WW2: what was the first blow struck against the IJN by an American submarine?

Question

And - for "Super Star" rating in my estimation - what individual US sailor was credited with striking that blow?
By the way "IJN" = Imperial Japanese Navy.

Max - You are on the right track, but according to my info SS-170 Cachalot fired at Japanese aircraft with no effect. By "first blow" I really mean "a kill". Maybe a larger, more modern sub than Cachalot ... and one with an outstanding WW2 record?

Wow! Well done, both of you! BTW, SS-199 Tautog went on to sink more Japanese ships than any other USN sub.

This is tough, because it seems to me that gay-1890's wouldn't have got there without max pointing the way. I wish I could give both of you a BA for it.

Would you like me to let this go to a vote? Edit answers with your preference inside 48 hours if you would.

OK, Max. You're a gentleman as well as being a scholar. Reckon I owe you one for resolving my dilemma.

Answer 1

27 January 1942

The [IJN submarine] I-73 is enroute back to Yokosuka. Her propeller sounds are picked up by sonar off the USS GUDGEON's (SS-211) port bow. Lt Cmdr Grenfell, running submerged, spots the submarine and begins his attack. The I-73, with many of her crewmen on deck, is running a straight course and not zigzagging. Grenfell fires three Mark 14 steam torpedoes from 1,800 yards and scores two hits***. The I-73 sinks with all hands at 28-24N, 178-35E. She is the first warship ever sunk by an American submarine.

So, I'll say the USS Gudgeon, and Lt Cmdr Elton W. "Joe" Grenfell

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Here's another stab at this:
Pearl Harbor, 12/7/41
The USS TAUTOG, it's .50 caliber machine gun, manned by Torpedoman's Mate Pasqual "Pat" Mignon, opened fire on a flight of torpedo bombers and shot one down unassisted. The first confirmed enemy causality by a submarine was an airplane.

Answer 2

Bob Warnock, aboard the U.S.S. Cachalot ( S.S. 170 ), fired his sidearm at a Japanese torpedo plane, Dec. 7, 1941. The plane was trying to sink the U.S.S. Pennsylvania.

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I think gay 1890's got it first, if not
Dec. 16, 1941 U.S.S. Swordfish ( S.S. 193 ), first captain Chet Smith, sinks a Japanese Cargo ship, the Atsutsan Maru, the first official Japanese ship sunk by an American submarine.

Edit
Thanks, but no, I'm old-fashioned, he wrote it down first.

Answer 3

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