WAHOO THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL SUBMARINE IN WWII.

            The USS Wahoo has been called the most controversial submarine in WW II history due to two of its patrols, the third patrol and seventh. It has been said that the third patrol of the vessel left men in the water, in total violation of the Geneva Convention. It is been speculated that the Captain opened fire on these men in life boats and in the water.

It is also been said to be controversial due to its sixth patrol were the Wahoo whereabouts are still unknown.     This page will explain this patrol from the point of view of the person second in command Admiral Richard O'Kane, and some other commanding officers that served with the Captain Morton, and to give light into the possible resting place of the magnificent vessel.
    In this site the goal is to explain the patrols Of the USS Wahoo the third and the seventh, going into detail on the third patrol. But first some history on the Navy's leading submarine commander in WWII and second in command on Wahoo's patrols Admiral O'Kane.
Admiral O'Kane was born on February 2, 1911 in New Hampshire and entered the U.S. Naval Academy when he was nineteen years old. In 1942 he became executive officer of the Wahoo. He sank 16 Japanese vessels by July of 1943. After Wahoo's patrols he was transferred to the Tang were he continued with his victories in the war until October 1944. In this date the Tang was sunk by one of her own torpedoes, when this circled out of control and hit the Tang, injuring O'Kane and making him a prisoner of war for the rest of the war. He retired as Rear Admiral in 1957 and died on February 16 1994.


Anthony Bruce and William Cogar. "An Encyclopedia of Naval History," p. 273.

 

Picture taken from O'Kanes "The Patrols of America's Most Famous WWII Submarine WAHOO"