Our Creed

We are United States Submarine Sailors! We were, and are, members of the elite fighting force of the United States Navy. We are all QUALIFIED IN SUBMARINES.

Included are submariners from the very early boats: S, R or earlier: WWII boats; post-war GUPPY boats and FBM and Fast Attack submariners. All Qualified in Submarines - from E2 to 4 Stars. Retired, short timer, or active duty - it makes no difference.

If you are Qualified in Submarines we want you in United States Submarine Veterans Inc.

Ahoy Shipmates!

The united States Submarine Veterans, Inc.
Scorpion Base
Invites you to attend the local base meeting

1300 on Saturday, October 11th, 2008

at the SF VFW club, 3601 S Minnesota Ave
Sioux Falls SD 57105

Come, share your stories and sea tales!
RSVP  Kent at 605-334-0073 or BJ at 605-977-1752

Now Hear this! Now Hear this!

ANNUAL DUES 2009

All Hands!
 Please be advised that in order to comply with the current dues payment program of the USSVI

ALL those who owe "Annual Dues" to National or to your Base must have your payments in no later than December 31, 2008. After this date all members with unpaid dues will be dropped from membership.

Please contact your Base secretary if you have any questions.
Remit to: Base Secretary/Treasurer: Bernard Jung:
2605 S. Jefferson Ave  Sioux Falls SD 57105
Home Phone 605-977-1752              

Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr. USN Ret.

“Put more into life than you expect to get out of it. Drive yourself and lead others. Make others feel good about themselves. They will outperform your expectations, and you will never lack for friends.”
Admiral Eugene Fluck,ey USN Ret.,  Medal of Honor  Recipient

Scorpion Base Members on
 Eternal Patrol Click Here

Submarine Related Links

United States Submarine Veterans Inc
Naval Submarine League

Navy Online,  Naval History Center
 
Sublant, Subpac, Kingsbay Sub Base, German Sub Pictures

About the USS Scorpion SS-278

Construction began on the USS Scorpion in March of 1942 and was completed in July of the same year. The Scorpion was one of the Gato-class of submarines that were rushed into production during World War II. Her initial shake down and training cruises took place in the waters off of New England and she then headed through the Panama Canal, and on to Pearl Harbor. She received some retrofitting work in Pearl Harbor and then headed to war patrol.

The duties of the USS Scorpion and other submarines during World War II were diverse. The submarines were expected to patrol the waters, searching for enemy vessels to torpedo. They also slipped into the shallow waters off of the coasts and planted mines. During air strikes on land, submarines were often called in to act as life saving stations in the water, where they picked up and rescued any air men who were shot down or forced to abandon their planes.

The first mission for the USS Scorpion was off the coast of Honshu. She initially planted some mines in the area and then she headed out to sea. The Scorpion scored her first enemy hit less than three weeks after she arrived in the area. The next day, she hit and sank another ship. The following day, she sank three additional small ships before leaving the area. The next week she spotted four enemy ships moving together with an escort. She attacked, firing four torpedoes. One of the vessels struck by the Scorpion sank. By the end of the month, the USS Scorpion was on her way back to port. As she returned home, she spotted an enemy vessel, which she hit with torpedoes and sank. She sank another patrol ship the next day, although there was tragedy aboard the submarine as well. An officer aboard the Scorpion was killed by gunfire during the attack. Despite the casualty, her first mission was considered a resounding success.

After some minor retrofitting, the Scorpion again joined the battle. She headed past Midway Island and to the Yellow Sea. At her new location, the Scorpion spotted a convoy of freighters moving with an escort. She torpedoed the group and then dove. She was pinned down in shallow water while the enemy ships dropped depth charges. The submarine was forced to stop all motion when her crew determined that she was stirring up mud in the shallow water, effectively leaving a trail for the enemy. She managed to evade her attackers, firing several torpedoes along the way. During the battle, the Scorpion hit the ships with five torpedoes and sank two of them.

The damage from the depth charges, while not extensive, needed to be repaired. The Scorpion made her way back to Pearl Harbor. After the repairs were completed, the Scorpion headed for the Mariana Islands. She soon located an enemy cruiser, but bad weather prevented her from launching an attack.Bad weather in the area prevented the Scorpion from having much success in the area. She managed to sight in a convoy made up of a freighter and a tanker with escorts. She hit the tanker, disabling it. Later, she spotted another convoy which she followed but never was able to reach in such a way to mount an effective attack. She ended her mission and headed back to Pearl Harbor. Her next war assignment was in the East China and Yellow Sea.

An injury aboard the Scorpion was the last anyone heard from the ship. One of the crew men aboard the Scorpion had fractured their arm. The Scorpion planned to meet with the USS Herring to transfer the man. The Herring was headed for home after completing her patrol. There were high waves in the area and the transfer never occurred. The Scorpion radioed that the situation was fine, and that was the last that anyone heard of the submarine. After the war, the Japanese records were examined. There was no indication that they were responsible for the sinking of the Scorpion. A more likely scenario is that the Scorpion struck a mine that was along the boundary of the Yellow Sea.

Due to her service during the second World War, the USS Scorpion earned three battle stars.

Web Master Mike Neuroth,
 Copyright © 2004, 2008
Captain Neutron a.k.a. Mike Neuroth
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email: captaineutron