Frederick Colby Lucas, Jr., USN
| Born | 21 Mar 1908 | ?, Illinois, USA | |
| Died | 11 Feb 2000 | (91) |
 Captain Frederick Colby Lucas, Jr., USN | Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Frederick Colby Lucas, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS R-2 (79) | Lt. | Submarine | 5 Jul 1940 | mid 1941 |
| USS Billfish (286) | T/Cdr. | Submarine | 20 Mar 1943 | 8 Jan 1944 |
| USS Caiman (323) | T/Cdr. | Submarine | 29 Nov 1944 | 6 Feb 1945 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine USS Billfish (286)
24 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) arrived at Newport, Rhode Island from New London, Connecticut for her torpedo firing trials.
28 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Having completed her torpedo trials, USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN), shifted from Newport, Rhode Island to New London, Connecticut.
19 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) was put on the slipway at New London.
22 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) was put back in the water.
24 Jun 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) departed New London, Connecticut for Christobal, Panama Canal Zone.
2 Jul 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) arrived at Christobal, Panama Canal Zone.
6 Jul 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) transited the Panama Canal and departed Balboa for Brisbane, Australia.
1 Aug 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) arrived at Brisbane, Australia.
8 Aug 1943
From 8 to 10 August USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) conducted A/S exercises off Brisbane with the Australian destroyer HMAS Vendetta (Lt.Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN) and RAAF aircraft.
HMAS Vendetta Returned to Moreton Bay on 10 August. USS Billfish remained at sea for one more day of exercises. (1)
11 Aug 1943
Having completed her exercise program, USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN), returned to Brisbane.
12 Aug 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) departed from Brisbane for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea via Port Darwin.
For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) for USS Billfish during this patrol see the map below.
18 Aug 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) arried at Port Darwin. She was escorted in by HMAS ML 815 (T/Lt. C.A.J. Inman, RANVR).
19 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
After topping off with fuel and provisions, USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN), departed Port Darwin for her patrol area.
29 Aug 1943 (position 8.28, 119.36)
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) attacked what was thought to be an unescorted enemy tanker in the Sulu Sea with four torpedoes. As the contact turned out to be a small enemy patrol vessel most likely the torpedoes ran under and missed.
(All times are zone H, -8) 1215 hours - In position 07°58'N, 117°18'E sighted an unescorted tanker leaving Balabac Strait. Range was 5000 yards. Targets base course was 075°(T), speed 16 knots.
1403 hours - Surfaced and bagan a chase at 19 knots on all four main engines for an end around.
2118 hours - Now finally ahead of the target.
2122 hours - Closed to attack.
2127 hours - In position 08°28'N, 119°36'E fired four stern torpedoes. All missed. It was then seen that the ship we attacked was not the tanker we had been tracking but a small escort or patrol vessel. Went to full power on all four main engines and evaded on the surface.
8 Sep 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) claimed the torpedoing and damaging of a freighter of about 6000 ton from an enemy convoy in the South China Sea. All torpedoes however had missed their target, the Norway Maru (5832 GRT, built 1920). She was in convoy No.320. This convoy was made up of, besides Norway Maru, auxiliary tankers Kirishima Maru (5959 GRT, built 1931) and Nichiyoku Maru (1945 GRT, built 1943), cargo ships Kosei Maru (2170 GRT, built 1924), Bokuyo Maru (2726 GRT, built 1942) and Shinno Maru (???? GRT, built ????) and three unidentified merchant ships escorted by auxiliary gunboat Kazan Maru (1893 GRT, built 1936).
(All times are zone G, -7) 0624 hours - In position 12°15'N, 111°25'E sighted smoke bearing 080°(T). This developed into a convoy of five transports, four larger ones of about 6000 ton and a smaller 1500 ton one. Commenced attack.
0808 hours - Unable to reach a firing position with a torpedo run of less then 3000 yards. Secured from battle stations and tracked submerged until .....
1021 hours - Surfaced and commenced chase.
1522 hours - Obtained a position ahead of the convoy.
1638 hours - In position 11°04'N, 110°23'E fired four torpedoes from the bow tubes. Immediately after firing went deep and rigged for depth charging. One torpedo explosion was heard that was believed to be a hit.
1642 hours - Depth charging started. Billfish ended up at 500 feet.
1710 hours - The last of 15 depth charges was dropped. Some minor damage had been sustained by Billfish.
2040 hours - Surfaced and cleared the area.
25 Sep 1943 (position 10.49, 113.18)
While on patrol off the Spratly islands, South China Sea, USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) attacked a convoy on surfaced radar bearings, claiming one hit out of 5 torpedoes fired and damage to one vessel. This is unconfirmed.
The convoy attacked was convoy SA-12 made up of tankers Kirishima Maru (5959 GRT, built 1931) and Seishin Maru (5239 GRT, built 1943), troop transports Ussuri Maru (6386 GRT, built 1932) and Teiko Maru (offsite link, 15105 GRT, former French passenger liner D'Artagnan, built 1925). They were escorted by fleet oiler Ashizuri (7951 GRT, built 1943) and the submarine chaser Ch-19. At the time USS Billfish attacked tanker Kirishima Maru had already been sunk earlier that day by USS Bowfin.
(All times are zone G, -7) 0825 hours - In position 09°38'N, 111°38'E sighted masts of five ships bearing 202°(T). A torpedo boat was seen to be escorting this convoy. Started attack.
0943 hours - With the range to the nearest target now 4300 yards the convoy zigged away.
1200 hours - Surfaced and commenced an end around on the right flank of the convoy.
1210 hours - Saw USS Bonefish surface about 3 miles away. She also commenced an end around on the left flank of the convoy.
1214 hours - Sighted a terrific explosion bearing 356°(T). This was the work of USS Bowfin which had hit a tanker.
1350 hours - Saw Bowfin surface about 3 miles to the northward. She stood off in that direction at high speed. Meanwhile the convoy had scattered. Billfish chased the transport farthest to the eastward.
1400 hours - Made out masts and tops of two other transport vessels just to the right of the smoke we were chasing. Commenced tracking them also. They were on a base course of 045°(T), speed 14 knots.
1720 hours - As visibility decreased commenced closing the targets to radar range.
1815 hours - Made radar contact at 8200 yards. Commenced radar tracking and continued working ahead.
1912 hours - Having attained a position 10000 yards ahead of the targets pulled out from track and turned towards. Then stopped and waited for the target but two zigs away left Billfish with too long a torpedo run so at .....
1936 hours - Commenced working ahead again.
2003 hours - In position 10°49'N, 113°18'E fired five torpedoes from the bow tubes. All torpedoes were seen to run normally. Built up to full speed after firing and about one minute later turned away. One torpedo was seen to hit well aft. There was a bright flash and a column of water but the explosion was not distantly felt by those on the bridge and not by all below. The target appeared to be out of control and settling, he slowed down and then stopped. The target then opened fire with a 4" or 5" gun. Billfish meanwhile ran out to a range of 14000 yards.
uring the night Billfish tried to attack again but was unable to get into a position to fire more torpedoes.
3 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the evening, USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN), made the southbound passage of Lombok Strait on the surface.
7 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) made a short stop at Exmouth Gulf to take on board more fuel for the passage to Fremantle.
10 Oct 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) ended her 1st war patrol at Fremantle, Australia.
1 Nov 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) departed from Fremantle for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.
For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) for USS Billfish during this patrol see the map below.
4 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) made a short stop at Exmouth Gulf to top off with fuel before proceeding towards her patrol area.
9 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During daylight hours, USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN), made the northbound passage of Lombok Strait submerged.
11 Nov 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) had two encounters with Japanese escort/patrol vessels in the Makassar Strait today. She was not noticed by the first Japanese warship but the second detected and depth charged Billfish.
(All times are zone H, -8) 0920 hours - In position 00°22'S, 118°42'E sighted a ship bearing 051°(T), distance about 8 miles, angle on the bow 0°. It appeared to be a destroyer or smaller anti-submarine vessel. Submerged immediately. The target maintained a steady course and speed towards our diving point.
The target was later seen to be a torpedo boat of about 225 feet in lenght with three stacks (the forward one was split). As the sea was glassy calm decided not to attack as the periscope would no doubt be spotted by the enemy.
The enemy warship sighted by Billfish might very well have been the Japanese patrol boat PB-102 (former USS Stewart) which was operating in the area.
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1407 hours - Sighted smoke bearing 071°(T). Commenced approach and target was made out to be another torpedo boat, most likely Chidori or Otori class, making high speed.
1450 hours - When the range was 3600 yards the target appeared to have got by so abandoned approach. At this point the target commenced pinging and turned towards Billfish.
1500 hours - The target was still pinging and coming towards. Went to 300 feet. Rigged ship for silent running and depth charging.
1505 hours - Six depth charges were dropped which did considerable minor damage. Went to 400 feet and took evasive action.
1640 hours - Six more depth charges were dropped. Billfish by now was at 465 feet and they did no damage. Shortly afterwards another A/S vessel was heard to join in the hunt.
1900 hours - Eight more depth charges were dropped by both ships in a joint effort. After these depth charges reversed course through the disturbance and the enemy then lost contact. Billfish surfaced at 0025 hours the next morning.
28 Nov 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) attacked an enemy convoy near Vape Varella. Four torpedoes were fired and one hit was claimed.
The convoy attacked was convoy No. 340 consisting of transports Sydney Maru (5425 GRT, built 1929), Shohei Maru (7255 GRT, built 1931), Shinno Maru (???? GRT, built ????), Sekino Maru (994 GRT, built 1918) tankers Tonan Maru (9839 GRT, built 1906), Zuiyo Maru (7338 GRT, built 1917). They were escorted by the frigate Matsuwa.
(All times are zone H, -8) 0124 hours - Near Cape Varella obtained SJ radar contact bearing 290°(T), range 14000 yards. There were five pips. Commenced tracking and working ahead at 18 knots. Contacted USS Bowfin and gave her the position of our targets.
0249 hours - Pinging commenced from the direction of the convoy and radar picked up two more ships, smaller and closer. These were believed to be escorts.
0300 hours - Bowfin now reported she was in a good position and requisted permission to attack which she was given. She was on the inshore side of the convoy.
0317 hours - Observed and heard at least five torpedo explosions as Bowfin attacked. This was followed by gunfire, searchlights and a few random depth charges. Bowfin then reported the results of her attack as one sunk, two damaged and said she would wait for us.
0335 hours - Bowfin reported she had only two torpedoes left, suspected shell holes in her main induction and that she was still in a good position to attack. Again told her to go ahead.
0354 hours - One of Bowfin's last two torpedoes exploded in our vicinity giving us a jolt. Bowfin now reported she was standing out to seaward.
0504 hours - Billfish was now finally in a good firing position so in position 12°33'N, 109°36'E fired four torpedoes from the stern tubes from 3600 yards. Heard and felt one torpedo explosion at the correct time interval ut the target was by then obscured by smoke from our own engines as we went full ahead to reach a position ahead of the convoy before daylight.
0620 hours - Sunrise found Billfish not yet in a good position ahead. Submerged and started closing the coast.
19 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Late in the evening, USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN), made the southbound passage of Lombok Strait on the surface.
23 Dec 1943
USS Billfish (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Fremantle.
Submarine USS Caiman (323)
29 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN takes over command of USS Caiman from Cdr. J.B. Azer, USN who was to sick to go on patrol.
30 Nov 1944
USS Caiman (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Saipan together with USS Ellet (Cdr. E.C. Rider, USN).
1 Dec 1944
USS Caiman (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Saipan together with USS Cassin (Cdr. V.J. Meola, USN), USS Ellet (Cdr. E.C. Rider, USN) and USS Grayson (Cdr. W.V. Pratt, III, USN).
2 Dec 1944
USS Caiman (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Saipan together with USS Cassin (Cdr. V.J. Meola, USN), USS Ellet (Cdr. E.C. Rider, USN) and USS Grayson (Cdr. W.V. Pratt, III, USN).
4 Dec 1944
After a four day training period, USS Caiman (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN), departed Saipan for her patrol area. She was escorted out by USS PC-1126 (Lt. J.F. Carrere, USNR).
7 Dec 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Caiman (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) accidentily fired a torpedo from no.9 (stern) tube with the outer door closed. The torpedo exploded at the end of the run but the torpedo tube was out of commission for the remainder of the patrol.
27 Dec 1944 (position 15.45, 119.42)
USS Caiman (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN) attacked but missed a Japanese A/S vessel with three torpedoes off the west coast of Luzon, Philippines. Caiman was then briefly depth charged but sustained no damage.
(All times are zone H, -8) 1113 hours - In position 15°55'N, 119°41'E sound reported fast screws bearing 350°(T).
1118 hours - Sighted masts of what was first believed to be a destroyer but later turned out to be a smaller escort vessel, more like a frigate or submarine chaser. Commenced approach.
1145 hours - In position 15°45'N, 119°42'E fired three stern torpedoes from a range of 1500 yards. All missed.
1146 hours - The target was seen to turn towards. Went to 400 feet and rigged for depth charging.
1149 hours - Four depth charges were dropped, none close. The A/S vessel remained in the area for a short while but then made off.
16 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 16/17 January 1945, USS Caiman (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr., USN), made the southbound passage of Lombok Strait on the suface.
22 Jan 1945
USS Caiman (Cdr. F.C. Lucas, Jr.,
USN) ended her 1st war patrol at Fremantle, Australia.
Sources
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Vendetta for August 1943
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