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The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

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Amberjack

Ship Designation: 
SS-219
Date Lost: 
Tuesday, February 16, 1943
Lost at Sea
As was common with most of the submarine casualties in the Pacific, the specific details of Amberjacks loss are unknown. ... After departing Brisbane on January 26, 1943, she reported sinking a 5000 ton freighter in a two hour night surface attack. Her last message was transmitted on February 14, reporting an attack by two destroyers. Nothing further was heard from the ship and her crew of 74, and she was declared lost on 22 March 1943. ... Post-war analysis indicates that the most probable cause was a depth charge attack by IJN torpedo boat Hiyodoi and Subchaser Number 18 on February 16, following an attack on the same target by a patrol aircraft. Oil, debris and parts of the hull came to the surface after the attack. ... This determination is not conclusive, however, since Grampus was lost in the same area at about the same time.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 72

Name Service Branchsort descending
Sea 1c John Rakyta USN
Sea 1c Elwood Spierer USN
MM 3c Luther Barr USN
GM 2c James Coleman USN
SM 3c William Jeter USN
RM 2c James Ranger USN
Y 1c Francis Stjohn USN
Sea 1c Renato Bartoli USN
MOMM 2c William Coultas USN
MOMM 1c Francis Kingston USN
MM 3c Henry Pisarski USN
Lt(jg) Richard Stern USN

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Prepared by: J.P.O'Hara, CDR, USN (Ret.)