Pacific ships
USS Rasher (SS-269)

USN · SS

Rasher

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Afloat

Gato-class submarine, SS-269. Manitowoc Shipbuilding. Laid down 4 May 1942, launched 20 December 1942, commissioned 8 June 1943, Commander E. S. Hutchinson in command. After trials on Lake Michigan she was decommissioned, towed down the Mississippi, and recommissioned at New Orleans. Lieutenant Commander Willard Ross Laughon relieved Hutchinson on 9 December 1943. Commander Henry G. Munson relieved Laughon on 17 July 1944 and had her until 3 September 1944. On the night of 18 August 1944 she sank the escort carrier Taiyo. A Presidential Unit Citation and seven battle stars. Decommissioned on 22 June 1946. Struck on 20 December 1971.

ClassGato class
TypeSubmarine (SS)
HullSS-269
BuilderManitowoc Shipbuilding
Launched1942-12-20
Commissioned1943-06-08
FateAfloat. Survived the war. On 18 August 1944, on her fifth patrol, she sank the escort carrier Taiyo. Decommissioned on 22 June 1946. Struck on 20 December 1971.
Armament (class)Fleet submarine. A deck gun forward of the conning tower.
Command
  • Hutchinson, E. S. Captain from commissioning, 8 June 1943; Relieved on 9 December 1943
  • Laughon, Willard Ross Captain from 9 December 1943; Relieved on 17 July 1944
  • Munson, Henry G. Captain from 17 July 1944; In command when she sank Taiyo on 18 August 1944; Relieved on 3 September 1944

Laid down, displacement, length, beam, draft, speed, and complement are not stored for each hull, so this table leaves them out.

The armament line is the class drawing, not a measurement of this hull.

USS Rasher (SS-269) underway in 1964, after her radar-picket conversion. Hull number 269 is on the sail. U.S. Navy photograph. Public domain.

The pictures on this page are the originals.

Command

ESHutchinson, E. S.Captain from commissioning, 8 June 1943Relieved on 9 December 1943WLLaughon, Willard RossCaptain from 9 December 1943Relieved on 17 July 1944HMMunson, Henry G.Captain from 17 July 1944In command when she sank Taiyo on 18 August 1944Relieved on 3 September 1944

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