Arthur Caswell House, Jr., USN
| Born | 24 Dec 1910 | Weldon, North Carolina, USA | |
| Died | 2001 | (90) |
| Ranks
Retired: 1960 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Arthur Caswell House, USN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| USS R-5 (82) | Lt. | Submarine | 17 May 1942 | Feb 1944 |
| USS Apogon (308) | T/Cdr. | Submarine | 29 Aug 1944 | late 1945 |
Career information
Promoted to temporary rank of Commander ca. 1 October 1944 but seniority backdated to 1 February 1944.Events related to this officer
Submarine USS R-5 (82)
11 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS R-5 departed New London, Connecticut for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba via Bermuda.
20 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS R-5 arrived at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from New London, Connecticut.
20 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS R-5 departed Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for Bermuda.
25 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS R-5 arrived at Bermuda from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
27 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS R-5 departed Bermuda for New London, Connecticut.
2 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS R-5 arrived at New London, Connecticut from Bermuda.
Submarine USS Apogon (308)
12 Sep 1944
With her repairs completed USS Apogon (Lt.Cdr. A.C. House, Jr., USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 5th war patrol, and was ordered to patrol off the Kurile Islands.
For the daily and attack positions of USS Apogon during this patrol see the map below. As no deck log is available (for the moment) positions were taken from the patrol report. Unfortunately the patrol report does not give daily noon positions.
16 Sep 1944
USS Apogon (Lt.Cdr. A.C. House, Jr., USN) arrived at Midway for fuel and provision. Also some minor repairs were made.
17 Sep 1944
USS Apogon (Lt.Cdr. A.C. House, Jr., USN) departed from Midway for her patrol area.
23 Sep 1944 (position 34.57, 154.44)
USS Apogon (Lt.Cdr. A.C. House, Jr., USN) sank the Japanese guard boat Choyo Maru No.6 (400 GRT) with gunfire about 800 nautical miles east of Honshu, Japan in position 34°57'N, 154°44'E.
(All times are zone -10 (K) )
1600 hours - Sighted a trawler type patrol vessel on the horizon bearing 296° through the high periscope. Manned surface battle stations and closed full speed on all 4 engines.
1620 hours - Attempted to open fire with the 4" gun from a range of 5000 yards. There were 3 misfires in a row from the ready ammunition locker. Continued to close to 3500 yards and opened fire with the 40mm and 20mm guns. The 20mm gun however soon jammed. Opened up the range to investigate the gun failures.
1649 hours - Closed again after bringing up 4" ammunition from below. At 4000 yards commenced firing the 4" gun followed soon by the 40mm and 20mm guns. The enemy was also firing but at ....
1710 hours - The enemy was hit aft. The hit started a big fire. The target soon began to settle.
1735 hours - The after ended of the target exploded.
1741 hours - The target was seen to sink. Shortly before radar interference was picked up. Decided to leave the area and not to search for survivors.
In all 96 rounds of 4", 320 rounds of 40mm, 90 rounds of 20mm and 25 rounds of .30 were used in this action.
27 Sep 1944 (position 46.32, 146.48)
USS Apogon (Lt.Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Hachirogata Maru (1999 GRT, built 1944) in the Sea of Okhotsk off Shimushir Island in position 46°32'N, 146°48'E.
(All times are zone -10 (K) ) 0411 hours - In position 46°27'N, 147°17'E obtained contact with SJ radar bearing 334°, range 15000 yards. Went to battle stations and commenced tracking and closing. It turned out to be a single unescorted target.
0552 hours - Fired three torpedoes from 1580 yards. Two hits were obtained.
0555 hours - The target was stopped.
0600 hours - SJ radar lost contact with the target. Loud breaking up noises were heard during this time. Apogon then turned towards the scene of the sinking to search for wreckage. Plenty of wreckage was seen as well as survivors. Two were picked up and Apogon then cleared the area.
23 Oct 1944
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) departed her patrol area and set course towards Midway.
28 Oct 1944
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) ended her 5th war patrol at Midway.
20 Nov 1944
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) departed from Midway for her 6th war patrol. Once again she was ordered to patrol off the Kuril Islands.
For the daily and attack positions of USS Apogon during this patrol see the map below. As no deck log is available (for the moment) positions were taken from the patrol report. Unfortunately the patrol report does not give daily noon positions.
19 Dec 1944 (position 49.03, 149.16)
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) attacked and damaged a Japanese ship thought to be a tanker in the Sea of Okhotsk.
(All times are zone -10 (K) ) 19 December 1944 1910 hours - In position 49°03'N, 149°16'E obtained a radar contact bearing 004°, range 8700 yards. Commenced tracking.
1947 hours - Sighted the target bearing 070°.
1951 hours - Heard echo ranging from the targets direction. Commenced working to the northward of the target. Unable to pick up an escort on radar but for sure there must be one.
2037 hours - Made the torpedo tubes ready except for opening the outer doors. Still no escort was seen. The target was medium seize and had lines of a tanker with engines aft.
2041 hours - Finally sighted the escort on the port bow of the target.
2049 hours - In position 49°33'N, 149°40'E fired four torpedoes from about 3000 yards.
2051 hours - Obtained one hit on the target.
2102 hours - Saw a flash coming from the target.
2120 hours - Started to return to the firing point.
2147 hours - Back at the targets position at the time of firing. A heavy oil slick was covering a wide area. It was now thought the target has sunk but non the less continued to search for her.
20 December 1944 0512 hours - Obtained radar contact bearing 331°, range 9000 yards. There goes the claim for the target being sunk.
0521 hours - Again heard echo ranging. One escort was on the targets starboard bow.
0710 hours - Submerged 10 miles ahead of the target and started attack.
0800 hours - Two exlosions were heard close by immediately followed by another close exlosion. These must have been bombs dropped by an aircraft. Immediately went to 450 feet and rigged for depth charges and went to silent running.
0829 hours - The escort had now closed and dropped 5 depth charges but they were not very close.
1050 hours - Came up for a look. The target was seen but also an aircraft was patrolling the area so Apogon was unable to surface and chase. Abandoned the attack.
28 Dec 1944
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) departed her patrol area for Midway.
1 Jan 1945
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) arrived at Midway.
2 Jan 1945
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) departed Midway for Pearl Harbor.
5 Jan 1945
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) ended her 6th war patrol at Pearl Harbor. She was escorted in by USS PC 485.
7 Jan 1945
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) departed Pearl Harbour for the Mare Island Navy Yard where she was to be refitted.
15 Jan 1945
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) arrived at the Mare Island Navy Yard.
4 May 1945
With her refit and trials completed USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) departed the Mare Island Navy Yard for Pearl Harbour.
11 May 1945
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) arrived at Pearl Harbour. A period of training now followed before Apogon would be sent on another war patrol.
28 May 1945
USS Apogon (T/Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) and USS Manta (T/Lt.Cdr. E.P. Madley, USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for their 7th war patrol and 1st war patrol respectively. They were both ordered to patrol off the Kuril Islands. En-route to the patrol area they were to call at Midway to top of with fuel.
They were escorted out until 2000VW/28, by USS PC-486 (Lt. R.B. Whitney, USNR).
28 May 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
For the daily and attack positions of USS Apogon during this patrol see the map below.
1 Jun 1945
Around 0930X/1, USS Apogon (T/Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) and USS Manta (T/Lt.Cdr. E.P. Madley, USN) arrived at Midway from Pearl Harbour.
2 Jun 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
After voyage repairs and taking on board fuel and provisions USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) departed Midway for her patrol area.
18 Jun 1945 (position 50.30, 155.01)
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) torpedoed and sank the Japanese army cargo ship Hakuai Maru (2636 GRT, built 1898) and the Japanese guardboat Kusonoki Maru no.2 south-west of Paramushiro, Kuril Islands in position 50°30'N, 155°01'E. These ships were escorted by the Japanese submarine chaser Ch-15 and three smaller escort vessels.
(All times are zone -10 (K) ) 2110 hours - In position 50°39'N, 155°05'E obtained radar contact bearing 075°, range 17000 yards. Commenced tracking.
2137 hours - Sent contact report to USS Cabezon (Cdr. G.W. Lautrup, Jr., USN) and USS Dace (Cdr. O.R. Cole, Jr., USN). There were now 6 pips on the screen.
2320 hours - Went in for the attack.
2327 hours - In position in position 50°30'N, 155°01'E commenced firing 6 torpedoes. The first three torpedoes were fired at the two merchant ships that were overlapping. Range was 2150 yards. The last three torpedoes were fired at the closest escort vessel. Range was 1500 yards. It is thought a total of four hits were obtained. All three torpedoes fired at the merchant ships hit as well as one torpedo fired at the escort vessel.
2332 hours - Commenced firing the four stern torpedoes. The last torpedo did not leave the tube. The three torpedoes that were fired all hit the leading merchant vessel of the two that had been overlapping. Now out of torpedoes in the tubes Apogon retired from the area.
2 Jul 1945 (position 49.28, 154.19)
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) damaged the Japanese auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 58 and Cha 65 with gunfire off the Kuril Islands in position 49°28'N, 154°19'E.
(All times are zone -10 (K) ) 0210 hours - In position obtained radar contact on two small ships bearing 045°, range 8300 yards. Commenced tracking.
0219 hours - Enemy course 210°, range now 6400 yards.
0238 hours - Range now 4090 yards, visibility 500 yards. It was thought the targets may be fishing vessels. Decided to wait for daybreak and attack with the gun.
0300 yards - Range now 4770 yards.
0314 hours - Headed for the targets, manned the guns.
0316 hours - Sighted the targets at a range of 3000 yards when the fog suddenly lifted.
0320 hours - Opened fire with the forward 40mm and 20mm machine guns.
0321 hours - Range was now 2200 yards. Swinging to bring the 5" gun to bear. The targets were returning fire with automatic weapons. Closed the range to 820 yards. The 5" gun had problems with the ammo supply and with this gun out of action Apogon was outgunned by the enemy which had turned out to be patrol vessels.
0327 hours - Broke off the action and turned stern on the enemy. Apogon had been hit several times. One of the enemy ships had been badly damaged and was down by the stern. The other one had also been hit but was not badly damaged and kept on firing on Apogon.
0329 hours - Heard an explosion. Apogon had been hit again. A low pressure blow was started up and air was heard escaping. With airfields nearby decided to break of the action.
0358 hours - Lost sight of the targets at a range of 8000 yards.
0637 hours - Submerged. A leak was dicovered in the bridge but it was not serious.
10 Jul 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) departed her patrol area to return to Midway.
14 Jul 1945
USS Apogon (Lt.Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) ended her 7th war patrol at Midway.
7 Aug 1945
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) departed from Midway for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to proceed to Saipan before proceeding to her patrol area near Marcus Island.
For the daily and attack positions of USS Apogon during this patrol see the map below.
12 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) was ordered to proceed directly to her patrol area.
15 Aug 1945
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) arrived off Marcus Island. A few hours later she received a signal informing her that the was had ended. She remained on patrol.
27 Aug 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) departed her patrol area for Pearl Harbour and onward routing to San Diego.
2 Sep 1945
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) ended her 8th war patrol at Pearl Harbor.
4 Sep 1945
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) departed Pearl Harbour for San Diego.
11 Sep 1945
USS Apogon (Cdr. A.C. House Jr., USN) arrived at San Diego. She was escorted in by USS PC-815. While entering the San Diego Channel PC-815 was rammed and sunk in thick fog by the destroyer USS Laffey. Apogon picked up 28 survivors.
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