Charles Warren Wilkins, USN
| Born | 30 Aug 1902 | Thorofare, New Jersey, USA | |
| Died | 1 Aug 1985 | (82) | Orange City, Florida, USA |
 | Ranks
Retired: 1 Jan 1958 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Charles Warren Wilkins, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS Narwhal (167) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | May 1941 | 16 Oct 1942 |
| USS Seahorse (304) | T/Capt. | Submarine | 27 Jul 1944 | 3 Nov 1944 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine USS Narwhal (167)
7 Dec 1941
USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. Charles Warren Wilkins) was refitting at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked. Within minutes of the first enemy bomb explosions on Ford Island, Narwhal's gunners were in action to assist in the destruction of two Japanese torpedo planes.
2 Feb 1942
USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Wilkins) left Pearl Harbor for her first war patrol. She was ordered to reconnoitre Wake Island in mid February and then continue to patrol in the East China Sea.
27 Feb 1942 (position 28.55, 138.15)
USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Wilkins) torpedoed and damaged the Japanese tanker Manju Maru (6515 GRT) in position 28°55'N, 138°15'E.
4 Mar 1942 (position 28.37, 129.10)
USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Wilkins) torpedoed and sank the Japanese transport ship Taki Maru (1235 GRT) in the East China Sea off Amami O Shima, south of Kyushu, Japan in position 28°37'N, 129°10'E.
28 Mar 1942
USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Wilkins) end her first war patrol when she returned to Pearl Harbor.
28 May 1942
USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Wilkins) left base for her 2nd war patrol. She took part in the defence of Midway.
13 Jun 1942
USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Wilkins) returned to base.
7 Jul 1942
USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Wilkins) left base for her 3th war patrol. She was to patrol off the Kuril Islands.
24 Jul 1942 (position 44.53, 147.09)
USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Wilkins) sank the Japanese guard boat Shinsei Maru No.83 (63 GRT) off Utasutsu Bay, Hokkaido in position 44°53'N, 147°09'E and the Japanese merchants Nissho Maru (344 GRT) off Etorofu in position 45°09'N, 147°31'E and Kofuji Maru (134 GRT) off Oito in position 45°14'N, 147°31'E. All these ships were sunk by gunfire.
1 Aug 1942 (position 41.12, 141.36)
While operating off the northeast tip of Honshu, south of Shiraya Zaki USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Wilkins) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant Meiwa Maru (2921 GRT) in position 41°12'N, 141°36'E, she also sank the small tanker Koan Maru (884 GRT) in position 41°03'N, 141°28'E.
8 Aug 1942 (position 41.14, 141.32)
USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Wilkins) torpedoed and sank the Japanese fishing vessel Bifuku Maru (2635 GRT) south-east of Shiriya Zaki, at the northeast tip of Honshu in position 41°14'N, 141°32'E.
26 Aug 1942
USS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Wilkins) ended her very successful 3th war patrol when she returned to base. On 6 September 1942 she left Pearl Harbor bound for the Mare Island Navy Yard for an overhaul.
Submarine USS Seahorse (304)
27 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) is docked in ARD 1 at Pearl Harbour.
29 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) is undocked.
8 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) conduced exercises off Pearl Harbour.
9 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) conduced exercises off Pearl Harbour.
10 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 10/11 August 1944, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) conduced exercises off Pearl Harbour. These included night exercises.
12 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) conduced exercises off Pearl Harbour.
14 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour with USS Lamberton (Lt. E.R. Hunt, USNR).
Later USS Seahorse and USS Scabbardfish (T/Cdr. F.A. Gunn, USN) conducted exercises with USS Carlson (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Stapleton, USNR) and USS Halloran (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Scripps, USNR).
15 Aug 1944
From 15 to 17 August 1944, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN), USS Whale (T/Cdr. J.B. Grady, USN) and USS Segundo (T/Cdr. J.D. Fulp, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour with an incoming convoy. During these exercises they were escorted by USS Lovering (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Bayley, USNR, with COMCORTDIV 10, Cdr. G.B. Coale, USNR on board) and USS Griswold (Lt.Cdr. M.C. Walley, USNR).
18 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) and USS Whale (T/Cdr. J.B. Grady, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour with USS Carlson (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Stapleton, USNR) and USS Greiner (T/Lt.Cdr. L.H. Kiser, USN).
21 Aug 1944
Around 1330VW/21, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN), USS Whale (T/Cdr. J.B. Grady, USN) and USS Segundo (T/Cdr. J.D. Fulp, Jr., USN) departed Pearl Harbour for their sixth, ninth and first war patrols respectively. They were first to proceed to Saipan before continuing on to their patrol area where they were to operate as a coordinated attack group.
They were escorted out until 2000VW by USS PC-1077 (Lt. G.B. Glave, USNR).
En-route to Saipan the submarine carried out warious exercises. (2)
3 Sep 1944
Around 0530K/3, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN), USS Whale (T/Cdr. J.B. Grady, USN) and USS Segundo (T/Cdr. J.D. Fulp, Jr., USN) made rendezvous with USS Downes (T/Cdr. R.S. Fahle, USN).
They then proceeded to Tenapag harbour where they arrived around 1130K/3.
The submarines were then taken in hand for voyage repairs by USS Holland (Cdr. C.Q. Wright, Jr., USNR). (2)
4 Sep 1944
Around 0800I/4, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN), USS Whale (T/Cdr. J.B. Grady, USN) and USS Segundo (T/Cdr. J.D. Fulp, Jr., USN) departed Saipan to proceed to their patrol area to the east of the Philippines.
They were escorted out until around 1400I/4, by USS Heed (Lt. M. Dent. Jr., USNR).
Around 1030I/5, the submarines parted company to proceed independently to their patrol area. (2)
9 Sep 1944
At 1118I/9, east of the Philippines, in position 11°08'N, 128°38'E, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) sighted a periscope on the port quarter at a range of 1500 yards. Avoiding action was taken at emergency speed. It was seen twice. It was thought this may have been an enemy cargo submarine en-route to Palau. USS Seahorse therefore proceeded to the southwards and patrol along the expected track of the enemy submarine bu nothing was sighted or detected during the night.
[Most likely no enemy submarine was present in this area.] (3)
14 Sep 1944
Around 0715I/14, the 'Bear' wolfpack, made up of USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN), USS Whale (T/Cdr. J.B. Grady, USN) and USS Segundo (T/Cdr. J.D. Fulp, Jr., USN) was joined by USS Grouper (T/Cdr. F.H. Wahlig, USN). (2)
25 Sep 1944
Around 0900I/25, the 'Bear' wolfpack, made up of USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN), USS Grouper (T/Cdr. F.H. Wahlig, USN), USS Whale (T/Cdr. J.B. Grady, USN) and USS Segundo (T/Cdr. J.D. Fulp, Jr., USN) was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea by ComSubPac.
USS Grouper left the 'Bear' Wolfpack on 28 September also by order of ComSubPac. (2)
26 Sep 1944
At 0149H/26, south of Formosa, in position 21°36'N, 120°26'E, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN), obtained an SJ radar contact at a range of 10000 yards. The target was tracked on a southerly course (180°) at 9 knots. The target was identified, by sight, as a small PC-type patrol vessel. The target was put astern and evaded.
At 1811H/26, south-west of Formosa, in position 21°42'N, 119°36'E, pinging was heard from two sources bearing 150°. Nothing could be sighted. Later pinging was heard from four sources. It was for a while thought contact had been made by a convoy but when darkness fell the shapes of PC-type patrol vessels were vaguely made out. One came near and USS Seahorse went deep for a while. USS Seahorse surfaced at 2018H/26. (3)
27 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1255H/27, south-west of Formosa, in position 22°15'N, 119°36'E, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN), picked up the HE of light crews. USS Seahorse came to periscope depth and a small SC-type patrol vessel was sighted proceeding westwards and the enmey was soon lost from sight. The vessel was lightly armed but it was decided not to attack so as not to give away the submarines position and await bigger prey. (3)
1 Oct 1944
Around 1600H/1, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN), USS Whale (T/Cdr. J.B. Grady, USN) and USS Segundo (Cdr. J.D. Fulp, Jr., USN) were to form a patrol line off the north-west point of Luzon with USS Seahorse in position 18°50'N, 119°40'E and the other two submarines 15 miles to the west and east of her. (2)
2 Oct 1944
At 0005H/2, west-north-west of the north-west point of Luzon, in position 18°59'N, 118°36'E, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN), obtained radar contact bearing 035° at a range of 19000 yards. Commenced tracking and approach.
A steady white light was subsequently seen on the bearing of the target. The target had tracked on a steady course and it was feared for the worst, that it was a hospital ship. This was indeed the case and a submerged practice approach was carried out. The hospital ship eventually passed at a range of 1500 yards.
The hospital ship encountered may have been the Tachibana Maru (1772 GRT, built 1935) which was en-route from Keelung, Formasa to Manila where it arrived on 3 October. (3)
3 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0449H/3, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) picked up the sound of pinging.
At 0530H/3, north of Luzon, in position 18°44'N, 120°43'E, a PC-type patrol vessel was sighted at a range of 8000 yards. The enemy was entering Bangui Bay. (3)
6 Oct 1944 (position 19.27, 118.08)
USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese frigate Kaibokan 21 (745 tons, offsite link) about 140 nautical miles North-West of Cape Bojeador, Luzon in position 19°27'N, 118°08'E.
The frigate had just picked up survivors from the tanker Akane Maru (10241 GRT, built 1944) which had been sunk by USS Whale. There were no survivors from the frigate.
The above mentioned tanker and frigate had been part of a convoy that had further been made up of the tankers Arita Maru (10238 GRT, built 1944), Itsukushima Maru (10007 GRT, built 1937), Kaiho Maru (10238 GRT, built 1944), Omurosan Maru (9205 GRT, built 1937), Otowasan Maru (9205 GRT, built 1937), Taiho Maru (???), transports Kinugasa Maru (6811 GRT, built 1936), Manju Maru (7267 GRT, built 1925) and the German depot ship Quito (1230 GRT, built 1938). They were escorted by the Etorofu, Chiburi, Shonan, Kaibokan 19 and Kaibokan 27.
1142H/6, Received a contact report from USS Whale (T/Cdr. J.B. Grady, USN) that several ship had been spotted in position 19°42'N, 118°12'E.
1220H/6 - Received an amplifying report from USS Whale which gave the course of the enemy as 190° at 10 knots at 1215H/6.
1237H/6 - Pip on the radar, bearing 330°, range 12000 yards. This turned out to be USS Whale.
1240H/6 - Received a message from USS Whale that she was diving to attack in position 19°31'N, 118°08'E. The pip subsequently disappeared.
1301H/6 - Obtained radar contact bearing 357° at 22000 yards. One pip only.
1309H/6 - Made momentary visual contact. Two ships could barely made out in the haze. Visibility varied greatly at this time. Commenced tracking from ahead.
Picked up five torpedo explosions. This must be the work of USS Whale. Two radar pips which were on the screen disappeared. USS Seahorse tried to make several approaches on the convoy but every time she ran into a destroyer.
1530H/6 - As no more then two ships had been seen and two pips had been seen to have disappeared from the radar screen it was thought the convoy was only made up of these two ships which had now be sunk by USS Whale. A destroyer, thought to have been the only escort, was picking up the survivors while laying to. This was verified sight contact when the rain squalls cleared up.
The destroyer was then at a range of 16900 yards. It was thought that this destroyer was now the only target left. It was decided to attack this destroyer.
1547H/6 - Dived and commenced approach. The destroyer was pinging continuously. These pings served as a beacon for the approach. Closed to 10000 yards at standard speed and then to 6000 yards at 2/3 speed. The rest of the way in Seahorse ran in at 60 RPM.
1757H/6 - In position 19°27'N, 118°08'E, fired six bow torpedoes from 680 yards at the target. Which was thought to be a Hibiki-class destroyer. The second torpedo was seen to hit amidships. The target was seen to roll over and break in half. Her depth charges exploded shortly after both halves at sank.
11 Oct 1944
At 0307H/11, while north of Luzon for lifeguard (air-sea rescue) duties, in position 18°56'N, 121°37'E, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) obtained radar contact bearing 262° at 13200 yards. On closing it was seen to be a small PC-type patrol vessel and it was then evaded.
At 0541H/11, in position 18°56'N, 121°37'E, USS Seahorse sighed a large PC-type patrol vessel patrolling along the west coast of Camiguin Island.
0646H/11, a small patrol boat, most likely the same one as seen at 0307 hours, was seen patrolling to the north of Fuga Island. Evading action was taken and most likely the submarine was sighted from Fuga Island at this time.
0651H/11, A 'Val' aircraft (Aichi D3A) was sighted at a range of 10 miles. It was coming towards.
0655H/11, Dived. The aircraft was seen to turn in to commence an approach. Seahorse then went to 150 feet.
0658H/11, Two bombs exploded in rapid succession fortunately not close enough to cause damage. Pinging was heard from both patrol vessels seen earlier and the one that had been patrolling to the north of Fuga was approaching rapidly. Seahorse went to 400 feet beneath a temperature gradient and set course for the open sea.
0826H/11, Pinging had faded out. Returned to periscope depth to find nothing in sight.
0858H/11, off Camiguin Island, in position 18°51'N, 121°49'E, what are thought to be four landing barges were sighted proceeding southwards. Prepared for gun action but when about to surface they turned towards the beach. Apparently they were on exercises.
0949H/11, Surfaced. All clear, nothing in sight.
1425H/11, Received a message from a friendly aircraft that a pilot was in the water bearing 205° - 22 miles.
1427H/11, Went to full speed. Reported our position and requested plane cover which soon arrived.
The reported pilot was however not found.
1824H/11, in position 18°54'N, 121°39'E, USS Seahorse surfaced. Immediately a contact was obtained with the SJ radar bearing 038° at a range of 14000 yards. Commenced tracking.
1918H/11, A second pip appeared on the radar screen, bearing 340° at 16000 yards. The two pips were soon identified as PC-type patrol vessels. It was thought to be the same vessels that had been encountered in the morning. Their presence prevented a further search for the downed pilot. (3)
12 Oct 1944
At 1120H/12, south of in Camiguin Island, position 18°48'N, 121°54'E, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) a PC-type patrol vessel was seen coming round the southern point of the island. USS Seahorse turned stern on and proceeded away at full speed. (3)
14 Oct 1944
At 1728H/14, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) left patrol to proceed to Midway. (3)
16 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1159H/15, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) received orders from ComSubPac to head west to patrol, east of Formosa, as the Japanese Fleet was expected to proceed to sea. (3)
18 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1950H/18, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) is ordered to leave patrol and proceed to Midway. (3)
28 Oct 1944
Around 0920Y/28, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) arrived at Midway.
Around 1535Y/28, She departed Midway for Pearl Harbour.
1 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1050W/1, USS Seahorse (T/Capt. C.W. Wilkins, USN) arrived at Pearl Harbour from Midway. She was escorted in by USS PC-486 (Lt. R.B. Whitney, USNR) which had joined around 0630W/1. (3)
Sources
- http://www.homeofheroes.com/members/02_NX/citations/03_wwii-nc/nc_06wwii_navyV.html
- Patrol report of Task Group 17.18 (Bears) from 21 August 1944 to 11 October 1944
- Report of sixth war patrol of USS Seahorse
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