The USS Nautilus Was a Killing Machine in World War II

The Nautilus is a legend from a bygone era—one with American industrial and defense capabilities the likes of which no modern leader has ever seen. 

In the long and storied history of the United States Navy, the name USS Nautilus carries some weight. Most naval buffs know about the first nuclear-powered submarine that went by that name. But that submarine’s predecessor, the USS Nautilus (SS-168), was a Narwhal-class submarine that fought with great distinction in the Pacific Theater of the Second World War. 

The first Nautilus sub earned a remarkable combat record through aggressive patrols and dangerous missions. One of its most iconic moments came when it sank the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) destroyer Yamakaze on June 25, 1942. 

Understanding the USS Nautilus

Commissioned on July 1, 1930, at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, Calif., the Nautilus was originally designated V-6 (SC-2) before being renamed and reclassified as SS-168. As a Narwhal-class submarine, Nautilus was one of the Navy’s “V-Boats,” designed as a long-range cruiser submarine to counter potential threats in the Pacific, particularly from Japan.

In fact, Nautilus was among the largest Navy submarines of its era, capable of cruising up to 25,000 miles and diving to 300 feet. Its armament included 21-inch torpedo tubes (four forward, two aft), two six-inch/53-caliber deck guns, and the capacity to carry 24 torpedoes, making it able to wage war both on the surface and below the waves.

From 1941-42, the Nautilus underwent significant modernization at Mare Island, preparing it for the demands of wartime service. By June 1942, under the command of Lieutenant Commander William H. Brockman, Jr., the Nautilus was deployed on its first war patrol, which included participation in the Battle of Midway. 

Though Brockman was relatively inexperienced in war patrols, he demonstrated remarkable aggression and skill, earning a Navy Cross for his actions at Midway. The submarine’s size, endurance, and firepower made it ideal for long-range patrols near enemy territory, setting the stage for its fateful encounter with the Yamakaze.

During the Battle of Midway, the Nautilus attempted to torpedo Japanese aircraft carriers with mixed results, thanks in large part to faulty torpedoes. After the battle, Nautilus replenished its supplies at Midway Island before resuming its westward patrol. 

Eventually, Nautilus was operating off Honshu, Japan, along the Tokyo-Marshall Islands supply route, a critical artery for Japanese naval and merchant shipping. This patrol placed Nautilus in dangerous waters within sight of the Japanese mainland, testing the crew’s nerve and the submarine’s capabilities. 

The Nautilus’ Finest Hour

Japan’s Yamakaze was a Shiratsuyu-class vessel commissioned in 1937. A fast and agile warship displacing 1,685 tons and armed with five 5-inch guns, torpedoes, and depth charges, the crew had no idea the Nautilus was prowling the depths beneath them. On June 25, 1942, the destroyer was steaming from Ōminato toward the Inland Sea, approximately 60 nautical miles southeast of Yokosuka, Japan. 

The Yamakaze had become a legendary warship in the annals of Japan’s wartime history. Earlier in the year, it had sunk the USS Shark (SS-174), killing 59 American sailors and painting a target on its head for revenge.

On June 25, 1942, the Nautilus had been hunting what it believed was a Japanese oil tanker. Later that afternoon, Nautilus sighted a large vessel and fired two torpedoes, likely damaging the tanker, before diving to avoid depth charges dropped by an escorting destroyer. 

That evening, the crew of the Nautilus spotted another possible target—a lone destroyer, later identified as Yamakaze. Brockman maneuvered Nautilus into an attack position, closing the range over the next hour. That night, Nautilus fired two torpedoes from its forward tubes at close range.

The first torpedo smashed into the Yamakaze amidships, causing an inferno to erupt near the number two stack and lifting the ship out of the water slightly. Fifteen seconds thereafter, the second torpedo hit forward, inflicting the killing stroke. Yamakaze’s back was broken, and it began sinking rapidly by the bow, heeling to starboard. Just ten minutes after the initial torpedo hit, the Japanese warship was gone, sinking with all hands lost. 

Nautilus’ crew watched the destruction through the periscope and even captured the Japanese warship’s final moments on the surface with a high-resolution camera. This image would later be published in the December 1942 issue of U.S. Camera as “Doom of Jap Warship,” becoming an iconic symbol of American submarine warfare. 

The Nautilus is a legend from a bygone era—one with American industrial and defense capabilities the likes of which no modern leader has ever seen. While not a fancy new nuclear submarine, the Nautilus was one of America’s finest subs. America’s sclerotic military shipbuilders simply could not make another like it today.

About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert

Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.