This Legendary Hunter-Killer Submarine Fired the Final Shots of World War II

The USS Torsk (SS-423)

In Baltimore’s harbor sits a real shark of the sea. The USS Torsk earned her stripes in World War II, sinking the last enemy ships of the war just hours before Japan quit. She went on to become one of our craftiest Cold War spies.

Here’s the journey of the Galloping Ghost of the Japanese Coast.

The Submarine That Ended The War

The USS Torsk was laid down at Portsmouth Navy Yard on June 7, 1944, launched on September 6, and commissioned on December 16, 1944.

As a Tench-class submarine, she featured the best submarine design improvements of the war, stretching 311 feet 8 inches long with a beam of 27 feet 4 inches.

Named after a cod-like fish from the North Atlantic, the “Galloping Ghost of the Japanese Coast” was among just ten submarines of her class to fight in World War II.

She displaced 1,570 tons on the surface and 2,414 tons submerged. The Navy built only 29 Tench-class submarines out of 80 originally planned.

Today, Torsk is one of only two Tench-class submarines still in the United States.

Preparing For The Pacific Fight

The Torsk started with tough training out of Portsmouth, Newport, and New London until February 11, 1945.

Crews practiced diving, torpedo attacks, and emergency drills, working with other vessels to perfect their combat skills.

The submarine ran torpedo trials at Newport, Rhode Island on January 21, 1945, before heading to Port Everglades, Florida on February 16.

There, she helped develop better sonar systems and anti-submarine tactics.

These experiments helped both wartime operations and advanced techniques that would be used throughout the Cold War.

When her Florida assignment ended, Torsk got ready for the long journey to the Pacific war zone.

Journey To The War Zone

On February 20, 1945, Torsk left Florida and began her long voyage to the Pacific. She reached the Panama Canal Zone on February 25, passed through the strategic waterway, and continued west on March 6 across the open Pacific.

The submarine arrived in Hawaii on March 23, 1945, where she underwent repairs and additional training. Pearl Harbor, still showing scars from the Japanese attack, became her staging base before entering combat.

Torsk spent nearly a month there, drilling with USS Billfish, USS Staff, USS Florikan, and USS PGM-21 on April 8, 1945. The crew used this time to perfect their skills and prepare their vessel for the dangerous waters around Japan.

Searching For Downed Airmen

Torsk left Pearl Harbor on April 16, 1945, for her first war patrol, stopping at Guam before reaching Kii Suido near Japan on May 11.

Her first job was lifeguard duty, looking for American pilots who might be shot down during bombing runs over Japan.

Though no airmen needed rescue, this duty showed how air and sea forces worked together.

Bomber crews flew more boldly knowing submarines waited below to pick them up if they were shot down.

On May 11, the submarine moved to northeast Honshu. She made radio contact with submarines Sand Lance and Cero on May 16 and joined their wolf pack, nicknamed “Lewellen’s Looters.”

For over two weeks, they hunted Japanese ships but found only mines in the increasingly empty shipping lanes.

The Enemy That Got Away

While cruising between Honshu and Hokkaido on June 2, 1945, Torsk spotted her first target.

It was a Japanese coastal minelayer, a dangerous vessel that laid mines to damage Allied ships.

The submarine fired six torpedoes at the enemy ship, hoping for her first kill. Despite careful aim, the quick-moving minelayer dodged all six torpedoes.

Expecting depth charges in return, Torsk dove deep and went silent. Surprisingly, no counterattack came.

Two days later on June 4, while patrolling off Kobe Saki, she fired four more torpedoes at a 700-ton freighter but missed again.

These misses were common in submarine warfare, with many torpedoes failing to hit due to equipment problems or evasive maneuvers.

The Only Sub To Sink A Train

During her June patrols along Japan’s coast, Torsk pulled off one of the strangest feats in submarine warfare.

On June 2, 1945, the crew spotted a Japanese ship unloading oil at a dock. They fired torpedoes at the tanker.

According to torpedoman Don Lichty’s firsthand account, the torpedoes missed the ship but hit a nearby train trestle.

By pure chance, a freight train loaded with ammunition was crossing at that exact moment.

The explosion destroyed the train, its ammunition cargo, and the entire trestle. This bizarre incident made Torsk the only American submarine to ever sink a train.

During this same patrol, the crew got rare chances to come up on deck, even seeing Mount Fuji in the distance.

Secret Weapons For Second Patrol

After finishing her first war patrol, Torsk returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving on June 16, 1945. Despite several attacks, she hadn’t sunk any enemy vessels.

The patrol provided valuable combat experience, but the crew wanted success. At Pearl Harbor, Torsk received new equipment to boost her fighting power.

The submarine was loaded with experimental Mark 28 “Cutie” acoustic homing torpedoes, cutting-edge weapons being used in combat for the first time.

On July 17, 1945, with her refit complete and new weapons aboard, Torsk left Pearl Harbor for her second patrol.

She trained with USS Coolbaugh, USS Pruitt, USS Howard, and other vessels on July 8 to prepare for battle.

After stopping at Guam in early August, Torsk and USS Devilfish departed on August 2 with USS SC-1275 as escort, heading for a dangerous mission—entering the heavily mined Sea of Japan.

Braving The Deadly Minefield

On August 10, 1945, Torsk attempted one of submarine warfare’s most dangerous moves—crossing through a known minefield.

Using advanced FM sonar to detect mines, the submarine carefully navigated the dangerous Tsushima Strait between Korea and Japan.

This narrow channel was heavily guarded with mines and patrol boats, but gave access to the Sea of Japan, where Japanese ships sailed with less fear of American submarines.

The successful crossing showed the crew’s skill and the submarine’s advanced technology. The next day, August 11, Torsk found seven Japanese sailors clinging to a liferaft.

Their ship, the Koue Maru, had been sunk days earlier by American planes.

In a humane act during wartime, the submarine rescued the survivors before continuing her patrol in waters that had been relatively safe for Japanese shipping until late in the war.

Finally Drawing Blood

On the morning of August 12, 1945, while submerged near Dogo Island, Torsk spotted a small coastal freighter.

This time, her attack succeeded—a well-aimed torpedo struck the vessel, sinking it and giving Torsk her first confirmed kill.

The next day, August 13, brought more action as Torsk patrolled off Ando Saki. After moving through numerous fishing boats, she found another small freighter, the Kaiho Maru.

Again, her torpedoes hit the mark, and the 873-ton vessel sank at position 36°17’N, 136°09’E off western Honshu.

Later that same day, Torsk tried to sink a larger cargo ship entering Wakasa Wan harbor. She had to navigate through 75 fishing boats while chasing the target.

Though her torpedoes missed this time, the submarine skillfully evaded the enemy escort and continued hunting, showing both offensive power and tactical smarts

Two Frigates Down, War Ends

On the morning of August 14, 1945—a day that would make history—Torsk spotted a medium-sized cargo ship off Amarube Saki, near Kasumi in Hyogo Prefecture.

The freighter traveled with a 745-ton Kaibokan-class patrol escort, an appealing military target.

At exactly 10:35 AM, as the ships approached Kasumi Ko, Torsk fired one of her new Mark 28 torpedoes at the escort vessel, Kaibokan No. 13.

The acoustic torpedo hit hard, bending its stern up at a 30-degree angle. The ship sank at position 35°44’N, 134°38’E.

Around noon, a second Kaibokan (No. 47) arrived to help. Continuing her attack, Torsk fired another Mark 28 torpedo at the new arrival.

She then dove to 400 feet and launched a passive acoustic Mark 27 torpedo.

Both weapons hit their target at position 35°41’N, 134°38’E.

These became the last Japanese warships sunk by the U.S. Navy in World War II, though historical records disagree on the exact sequence of events.

Seven Hours Of Silent Running

After her successful attack on August 14, Torsk faced immediate danger. Japanese patrol vessels and aircraft swarmed the area, forcing the submarine to dive to 400 feet (120 m) to hide.

For more than seven hours, the crew maintained “silent running,” with minimal movement and careful control of all mechanical systems.

The smallest noise could reveal their position to Japanese anti-submarine forces hunting above.

The crew didn’t know that world-changing events were unfolding as they hid.

Emperor Hirohito was preparing Japan’s surrender after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9.

On August 15, 1945, after surfacing, Torsk received the news that Japan had surrendered.

The war was over, and Torsk finished her historic second patrol at Guam on September 9, 1945.

From World War To Cold War

After World War II, Torsk began a new chapter as the world entered the Cold War.

She switched between training sailors at the Navy’s Submarine School in New London, Connecticut and active duty in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

In 1952, Torsk received a Fleet Snorkel conversion, letting her run diesel engines while at periscope depth.

She also tested equipment for the Regulus missile system in the mid-1950s, helping develop America’s nuclear deterrent capability. During her Cold War service, Torsk earned important honors.

She received a Presidential Unit Citation specifically for her role in the 1960 Lebanon Crisis and joined the training exercise “New Broom X” with British Commonwealth navies.

During the tense Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, Torsk helped enforce the naval blockade, earning the Navy Commendation Medal.

By her retirement in 1968, she had completed 10,600 dives, a world record for American submarines.

Walk Through Submarine History Today

Today, the USS Torsk gives visitors a real look at submarine warfare and naval history.

As you walk from stern to bow, you’ll see the cramped quarters where over 80 sailors lived, often turning sideways just to pass each other.

The torpedo rooms show the submarine’s main weapons, including the tubes that fired the war’s final torpedoes.

Visitors can explore the navigation station, control room, engine room, crew’s mess, and sleeping areas, all kept as they were during service.

The museum holds about 50,000 artifacts, photos, and documents telling the story of the submarine and her crew.

Look for the submarine’s logo on the sail, redesigned in the 1950s by Walt Disney Company artists.

The self-guided tour usually takes 30-45 minutes, and sometimes former crew members visit to share firsthand stories about life aboard.

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor Submarine

The USS Torsk is docked at 501 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD 21202, at Pier 3 in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, next to the National Aquarium and Lightship Chesapeake.

The submarine became a National Historic Landmark on January 14, 1986, and is part of the Historic Ships in Baltimore collection.

You can buy a “boarding pass” that lets you visit all open museum ships and exhibits. These passes stay valid until used, so you can see different ships on different days.

Groups of ten or more get special rates, and guided tours can be arranged by appointment.

The Torsk Volunteer Association works with Historic Ships in Baltimore to maintain and restore the vessel for future generations.

The museum offers educational programs and overnight stays aboard the submarine for a complete experience.

Check the Historic Ships in Baltimore website for current hours and ticket prices.

Remember that the ships and gift shops only take cards, not cash.

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