Sulu Sea in WW2 History | World War II Database

17 Apr 1942

Philippines

West of Panay, Philippines, submarine USS Spearfish sank a Japanese 5,000-ton transport ship with two torpedo hits. ww2dbase [Spearfish | Sulu Sea | DS]

24 Sep 1942

Philippines

While still transiting toward her patrol area, submarine USS Spearfish detected a 3,000-ton Japanese minelayer 50 miles south of Mindoro, Philippines. Spearfish fired three torpedoes, scored one hit, and sank the vessel. ww2dbase [Spearfish | Sulu Sea | DS]

6 Mar 1944

Philippines

Submarine USS Narwhal continued evading the depth charge attack that began the previous evening. Unable to safely surface for over 4 hours. All stores that had remained on deck were lost and any notions of returning to Tawi Tawi to complete the delivery were abandoned. The two stowaways remained on board. ww2dbase [Narwhal | Sulu Sea | DS]

22 Jun 1944

Philippines

Submarine USS Narwhal fired four torpedoes at the fully loaded Japanese tanker Itsukushima Maru about dead-center in the Sulu Sea. Itsukushima Maru was hit once and was damaged. She was later repaired but the delay denied the Japanese use of her 5,500 tons of oil for a considerable time. ww2dbase [Narwhal | Sulu Sea | DS]

30 Sep 1944

Philippines

In the southern Sulu Sea, submarine USS Narwhal was approached by a Japanese patrol plane. Narwhal dived but her aft diving planes lost power and became locked in place at a 20-degree down-angle sending the submarine nearly straight down. Narwhal blew her main ballast tanks and backed her propellers at full speed which stopped the boat's descent at 170 feet. Narwhal was now so buoyant, however, that she popped back to the surface like a cork. Control was quickly regained to allow Narwhal to submerge safely to 90 feet before the patrol plane could react to the submarine's sudden surfacing. ww2dbase [Narwhal | Sulu Sea | DS]

4 Jan 1945

Philippines

In the Sulu Sea, Philippines, escort carriers USS Steamer Bay and USS Ommaney Bay exchanged positions in the formation and a short time later, Ommaney Bay was struck by a Japanese special attack aircraft. ww2dbase [Steamer Bay | Sulu Sea | DS]

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Please help us spread the word: