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Submarines patrolling in coordinated attack groups--"wolfpacks" to the German Navy--raised the probability of destroying entire convoys. On her ninth patrol, Barb joined Queenfish (SS 393) and Tunny (SS 282) in just such a group dubbed "Ed's Eradicators" for its commander, Capt. Edward R. Swinburne. The three submarines put to sea on 4 August and, by 10 August, had formed a scouting line for the cruise to their patrol area in the Manila Hong Kong sea lanes. In an area nicknamed "Convoy College," which stretched from Pratas Reef south of Swatow through Luzon Strait, they joined another group, "Ben's Busters." On 31 August, the two units converged on a large, heavily escorted convoy. Queenfish began the attack and destroyed two enemy ships before Barb attacked. Barb fired three torpedoes at overlapping ships, scoring hits on a tanker and a freighter. The convoy maintained course and speed, but Barb stalked it for five hours and succeeded in closing a cargo vessel. Just as she prepared to fire, a bird perched on Barb's periscope and draped its tailfeathers over the glass. She lowered the scope and raised it again, but the bird hovered over it and then resumed its perch. Finally, the bird was tricked when both scopes were raised, one a few seconds before the other. Barb rapidly computed the firing solution and fired three torpedoes that struck Okuni Maru amidships, broke the freighter ln two, and sent her to the bottom.

Submarines patrolling in coordinated attack groups--"wolfpacks" to the German Navy—raised the probability of destroying entire convoys. On her ninth patrol, Barb joined Queenfish (SS 393) and Tunny (SS 282) in just such a group dubbed "Ed's Eradicators" for its commander, Capt. Edward R. Swinburne. The three submarines put to sea on 4 August and, by 10 August, had formed a scouting line for the cruise to their patrol area in the Manila Hong Kong sea lanes. In an area nicknamed "Convoy College," which stretched from Pratas Reef south of Swatow through Luzon Strait, they joined another group, "Ben's Busters." On 31 August, the two units converged on a large, heavily escorted convoy. Queenfish began the attack and destroyed two enemy ships before Barb attacked. Barb fired three torpedoes at overlapping ships, scoring hits on a tanker and a freighter. The convoy maintained course and speed, but Barb stalked it for five hours and succeeded in closing a cargo vessel. Just as she prepared to fire, a bird perched on Barb's periscope and draped its tailfeathers over the glass. She lowered the scope and raised it again, but the bird hovered over it and then resumed its perch. Finally, the bird was tricked when both scopes were raised, one a few seconds before the other. Barb rapidly computed the firing solution and fired three torpedoes that struck Okuni Maru amidships, broke the freighter ln two, and sent her to the bottom.

Barb (SS 220) earned four Presidential Unit Citations for her 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th war patrols, a Navy Unit Commendation for her 12th patrol, and eight battle stars for her World War II service.<ref>Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b2-list.htm]</ref>

Barb (SS 220) earned four Presidential Unit Citations for her 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th war patrols, a Navy Unit Commendation for her 12th patrol, and eight battle stars for her World War II service.<ref>[http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b2-list.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]</ref>

See also [[Barb-II]].

See also [[Barb-II]].