Submarine Narwhal (SS-167)

Narwhal

Country	United States
Ship Class	Narwhal-class Submarine
Hull Number	SS-167

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Submarine Narwhal (SS-167) Interactive Map

Photographs

A stern view of submarine V-5 (later Narwhal) shortly before launching at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, United States, 17 Dec 1929. Note the stern torpedo tubes just above the rudder.

Sponsor’s platform at the launching of submarine V-5 (later Narwhal) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine, United States, 17 Dec 1929. V-5’s bow and forward torpedo tube doors can be seen behind the platform.

See all 19 photographs of Submarine Narwhal (SS-167)

Narwhal Operational Timeline

10 May 1927	Fleet submarine V-5 (later renamed USS Narwhal) was laid down at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, United States.
17 Dec 1928	Fleet submarine V-5 (later renamed USS Narwhal) was launched at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, United States. The boat was sponsored by Mrs. Frances Adams, wife of Secretary of the Navy Charles Adams.
15 May 1930	Fleet submarine USS V-5 (later renamed USS Narwhal) was commissioned at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, United States. The boat was commanded by Lieutenant Commander John “Babe” Brown, Naval Academy graduate, class of 1914.
11 Aug 1930	Fleet submarine USS V-5 (later renamed USS Narwhal) departed Annapolis, Maryland bound for the Caribbean and her shakedown cruise.
11 Sep 1930	Fleet submarine USS V-5 (later renamed USS Narwhal) arrived at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, United States following her shakedown cruise to the Caribbean and Panama Canal Zone.
31 Jan 1931	Fleet submarine USS V-5 (later renamed USS Narwhal) departed the east coast of the United States bound for the Panama Canal and the Pacific.
19 Feb 1931	Fleet submarine USS V-5 was renamed USS Narwhal while transiting from the east coast of the United States to the Pacific.
4 Apr 1931	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at San Diego, California after transiting from the east coast of the United States.
1 Jul 1931	Submarine USS Narwhal was assigned the new hull number of SS-167.
2 Feb 1932	Submarine USS Narwhal completed an overhaul at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California and departed for Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi for fleet exercises.
17 Mar 1932	Submarine USS Narwhal returned to San Diego, California after participating in of Fleet Problem XIII in Hawaiʻi.
12 Jul 1934	Submarine USS Narwhal departed San Diego, California on a cruise with Submarine Division 12 off the west coast of the United States.
18 Sep 1934	Submarine USS Narwhal and Submarine Division 12 arrived at San Diego, California after a cruise off the west coast of the United States.
26 Oct 1941	Submarines USS Narwhal and USS Dolphin arrived off Wake Island on simulated war patrols.
7 Dec 1941	Submarine USS Narwhal was moored at the Submarine Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi when the Japanese attacked the harbor. Narwhal's gunners claimed hits (along with gunners from other vessels) on two Japanese torpedo bombers that were destroyed.
2 Feb 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi on her first war patrol.
7 Feb 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Midway, topped off her fuel tanks, and departed to continue her war patrol.
15 Feb 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived off Wake Island and began making reconnaissance surveys of the island.
16 Feb 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal departed the Wake Island area bound for her next station on this war patrol, the East China Sea.
28 Feb 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal fired two torpedoes at the 7,000-ton Japanese tanker Manju Maru in the Sea of Japan. The tanker was badly damaged but was later repaired.
4 Mar 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal sank Japanese Army cargo ship Taki Maru 200 miles south of Japan in the East China Sea.
9 Mar 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal intercepted two destroyers escorting an aircraft carrier (possibly Shokaku or Zuikaku) sailing southbound in the Sea of Japan. Narwhal fired two torpedoes at the carrier with no hits.
10 Mar 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal departed her patrol area bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi.
24 Mar 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal made a quick dive at dawn because of an aircraft closing quickly from dead ahead. Upon surfacing a short time later, it was discovered what was thought to have been an airplane was, in fact, the planet Venus.
28 Mar 1942	Submarines USS Narwhal and USS Gar arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi, each ending its first war patrol. Narwhal's commanding officer, Commander Charles Wilkins, and Gar’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Donald McGregor, were each awarded the Navy Cross for their actions and leadership during these patrol.
28 May 1942	After spending two months at Pearl Harbor having her engines overhauled, submarine USS Narwhal departed on her second war patrol. On this patrol, Narwhal joined 17 other submarines to form a picket line between Midway and the Hawaiian Islands as a last line of defense during the Battle of Midway.
12 Jun 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal returned to Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi, ending her second war patrol.
14 Jun 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal entered drydock at Pearl Harbor for routine hull cleaning.
18 Jun 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal was floated out of drydock at Pearl Harbor following routine hull cleaning.
8 Jul 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi on her third war patrol.
22 Jul 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived on station off the Kurile Islands.
24 Jul 1942	USS Narwhal sank Japanese guard boat Shinsei Maru No. 83, merchant ship Nissho Maru, and merchant ship Kofuji Maru with her deck gun between Hokkaido and Kurile Islands in the Sea of Okhotsk.
26 Jul 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal destroyed a 100-ton sampan with gunfire south of Iturup Island in the Kurile Islands.
1 Aug 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal sank Japanese freighter Meiwa Maru and damaged tanker Koan Maru in the Tsugaru Strait between Hokkaido Prefecture and Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Narwhal then endured a depth charge attack involving 124 depth charges that kept the submarine submerged for 10 hours.
4 Aug 1942	Five miles off the northern coast of Honshu, Japan, submarine USS Narwhal fired two torpedoes at a 7,000-ton merchant ship with no results. Narwhal’s sonar picked up one torpedo striking the ship without exploding and the second torpedo was believed to have run under the ship.
8 Aug 1942	USS Narwhal sank Japanese fishing boat Bifuku Maru 5 miles off the northeastern tip of Honshu island, Japan.
11 Aug 1942	100 miles off the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan, submarine USS Narwhal was attacked with two depth charges dropped from a Japanese Type 97 "Mavis" flying boat. Narwhal was shaken but undamaged.
13 Aug 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal departed her patrol area bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi. Narwhal was leaving two days early due to unexpected expenditure of fuel during this patrol.
14 Aug 1942	375 miles east of Honshu, Japan, submarine USS Narwhal intercepted a formation of five Japanese destroyers and one large cruiser apparently bound for Japan. Narwhal was kept down with a depth charge attack and no torpedo attack could be made.
21 Aug 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Midway, took aboard some fuel, and departed again bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi.
26 Aug 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi, ending her third war patrol. Narwhal's commanding officer, Commander Charles Wilkins, was awarded a second Navy Cross for his actions and leadership during this patrol. Narwhal's executive officer and navigator, Lieutenant Commander Jack Latta, was awarded the Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action during this patrol.
8 Sep 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi bound for the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California.
15 Sep 1942	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California to begin an overhaul.
16 Oct 1942	At Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California, submarine USS Narwhal’s executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Frank Latta, succeeded Commander Charles Wilkins as commanding officer.
4 Apr 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal completed her overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California. Major improvements included new main engines, new main batteries, improved topside armament, and upgraded radar systems. Narwhal departed Mare Island bound for San Diego, California with no training period.
6 Apr 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at San Diego, California. All of Narwhal's torpedoes were removed except those in the tubes and the torpedo racks in the forward torpedo room were replaced with 120 temporary bunks.
18 Apr 1943	After embarking 105 officers and men of the US Army 7th Scout Company and then spending a week conducting landing exercises, submarine USS Narwhal departed San Diego, California bound for Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
27 Apr 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
30 Apr 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska bound for Attu Island.
3 May 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived off Attu Island and began making reconnaissance surveys.
11 May 1943	Submarines USS Nautilus and USS Narwhal landed men of the US Army 7th Scout Company on the northern coast of Attu Island as the first elements of the landings on Attu. Both submarines then departed Attu bound for Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
16 May 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
18 May 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi.
25 May 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi, ending her fourth war patrol.
26 Jun 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi on her fifth war patrol.
30 Jun 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Midway, took on some fuel, and departed to continue her war patrol.
9 Jul 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived off Matsuwa in the Kurile Islands.
15 Jul 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal conducted a bombardment of the Japanese air base on Matsuwa Island in the Kuriles as a diversion to allow submarines USS Lapon, USS Permit, and USS Plunger exit the Sea of Okhotsk into the Pacific Ocean.
7 Aug 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi, ending her fifth war patrol.
23 Aug 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal was drydocked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi for painting.
24 Aug 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal floated out of drydock at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi after painting.
31 Aug 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaiʻi on her sixth war patrol. Fifty miles southwest of Oʻahu, a lookout reported a definite periscope off Narwhal's starboard quarter. The patrol craft escorting Narwhal was released to search the area.
8 Sep 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived off Mili Atoll in the Marshall Islands and began making reconnaissance surveys.
9 Sep 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal received a secret dispatch and departed Mili Atoll at high speed bound for Nauru Island.
11 Sep 1943	During her approach to Nauru Island, submarine USS Narwhal crossed the equator for the first time. On arrival off Nauru Island, Narwhal torpedoed and sank the 5,000-ton transport ship Hokusho Maru. Narwhal then endured a lengthy and rattling depth charge attack; after which, the commanding officer announced that the torture of the depth charge attack would count as the crew's Crossing the Line ceremony. Narwhal then departed Nauru bound for Kwajalein.
13 Sep 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal made a reconnaissance survey of Lib Island in the Marshall Islands.
14 Sep 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived off Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands.
15 Sep 1943	While tracking a formation of two Japanese light cruisers and four destroyers in the northern approaches to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, sonar aboard submarine USS Narwhal detected torpedoes approaching from the stern. Narwhal went deep but lost depth control. Control was regained as Narwhal reached 390 feet, a new depth record for Narwhal.
19 Sep 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived off Jaluit Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
23 Sep 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal departed the area of the Marshall Islands bound for Brisbane, Australia.
2 Oct 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Brisbane, Australia ending her sixth war patrol. Narwhal moored alongside submarine tender USS Fulton and began a refit.
20 Oct 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal made a test dive in the Brisbane River, Australia and then moored again alongside tender USS Fulton.
23 Oct 1943	Upon the completion of a tender refit wherein her spare torpedoes and torpedo racks were again removed and replaced with temporary bunks and storage space, submarine USS Narwhal took aboard 83 tons of extra stores, embarked 5 officers and 5 enlisted men as passengers, and departed Brisbane, Australia on her seventh war patrol.
9 Nov 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal transited Leyte Gulf and the Surigao Strait in the Philippines.
10 Nov 1943	Four miles southeast of Cantabon in the Philippines, submarine USS Narwhal fired four torpedoes at a 10,000-ton Japanese tanker with no hits.
13 Nov 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal entered Puluan Bay, Mindoro, Philippines and delivered the ten Philippine Army commandos and their 46 tons of supplies.
15 Nov 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal docked at Nasipit harbor on Mindanao in the Philippines as a uniformed Filipino band played Anchors Aweigh. Narwhal unloaded 46 tons of cargo for the Philippine Army and embarked 32 evacuees bound for Australia, including 8 women, 2 children, and one baby.
16 Nov 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal transited the Surigao Strait.
22 Nov 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal ended her seventh war patrol at Darwin, Australia where she disembarked all of her passengers.
25 Nov 1943	After loading 80 tons of ammunition and stores and embarking two Army officers and nine enlisted men, submarine USS Narwhal departed Darwin, Australia on her eighth war patrol.
1 Dec 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal transited Leyte Gulf and the Surigao Strait in the Philippines.
2 Dec 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal docked at Nasipit harbor on Mindanao in the Philippines and unloaded her cargo and Army personnel. Narwhal then embarked eight evacuees consisting of one Naval officer, two Army soldiers, three civilian men, one civilian woman, and an eight-year-old girl.
5 Dec 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal closed to 1,200 yards off the beach at Alubijid in Majacalar Bay, Mindanao, Philippines and took aboard nine more evacuees. Narwhal withdrew from the bay bound for the Surigao Strait and came upon the unescorted Japanese transport Himeno Maru, which Narwhal sunk with gunfire.
6 Dec 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal transited the Surigao Strait.
11 Dec 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Darwin, Australia, disembarked her passengers, and departed bound for Fremantle, Australia.
18 Dec 1943	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Fremantle, Australia ending her eighth war patrol.
18 Jan 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal departed Fremantle, Australia bound for Darwin, Australia.
25 Jan 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Darwin, Australia.
26 Jan 1944	After taking aboard a cargo of ammunition and stores plus one Naval officer, submarine USS Narwhal departed Darwin, Australia on her ninth war patrol bound for the Philippines.
2 Feb 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal completed the transit of Surigao Strait in the Philippines and ten hours later, she entered the Sulu Sea.
5 Feb 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal closed to 1,200 yards off the beach at Libertad in Pandan Bay, Panay in the Philippines, unloaded part of her cargo, and took aboard six passengers.
7 Feb 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal closed to 1,000 yards of Balatong Point on Negros in the Philippines, unloaded 45 tons of cargo, and took aboard six soldiers, five civilian men, eight women, and nine children evacuees as passengers.
9 Feb 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal transited the Surigao Strait.
15 Feb 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Darwin, Australia and disembarked all passengers. This ended Narwhal's ninth war patrol. Her commanding officer, Commander Frank Latta, was awarded the Navy Cross for his skill and leadership during Narwhal's last six war patrols.
16 Feb 1944	After loading aboard 80 tons of ammunition and stores, three officers, and four enlisted personnel as passengers, submarine USS Narwhal departed Darwin, Australia on her tenth war patrol.
22 Feb 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal spent most of the day attempting to exchange recognition signals with personnel ashore on Mantabuan Island in the southern Philippines but received no return signal.
26 Feb 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal spent most of this day and the following two days attempting to exchange recognition signals with personnel ashore at Pamatusin Cove on Mindoro in the Philippines but received no return signal.
2 Mar 1944	While laying to at the mouth of the Agusan River in Butuan Bay, Mindanao, Philippines, submarine USS Narwhal delivered 70 tons of ammunition and stores along with two 26-foot diesel whaleboats to US Army personnel ashore. Narwhal received aboard 20 soldiers, six civilian men, and two civilian women as evacuees.
3 Mar 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal torpedoed and damaged the Japanese river gunboat Karatsu south of Negros in the Mindanao Sea, Philippines. Narwhal was subjected to a depth charge attack from Karatsu's companion vessel with one of the charges being the closest and most damaging Narwhal had experience to date. Both Narwhal and Karatsu survived and would later be repaired.
5 Mar 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal began unloading cargo to small boats off Languyan on Tawi Tawi in the Philippines while also receiving eight passengers aboard. As the boats were delivering the first load of cargo to the beach, Narwhal was surprised by three Japanese destroyers patrolling the coast. Narwhal cleared the decks and made for open water as the destroyers opened fire. When the ocean depth would allow, Narwhal went deep for the ensuing depth charge attack. Two stowaways from the Filipino work party were discovered aboard.
6 Mar 1944	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.
11 Mar 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Darwin, Australia, disembarked all passengers, and unloaded remaining stores.
12 Mar 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal departed Darwin, Australia bound for Exmouth Gulf, Australia.
16 Mar 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Exmouth, Australia.
17 Mar 1944	After discharging 67,000 gallons of fuel oil to the fuel barge, submarine USS Narwhal departed Exmouth, Australia bound for Fremantle, Australia.
20 Mar 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Fremantle, Australia ending her tenth war patrol.
26 Mar 1944	At Fremantle, Australia, submarine USS Narwhal had a change of command when Lieutenant Commander Jack Titus relieved Commander Jack Latta.
7 May 1944	After an extensive refit, submarine USS Narwhal departed Fremantle, Australia bound for Darwin, Australia and her eleventh war patrol.
14 May 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Darwin, Australia.
15 May 1944	After making some repairs and taking aboard 62 tons of ammunition and stores plus 38 men of the Philippine Army, submarine USS Narwhal departed Darwin, Australia.
21 May 1944	30 miles east of Mindanao in the Philippines, submarine USS Narwhal attacked a Japanese convoy at night in a heavy rain storm that limited visibility. Narwhal fired four torpedoes and damaged at least one and possibly two cargo ships.
24 May 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal unloaded 25 tons of supplies and 22 men at Alusan Bay, Samar, Philippines.
29 May 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal departed the Sanco Point area of Mindanao, Philippines after three days of unsuccessful attempts to rendezvous with shore personnel due to constant heavy rains.
1 Jun 1944	Off Tukuran, Mindanao, Philippines, submarine USS Narwhal unloaded 25 tons and 16 men.
9 Jun 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Darwin, Australia ending her eleventh war patrol.
10 Jun 1944	After loading cargo and making some repairs, submarine USS Narwhal departed Darwin, Australia for her twelfth war patrol.
13 Jun 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal spent the day making a submerged reconnaissance survey of Bula on Ceram Island in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). At dusk, Narwhal surfaced and fired 59 rounds from her two 6-inch deck guns at the town's docks, petroleum storage tanks on the hill above the town, and at the town's powerhouse. The petroleum storage tanks were left burning and smoking furiously.
20 Jun 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal surfaced at sunset off Lipata Point, Panay, Philippines and contacted members of the Philippine Army. She began unloading cargo but poor cooperation from the Filipino boatmen meant the operation lasted well past midnight. Narwhal took aboard 14 evacuees including one woman, Mrs. Johnson, who was seven months pregnant.
21 Jun 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal continued unloading supplies and personnel at Lipata, Panay, Philippines. Cooperation from the Filipino boatmen deteriorated to the point that after nine hours into a one-hour job, the remaining cargo was put over the side (where it floated) for the Filipinos to bring ashore as they pleased. Members of the Filipino work party still on deck were also pushed over the side to swim to the beach. Upon retiring from the area, Narwhal closed on a small sailing launch towing an even smaller unmanned motor launch. Narwhal engaged in order to divert attention away from the cargo landing activities at Lipata. The sailing launch cut away the motor launch and fled at high speed. Narwhal fired her guns at the stranded motor launch, inflicting unknown damage.
22 Jun 1944	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.
29 Jun 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Darwin, Australia and disembarked all passengers.
30 Jun 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal departed Darwin, Australia bound for Fremantle, Australia.
7 Jul 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Fremantle, Australia, ending her twelfth war patrol.
12 Aug 1944	Following an extensive refit, submarine USS Narwhal departed Fremantle, Australia on her thirteenth war patrol.
19 Aug 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Darwin, Australia.
21 Aug 1944	After taking aboard 20 tons of cargo, two intelligence officers, and 43 members of the Philippine Army, submarine USS Narwhal departed Darwin, Australia on her thirteenth war patrol.
29 Aug 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal put ashore intelligence officer Lieutenant Commander "Chick" Parsons and one Filipino enlisted man at Dibut Bay, Luzon, Philippines. Narwhal then laid offshore until the following day.
30 Aug 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal put ashore 10 tons of cargo and 20 members of the Philippine Army at Dibut Bay, Luzon, Philippines. Took Lieutenant Commander "Chick" Parsons back on board.
31 Aug 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal put ashore intelligence officer Lieutenant Commander "Chick" Parsons and one Filipino enlisted man off the mouth of the Masanga River, Luzon, Philippines. Narwhal then laid offshore until the following day.
1 Sep 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal put ashore 10 tons of cargo and 23 members of the Philippine Army at the mouth of the Masanga River, Luzon, Philippines. Took Lieutenant Commander "Chick" Parsons back on board.
10 Sep 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Darwin, Australia, ending her thirteenth war patrol.
14 Sep 1944	After completing some repairs and taking aboard 60 tons of cargo and 41 men, submarine USS Narwhal departed Darwin, Australia on her fourteenth war patrol.
22 Sep 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal put ashore 35 tons of cargo and 38 passengers at the mouth of the Pangay River, Sarangani, Mindanao, Philippines.
27 Sep 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal put ashore 20 tons of cargo and 3 passengers off Balingasag, Mindanao, Philippines.
29 Sep 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal surfaced in Siari Bay, Mindanao, Philippines and took aboard one doctor and 81 survivors who had been POWs aboard the Shinyo Maru when that ship was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Paddle on 7 Sep 1944. Four of the survivors were stretcher cases.
30 Sep 1944	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.
5 Oct 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea (now Papua, Indonesia). Narwhal's fourteenth war patrol was concluded. All passengers were disembarked and transported to the base hospital. On arrival, Commander William Holman relieved Commander Jack Titus as Narwhal's commanding officer. Commander Titus was awarded the Legion of Merit for his exceptionally meritorious conduct during this patrol.
11 Oct 1944	Following a tender refit alongside submarine tender USS Orion, submarine USS Narwhal took aboard 60 tons of cargo and 31 passengers and departed Mios Woendi, Dutch New Guinea (now Papua, Indonesia) on her fifteenth war patrol.
16 Oct 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived off the northern coast of Tawi Tawi, Philippines in the Sulu Archipelago and observed a proper recognition signal on the beach.
17 Oct 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal unloaded 11 tons of cargo to the Philippine Army units on the northern shore of Tawi Tawi, Philippines.
19 Oct 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal unloaded 60 tons of cargo and 37 passengers off Colipapa on Negros in the Philippines. Narwhal took aboard six adults, 14 children, one steward's mate left behind by submarine USS Nautilus on her previous visit, and five Filipino men who said they wished to become steward's mates in the United States Navy.
2 Nov 1944	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived at Brisbane, Australia ending her fifteenth war patrol. Narwhal moored alongside submarine tender USS Fulton and began a refit.
6 Jan 1945	Submarine USS Narwhal departed Brisbane, Australia bound for the Panama Canal Zone.
11 Feb 1945	Submarine USS Narwhal arrived in the Panama Canal Zone.
13 Feb 1945	After transiting the Panama Canal, submarine USS Narwhal departed bound for the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
21 Feb 1945	Submarine USS Narwhal entered the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and began her decommissioning overhaul.
23 Apr 1945	Submarine USS Narwhal was taken out of commission at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

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1. Anonymous says:
22 Feb 2025 12:10:05 PM

my father Roy G Ficke served on 167 during World War two i am trying to find out as much information on the sub and its mission along with crew members as possible any help would be greatly appreciated

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