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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2009 8:01:41 GMT 8
At the start of the war, the US Navy had three very large "V-Class" submarines capable of carrying well over 100 tons of supplies in commission, the USS Narwhal, Argonaught and Nautilus. While a number of smaller "Fleet Boats" came to call at Corregidor during the 1942 siege to unload badly needed food supplies and armaments, in return for torpedoes and fuel, none of the V-Boats were utilized for that same purpose.
I wonder what effect they could have had, should 3 submarines filled with over 100 tons of concentrated and canned food supplies made regular runs to Corregidor from Cebu where a year's worth of food supplies and munitions had been amassed and accumulated. Sure, it was probably a drop in the bucket, but using a V-Boat's capacity for hauling supplies would be better than using the much smaller Fleet boats that could only carry a fraction of supplies.
Considering their less than effective war records, I believe those three V-class submarines would have been far better utilized in carrying foodstuffs for the starving troops of Bataan, Corregidor and the other fortified islands of Manila Bay.
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Post by batteryboy on May 26, 2009 13:55:58 GMT 8
Interesting theory and if ever these submarines were utilized it would have helped the defenders in stocking food supplier and material as most of the surface ships were also attacked, captured and disable on the way to the Bataan and Corregidor garrisons.
The use of submarines in the early days of the war in the Philippines against enemy surface vessels was very dismal and they were relegated to evacuating and bringing in suplies to the beleaguered troops. Surely enough if any of the V class subs were here, then their ability to haul in much needed supplies would be far more exemplary that engaging enemy ships in combat.
FWIW,
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