The Wolfpack that Obliterated a Japanese Fleet in Less than 30 Minutes

The lookouts saw nothing. The radar spotted nothing. And the skipper aboard the USS Parche submarine was desperate and restless to find the elusive Japanese convoy in the South China Sea.

The commanding officer hopped back and forth between the radar screen in the conning and plot tables in the control room until they finally found it.

Commander Lawson "Red" Ramage then cleared the bridge and steamed directly into the enemy formation up on the surface while maneuvering between the ships. In the words of author Clay Drewry Blair Jr.: (QUOTE) "With consummate seamanship and coolness under fire, Ramage dodged and twisted."

The commander then opened fire, and the enemy answered with deck guns and even tried to ram the sneaky submarine. But Ramage was determined to cause as much damage as possible, and the torpedo shooting that night was unlike anything the Japanese had experienced before…