Most effective single torpedo attack of WWII Pacific Theatre?

[Chickenboy]

I've been wanting to start this discussion for some time.

What do you think was the most effective single torpedo attack (I'm including an organized torpedo volley from a group of ships or a single ship as a single attack) in the Pacific Theatre of WWII? I'm not including air attacks in this consideration.

"Effectiveness" can have multiple interpretations or conclusions.

What do you think?

[witpqs]

The incident thing that comes to mind is the torpedo salvo that sunk Wasp, damaged (was it?) North Carolina, and also badly damaged a destroyer, which sank much later. One torpedo salvo from one submarine! Pretty darn effective, that. Of course when you look at whole battles there might have been better.

Johnston made a torpedo attack (it's second of the battle) that diverted some IJN BB's effectively out of the battle at Samar. It's first attack blew the bow off of a CA, IIRC.

There was also a torpedo attack by US DD's directed by radar in the Solomons in '43 that hit as a surprise and ruined an IJN TF's day.

[RevRick]

I'd have to think that the Battle of Tassafaronga, Tanaka against Wright, would be a very good example of a great torpedo attack. Though surprised and outgunned, Tanaka launched torpedoes and sank one cruiser, and damaged three others (like bows blown off) while losing one of five destroyers (IIRC!)

[Kull]

A torpedo attack that still has ramifications to this day, would be that which sunk the USS Juneau, killing the 5 Sullivan Brothers (and over 600 others - only 10 of the crew survived). The resulting "Sole Survivor" policy (the basis of "Saving Private Ryan") has been enacted as recently as 2007 in Iraq when Jason Hubbard was sent home following the deaths of both his brothers in combat.

[DivePac88]

In my book it would be the British 26th Destroyer Flotilla's attack on the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro, in the Malacca Strait on the night of 15th/16th May 1945. This night attack by 5x Destroyers has to be considered to be the most successful textbook torpedo attack of the hole war. That this classic Destroyer 'Star attack' at night was almost faultlessly delivered, and resulted in the sinking of the Heavy Cruiser also makes it the most successful.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: DivePac88

In my book it would be the British 26th Destroyer Flotilla's attack on the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro, in the Malacca Strait on the night of 15th/16th May 1945. This night attack by 5x Destroyers has to be considered to be the most successful textbook torpedo attack of the hole war. That this classic Destroyer 'Star attack' at night was almost faultlessly delivered, and resulted in the sinking of the Heavy Cruiser also makes it the most successful.

Would you describe what is a 'star attack'?

[DivePac88]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Would you describe what is a 'star attack'?

Sure thing witpqs;

Basically this was a torpedo night (or day with modifications) attack that was delivered from multiple directions. But the torpedo 'fans' were worked out to clear the other attacking Destroyers. The mechanics of this type of attack were normally worked out by the Flotilla Staff, and practiced by the flotilla before hand. But it is my understanding that the 26th flotilla had not had time to practice this tactic beforehand.

[LargeSlowTarget]

I faintly remember having read that one of the few successful US submarine attacks early in the war sank a Japanese transport carrying engineers, techies and other specialists to the SRA to repair and maintain the recently captured oilfields.

[John Lansford]

I'd have to go with the torpedo attack that sank Wasp and a DD, and damaged North Carolina.  Or the attack by Dace and Darter that sank two CA's and crippled a third as the opening blow in the Leyte Gulf fight.

[xj900uk]

Agree with you 100% re the torpedo attack in Sept '42 off Guadacanal - 6 torpedo's,  1 CV sunk,  1 DD badly damaged (later sunk being towed back to port) and one badly damaged BB - apparently the fish hit the North Carolina jsut below A & B turrets and jammed them both,  it was laid up for months whilst dockyard repair specialists tried to sort that out.  You could say, in fact,  that in this one sub attack the Japs nearly reversed the situation they had thrown away at Midway a couple of months before hand and gave them an advantage.
 
In WWI the greatest sub attack though has to be the old leaky U9 taking on three British armoured cruisers in the Channel - Hague, Abdoukier and Cressy (if my memory is correct) and sinking all three with a single torpedo each - thousands of British sailors were drowned/killed, almost as many as at Jutland

[Chickenboy]

Good observations, guys.

Here's my nomination:

In the early morning hours of October 25, 1944, ironically named Captain Coward USN led 7 destroyers of Desron 54 in a torpedo flank attack against the left flank of Nishimura's main battle line in the Surigao strait. His 'anvil' attack consisted of DDs McDermut and Monssen on the West and DDs Remey, McGowan and Melvin on the East. The remaining two DDs were left on picket patrol, covering Northern egress from the area.

Under orders to 'use fish only', the destroyers approached, staying close to Leyte on their western flank, while the eastern division approached the oncoming Japanese almost head on in the strait. Cat-eyed Japanese lookouts on BB Yamashiro spotted elements of Coward's division at a distance of 8 km (!), but subsequently lost the approaching force when spotlights from the battleship were employed.

At 0300.30, Remey, McGowan and Melvin commenced launching torpedoes at 8200 to 9300 yards. After 8 minutes of TT travel time (!) BB Fuso was hit by this attack and sheered off to starboard sharply.

On the western 'anvil', DDs Mcdermut and Monssen launched spreads of torpedoes at 0309 and 0311, respectively. Mcdermut's spread hit three IJN DDs-Yamagumo, Michishio and Asagumo. Yamagumo exploded and sank immediately, Michishio was left in a sinking condition and Asagumo had her bow blown off, but was able to retire. Monssen hit BB Yamashiro, but did not stop her.

Overall commander of the Surigao forces, Oldendorf, opined that this attack was 'Brilliantly conceived and well executed."

I agree. For no losses on their part, 5 USN DDs sank BB Fuso and DDs Yamagumo and Michisihio. BB Yamashiro was damaged and DD Asagumo was heavily damaged. For my money, this attack was the masterstroke of Surigao and puts paid to the criticism that USN DDs were incapable of delivering a knockout blow to the enemy with coordinated torpedo attacks.

While Oldendorf's prewar BB battle line gets a lot of good press for hammering the Yamashiro into scrap afterwards, Desron 54 deserves the credit for winning this battle with the most successful torpedo attack of WWII in the PTO.

(Honorable mention to the IJN for their actions at Savo and Tsaffaronga).

[Tone]

Sorry to disagree. but battle of Savo Island with 4 American heavy criuser sank by special torpedo. also other American heavy cruiser bad damaged.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Tone

Sorry to disagree. but battle of Savo Island with 4 American heavy criuser sank by special torpedo. also other American heavy cruiser bad damaged.

I agree that Savo was a well-executed torpedo attack, with tremendous success. But for every one time you hear about Desron 54's success at Surigao, you hear about the IJN action at Savo at least 10 times. Desron 54's actions are at least on par with the IJN action at Savo in my book.

I'm not sure if I agree with your 'casualty calculus' that 4 Allied CAs > 1 IJN BB and 3 IJN DDs. I guess we could compare the VP points value of these ships lost in AE to see...[;)]

I had forgotten about the IJN SS spread that got Wasp, North Carolina and the DD. That was pretty efficient!

[Ketza]

The sinking of the Shinano comes to my mind considering it had the hull of a Yamato class BB that was a perfect attack.

[Gilbert]

In addition with what you said comes to my mind the sinking of CV TAIHO hit by only ONE torpedo fired by USS ALBACORE on 06/19/44. Here is her TROM excerpt from the Nihon Kaigun website:

"19 June 1944:
Battle of the Marianas. While launching part of `Raid I' against TF 58 in position 12-24'N, 137-20'E the TAIHO at 0810 is hit in the starboard side forward abreast No.1 elevator by one of six torpedoes fired by USS ALBACORE. The impact punches a hole in the hull which floods the forward elevator well and gives the TAIHO a 1.5 meter trim by the bow, but she maintains speed at 26 knots. The forward elevator, which was raised for launching operations is jarred loose and falls two meters, disrupting take-off operations and the torpedo hit cracks the av-gas tanks underneath it as well. As a result, free gasoline mixes with the water flooding the forward elevator well and av-gas vapor builds up in the space. Within a half-hour damage control has planked over the settled No.1 elevator and the remaining planes were launched. However, the gas vapor builds in the closed hanger and enclosed bow area and becomes serious. Efforts to free the mounting vapor by knocking holes in the ship's side or to ventilate the hangar are made. ("ventilate may not refer to the actual ventilation system, but just the d/c efforts). At 1350 CarDiv 1's strike wave begins to return. With SHOKAKU ablaze and bow awash, all planes must land on either ZUIKAKU or TAIHO. The gas vapor danger aboard TAIHO is so great that most opt for ZUIKAKU; the terrible losses attacking TF 58 having left the space to be accomodated. Possibly a few planes of SHOKAKU's as well as some of TAIHOs do land on her.

- Sunk: At 1432 a tremendous induced explosion of gas vapor occurs forward, buckling the armored flight deck upward and blowing out the sides of the hangar deck. The precise force and cause of the explosion are somewhat ambiguous (see Note 2 for details:), but the shock of the blast ruptured the hull below the waterline, and all power failed. TAIHO goes dead in the water immediately. For this reason, it is understood at once the ship has received a terrible and probably mortal blow. By 1500 the TAIHO is a blazing wreck shaken by explosions and with fire raging from the island forward. Though damage control manages to keep the fire forward initially, Admiral Ozawa is compelled to transfer his flag within the next thirty minutes. The WAKATSUKI comes alongside to starboad and sends a boat. However, the HAGURO moves up and Ozawa soon transfers to her from the destroyer in turn, hoisting his flag at 1606. In the meantime the TAIHO continues to burn furiously and starts to list slightly to port and settle slowly by the head. Oil leaking from the tanks and covering the sea catches on fire, adding to the inferno and peril. Any possibility of HAGURO taking in tow is out of the question. Realizing that she can't be saved, Captain Kikuchi orders all remaining personal evacuated.

Sunk: At 1628, still settling upright, leans over to port and nodding by the bow, sinking "horizontally" and "levelly" bodily below the waves on a semi-even keel in position 12-05'N, 138-12'E. Destroyers ISOKAZE, WAKATSUKI and HATSUZUKI rescue over 1,000 officers and men, including Captain Kikkuchi Tomozo; but about 1/3 of the complement - 28 officers and 632 petty officers and men - are lost. Almost all the engine room personnel are lost, but some of the firemen from No.2 boiler room managed to escape topside through holes blasted in the overhead decks."

TAIHO was the newest IJN carrier and her loss on her first operation (as SHOKAKU's) was the beginning of the end for Kido Butai.

Regards
Gilbert

[John Lansford]

Four CA's weren't sunk at Savo by torpedoes.  At least two of them were sunk by gunfire; Astoria burned long after the IJN ships left and I believe so did Quincy.
 
The three CA's sunk early in WWI by the sub was a special situation.  The first ship was hit and stopped, and the other two stopped as well since they thought the first one had hit a mine.  The German U-boat had easy shots at all three, none which had any serious anti-torpedo protection.

[Q-Ball]

I was gonna answer the Taranto Raid, but noticed this was about the PACIFIC theatre only. But WWII, have to say that raid on the Regia Marina

In Pacific, I think the one with the greatest impact was the sinking of USS Wasp.

[Puhis]

What it this? So far nobody have metioned sinking HMAS Kuttabul. Without a doubt it was superb torpedo attack, right?

[Halsey]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

The incident thing that comes to mind is the torpedo salvo that sunk Wasp, damaged (was it?) North Carolina, and also badly damaged a destroyer, which sank much later. One torpedo salvo from one submarine! Pretty darn effective, that. Of course when you look at whole battles there might have been better.

Johnston made a torpedo attack (it's second of the battle) that diverted some IJN BB's effectively out of the battle at Samar. It's first attack blew the bow off of a CA, IIRC.

There was also a torpedo attack by US DD's directed by radar in the Solomons in '43 that hit as a surprise and ruined an IJN TF's day.

For the record...

This attack is considered by historions to be the most successful.[;)]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Halsey

ORIGINAL: witpqs

The incident thing that comes to mind is the torpedo salvo that sunk Wasp, damaged (was it?) North Carolina, and also badly damaged a destroyer, which sank much later. One torpedo salvo from one submarine! Pretty darn effective, that. Of course when you look at whole battles there might have been better.

Johnston made a torpedo attack (it's second of the battle) that diverted some IJN BB's effectively out of the battle at Samar. It's first attack blew the bow off of a CA, IIRC.

There was also a torpedo attack by US DD's directed by radar in the Solomons in '43 that hit as a surprise and ruined an IJN TF's day.

For the record...

This attack is considered by historions to be the most successful.[;)]

Pfft...historians and their opinions....[;)]