Arnold Henry Holtz, USN
| Born | 3 Feb 1909 | Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, USA | |
| Died | 26 Sep 2008 | (99) | Mount Pleasant, Charleston County, South Carolina, USA |
| Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Arnold Henry Holtz, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS O-6 (67) | Lt. | Submarine | 4 Feb 1941 | May 1942 |
| USS Tuna (203) | T/Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 20 Jun 1942 | 22 Oct 1943 |
| USS Baya (318) | T/Cdr. | Submarine | 20 May 1944 | 27 Jan 1945 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine USS Tuna (203)
13 Jul 1942
USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) departed Pearl Harbor for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Aleutian Islands.
5 Sep 1942
USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) ended her 3rd war patrol at Pearl Harbor.
9 Nov 1942
USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) departed Pearl Harbor for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Solomon Islands.
27 Dec 1942
USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) ended her 4th war patrol at Brisbane, Australia.
18 Jan 1943
USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) departed from Brisbane for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol of the Solomon Islands and off New Ireland.
17 Feb 1943
USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) ended her 5th war patrol at Brisbane.
4 Mar 1943
USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) departed from Brisbane for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Bismarck Archipelago.
30 Mar 1943 (position -0.22, 147.46)
USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) torpedoed and sank the Japanese transport ship Kurohime Maru (4697 GRT) north of Manus, Admiralty Islands in position 00°22'S, 147°46'E.
20 Apr 1943
USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) ended her 6th war patrol at Brisbane.
21 Aug 1943
After a futile 7th war patrol USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) departed from Fremantle, Australia for her 8th war patrol.
14 Oct 1943
USS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Holtz) ended her 8th war patrol at Fremantle.
Submarine USS Baya (318)
2 Jun 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) shifted from New London, Connecticut to Newport, Rhode Island for her torpedo trials.
6 Jun 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her torpedo trials completed, USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN), returned to New London, Connecticut from Newport, Rhode Island.
9 Jun 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted deep submergence tests in the New London area.
11 Jun 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted exercises off New London with USS Enright (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hoglund, USNR).
12 Jun 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted exercises off New London with USS Enright (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hoglund, USNR).
13 Jun 1944
During 13 to 15 June 1944, USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN), conducted exercises in Long Island Sound with USS Semmes (Cdr. R.L. Wilson, USN), USS SC-679 (Lt.(jg) D.A. Replogle, USNR) and USS Razorback (Cdr. R.S. Benson, USN).
19 Jun 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) is put on the slipway at New London.
21 Jun 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) is put back in the water.
25 Jun 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) departed from New London, Connecticut for Solomons Island, Maryland for special trials.
26 Jun 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) arrived at Solomons Island, Maryland from New London, Connecticut.
4 Jul 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) departed Solomons Island, Maryland for Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone.
12 Jul 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) arrived at Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone. She then transited the Panama Canal.
13 Jul 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted exercises in the Panama Bay training area and proceeded to Balboa upon completion of these exercises.
16 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) departed Balboa, Panama Canal Zone for Pearl Harbour.
1 Aug 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) arrived at Pearl Harbour from Balboa, Panama Canal Zone. She underwent voyage repairs from 2 to 6 August 1944.
9 Aug 1944
During 9 and 10 August 1944, USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN), conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Canfield (Lt.Cdr. P.E. Cherry, USNR), USS Greiner (Lt.Cdr. L.H. Kiser, USN), USS Griswold (Lt.Cdr. M.C. Walley, USNR), USS Rall (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Taylor, USNR), USS Gar (Lt.Cdr. M. Ferrara, USN) and USS Grouper (Cdr. F.H. Wahlig, USN). These exercises included night exercises.
11 Aug 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Allen (Lt. W.J. Riley, Jr., USNR), USS Carlson (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Stapleton, USNR), USS Greiner (Lt.Cdr. L.H. Kiser, USN) and USS Hawkbill (Cdr. F.W. Scanland, Jr., USN).
12 Aug 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Canfield (Lt.Cdr. P.E. Cherry, USNR).
15 Aug 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Canfield (Lt.Cdr. P.E. Cherry, USNR) and USS Burden R. Hastings (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Fay, USNR).
16 Aug 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Widgeon (Lt. C.W. Engler, USN) and USS ATR-80 (Lt. J.P. Debrule, USNR).
17 Aug 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Burden R. Hastings (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Fay, USNR).
18 Aug 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Lovering (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Bayley, USNR), USS Rall (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Taylor, USNR), USS Burden R. Hastings (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Fay, USNR), USS Hawkbill (Cdr. F.W. Scanland, Jr., USN) and USS Becuna (Cdr. H.D. Sturr, USN).
23 Aug 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol between the Philippines and Palau. Later she shifted her patrol area to the South China Sea.
She departed Pearl Harbour together with USS Hawkbill (Cdr. F.W. Scanland, Jr., USN) and USS Becuna (Cdr. H.D. Sturr, USN) with who Baya was to form a coordinated attack group. They were to proceed to Saipan first before proceeding to their patrol area. The submarines were escorted out by USS PC 485 (Lt. W.C. Sands, USNR).
For daily positions (incomplete) and attack positions of USS Baya during this patrol see the map below.
4 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) arrived at Saipan.
6 Sep 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) departed Saipan for her patrol area. She and USS Hawkbill (Cdr. F.W. Scanland, Jr., USN) and USS Becuna (Cdr. H.D. Sturr, USN) were escorted out by USS Heed (Lt. M. Dent. Jr., USNR).
7 Oct 1944 (position 14.30, 115.47)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese transport ship Kinugasa Maru (8407 GRT, offsite link) in the South China Sea about 250 nautical miles west of Manila, Philippines in position 14°30'N, 115°47'E. The sinking was shared with USS Hawkbill (Cdr. F.W. Scanland, Jr., USN).
Kinugasa Maru was in convoy HI-77 together with Manju Maru (7266 GRT, built 1925) and oilers Omurosan Maru (9204 GRT, built 1937), Otowasan Maru (9204 GRT, built 1936), Arita Maru (10238 GRT, built 1944), Itsukushima Maru (10007 GRT, built 1937), Akane Maru (10241 GRT, built 1944) and Kaiho Maru (10238 GRT, built 1944). German submarine tender Quito (1230 GRT, built 1938) is also in the convoy, as is an unidentified vessel. They were escorted by frigates Chiburi, Etorofu, Shonan, Kaibokan 19, Kaibokan 21 and Kaibokan 27.
(All times are zone I, -9) 6 October 1944 1330 hours - Intercept a contact report from USS Whale of a convoy heading through our area. Set course to intercept with USS Hawkbill and USS Becuna.
1750 hours - Intercept a new contact report from USS Whale. Adjusted course.
7 October 1944 1900 hours - Received a report from USS Becuna that she had made contact with the convoy.
1906 hours - Received a report from USS Hawkbill that she too had made contact with the convoy.
2008 hours - Hawkbill reported that she was closing to attack from the port flank.
2134 hours - In position 14°30'N, 115°47'E obtained radar contact bearing 180°, range 27000 yards. Closed to attack.
2214 hours - Picked up an escort on the radar on the port quarter of the target.
2218 hours - Heard explosions. Dived to radar depth at a range of 10000 yards. The target had been seen claerly from the bridge when the range had been 12000 yards. After Baya dived the ecort could not be picked up by the radar.
2230 hours - In position 14°30'N, 115°47'E fired six torpedoes from quite long range, 4450 yards, as the escort was heard pinging in our direction.
2233 hours - Heard two timed torpedo explosions.
2236 / 2240 hours - Heard six depth charges explode.
2250 hours - Heard the targets screws for the first time after the attack.
2258 hours - Heard a loud explosion.
2259 hours - Heard three loud explosions.
2303 / 2305 hours - Thrirteen depth charges were dropped.
2306 / 2315 hours - The target broke up and sank with very loud noises.
17 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) transited Lombok Strait southbound.
22 Oct 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) ended her 1st war patrol at Fremantle, Australia.
7 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) began a training period out of Fremantle.
11 Nov 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) conducted exercises off Fremantle together with USS Becuna, USS Cavalla and USS Coucal.
14 Nov 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) departed from Fremantle for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.
For daily positions (incomplete) and attack positions of USS Baya during this patrol see the map below.
15 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) developed a serious defect on her port shaft. It was decided to return to Fremantle.
16 Nov 1944
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) arrived back at Fremantle where she was put into dock later the same day.
19 Nov 1944
With her repairs completed, USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) departed from Fremantle to resume her 2nd war patrol.
22 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) made a short call at Exmouth Gulf to top off with fuel.
25 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 25/26 November 1944, USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN), made the northbound transit of Lombok Strait.
27 Dec 1944 (position 12.51, 115.27)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) attacked a Japanese task force made up of the heavy cruiser Ashigara, the light cruiser Oyodo, the destroyers Kasumi, Kiyoshimo and Asashimo and the escort destroyers Kaya, Sugi and Kashi. The ship attacked was most likely the destroyer Asashimo but no hits were obtained.
(All times are zone H, -8) 1915 hours - In position 12°51'N, 115°27'E obtained a radar contact on two targets bearing 132°(T), range 18000 yards. Commenced tracking from ahead. It was full moon.
1921 to 2042 hours - The contact developed into five or six ships with the two Original pips slightly larger then the other three or four patrolling ahead and on the quarters of the first two in line. The targets were zigging on a base course of 310°(T) at a speed of 16 knots. Passed this information to Cavalla in two messages.
2042 hours - Dived to radar depth but the swell made it impossible to maintain this depth.
2046 hours - Periscope depth. Heard echo ranging ahead.
2050 hours - Picked up target screws of the biggest target. Periscope observation agreeing with the T.D.C. (torpedo data computer).
2100 hours - Escort bearing 340° relative, zero angle on the bow, range 1500 yards so went to 80 feet.
2103 hours - In position 12°51'N, 113°27'E fired six bow torpedoes from a range of about 3000 yards.
2106 hours - Heard two muffled explosions, these could have been torpedo hits.
2108 hours - Heard four loud explosions close aboard.
2110 hours - Heard two more muffled explosions.
2203 hours - While on our way to periscope depth heard a loud distant explosion when passing 200 feet. This explosion was followed by five more explosions.
2213 - 2215 hours - Heard two more explosions.
2224 hours - Heard four more explosions in quick succesion. They did not sound like depth charges.
7 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) transited Lombok Strait southbound.
12 Jan 1945
USS Baya (Cdr. A.H. Holtz, USN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Fremantle where she was refitted by Sub.Div 262-2 relief crew. She was also docked before proceeding on her next patrol.
You can help improve officers Arnold Henry Holtz's page
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this officer.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve his page.