USS Tang: Commander O'Kane's Aggressive WWII Submarine Tactics and Tragic End

Commander O'Kane's Revolutionary Tactics

• 💡 Richard O'Kane, commander of the USS Tang, developed aggressive submarine tactics influenced by his mentor, Dudley Morton of the USS Wahoo.
• 🎯 He reversed standard operating procedures, with O'Kane controlling the periscope and Morton handling tactical calculations, leading to a supernatural ability to assess targets.
• 🚀 O'Kane pioneered night surface attacks, operating at over 20 knots to dart in, fire from point-blank range, and maneuver away before escorts could react.
• ⚠️ His most audacious tactic involved penetrating enemy convoys, positioning the Tang among merchant ships to use their hulls as cover and fire torpedoes at extremely close range.

The Tang's Unprecedented Success

• ✅ The USS Tang became the most lethal submarine in the U.S. Navy, sinking 33 Japanese ships totaling over 116,000 tons in just nine months.
• ⚓ During her first patrol, the Tang sank five ships, with 16 of 24 torpedoes hitting their targets, an impressive success rate given early war torpedo unreliability.
• ✈️ On her second patrol, the Tang performed lifeguard duty, rescuing 22 downed American airmen, including some from inside Truk Lagoon under Japanese guns, earning a Presidential Unit Citation.
• 📈 The third patrol was the most successful by any American submarine, sinking 10 ships in the heavily defended East China Sea and Yellow Sea, though one carried Allied POWs.

The Fateful Final Patrol

• 🗺️ O'Kane specifically requested assignment to the Formosa Strait for the Tang's fifth patrol, a dangerous area known for mines and Japanese patrols.
• 🔥 On October 24th, 1944, the Tang attacked a large convoy, executing O'Kane's penetration tactic by driving directly into the center and firing multiple torpedoes, causing widespread destruction.
• 💥 During the chaos, the Tang was nearly rammed by two Japanese ships, but O'Kane's quick maneuvers caused them to collide with each other instead.
• tragically, with only two torpedoes left, the final Mark 18 electric torpedo malfunctioned, making a circular run and striking the Tang on the port side, causing catastrophic damage.

Survival and Aftermath

• 🌊 The explosion killed half the crew instantly, and the Tang sank to 180 feet; 13 men attempted escape using the Mumson lung, but only eight reached the surface alive.
• ⚓ O'Kane and three others were blown into the water by the blast; in total, nine men survived the sinking.
• ⛓️ The survivors were captured by a Japanese destroyer escort and taken to a special detention center, where they were treated as war criminals and subjected to harsh interrogations.
• 🎖️ After the war, O'Kane received the Medal of Honor and three Navy Crosses for his extraordinary gallantry and leadership.

Legacy and Lessons Learned

• 🏆 The Tang holds records for the most ships sunk in a single day and the most successful patrol in terms of ships destroyed.
• 🛠️ Her loss highlighted the unreliability of technology (torpedo malfunctions) and the inherent risks of submarine warfare, where one mechanical failure could lead to disaster.
• 🧠 O'Kane's story illustrates the loneliness of submarine command and the constant tension between aggressive tactics for effectiveness and caution for survival.
• 📜 The Tang's legacy lives on through subsequent submarines named USS Tang and USS O'Kane, O'Kane's classic naval literature, and a unique cribbage board tradition among submariners.