Providence of a Donation

On January 10, 1943 the entire crew of 102 was lost as the USS Argonaut (SS-166) was sunk by Japanese destroyers.

By providence the crew donated the ship’s bell to the under construction Submarine Memorial Chapel, just before the submarine put to sea for her last patrol.

The bell still hangs and rings in the steeple today, and each time the Argonaut’s bell tolls, it is in remembrance of all Sailors and lost crews at a time of war or peace.

“I am the voice of the USS ARGONAUT (SS 166). I was later classified APS 1 (submarine transport), and I was the largest of the U.S. submarines to participate in World War II. I was over 380 feet long and had a beam of over 33 feet. I was originally built as a minelayer, and I had two mine laying chutes and special tubes built into a large stern room. In 1942, I was converted to a cargo carrying and troop transport submarine, my mine laying gear was removed, and my stern room was fitted for troop berthing. I transported Marines for the Makin Island raid. In January 1943 I was on patrol near Rabaul when I was attacked by two Japanese destroyers who were avenging the torpedoing of a third destroyer in a convoy. The two destroyers hammered the water with depth charges; and my bow thrust above the surface and remained there for sometime as destroyers repeatedly fit it with gunfire. Finally I slid with my crew of 105 102 men into the depths of the Pacific.”