USS Scamp (SS-277)
History of the USS Scamp Submarine
The USS Scamp (SS-277) was ordered for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her keel was laid down at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire on March 6, 1942. She was launched on July 20, 1942 and commissioned on September 18, 1942 under the command of Commander W.G. Ebert.
The USS Scamp arrived at Pearl Harbor on February 13, 1943. She began her first war patrol on March 1 off Honshu. On March 20, her torpedoes damaged the Japanese merchant cargo ship Seinan Maru. She damaged the troop transport Manju Maru the following day. The submarine then returned to Pearl Harbor on April 7.
After refitting, the USS Scamp sailed for her second war patrol on April 19 off the Bismarck Archipelago. On May 28, she sank the Japanese seaplane carrier Kamikawa Maru. This patrol ended on June 4 at Brisbane,
On June 22, the USS Scamp returned to the Bismarck Archipelago for her third war patrol. Her torpedoes sank the Japanese submarine I-168 and damaged the fleet oiler Kazahaya on July 27. She put in at Brisbane on August 6.
The USS Scamp got underway for her fourth war patrol on September 2 in the Bismarck Archipelago. On September 18, she damaged the Japanese army cargo ship Kansai Maru. Her torpedoes sank the ship the following day. She ended this patrol on October 1 back at Brisbane.
Her fifth patrol commenced on October 22, and the USS Scamp headed for the waters between Kavieng and Truk. She damaged the Japanese troop transport Tokyo Maru on November 10; the ship sank two days later while it was under tow. On November 12, the submarine damaged the light cruiser Agano. She put in at Brisbane on November 26.
The USS Scamp set sail for her sixth war patrol on December 16 off the Bismarck Archipelago. She sank the Japanese fleet tanker Nippon Maru on January 14, 1944. Her patrol ended on February 6 at Milne Bay.
On March 3, the USS Scamp departed Milne Bay for her seventh war patrol in the waters near New Guinea, Palau, and Mindanao. Problems with her torpedo data computer (TDC) forced her to put in at Langemak Bay on March 29 for repairs. She resumed her patrol two days later when the repairs were complete. The submarine damaged a Japanese trawler on April 4 with her gunfire. Three days later, she was damaged by an aerial bomb from a Japanese floatplane, forcing her to end her patrol early at Seeadler Harbor in Manus on April 16 for emergency repairs. Six days later, she put in at Milne Bay and was sent on to Pearl Harbor for overhaul and permanent repairs.
Once her repairs were complete, the USS Scamp headed out for her eighth war patrol on October 16 north of the Bonin Islands. Four days later, she topped off with fuel at Midway. On November 9, the submarine reported her status and position; she was never heard from again. Five days later, she was given orders to take up lifeguard duty off Tokyo Bay, but she never responded.
Japanese records indicate that the USS Scamp was sunk by depth charges from Kaibokan No. 4 on November 11, 1944, just south of Tokyo Bay. The submarine was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on April 28, 1945. She received seven battle stars for her service in World War II.
The use of asbestos was common in shipbuilding components for much of the 20th Century because of its resistance to heat, fire, water and corrosion. Because of their asbestos exposure onboard ship and in the shipyards, seaman, shipyard workers and longshoreman are at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.
Sources include:
Asbestos and Ship-Building: Fatal Consequences, by John Hedley-Whyte and Debra R Milamed
