Robert Irving Olsen, USN
| Born | 4 Jan 1910 | Waukegan, Illinois, USA | |
| Died | Sep 1985 | (75) |
 | Ranks
Decorations |
Warship Commands listed for Robert Irving Olsen, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS Angler (240) | T/Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 1 Oct 1943 | 9 Jun 1944 |
Career information
After the war he left submarines but had a distinguished naval career. He retired with the rank of Captain in the early 60's.
Events related to this officer
Submarine USS Angler (240)
19 Oct 1943
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen, USN) departed New London, Connecticut and arrived at Newport, Rhode Island for her torpedo trials.
22 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Having completed her torpedo trials, USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen, USN), departed Newport, Rhode Island and arrived at New London, Connecticut.
21 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Angler arrived at Key West, Florida.
21 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Angler conducted exercises off Key West.
22 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Angler conducted exercises off Key West.
23 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Angler conducted exercises off Key West.
24 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Angler conducted exercises off Key West.
25 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Angler conducted exercises off Key West.
26 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Angler conducted exercises off Key West.
27 Nov 1943
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. Robert I. Olsen) departed from Key West for Pearl Harbor.
1 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen, USN) arrived at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone from Key West, Florida.
10 Jan 1944
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Mariana Islands area.
27 Jan 1944 (position 23.58, 145.50)
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen) sank a Japanese sampan with gunfire north of the Mariana Islands in position 23°58'N, 145°50'E.
29 Jan 1944 (position 27.07, 142.27)
At about 0200 hrs, USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen) attacked a Japanese convoy between Japan and the Mariana islands, claiming the sinking of an 8500-ton oiler and damage to a 5000-ton oiler as well as to a 4000-ton freighter in position 27°03'N, 142°27'E.
While original post-war assessments credited Angler with sinking the auxiliary net tender Shuko Maru (889 GRT), it is now known that Shuko maru was in Wakasa Bay on 23 July 1945 and could thus not have been sunk here. No confirmation of any hits has been found in Japanese records for this attack.
4 Feb 1944
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen) ended her 1st war patrol at Midway.
15 Feb 1944
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen) departed from Midway for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China and Sulu Sea.
20 Mar 1944
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen) evacuates 58 people, including women and children, from the west coast of Panay, Philippines.
9 Apr 1944
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen) ended her 2nd war patrol at Fremantle, Australia.
3 May 1944
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen) departed from Fremantle for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Java and South China Sea.
20 May 1944 (position 5.57, 105.12)
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen) torpedoed and sank a Japanese transport east of Malaya, in position 05°57'N, 105°12'E. There is controversy over the target's identity: she was likely the transport Otori maru, 2105 tgr, ex Panamanian Boyac?, as reported by the Japanese owners, but IJN sources place the loss of the vessel on the same day at 05°57'N, 127°11'E, placing her 40 nautical miles south-east of Cabo San Augustin, Davao Gulf, Mindanao island, which would not correspond to any US sub's claim.
It appears there is some confusion in the Japanese records and this writer believes the correct identification of the attacker is USS Angler.
21 May 1944
Almost the entire crew of USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen) fell ill, possibly due to contaminated drinking water. She was ordered to return to Fremantle at once.
29 May 1944
USS Angler (Lt.Cdr. R.I. Olsen) ended her 3rd war patrol at Fremantle.
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