The triple submarine kill that made the USS Batfish a WWII legend

USS Batfish

The USS Batfish made naval history in February 1945. This American submarine sank three Japanese submarines in just 76 hours during World War II.

Commander John K. “Jake” Fyfe led Batfish on her sixth war patrol from Pearl Harbor on December 30, 1944. Before leaving, the submarine got 67 upgrades and a new 5-inch deck gun during a quick 16-day overhaul.

The 312-foot Balao-class submarine carried ten torpedo tubes and 80 men as it headed toward the South China Sea.

Patrolling the Babuyan Channel

On February 2, 1945, Batfish received orders to patrol the Babuyan Channel north of Luzon in the Philippines. American intelligence had learned about a Japanese plan.

Four enemy submarines were going to evacuate experienced pilots from Aparri on northern Luzon to Formosa (now Taiwan). These skilled airmen were too valuable for Japan to lose.

Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Miwa ordered these submarines on February 4 to prepare for this mission by first stopping at Takao, Formosa. Batfish waited in these waters with radar equipment that could detect both vessels and enemy radar signals.

First Contact with RO-55

Action began at 10:50 PM on February 9. Batfish’s radar picked up a contact 11,000 yards away, moving northwest from Aparri toward Formosa.

Commander Fyfe tracked the target and fired four torpedoes at 11:31 PM. All missed. Fyfe kept hunting.

By midnight on February 10, Batfish closed to 1,020 yards. From the bridge, Fyfe spotted the shape of a Japanese submarine cutting through the dark water.

Sinking the First Submarine

Batfish fired four more torpedoes at 12:02 AM on February 10. The first torpedo malfunctioned inside the tube.

The second hit, creating a bright red explosion that lit up the night sea. The Japanese submarine RO-55 broke apart and sank immediately.

This submarine wasn’t actually part of the evacuation mission but had been at Aparri delivering ammunition. When American forces advanced, RO-55 tried to escape north but ran directly into Batfish’s path.

Surviving Friendly Fire

Later that day, Batfish spotted American planes approaching. Four fighters and a PBY Catalina patrol plane flew overhead.

Batfish submerged and made radio contact with the flight leader. Suddenly, sonar detected a torpedo coming toward them. The submarine dove deeper, barely avoiding the weapon as it passed overhead.

Commander Fyfe realized this was friendly fire. The American planes had mistaken Batfish for an enemy submarine and attacked. This dangerous mistake nearly ended Batfish’s mission before her greatest achievements.

Detecting RO-112 on Radar

Another opportunity came at 7:51 PM on February 11. Batfish’s radar found a contact 8,000 yards away.

At the same time, the submarine’s special equipment detected enemy radar signals. By 8:37 PM, Batfish closed to 1,300 yards. Crew members confirmed it was another Japanese submarine.

This was RO-112, traveling from Formosa to Luzon as part of the pilot rescue mission. Just as Batfish prepared to attack, RO-112 suddenly dove underwater at 8:43 PM.

Sinking the Second Submarine

At 9:05 PM, Batfish’s underwater microphones heard the sounds of a submarine rising to the surface. RO-112 reappeared at 9:06 PM, unaware it was being hunted.

Batfish submerged to radar depth and moved into firing position. At 10:02 PM, from 880 yards away, Batfish fired four electric torpedoes.

The first torpedo struck RO-112, destroying it instantly. All 61 Japanese crew members were lost when the submarine sank.

Using Radar to Track the Enemy

Batfish’s success came from smart use of advanced radar. Their SJ radar could find ships up to 20 miles away. Even more important was their radar detector.

This device could tell when Japanese submarines were using their own radar, turning the enemy’s technology against them. Japanese submarines never considered that Americans might detect these signals.

Commander Fyfe used this advantage to track enemy submarines even after they went underwater. He could predict where they would resurface based on their last known path and speed.

Finding the Third Submarine

Early on February 13, just after 2:15 AM, Batfish’s radar detected a third submarine 10,700 yards away near Babuyan Island. This was RO-113, traveling from Formosa to Luzon like the others.

It carried little weaponry since space was cleared for evacuees. At 2:41 AM, the contact disappeared as RO-113 submerged.

Commander Fyfe, now experienced at this game, positioned Batfish to be ready when the Japanese submarine came back up.

Sinking the Third Submarine

RO-113 surfaced at 3:10 AM. Batfish spotted it again at 9,800 yards. By 4:12 AM, Batfish submerged with the Japanese submarine 6,800 yards away.

This time, Batfish would use stern torpedoes since the front tubes needed reloading. At 4:48 AM, Batfish fired three torpedoes from a range of 1,500 yards.

The first torpedo hit RO-113, creating a bright yellow fireball. The explosion likely ignited ammunition aboard the submarine. All 59 crew members were lost.

The Record-Setting Achievement

In just 76 hours, USS Batfish sank three Japanese submarines, setting a World War II record no other submarine matched. The three victims were similar submarines, each about 200 feet long with crews of 55-61 men.

All fell prey to Batfish’s radar technology and Commander Fyfe’s smart tactics. By tracking enemy radar signals, Fyfe developed a reliable hunting method.

This turned submarines that normally hunted others into targets themselves. For this remarkable achievement, USS Batfish received the Presidential Unit Citation. Commander Fyfe earned the Navy Cross for his exceptional skill.

Visiting USS Batfish War Memorial Park

The USS Batfish Memorial in Muskogee, Oklahoma displays the actual submarine that sank three Japanese submarines in 76 hours.

Inside the submarine, visitors can see the radar room where Commander Fyfe tracked enemy vessels and the torpedo rooms where crews loaded the weapons that made history.

The museum includes detailed exhibits about the February 1945 patrol with maps showing where each Japanese submarine was sunk. Original artifacts from the submarine’s service include torpedoes, uniforms, and navigation equipment.

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