| The United States Navy Gato-class submarine USS Barb (SS-220) departs Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, for her 12th war cruise. Barb’s 7th Commanding Officer, Commander Eugene B. “Lucky” Fluckey (October 5, 1913 – June 28, 2007), sank 25 ships totaling 179,700 tons (182,580 metric tons), including a carrier, a cruiser, and a frigate. After a major overhaul, Barb was underway for her 12th war patrol in June 1945. Except for 3 days of lifeguard duty, this offensive war patrol was conducted north of Hokkaido and east of Karafuto. As soon as Barb reached the area, she immediately sank 2 luggers at close range with gunfire. After the attacks, Barb turned her attention to the shores of Japan. During the early morning hours of June 22, Barb positioned herself about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the center of the town of Shari. Barb made history as the 1st submarine to employ rockets successfully against Japanese shore installations. A few weeks later, Barb launched attacks against 2 other shore towns. On July 19, Fluckey noticed a railroad running close to the Japanese coastline. After 3 days of observation to establish train schedules, 8 crewmembers secretly deployed ashore in the black of night. The men strategically placed a 55 pound (25 kilogram) demolition charge that was intended to explode when the next train passed. As the crew departed the area in rubber boats, an incoming train hit the charge sending locomotive wreckage 200 feet (60 meters) in the air that crashed in a mass of flames and smoke. 12 freight cars, 2 passenger cars, and 1 mail car derailed and piled up in a mound of twisted metal. For the remainder of the war patrol, Barb continued to wreak havoc on Japanese shores and enemy vessels. Her last war patrol ended when Barb arrived at Midway Atoll on August 2, 1945. The war ended when the Japanese surrendered about 2 weeks later. Submarines served in a number of roles during the war. They transported raiding parties, picked up stranded pilots, and tracked Japanese naval units. Their most important role was a strategic 1, slowly cutting off the Japanese home islands by sinking all her shipping. Photo by Lieutenant Commander Horace Bristol (November 16, 1908 – August 4, 1997), attached to the Naval Photography Unit commanded by Lieutenant Commander Edward Steichen (March 27, 1879 – March 25, 1973). Photo taken from a ZP-32 Squadron airship. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1649.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.22 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 2812 x 2164 |
| Photographer | Horace Bristol |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | June 8, 1945 |
| Location | Pearl Harbor |
| City | Oahu |
| State or Province | Hawaii |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-80-G-335390 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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