May 24th 2024.
After eight decades, the US Navy's History and Heritage Command announced that the remains of the legendary USS Harder, one of the most renowned submarines of World War II, have been discovered in the South China Sea. The submarine is resting upright and mostly intact, with only some damage near its conning tower from a Japanese depth charge, according to a press release from the NHHC.
The Harder met its fate on August 24, 1944, during its sixth patrol of the war, as part of the US efforts to reclaim the Philippines from Japanese occupation. Sadly, all 79 brave submariners on board lost their lives in the battle. "Harder was lost in the course of victory. We must never forget that victory comes at a cost, just like freedom," said Samuel J. Cox, the Director of NHHC and a retired US Navy admiral, in the press release.
According to a US Navy history, the Harder sank two Japanese escort ships near the Bataan Peninsula on August 22, 1944. It then continued north along the coast of Luzon with two other submarines, searching for more enemy targets. On the morning of August 24, the Harder engaged in a fierce battle with a Japanese escort ship CD-22. Despite firing three torpedoes, the Harder missed its target and was eventually sunk by the fifth depth charge attack launched by the Japanese ship, as per Japanese records cited by NHHC.
The discovery of the Harder's wreckage was confirmed by data provided by the Lost 52 Project, an initiative led by Tim Taylor, the CEO of Tiburon Subsea, to locate all 52 US submarines lost in World War II. The NHHC revealed that this group had previously located six other WWII submarines.
"We are deeply grateful to the Lost 52 Project for giving us the opportunity to honor the courage and sacrifice of the crew of the 'Hit 'em Harder' submarine," Cox expressed, referring to the vessel's motto. The NHHC also highlighted that the wreck is "the final resting place of sailors who gave their lives in defense of the nation and should be respected by all parties as a war grave."
The Philippines, which was a US territory, was attacked by Japan shortly after the infamous strike on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. By the spring of 1942, Japanese forces had captured Luzon and other areas in the archipelago, using them to safeguard their supply routes from the East Indies and Southeast Asia. However, by mid-1944, the tides were turning as the US started to reclaim Japanese-held territories in the Pacific, including the Philippines.
The Harder, commanded by Cmdr. Samuel Dealey, had the motto of "Hit 'em Harder." Dealey was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the US, for his actions during the submarine's fifth patrol, from March to July 1944. During this time, the Harder successfully sank three Japanese destroyers and damaged two others in just four days, as stated by the National Medal of Honor Museum.
In one particular encounter, the Harder came under attack by a Japanese destroyer. In a bold move, Dealey ordered a head-on torpedo shot at the enemy's bow, known as a "down the throat" shot. "At a distance of 1,500 yards, Dealey launched three torpedoes and instructed the sub to dive. As the Harder passed 80 feet below the destroyer, two torpedoes struck the ship, sending shockwaves through the submarine," described the museum's account.
On its first four patrols, the Harder had already sunk 14 Japanese warships and merchant vessels, making it one of the most successful submarines in the US Navy during World War II, according to the Medal of Honor Museum.
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