Changes

''Growler's'' first war patrol began 29 June 1942 as she cleared [[Pearl Harbor]] for her assigned patrol area around Dutch Harbor, [[Alaska]]; topping off at [[Midway]] on 24 June, she entered her area on 30 June. Five days later she saw her first action: sighting three destroyers, ''Growler'' closed them for a submerged torpedo attack and then surfaced. Her torpedoes struck the first two targets amidships, putting them out of action, and hit the third in the bow, but not before she had fired two torpedoes at ''Growler''. As the Japanese torpedoes "swished down each side" of ''Growler'', she dived deep, but no depth charges followed. One of the torpedoed destroyers, ''Arare'', was sunk, and the other two were severely damaged. ''Growler'' completed her patrol without finding any more targets, and on 17 July berthed at Pearl Harbor.

''Growler's'' first war patrol began 29 June 1942 as she cleared [[Pearl Harbor]] for her assigned patrol area around Dutch Harbor, [[Alaska]]; topping off at [[Midway]] on 24 June, she entered her area on 30 June. Five days later she saw her first action: sighting three destroyers, ''Growler'' closed them for a submerged torpedo attack and then surfaced. Her torpedoes struck the first two targets amidships, putting them out of action, and hit the third in the bow, but not before she had fired two torpedoes at ''Growler''. As the Japanese torpedoes "swished down each side" of ''Growler'', she dived deep, but no depth charges followed. One of the torpedoed destroyers, ''Arare'', was sunk, and the other two were severely damaged. ''Growler'' completed her patrol without finding any more targets, and on 17 July berthed at Pearl Harbor.

On 5 August ''Growler'' began her second and most successful war patrol, entering her area near [[Taiwan]] on 21 August. Two days later she conducted a submerged night attack on a freighter, surfacing to give chase when both torpedoes ran under the target and failed to explode; the freighter's quick exit into shallow waters prevented ''Growler'' from gun attack. Patrolling amidst a large fishing fleet on 25 August, ''Growler'' sighted and fired at a large passenger freighter but all three torepdoes missed; after a 3-hour depth charge attack, in which some 53 ash cans were dropped, ''Growler'' surfaced and almost immediately spotted a convoy. After 2 hours of maneuvering, she failed to catch up with the main body of the convoy but did fire at and sink an ex-gunboat, the ''Senyo Maru''. No more ships appeared in this immediate area for 3 days, so ''Growler'' shifted to the east side of the island. First to fall victim was ''Eifu''''ku Maru'', a 5,866-ton cargo ship ''Growler'' sank within 40 minutes after first sighting her on 31 August. On 4 September ''Growler'' sank by gunfire the ''Kashino'', a 4,000-ton supply ship; 3 days later she sent two torpedoes into the 2,204-toh cargo ship ''Taika Maru'', which broke in half and sank in 2 minutes. On 15 September ''Growler'' cleared her patrol area, and arrived back at Pearl 30 September.

On 5 August ''Growler'' began her second and most successful war patrol, entering her area near [[Taiwan]] on 21 August. Two days later she conducted a submerged night attack on a freighter, surfacing to give chase when both torpedoes ran under the target and failed to explode; the freighter's quick exit into shallow waters prevented ''Growler'' from gun attack. Patrolling amidst a large fishing fleet on 25 August, ''Growler'' sighted and fired at a large passenger freighter but all three torepdoes missed; after a 3-hour depth charge attack, in which some 53 ash cans were dropped, ''Growler'' surfaced and almost immediately spotted a convoy. After 2 hours of maneuvering, she failed to catch up with the main body of the convoy but did fire at and sink an ex-gunboat, the ''Senyo Maru''. No more ships appeared in this immediate area for 3 days, so ''Growler'' shifted to the east side of the island. First to fall victim was ''Eifu{{'}}ku Maru'', a 5,866-ton cargo ship ''Growler'' sank within 40 minutes after first sighting her on 31 August. On 4 September ''Growler'' sank by gunfire the ''Kashino'', a 4,000-ton supply ship; 3 days later she sent two torpedoes into the 2,204-toh cargo ship ''Taika Maru'', which broke in half and sank in 2 minutes. On 15 September ''Growler'' cleared her patrol area, and arrived back at Pearl 30 September.

During refitting, new surface radar was installed, as well as a new 20mm. gun; thus equipped, ''Growler'' sailed from [[Hawaii]] for her new patrol area in the Solomon Islands across the key Truk-Rabaul shipping lines. Her patrol area in these days of bitter fighting over [[Guadalcanal]] was almost continually covered by enemy planes, and only eight enemy ships were sighted with no chance for attack. ''Growler'' cleared the area 3 December and arrived in Brisbane, [[Australia]], 10 December.

During refitting, new surface radar was installed, as well as a new 20mm. gun; thus equipped, ''Growler'' sailed from [[Hawaii]] for her new patrol area in the Solomon Islands across the key Truk-Rabaul shipping lines. Her patrol area in these days of bitter fighting over [[Guadalcanal]] was almost continually covered by enemy planes, and only eight enemy ships were sighted with no chance for attack. ''Growler'' cleared the area 3 December and arrived in Brisbane, [[Australia]], 10 December.

[[New Year's Day]] of 1943 saw ''Growler'' sail from Brisbane for what was to prove one of the most gallant actions in naval history. Entering her patrol area, again athwart the [[Truk]]-[[Rabaul]] shipping lanes, on 11 January, she waited only 5 days before sighting an enemy convoy. Maneuvering inside the escorts, ''Growler'' fired two torpedoes and saw them hit; then, as her war diary reports, she was in the unfortunate predicament of being about 400 yards from the destroyer and had to dive without being able to continue the attack. She was credited with sinking ''Chifu''''ku Maru'', a passenger-cargo ship.

[[New Year's Day]] of 1943 saw ''Growler'' sail from Brisbane for what was to prove one of the most gallant actions in naval history. Entering her patrol area, again athwart the [[Truk]]-[[Rabaul]] shipping lanes, on 11 January, she waited only 5 days before sighting an enemy convoy. Maneuvering inside the escorts, ''Growler'' fired two torpedoes and saw them hit; then, as her war diary reports, she was in the unfortunate predicament of being about 400 yards from the destroyer and had to dive without being able to continue the attack. She was credited with sinking ''Chifu{{'}}ku Maru'', a passenger-cargo ship.

====Loss of Gilmore====

====Loss of Gilmore====

The patrol continued as normal, with two further attacks, but no sinking's until shortly after 0100. 7 February when ''Growler'' stealthily approached a gunboat for a night surface attack. The small fast ship suddenly turned to ram. Comdr. Gilmore then took the only move to save his ship; he brought ''Growler'' left full rudder and rammed the enemy amidships at 17 knots. Machine gun fire raked the bridge at point blank range. The courageous sub seemed lost. Comdr. Gilmore cleared the bridge except for himself. Desperately wounded, he realized that he could not get below in time if his ship were to be saved. "Take her down" he ordered; and, as he floated in the sea, he wrote another stirring tale of inspirational naval history. For his heroic sacrifice to ship and crew, Comdr. Gilmore was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]], one of six submariners to receive it.

The patrol continued as normal, with two further attacks, but no sinkings until shortly after 01:00. 7 February when ''Growler'' stealthily approached a gunboat for a night surface attack. The small fast ship suddenly turned to ram. Comdr. Gilmore then took the only move to save his ship; he brought ''Growler'' left full rudder and rammed the enemy amidships at 17 knots. Machine gun fire raked the bridge at point blank range. The courageous sub seemed lost. Comdr. Gilmore cleared the bridge except for himself. Desperately wounded, he realized that he could not get below in time if his ship were to be saved. "Take her down" he ordered; and, as he floated in the sea, he wrote another stirring tale of inspirational naval history. For his heroic sacrifice to ship and crew, Comdr. Gilmore was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]], one of six submariners to receive it.

Severely damaged, but still under control, ''Growler'' returned to Brisbane under command of her executive officer, Lt. Comdr. A. F. Schade; she docked 17 February for extensive repairs.

Severely damaged, but still under control, ''Growler'' returned to Brisbane under command of her executive officer, Lt. Comdr. A. F. Schade; she docked 17 February for extensive repairs.