The USS Harder, one of the most famed US Navy submarines from World War II, has been located in the South China Sea 80 years after its last patrol. The submarine lies under 3,000 feet of water off the northern Philippine island of Luzon, with damage from a Japanese depth charge noted behind its conning tower. The Harder was lost in battle on August 24, 1944, along with its entire crew of 79 submariners as the US aimed to recapture the Philippines from Japanese forces. The Navy’s History and Heritage Command emphasized the price that victory and freedom demand, honoring the sacrifice made by the crew of the Harder.
The USS Harder sank two Japanese escort ships off the Bataan Peninsula on August 22, 1944, before heading north along the Luzon coast with two other submarines in search of more targets. In a confrontation with Japanese escort ship CD-22 on August 24, the Harder fired three torpedoes that missed, leading to its sinking after a fifth depth charge attack by the Japanese ship. This information was obtained from Japanese records cited by the NHHC. The wreck of the Harder was confirmed with data provided by the Lost 52 Project, led by Tim Taylor, CEO of Tiburon Subsea, which aims to discover the 52 US subs lost during WWII.
The NHHC recognized the Lost 52 Project for providing the opportunity to honor the valor of the crew of the Harder submarine, referring to its motto of “Hit ’em Harder.” The wreck of the Harder is considered a war grave, the final resting place of sailors who gave their lives in defense of the nation, and should be respected as such by all parties involved. The Philippines, a US territory attacked by Japan after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, was eventually used by Japan to protect its supply lines from the East Indies and Southeast Asia. However, by mid-1944, the US was reclaiming Japanese-occupied territories across the Pacific, planning landings in the Philippines to further this effort.
The USS Harder was captained by Cmdr. Samuel Dealey, who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during the submarine’s fifth patrol from March to July 1944. Dealey played a significant role in the sinking of three Japanese destroyers and likely destroying or heavily damaging two more in just four days. One notable encounter described Dealey ordering a “down the throat” torpedo shot at a charging enemy destroyer, resulting in the sinking of the enemy ship after the torpedoes struck it. Prior to its sinking on August 24, 1944, the Harder had already sunk 14 Japanese warships and merchant vessels in its first four patrols since its commissioning on December 2, 1942. The National Medal of Honor Museum highlights Dealey’s courageous leadership and significant contributions during his time as captain of the Harder.
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