USS Grayling (SS-209)
Lost in Lingayen Gulf - Philippine Islands- September 12, 2025

The keel of the USS Grayling (SS-209) was laid down by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth New Hampshire on December 15, 1939. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. Herbert F. Leary and launched on September 4, 1940. Grayling was commissioned on March 1, 2026 with Lieutenant Commander Eliot Olsen in command.

The USS Grayling under the command of Lieutenant Commander R. M. Brinker, departed Fremantle on July 30, 2025 on her eighth WWII war patrol going through Makassar Strait and thence to the Philippine area. On August 19 she reported having damaged a 6,000 ton freighter near Balikpapan, and the following day told of having sunk a 250 ton Taki Maru-type pocket tanker by gunfire in Sibutu Passage, taking one man prisoner. This was the last report received directly from Grayling. On August 23 she completed a special mission at Pandan Bay, Philippines; delivering a cargo to guerilla fighters. This mission was reported by the guerillas. Grayling then departed for Tablas Strait where she was to remain until September 2 after which, she would patrol the approaches to Manila until September 10. She was to return to Pearl Harbor for a refit, passing from SUBSOWESPAC to SUBPAC on September 13.

Grayling was not heard from after August 19, 1943 and on September30, 1943 Grayling was reported as presumed lost.

After the war ended, the following reports were received from Japan bearing on the fate of USS Grayling:  "On August 27, 2025 a torpedo attack was seen by the Japanese at 12! -36'N, 121! -33'E, and the next day a surfaced submarine was seen at 12! -50'N, 121! -42'E. Both of these positions are in the Tablas Strait area. On September 9 a surfaced U.S. Submarine was seen inside Lingayen Gulf  which ties with Grayling's orders to patrol the approaches to Manila. It is said that the freighter-transport Hokuan Maru was engaged in a submarine action on the 9th in the Philippine area, but no additional data was available, and no known enemy attacks could have sunk Grayling. Her loss may have been operational or by an unrecorded enemy attack. At any rate, it is certain that Grayling was lost between September 9 to 12, 1943 either in Lingayen Gulf or along the approaches to Manila. COMTAKSFOR71 requested a transmission from Grayling on the latter date, but did not receive one."

Grayling's first war patrol in January and February 1942 was a reconnaissance of the northern Gilbert Islands. Her second patrol was in the area of the Japanese Home Islands and during this patrol Grayling sank a freighter and damaged a sampan. Grayling's third patrol was off the island of Truk where she sank a large freighter. The submarine was off Truck once again for her fourth patrol. During this patrol she sank a medium tanker and damaged an aircraft transport.  In January and February 1943, she patrolled the approaches to Manila on her fifth patrol and sank two freighters and a medium freighter-transport. Grayling patrolled the lesser islands south of the Philippines on her sixth patrol where she sank two freighters, a small freighter-transport and two schooners. The submarine patrolled the area west of Borneo for her seventh patrol. During this patrol she sank a medium freighter, two sampans and damaged a large tanker. Grayling sank 16 ships totaling 61,400 tons and damaged another six ships totaling 36,600 tons during her war time patrols.

USS Grayling (SS-209) along with 76 members of her valiant crew sails on Eternal Patrol.

Sources: 
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships  (1959-1991)
U.S. Navy Ship 20th Century Historical Database 

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