USS Seahorse SS-304
Record of Submerged Runs
The original Sub's logbook for its Famous Second War Patrol
October 12, 1943 - January 6 1943
This is the ORIGINAL 'Record of Submerged Runs' for the USS Seahorse SS-304
Truly a piece of history this logbok is for the Seahorse's second war patrol Commanded by Slade D. Cutter

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9" by 5" by 3/4" Hardcover
see a larger scan here
This logbook is literally filled with daily entries from front cover to rear cover.
The USS Seahorse (SS-304) was one of the top ranked submarines in the Pacific during World War II. She completed eight impressive war patrols under four different skippers, two of whom earned the coveted Navy Cross. Her most successful CO was Commander Slade D. Cutter of Chicago, Illinois. As Captain of the Seahorse, Cutter destroyed 19 enemy ships, placing him second in the overall score for submarine commanders of WWII. In 1945, at wars end, Seahorse ranked sixth in the number of ships destroyed and twelfth in tonnage sunk. The book Maru Killer by Dave Bouslog makes exclusive use of the submarine's war patrol reports as well as extensive interviews and correspondence with her surviving officers and enlisted men.
The USS Seahorse sank over 20 Japanese ships and even another Japanese Submarine
The Seahorse was one of the most "fightin'est" Submarines of World War II
and her second war patrol was probably her most succesful.
See a complete history of the USS Seahorse here

Summary of the Second War Patrol
From the book Maru Killer page 113
Total patrol days:    53
Total days spent in patrol areas:    26
Miles steamed:    11,873
Gallons of fuel used:    115,000
Number of torpedo attacks made:    7
Number of torpedos fired:    24
Number of ships sank:    6
Tonnage of ships sunk: 30,031
Number of ships damaged:    2 (includes Destroyer)
Tonnage of ships damaged: 6,800
Three fishing trawlers were sunk by SS-304 gun attack

USS Seahorse sailed on 20 October for her second war patrol. She sank three enemy trawlers in surface actions and then, along with the USS Trigger commenced a two day attack on a 17 ship Japanese convoy. Seahorse evaded three escort ships and fired three torpedos at two freighters. Four hours later she again attacked, sending three more torpedos at a tanker and another spread at a third freighter. Flames burst from each target as Japanese destroyers turned towards Seahorse but they were too late to catch her. Seahorse expended the last of her torpedos on 30 November. After manuevering for several hours she was finally able to fire her stern tubes at the enemy convoy. However, one torpedo exploded close aboard and the convoy opened fire on the vicinity of Seahorse. With so many explosions around her, it was impossible for her to determine whether any torpedos had hit. Low on fuel and out of torpedos, she returned to Pearl Harbor.

Noteable events involving Seahorse's Second War Patrol include:
3 Aug, 1943
USS Seahorse (Cdr. D. McGregor) left Pearl Harbor for her first war patrol. She was to patrol off the Palau Islands.
6 Sep, 1943
USS Seahorse (Cdr. D. McGregor) is damaged by depth charges while on her first war patrol off the Palau Islands in position 07.31N, 134.21E. She was attacking a convoy, but dispite some damage she remains on patrol.
27 Sep, 1943
USS Seahorse (Cdr. D. McGregor) ends her first, unsuccesful, war patrol at Midway.
20 Oct, 1943
After a refit USS Seahorse (Lt.Cdr. S.D. Cutter) left base for her 2nd war patrol. She was to patrol off Honshu in Japanese home waters.
2 Nov, 1943
While operating south of Honshu USS Seahorse (Lt.Cdr. S.D. Cutter) had a very succesful day. She torpedoed and sank the Japanese troop transport Chihaya Maru (7089 BRT) in position 29.31N, 134.50E, the transport ship Yawata Maru (1852 BRT) in position 28.30N, 135.35E and finally the transport ship Ume Maru (5859 BRT) in position 28.40N, 135.35E.
22 Nov, 1943
USS Seahorse (Lt.Cdr. S.D. Cutter) torpedoed and sank the Japanese transport ship Daishu Maru (3322 BRT) in the East China Sea in position 33.41N, 128.35E.
27 Nov, 1943
USS Seahorse (Lt.Cdr. S.D. Cutter) torpedoed and sinks the Japanese tanker San Ramon Maru (7309 BRT) in the East China Sea in position 33.36N, 128.57E.
11 Dec, 1943
USS Seahorse (Lt.Cdr. S.D. Cutter) ended a succesful second war patrol and is enroute to Pearl Harbor.
6 Jan, 1944
USS Seahorse (Lt.Cdr. S.D. Cutter) left Pearl Harbor for her 3th war patrol. She was to patrol off the Palau Islands.

The logbook contains the signatures of five different Officers on board

The original USS Seahorse logbook also comes with
Maru Killer by Dave Bouslog
and
Slade Cutter Submarine Warrior by Carl LaVO

Both of the above books go into great deal concerning the second war patrol of the USS Seahorse
and history really does come alive when you cross reference the logbook with the two books.

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