Why a Japanese submarine opened fire on this quiet stretch of California coast

Japanese Submarine Sinks SS Montebello Off Cambria

Just 16 days after Pearl Harbor, war came to California’s coast. The oil tanker SS Montebello left Port San Luis at 2:00 a.m. on December 23, 1941, with Captain Eckstrom at the helm.

By dawn, Japanese submarine I-21 had found them. A torpedo hit at 5:55 a.m. , then shell fire blew off the bow.

As the ship sank, all 38 crew fled in lifeboats while the sub fired at them. Hours later, Eckstrom’s bullet-riddled boat capsized near shore.

Brave Cambria locals rushed in to save the men from the surf.

Today, the Cambria Historical Museum tells this tale of war and rescue through Tom Gould’s striking painting “The Sinking of the S. S. Montebello.

Japanese Submarine I-21 Stalked California’s Coast After Pearl Harbor

The Japanese submarine I-21 hunted along California’s coast in December 1941 under Commander Kanji Matsumura. Fear of enemy subs scared the original captain of the SS Montebello so badly he quit right before departure.

First Mate Olof Eckstrom took over, leading the Union Oil Company tanker loaded with 75,346 barrels of crude oil. The Montebello left Port San Luis at 2:00 a.m. on December 23, 1941, heading for Vancouver.

This was just 16 days after Pearl Harbor, with war fears running high along the West Coast.

Watchman Srez Spotted The Enemy Sub In Predawn Darkness

William Srez kept watch aboard the Montebello. At 5:30 a.m. , he saw something scary – the Japanese submarine I-21 breaking the surface about four miles off Cambria’s coast. The crew took extra care because of rumors about Japanese submarines nearby.

They even zigzagged their path to avoid torpedo attacks.

But the early morning darkness limited visibility, and they had almost no time to escape once they spotted the sub.

Two Torpedoes Raced Toward The Helpless Oil Tanker

Commander Matsumura fired two torpedoes from 2,190 yards away at 5:55 a. m., trying to sink the American ship. One torpedo turned out to be a dud, but the other hit the ship’s number 2 hold.

By chance, this was the only empty storage tank on the entire vessel. The blast tore through the ship but didn’t ignite the thousands of oil barrels.

Sleeping crew members woke suddenly as the impact threw them from their bunks.

The Submarine Surfaced To Finish Off Its Prey

I-21 rose from the water to complete its attack on the damaged tanker. The Japanese crew fired between eight and ten shells from the deck gun with great aim.

One shell blew the Montebello’s bow off, making the ship sink faster. Water rushed into the damaged vessel as it started to tip to one side.

The crew hurried to ready lifeboats while the ship tilted more every minute.

Captain Eckstrom Kept His Cool As The Ship Went Down

Captain Eckstrom told all 38 crew members to leave the sinking tanker as water filled the lower decks. Four lifeboats dropped into the rough Pacific waters as men climbed down ropes to safety.

During the chaos, the crew stayed calm and followed orders.

The ship leaned badly to one side as the last men got off, but they grabbed some emergency supplies before leaving the doomed vessel.

Bullets Sprayed The Water Around Fleeing Survivors

The Japanese submarine turned its machine guns on the escaping lifeboats, trying to kill the American sailors. Bullets hit the water all around them, but not a single crew member got shot during this attack.

Captain Eckstrom’s lifeboat took several hits and began leaking badly. The submarine circled the area before finally leaving to seek more targets.

From their lifeboats, the crew watched their ship sink at 6:45 a. m., less than an hour after the torpedo hit.

Six Hours Of Rowing In A Leaky Boat Tested Their Limits

Eckstrom and his men faced a tough journey in their damaged lifeboat.

They rowed for six hard hours toward land while constantly scooping water out of their bullet-riddled craft. The other three lifeboats got lost in the choppy seas.

As they finally saw the California coastline, they headed for what turned out to be Cambria’s shore. Cold, tired, and wet, the men pushed through exhaustion to reach safety.

The Final Challenge Came In Cambria’s Dangerous Surf

Around noon, Captain Eckstrom’s battered lifeboat neared Cambria’s beach after the long journey. Just as safety seemed close, strong waves flipped their already damaged boat in the breaking surf.

Captain Eckstrom nearly drowned as the current pulled him under.

All six men from the lifeboat fell into the churning water as their small craft broke apart in the waves.

Brave Locals Formed Human Chains To Save The Sailors

People in Cambria saw the trouble from shore and jumped into action. Regular folks ran into the dangerous surf to help the struggling sailors.

They formed human chains, linking arms to reach the men tossed around in the powerful waves. Thanks to their quick help, all six men from Eckstrom’s lifeboat made it safely to dry land.

Cambria families opened their homes, giving the sailors dry clothes and hot food after their ordeal.

Tugboats Alma and Cayucos Rescued The Other Survivors

The three other lifeboats with 33 crew members still floated somewhere on the open ocean. Tugboats Alma and Cayucos headed out to search after news of the attack spread.

The tugboat crews found all the remaining survivors and pulled them safely aboard. They brought the rescued sailors to the town of Cayucos, where they joined their shipmates.

Radio operators spread word of the attack up and down the California coast, putting other ships on high alert.

Not A Single Life Lost In The Daring Attack And Rescue

All 38 crew members of the SS Montebello lived through the submarine attack and made it back to shore.

Captain Eckstrom spoke highly of the people who saved them, saying they acted like true American seamen – orderly, efficient, and calm under pressure.

The attack showed Californians that World War II had reached their doorstep. The Montebello itself sat untouched on the ocean floor for decades after sinking.

Researchers checked the wreck in 2011 and found that the oil tanks never leaked their cargo into the ocean.

Visiting Cambria, California

The Cambria Historical Museum at 2251 Center Street tells the story of the SS Montebello rescue through rotating exhibits about local maritime history and WWII events.

It’s open Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM with free admission.

For more about the rescue, drive 30 minutes to Morro Bay Maritime Museum at 1210 Embarcadero to see the tugboat Alma that saved Montebello survivors. It’s open Thursday-Monday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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