched: | 15 March 1930[1] |
| Commissioned: | 1 July 1930[1] |
| Decommissioned: | 30 June 1945[1] |
| Struck: | 25 July 1945[1] |
| Fate: | Sold for breaking up, 16 November 1945[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | V-5 (Narwhal)-class composite direct-drive diesel and diesel-electric submarine[2] |
| Displacement: | 2,730 long tons (2,770 t) surfaced, standard[3] 3,900 tons (4,000 t) submerged[3] |
| Length: | 349 ft (106 m) (waterline), 371 ft (113 m) (overall)[4] |
| Beam: | 33 ft 31⁄4 in (10.141 m)[3] |
| Draft: | 16 ft 111⁄4 in (5.163 m)[3] |
| Propulsion: |
As Built:
2 × shafts2 × BuEng-built, MAN-designed[5]direct-drive main diesel engines, 2,350 hp (1,750 kW) each, 2 × BuEng MAN[6] 300 kW (400 hp)[7] auxiliarydiesel generators,[8] 2 × 120-cell Exide ULS37batteries,[9] 2 × Westinghouse electric motors, 800 hp (600 kW) each[2][3] Re-engined 1941-42: 4 ×General Motors Winton Model 16-278A 16-cylinder two-cyclediesel-electric diesel engines, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) each,[6][10] 2 × GM Winton 8-268A 2-cycle auxiliary diesel generators, 300 kW (400 hp) each,[6][10] 2 × 120-cell Exide UHS39B batteries,[9] 2 × Westinghouse electric motors, 1,270 hp (950 kW) each, Fairbanks-Morse reduction gears,[9] |
| Speed: | 17.4 knots (32.2 km/h) surfaced, trial[2] 14 knots (26 km/h) surfaced, service[2] 8 knots (15 km/h) submerged[3] 6.5 knots (12.0 km/h) submerged, service, 1939[3] |
| Range: | 9,380 nautical miles (17,370 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h)[3] 25,000 nautical miles (46,000 km) at 5.7 knots (10.6 km/h) with fuel in mainballast tanks[3] |
| Endurance: | 10 hours at 5 knots (9 km/h)[3] (bunkerage 178,460–182,778 US gallons (675,540–691,890 L)[11] (as transport) 147,344 US gallons (557,758 l) diesel and 18,360 US gallons (69,500 l) gasoline |
| Test depth: | 300 ft (90 m)[3] |
| Complement: | (as built) 9 officers, 10 petty officers, 70 enlisted[3] (1942) 9 officers, 88 enlisted[11] (1943) 8 officers, 80 enlisted[11] |
| Armament: | 6 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (four forward, two aft; 24-26 internal torpedoes)[11] (four external tubes {two each bow and stern, four torpedoes} added 1941-42; provision for 8-12 additional torpedoes externally)[11] 2 × 6-inch (152 mm)/53 caliber Mark XII Mod. 2[11] wet type[11] deck guns[3] |
USS Nautilus (SF-9/SS-168), a Narwhal-class submarine and one of the "V-boats", was the third ship of the United States Navy to bear the name.[12] She was originally named and designated V-6 (SF-9), but was redesignated and given hull classification symbol SC-2 on 11 February 1925. Her keel was laid on 10 May 1927 by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard of Vallejo, California. She was launched on 15 March 1930 sponsored by Miss Joan Keesling, and commissioned on 1 July 1930 with Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Doyle, Jr. in command.
Design[edit]
The configuration of V-4, V-5, and V-6 resulted from an evolving strategic concept that increasingly emphasized the possibility of a naval war with Japan in the far western Pacific. This factor, and the implications of the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty, suggested the need for long-range submarine "cruisers", or "strategic scouts", as well as long-range minelayers, for which long endurance, not high speed, was most important. The design was possibly influenced by the German "U-cruisers" of the Type U-139 and Type U-151 U-boat classes, althoughV-4, V-5, and V-6 were all larger than these. A raised gun platform was provided around the conning tower, and deck stowage for spare torpedoes was included under the platform and in the superstructure. V-6 and her near-sisters V-4 (Argonaut) and V-5 (Narwhal) were initially designed with larger and more powerful MAN-designed diesel engines than the Busch-Sulzer engines that propelled earlier V-boats, which were failures. Unfortunately, the specially-built engines failed to produce their design power, and some developed dangerous crankcase explosions. The engineering plant was replaced in 1941-42.[6]
The as-built engine specifications were two BuEng-built, MAN-designed[5] direct-drive 10-cylinder 4-cycle main diesel engines, 2,350 hp (1,750 kW) each, with two BuEng MAN[6] 4-cycle 6-cylinder auxiliary diesel engines, 450 hp (340 kW) each, driving 300 kW (400 hp)[7] electrical generators.[8] The auxiliary engines were for charging batteries or for increased surface speed via a diesel-electricsystem providing power to the main electric motors.
Inter-War Period[edit]
V-6 operated out of New London, conducting special submergence tests, until March 1931. She was renamed Nautilus on 19 February and given hull number SS-168 on 1 July. She proceeded to Pearl Harborwhere she became flagship of Submarine Division 12 (SubDiv 12). Reassigned to SubDiv 13 at San Diego, California, 1935–1938, then re-homeported at Pearl Harbor, she maintained a regular schedule of training activities and fleet exercises and problems throughout the decade. In July 1941, she entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard for modernization — radio equipment, external torpedo tubes (two bow and two stern-firing in the gun deck),[11] re-engining (with four Winton diesels),[13] and air conditioning — until the following spring.
First patrol — the Battle of Midway[edit]
She departed San Francisco, California, on 21 April 1942, reaching Pearl Harbor on 28 April. On 24 May, Nautilus (commanded by Lieutenant Commander William H. Brockman, Jr.) got underway for her first war patrol, to Midway Island to help repel the expected attack by the Japanese fleet.
At 07:55, 4 June, while approaching the northern boundary of her patrol area near Midway Island, she sighted masts on the horizon. Japanese planes sighted the submarine at the same time and began strafing. After diving to 100 feet (30 m), she continued observation. At 08:00, a formation of four enemy ships was sighted: the battleship Kirishima,[14]the cruiser Nagara,[15] and two destroyers (misidentified, as they often were early in the war, as cruisers)[16] in company. Within minutes the submarine was again sighted from the air and was bombed. Two of the "cruisers" closed for a kill and nine depth charges were dropped at a distance of about 1,000 yards (910 m).
When the attack ceased, Nautilus rose to periscope depth. Ships surrounded her. Sighting on Kirishima, she fired two bow tubes; one misfired, one missed. At 08:30, a destroyer immediately headed for the boat, which dove to 150 feet (46 m) to wait out the depth charge attack. At 08:46, periscope depth was again ordered. The cruiser and two of the destroyers were now out of range; echo ranging by the third appeared too accurate for comfort. At 09:00, the periscope was raised again and an aircraft carrier was sighted. Nautilus changed course to close for an attack. The enemy destroyer followed suit and at 09:18 attacked with six depth charges.
By 09:55 echo ranging ceased and Nautilus raised her periscope. The carrier, her escorts, and the attacking destroyer had disappeared. (Unknown to her skipper at the time, the counterattacking Japanese destroyer Arashi, in his rush to rejoin the carrier, was tracked by Enterprise's VB-6, led by Wade McClusky, back to the Japanese task force.) At 12:53, a damaged aircraft carrier with two escorts was sighted. The carrier was identified as Sōryū, but later research suggests it was probably Kaga. An hour later, Nautilus had moved into attack position. Between 13:59 and 14:05, after the battle was largely over, Nautilus launched four torpedoes at the carrier from less than 3,000 yards (2,700 m). One failed to run, two ran erratically, and the fourth was a dud (a familiar problem for the Mark XIV), impacting amidships and breaking in half.[17] Nautilus reported flames appeared along the length of the ship as the first hit, and the skeleton crew which had been aboard (survivors of which reported no torpedo hit) began going over the side, with the air bottle of the dud torpedo acting as a life preserver for Japanese sailors.
Nautilus went to 300 feet (91 m) as a prolonged depth charge attack commenced. At 16:10, the submarine rose to periscope depth. The carrier, burning along her entire length, had been abandoned. At 19:41, Nautilus resumed her patrol, having expended five torpedoes and survived 42 depth charges, but accomplished little of substance. (Not until much later was the importance of her attack on the battleship, and its connection to McClusky, recognized.)[18] Her commanding officer was awarded a Navy Cross for his actions.
Between 7 June and 9 June, Nautilus replenished at Midway Island and then resumed her patrol to the west. By 20 June, she was operating off Honshū at the northern end of the Tokyo-Marshall Islands supply route. On 22 June, she damaged a destroyer guarding the entrance to the Sagami Sea off Ōshima. Three days later, she sank the destroyer Yamakaze and damaged an oil tanker. On 27 June, she sent a sampan to the bottom and on 28 June, after damaging a merchantman, underwent her severest depth charging, which forced her back to Pearl Harbor for repairs, 11 July to 7 August.
Arashi-
Arashi underway in December 1940.
| |
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Arashi |
| Launched: | 22 April 1940 |
| Commissioned: | 25 November 1940 |
| Struck: | 15 October 1943 |
| Fate: | Sunk in action, 7 August 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Kagerō-class destroyer |
| Displacement: | 2,490 long tons (2,530 t) |
| Length: | 118.5 m (388 ft 9 in) |
| Beam: | 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in) |
| Draft: | 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Speed: | 35 knots (40 mph; 65 km/h) |
| Complement: | 240 |
| Armament: | • 6 × 5 in (127 mm)/50 caliber DPguns • up to 28 × 25 mm AA guns • up to 4 × 13 mm AA guns • 8 × 24 in (610 mm) torpedo tubes • 36 depth charges |
| Service record | |
| Operations: | Battle of Vella Gulf (1943) |
| Victories: | USS Asheville (1942) |
Arashi played a vital role in World War II by inadvertently guiding US attack planes to the Japanese carrier fleet at the Battle of Midway.Arashi had become separated from the Japanese carrier force while attempting to destroy an American submarine, the USS Nautilus. Following her attacks on the Nautilus the Arashi steamed at high speed to rejoin the group. All four IJN carriers were sunk by Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers of the carriers USS Yorktown andUSS Enterprise, giving the US a decisive victory and checking Japanese momentum in the Pacific War.
Early Operations[edit]
On 3 March 1942 Arashi assisted in sinking the gunboat USS Asheville.
Midway[edit]
Main article: Battle of Midway
Arashi is most famous for its involvement in the Battle of Midway. Providing escort to the carrier group, the destroyer was alerted to the presence of an approaching U.S. submarine, the USS Nautilus, when a Japanese Zero Fighter dived and fired machine guns on the Nautilus as it came to periscope depth. Arashi spotted the encounter and began to drop depth charges. The Japanese Task force changed course while the Arashi continued its attack on the Nautilus. Having kept Nautilus down long enough that she no longer was a threat, the captain of the Arashi finally broke off the attack and steamed north to rejoin the carrier group. As two squadrons of dive bombers from Enterprise searched above for the Japanese Task Force, the Arashi was spotted making great speed to the north. The ship's speed created a long wake, which acted as a direction arrow to the American aviators, guiding them to the Japanese carriers. Meanwhile, Japanese fighter aircraft protecting the carriers had been pulled away as they all attempted to engage an incoming torpedo attack from Hornet's VT-8 torpedo squad. At the moment of decision, the Japanese carriers were essentially without high air cover. This made for an uncontested approach for the American dive bombers. TheEnterprise dive bombers happened to arrive over the Japanese carriers Kaga and Akagi unimpeded, scoring multiple hits on Kaga and a single hit on Akagi that doomed both ships.[1]
During the battle the Arashi is known to have picked up one of the downed airman from the Yorktown. He had been made to provide the Japanese with a general description of the make-up of the force they had been fighting against, the only clear description of the American carrier forces the Japanese obtained during the battle. According to Adm Chuici Nagumo's battle report, the airman died the day following his recovery and was buried at sea. Among other facts the Japanese learned, the report indicated the pilot had been from Chicago.[2][3] This was in fact Ens. Wesley Osmus, one of the TBD pilots of VT-3. Osmus was flying the last plane in VT-3s formation, and thus was first to be attacked and destroyed as they made their approach. Osmus was picked up later on 4 June and buried 5 June. A U.S. Naval investigation after the war interviewed witnesses who reported that after his interrogation Osmus had been taken to the stern of Arashi and struck in the back of the neck with a fire axe. He clung briefly to the railing, and then was pushed overboard into the sea.[4][5] An attempt was made to find the captain of the Arashi and try him for war crimes, but it was discovered that he had died later in the conflict, and the matter was set aside.
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