Published: 1 September 2008
Air & Space Power Journal - Fall 2008
Death at a Distance: The Loss of the Legendary USS Harder by Michael Sturma. Naval Institute Press (http://www.usni.org/press/press.html), 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21402-5034, 2006, 252 pages, $29.95 (hardcover).
On 24 August 1944, almost a year before the end of hostilities in the Pacific during World War II, the US Navy lost one of its most famous submarines off northern Luzon. The USS Harder (SS-257), a Gato-class submarine skippered by Cdr Samuel Dealey, was credited with sinking 16 enemy ships, among them five destroyers, a feat that earned him the nickname “the destroyer killer.” As the war neared its end, the entire submarine community felt the loss of the Harder.
In Death at a Distance, Dr. Michael Sturma, chair of the history program at Murdoch University in western Australia, covers the submarine’s life, its officers and crew, and their exploits during the war. Beginning with the arrival of American submarines in Fremantle, Australia, during the critical days of the war, the author looks into the social and cultural impact of the submariners’ arrival and interaction with the Australian people. He also examines the Harder’s construction and commissioning in December 1942, noting such aspects as boat design and weapons load—specifically, the torpedoes.
Sturma then turns his attention to the life and character of Commander Dealey, discussing his life from birth to acceptance at the Naval Academy, duty on surface ships, submarine service, and relationships with fellow officers, crew members, and superiors. Portrayed as a resourceful, steadfast, and aggressive skipper, Dealey became known for his short-range attacks against Japanese destroyers.
Next, the author’s blow-by-blow account of the Harder’s six war patrols puts readers inside the submarine as it tracks Japanese convoy escorts, dodges depth charges, and evades enemy aircraft. One particularly notable episode involves the submarine’s role in the rescue of a downed pilot in enemy-held territory, where two members of the crew exchange fire with Japanese forces. Another describes the insertion of Australian commandos on the island of Borneo to establish a coast-watch station and gather intelligence and their retrieval some five months later. Readers also learn that the Harder’s and other submarines’ tracking of Vice Adm Jisaburo Ozawa’s carrier divisions at the Japanese anchorage of Tawi-Tawi, Southern Philippines, played a pivotal role in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. The final four chapters further detail the Harder’s actions, including its teaming up with the USS Haddo (SS-255) and USS Hake (SS-256) to sink several Japanese ships and escorts. Later, a clash with a Japanese minesweeper and destroyer off Dasol Bay would seal the fate of the legendary submarine, which was eventually declared missing and presumed lost.
Well written and researched, Death at a Distance effectively chronicles the Harder’s action-packed history. Especially noteworthy are the vignettes about other submarines and their skippers as well as the achievements of Allied officers. My only criticism concerns the fact that the book lacks photos of Japanese warships engaged by the submarine and maps showing the route of its six war patrols. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed and learned much from the book. This definitive history of the USS Harder would make a valuable addition to the library of anyone interested in naval history and the feats of US submarines during World War II.
Lt Cdr Mark R.
Condeno, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary
Puerto Princesa City
Palawan/Manila, Philippines
Disclaimer
Book Reviews | Home Page | Feedback? Email the Editor