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Notable events involving Chub include:

The history of USS Chub as compiled on this page is extracted from her patrol reports.

This page was last updated in February 2017.

1 Nov 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) arrived at Newport, Rhode Island from New London, Connecticut for her torpedo trials.

4 Nov 1944
Having completed her torpedo trials, USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN), returned to New London, Connecticut from Newport, Rhode Island.

25 Nov 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) departed New London, Connecticut for Key West, Florida.

2 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) arrived at Key West, Florida from New London, Connecticut.

4 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

5 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

6 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

7 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

8 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

9 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

11 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

12 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

13 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

14 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

15 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

16 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

18 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

19 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

20 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

21 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

22 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

25 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) departed Key West, Florida for Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone.

29 Dec 1944
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) arrived at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone from Key West, Florida.

1 Jan 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises in Panama Bay together with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR) and USS Barker (Lt. H. Smith, USNR).

8 Jan 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) departed Balboa, Panama Canal Zone for Pearl Harbour.

24 Jan 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) arrived at Pearl Harbor from Balboa, Panama Canal Zone.

1 Feb 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Ramsay (Lt. R.R. Pollard, Jr., USNR).

2 Feb 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Ramsay (Lt. R.R. Pollard, Jr., USNR), USS Whitman (Lt. E.A. Sandor, USNR) and USS Tench (Cdr. W.B. Sieglaff, USN).

3 Feb 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Ramsay (Lt. R.R. Pollard, Jr., USNR), USS Whitman (Lt. E.A. Sandor, USNR) and USS Tench (Cdr. W.B. Sieglaff, USN).

7 Feb 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Ramsay (Lt. R.R. Pollard, Jr., USNR) and USS PC-599 (Lt. J.M. Kindt, USNR).

8 Feb 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Ramsay (Lt. R.R. Pollard, Jr., USNR) and USS PC-599 (Lt. J.M. Kindt, USNR).

9 Feb 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Ramsay (Lt. R.R. Pollard, Jr., USNR) and USS PC-599 (Lt. J.M. Kindt, USNR).

13 Feb 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea. She was escorted out by USS PC-569.

For the daily positions of USS Chub during this patrol see the map below.

24 Feb 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) arrived at Saipan. She was escorted in by USS LCI(L)-1063.

25 Feb 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) departed Saipan for her patrol area. She was escorted out by USS LCI(L)-1063.

31 Mar 1945
Late in the morning, USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN), rescued the crew of an USAAF B25 off Hainan Island. The stricken B25 had been forced to ditch in the water a few miles off the coast at Yulin Bay after conducting a low level raid on harbour installations on March 30. Chub was directed to the downed fliers by a B25 crew sent to drop a life raft and try to assist in rescue. Jap fighters attempted to break through the B25s and strafed the Chub but they were forced away by the B25s which formed a protective circle at low level over the sub. They then directed the sub to the downed fliers. They were taken aboard and carried to Australia. (1)

12 Apr 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) is lightly damaged by four aerial bombs dropped by a Japanese float plane in the Java Sea in position 06°03'S, 113°56'E. These caused only minor damage.

13 Apr 1945
During daylight hours, USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN), made the southbound passage of Lombok Strait submerged.

16 Apr 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) made a short stop at Exmouth Gulf to take on board fuel for the passage to Fremantle.

18 Apr 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) ended her 1st war patrol at Fremantle, Australia. At Fremantle she was refitted by a relief crew from Submarine Division 301.

14 May 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) departed from Fremantle for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Java Sea. Before proceeding on patrol exercises were carried out together with USS Corpus Christi (Cdr. W.W. Childress, USCG).

For the daily and attack positions of USS Chub during this patrol see the map below.

19 May 1945
During the night of 19/20 May 1945, USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN), made the northbound transit of Lombok Strait on the surface.

20 May 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) attacked but missed what is thought to be a Japanese escort vessel with three torpedoes north-east of Kangean Island in position 06°18'S, 116°05'E. No hits were obtained.

Following this failed attack USS Chub conducted a special operation (no details known to us for the moment).

(All times are zone I, -9)
1300 hours - Sighted masts bearing 235°(T). Commenced approach. The contact soon turned out to be a small freighter type escort and a small engines aft freighter. Started an attack on the escort as he appeared to be larger.

1339 hours - In position 06°18'S, 116°05'E fired three torpedoes from 3200 yards. All missed. Stood clear to the south to conduct a special operation.

21 May 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr.) torpedoed and sank the Japanese minesweeper W-34 (648 tons, offsite link) in the Java Sea north-east of Kangean Island in position 06°15'S, 116°01'E.

(All times are zone I, -9)
0104 hours - In position 06°09'S, 115°36'E obtained SJ radar contact bearing 180(T) at a range of 18000 yards. Commenced tracking. The target was on a base course of 085(T) at varying speeds.

0231 hours - Submerged while 13000 yards ahead of the target.

0248 hours - In position 06°15'S, 116°01'E fired five torpedoes from 2900 yards. The target is thought to be a minesweeper, frigate or torpedo boat.

0250 hours - Went deep, 200 feet.

0251 hours - Heard a timed torpedo explosion. Sound reported that screws and echo ranging had stopped. Started to return to periscope depth.

0255 hours - A heavy explosion occured. It was though that a block buster depth charge was dropped. Remained deep for a while.

0310 hours - Started to come up to periscope depth again.

0342 hours - Radar sweep. All clear.

0344 hours - Surfaced and closed the scene of the attack.

0405 hours - Passed through a large and strong smelling oil slick. No survivors were seen in the dark. Considered target to have sunk.

1 Jun 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) twice attacked but missed a small and escorted Japanese merchant vessel to the south of Borneo. The ship attacked was most likely the Tobi Maru (983 GRT, built 1929, former Dutch Tobelo) that was sunk later the same day further to the east by HMS Tiptoe (Lt. R.L. Jay, RN).

(All times are zone I, -9)
31 May 1945
2315 hours - Received a contact report from USS Blenny. She had sigted a small transport with an escort.

2317 hours - Went to four engine speed to intercept.

1 June 1945
0005 hours - Received a message from USS Blenny that she had made an attack with negative results.

0305 hours - In position 04°41'S, 115°14'E obtained SJ radar contact at a range of 14000 yards.

0310 hours - Communicated to USS Blenny and HMS Tiptoe that we were going in to attack.

0433 hours - The enemy zigged towards, range was 2400 yards.

0500 hours - Another zig. The target and escort were overlapping.

0502 hours - In position 04°48'S, 115°00'E fired three torpedoes from 1450 yards. No hits were obtained. Commenced an end around.

0626 hours - Position now 04°52'S, 115°14'E, range 13800 yards.

0704 hours - Submerged 13000 yards ahead on the targets starboard bow. Identified the target as a small freighter passenger type of about 1200 ton with the bridge amidships and the stack aft. The escort was an auxiliary submarine chaser or a patrol vessel and she was on the starboard bow of the target. Decided to cross the targets bow and attack from the port side.

0805 hours - In position 04°56'S, 115°16'E fired three stern torpedoes from 1400 yards. Again no hits. The target did not turn away.

0813 hours - The escort is coming towards us belching black smoke.

0816 hours - Went to 90 feet.

0835 hours - Returned to periscope depth. Observed the escort milling around 3000 to 4000 yards away.

0852 hours - The escort dropped a string of ten depth charges then started milling around again.

0918 hours - The escort dropped a string of five epth charges. He was now at a range of 7000 yards. Chup was retiring to the south-west.

0950 hours - A heavy rain squall sets in.

0953 hours - Surfaced and pulled clear.

5 Jun 1945
At 1028 hours (zone I, -9), USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN), sighted the Japanese heavy cruiser Ashigara and her escort, destroyer Kamikaze while they were en-route from Singapore to Batavia. Position was 05°43'S, 106°26'E (north-west of Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies). Chub was however not in a position to attack.

7 Jun 1945
At 1015 hours (zone I, -9), USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN), again sighted the Japanese heavy cruiser Ashigara and her escort, destroyer Kamikaze while they were on the return trip from Batavia to Singapore. Position was 05°45'S, 106°22'E (north-west of Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies). Like two days ago Chub was not in a position to attack.

14 Jun 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) claims to have sunk an unidentified ship north of the Sunda Strait in position 04°41'S, 106°22'E.

(All times are zone I, -9)
0339 hours - In position 04°49'S, 106°20'E obtained SJ radar contact bearing 199°(T), range 10100 yards. Commenced tracking.

0400 hours - Manned battle stations. The target was tracking on a course of 030°(T), speed 5 knots.

0420 hours - The target was now on a course 045°(T). At 4500 yards a total of four ships were seen, these were much smaller then the main target.

0436 hours - In position 04°41'S, 106°22'E fired five torpedoes from 2400 yards.

0437 hours - Turned left and went ahead at flank speed.

0439 hours - Observed and felt a double explosion (a few seconds apart) which blanked off the main target. The port lookout noticed that he could no longer see the target shortly after this explosion. Also radar contact was lost on the largest pip. Cleared the area.

21 Jun 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Subic Bay, Philippines. She was escorted in by USS Pratt (Cdr. R.H. Wanless, USNR).

At Subic Bay she was refitted by a relief crew of Submarine Division 222 and USS Howard W. Gilmore. She was also docked.

15 Jul 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) departed from Subic Bay for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Java Sea. She was escorted out by USS Woodson (Lt.Cdr. A.R. Corlett, USNR). Exercises with Woodson were cut short when Cub was ordered to search for downed aviators to the north which she did until the afternoon of the next day.

For the daily and attack positions of USS Chub during this patrol see the map below.

24 Jul 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) damaged a Japanese tug (the former Dutch Gina) with gunfire off the coast of Java in position 07°46'S, 114°24'E. The tug was beached and was finally destroyed by Chub on 5 August.

(All times are zone I, -9)
1343 hours - In position 07°46'S, 114°24'E sighted smoke and stack bearing 165°(T).

1402 hours - While at radar depth got ST radar contact at a range of 5900 yards. The target was identified as a large ocean going tug rounding Cape Sedano close inshore. Later sighted a smaller diesel tug on the large tug's bow. The targets were too far inshore for a torpedo attack.

1440 hours - Battle surfaced on the target's quarter and opened fire with 5" at an initial range of 5000 yards. The target was maneuvering radically and we scored no hits until the range had closed to 3500 yards. Then both tugs beached themselves and abandoned ship. Closed the range to 100 yards and made two runds parallel to the beach at 7 knots firing with 5" at the large tug which was made of steel and firing with 40mm at the small diesel tug, which was made of wood. Got 46 hits with 5" on the large tug and 50 hits with 40mm on the small diesel tug. Both were set on fire.

1522 hours - Ceased firing having expended a total of 112 rounds of 5" and 212 rounds of 40mm.

1552 hours - Picked up one Indian survivor and then opened out from the beach at four engine speed to get to deeper water.

1557 hours - Submerged for an approaching aircraft.

5 Aug 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) sank a tug and a salvage barge with gunfire and destroyed a beached tug (former Dutch Gina) with a torpedo on the coast of Java in position 07°46'S, 114°24'E.

(All times are zone I, -9)
0705 hours - Submerged of Meinderts Reef. During the day made careful examination of beached tug and the adjacent shore line.

Observations:
The tug is short distance off shore almost parallel to the beach and listed slightly to port. It was partially camouflaged. A wire hawser extends from the bow of the tug to a tree on the beach.
The torpedo net extends from shore out to seaward, parallel to port side of tug but does not enclose the stern of the tug. The buoys have been camouflaged to resemble a grass fence.
Salvage barge alongside inshore has been partially camouflaged and protrudes slightly astern of the tug.
Considerable activity on the beach. Apparently Japanese and natives gathering grass for camouflage.
A Japanese observation post was sighted about 2 miles to the westward.
The fathometer showed good deep water within 1500 yards of the shore.

Plan of action
Surface 15 to 20 minutes before sunset and then attack with 40mm and destroy the salvage barge. THen sink some of the torpedo net buys and finally finish off the tug with a torpedo.

1850 hours - Battle stations.

1903 hours - Surfaced and opened fire with 40mm from 2200 yards. Observed numerous people to jump in the water and swim for shore. Closed to 700 yards from the barge. Fired 100 rounds of 40mm for approximately 90 hits in the salvage barge making a smouldering wreck of it.

1916 hours - Now only 350 yards from the beach behind the line of the torpedo net buoys. Fired one torpedo for a 720 yards run. The torpedo hit aft with a terrific blast and blew one engine up on deck.

Started swinging left to open out, believing our work done. Called up 20mm crew for anti-personnel coverage during our turn away. As the smoke cleared away we found that the blast of the torpedo had done several things.
Cleared away most of the camouflage.
Completed the sinking of the wooden salvage barge.
Jarred loose another tug which had been moored forward of the barge and hidden by camouflage. As this tug drifted out into view it was seen to be of medium size and steel contruction (about 200 tons).

Made circle to the left and opened fire with 40mm. Closed the tug to 500 yards and fired one torpedo which went left, due to fire control error, and skidded high and dry onto the beach, stopping just short of a tree. Backed out 600 yards and fired a second torpedo, which broached and then sank after a 15 second run.

Meanwhile we were still firing 40mm into the tug for 100 percent hits. Called up the 5" gun crew to finish off this tug.

Twisted around broadside to the tug to bring all guns to bear at 600 yards. The 20mm sprayed ammunition wildly. The 5" gun fired our last 16 rounds for 14 hits (misses due to smoke obscuring the target). The 40mm completed firing a total of 90 rounds into this second tug without a miss. The impact of the shells drove the tug onto the beach where it settled to the bottom with a completely demolished topside.

1950 hours - Secured guns, tubes and fathometer. Then cleared the area at four engine speed.

7 Aug 1945
At 0823 hours, USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN), is bombed by a Japanese aircraft while submerging. Two bombs were dropped close by. Chub was lucky to escape with only minor damage. The aircraft was not picked up by radar.

9 Aug 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) sank a small Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser with gunfire north of Strait Bali in position 07°52'S, 114°28'E.

(All times are zone I, -9)
1146 hours - Sighted masts and bridge bearing 000°(T) heading south along the coast. Examined and tracked this target for over half an hour.

1220 hours - Battle stations gun action.

1229 hours - ST radar gave a range of 2900 yards.

1230 hours - Surfaced and opened fire with 5" and 40mm. Received return fire from the target. Soon found out the range was 4500 yards instead of 2200 yards. Radar had given the range to the nearest land instead of the target. Noticed that the enemy was a submarine chaser.

Furtunately a few hits with 5" and 40mm were scored rather quickly, silencing almost all his return fire. The target was maneuvering radically and very difficult to hit.

Closed the range to 2800 yards at which point the target headed towards us. We swung out to keep the range open and our guns began to really pound him, causing him to change his mind and start a turn away. Several good hits caught him as he was broadside to and he sank quickly.

1245 hours - Secured from battle stations.

11 Aug 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) sank a sea truck and damaged a patrol vessel and a tug with gunfire in Lombok Strait in position 08°34'S, 115°46'E.

(All times are zone I, -9)
1117 hours - Sighted a large sea truck being towed by a small tug and escorted by a small picket boat to the south of us crossing Lombok Strait to the eastward.

1145 hours - Battle stations gun action. Ordered the 40mm gun crew to work over the picket boat and the 5" gun crew to opened fire on the sea truck.

1203 hours - Surfaced and opened fire from 4200 yards. Closed the range to 2200 yards on three engines. The 40mm jammed on first loading and the picked boat headed towards us firing small arms until the 40mm finally started working and made things too hot for him. About 60 rounds of 40mm were fired for 5 hits, starting a fire which was extinguished. The picket boat was only slightly damaged but discouraged from interference.

The 5" gun fired 13 rounds for 4 hits in the sea truck. The 40mm added 4 more hits leaving the sea truck listing 30 degrees and sinking.

1221 hours - Commenced firing our last 40mm rounds at the tug which had slipped the tow and was heading away. The action then had to be broken off when an aircraft was sighted coming towards for which Chub dived.

17 Aug 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Fremantle. At Fremantle she was refitted by USS Clytie.

31 Aug 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) departed Fremantle for Subic Bay.

9 Sep 1945
USS Chub (Cdr. C.D. Rhymes, Jr., USN) arrived at Subic Bay from Fremantle.

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