The WWII American sub that rose from the deep to burn Japanese boats

USS Drum’s Daring Sampan Attack Near Palau

The USS Drum had an odd job on July 29, 1944. While on patrol near Palau, the sub spotted two Japanese fishing boats.

Commander Rindskopf gave the order to surface. His crew then fired their deck gun at the wooden vessel from over two miles away.

They soon closed in, guns blazing, as the sampan burned stem to stern. Most Japanese in the water chose death over capture.

Yet two men, Chono Natsumori and Keiei Shimochi, came aboard as prisoners.

Today, the USS Drum rests at Battleship Memorial Park in Alabama, where you can walk through the actual submarine that made this daring surface attack during its tenth war patrol.

The Drum Sets Sail for Its Tenth Pacific Mission

The USS Drum left Pearl Harbor on June 24, 1944, ready for more action. Lt. Commander Maurice H. Rindskopf took charge of this Gato-class submarine for its tenth combat patrol.

The Navy gave Drum lifeguard duty near the Palau Islands to rescue downed American pilots.

Built in 1941 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the Drum had already made a name for itself by attacking Japanese shipping lanes throughout the Pacific.

Sharp-Eyed Lookouts Spot Unexpected Targets

On July 29, 1944, lookouts on the USS Drum spotted two Japanese sampans about 100 nautical miles northwest of Palau. The crew found them at coordinates 09°18’N, 133°20’E.

They quickly spotted the larger vessel as “Number One Nissyo Maru,” a 25-ton wooden fishing boat. The smaller sampan moved alongside it, both unaware of the American submarine watching them through the periscope.

Rindskopf Makes a Quick Call to Attack

Lt. Commander Rindskopf ordered the crew to surface and attack the sampans.

The klaxon rang throughout the submarine as sailors rushed to battle stations. The crew chose to use the deck gun instead of wasting torpedoes on these small targets.

Rindskopf saw a chance to hurt Japanese supply lines while keeping up their rescue duties. The men moved fast, knowing time was short once they broke the surface.

Deck Guns Roar to Life Against the Wooden Vessels

The Drum broke the surface and fired its 4-inch deck gun from 3,800 yards away. Gunners aimed at the larger sampan first, hitting its wooden hull several times.

The smaller boat tried to escape as water splashed around both vessels.

The gun crew worked smoothly, loading and firing with skill gained from months of training and combat. Each shot brought them closer to another win in the vast Pacific.

Gunners Close In for the Kill

The submarine moved to within 1,000 yards of the damaged sampan to finish it off. Sailors fired the 20mm and .30 caliber machine guns, spraying the vessel with bullets.

The gunners aimed for the sampan’s wheelhouse and engine to disable it completely.

The wooden boat stood no chance against the firepower of the American submarine. Men cheered as each burst hit the target.

Flames Engulf the Doomed Japanese Boat

Fire spread quickly across the Number One Nissyo Maru from front to back. Fuel drums and ammo stored onboard created explosions that tore through the wooden structure.

Between 20 and 25 Japanese crew and passengers jumped overboard to escape the fire. The water around the burning boat filled with debris and swimming survivors.

Black smoke rose into the clear blue sky, visible for miles around.

Survivors Float Among the Wreckage

The Drum moved carefully toward the floating survivors, ready to take prisoners. Most Japanese in the water refused help from the American submarine.

Some swam away, choosing possible death at sea over capture. Others held onto floating wreckage, watching as the steel hull of the Drum came closer.

The submarine crew kept weapons ready, knowing even shipwrecked sailors might try to fight.

Two Japanese Men Choose Survival Over Death

Two tired Japanese men finally accepted rescue from the American submariners. The crew learned they were Chono Natsumori and Keiei Shimochi after they came aboard.

Language barriers made talking hard, with hand signs and basic words the only way to communicate. These two became the first prisoners ever taken aboard the USS Drum during the war.

The other Japanese survivors vanished into the vast Pacific.

Life Aboard a Submarine with Enemy Prisoners

The crew treated Natsumori and Shimochi according to POW rules. Medics checked them for injuries and gave them clean clothes and food.

Armed guards watched the prisoners at all times in a set area of the submarine. Intelligence officers tried to get information through basic translation.

The Japanese men got used to life on an enemy submarine, surrounded by Americans in the tight space underwater.

The Drum Heads Home with Its Human Cargo

After the sampan attack, the submarine kept patrolling for nearly two more weeks. The Drum left its patrol area on August 10, 1944, and reached Pearl Harbor four days later.

Upon arrival, the crew handed Natsumori and Shimochi to intelligence officers waiting on shore. The patrol earned the submarine crew another Combat Insignia.

Sailors enjoyed short shore leave before getting ready for their next mission.

A Footnote in Submarine Warfare History

The Navy never counted the sampan among the Drum’s official tally of 15 Japanese vessels sunk during the war. Still, the prisoners provided valuable insights about Japanese coastal operations and shipping patterns.

Few American submarines captured live prisoners during World War II, making this encounter historically significant.

The USS Drum went on to complete twelve war patrols before the war ended, and today sits as a museum ship in Mobile, Alabama, where visitors can walk the decks where this unusual capture took place.

Visiting USS Drum (SS-228), USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park

You can explore the USS Drum submarine at Battleship Memorial Park on 2703 Battleship Pkwy in Mobile, Alabama.

This is the world’s oldest American WWII submarine open to the public, where you can learn about the July 1944 Japanese sampan rescue mission that captured survivors Chono Natsumori and Keiei Shimochi.

Admission costs $15 for adults plus $4 parking, and your ticket includes access to the USS Alabama and Aircraft Pavilion. The park opens daily 8am to 5pm.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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