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Notable events involving Rasher include:

10 Jul 1943
USS Rasher (Cdr. E.S. Hutchinson, USN) departed New Orleans, Louisiana for the Panama Canal Zone.

15 Jul 1943
USS Rasher (Cdr. E.S. Hutchinson, USN) arrived at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone to begin a training period.

11 Sep 1943
USS Rasher (Cdr. E.S. Hutchinson) arrived at Brisbane, Australia.

24 Sep 1943
USS Rasher (Cdr. E.S. Hutchinson) departed from Brisbane for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Makassar Strait and Celebes Sea.

9 Oct 1943
USS Rasher (Cdr. E.S. Hutchinson) torpedoed and sank the Japanese army cargo ship Kogane Maru (3131 GRT) about 30 nautical miles west of Ambon in position 03°30'S, 127°45'E.

13 Oct 1943
USS Rasher (Cdr. E.S. Hutchinson) torpedoed and sank the Japanese army cargo ship Kenkoku Maru (3377 GRT) west of Ambon in position 03°47'S, 127°41'E.

8 Nov 1943
USS Rasher (Cdr. E.S. Hutchinson) torpedoed and sank the Japanese tanker Tango Maru (2046 GRT) in the Makassar Strait in position 00°25'N, 119°45'E.

24 Nov 1943
USS Rasher (Cdr. E.S. Hutchinson) ended her 1st war patrol at Fremantle.

15 Dec 1943
HrMs Tromp (A/Capt. F. Stam, RNN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle together with the US submarine USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon, USN). (1)

19 Dec 1943
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) departed from Fremantle for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.

3 Jan 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) plant mines off Puolo Condore.

4 Jan 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) torpedoed and damaged the Japanese tanker Kiyo Maru (7251 GRT) in the South China Sea in position 06°44'N, 108°43'E.

5 Jan 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) torpedoed and sank the Japanese tanker Kiyo Maru (7251 GRT) in the South China Sea in position 05°46'N, 108°36'E.

24 Jan 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) ended her 2nd war patrol at Fremantle.

19 Feb 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) departed from Fremantle for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Java and Celebes Seas.

25 Feb 1944
While operating north of Bali USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) torpedoed and sank the Japanese army cargo ship Ryusei Maru (4805 GRT) in position 07°55'S, 115°15'E and the Japanese merchant cargo ship Tango Maru (6200 GRT) in position 07°41'S, 115°10'E.

3 Mar 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) torpedoed and sank the Japanese army cargo ship Nittai Maru (6484 GRT) in the Celebes Sea some 290 miles northwest of Waisile, Halmahera in position 03°18'N, 123°56'E.

27 Mar 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) torpedoed and sank the Japanese army cargo ship Nichinan Maru (2732 GRT) in the Java Sea about 50 nautical miles north of Bali in position 07°27'S, 115°55'E.

4 Apr 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) ended her 3rd war patrol at Fremantle.

30 Apr 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) departed from Fremantle for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Makassar Strait and the Celebes Sea.

6 May 1944

Operation Transom.

Carrier raid against Surabaya by the Eastern Fleet.

On 6 May 1944 the Eastern Fleet put to sea from Trincomalee or Colombo in two task forces;
Task Force 65, which was made up of the battleships HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Admiral J.F. Somerville, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Eastern Fleet), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), Richelieu (Capt. G.M.J. Merveilleux du Vignaux), the light cruisers HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HrMs Tromp (A/Capt. F. Stam, RNethN) and the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Racehorse (Cdr. J.J. Casement, DSC, RN), HMS Penn (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, DSO, DSC, RN), HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN, with Commodore S.H.T. Arliss, DSO, RN, on board), HMAS Nepal (Lt.Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN), HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN), HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. O.H. Becher, DSC, RAN) and HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN).

Task Force 66, which was made up of the battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet) (went to Task Force 65 the next day), the aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN), USS Saratoga (T/Commodore J.H. Cassady, USN), light cruisers HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), HMNZS Gambia (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. R.G. Onslow, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Farrington, RN), HMS Queenborough (Cdr. E.P. Hinton, DSO and Bar, MVO, RN), USS Cummings (T/Cdr. P.D. Williams, USN), USS Dunlap (T/Cdr. C. Iverson, USN) and USS Fanning (T/Cdr. J.C. Bentley, USN).

On 10 May 1944, the Dutch light cruiser Tromp and the destroyers were fuelled at sea by the capital ships and the cruisers. During fuelling from HMS Valiant the Dutch destroyer HrMs Van Galen sustained some minor damage (fractured hull plate on her port side) but the crew of the Van Galen was able to effect emergency repairs.

On 15 May 1944, task forces 65 and 66 were fuelled at Exmouth Gulf, Australia by Task Force 67 which was made up of of six Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers; Eaglesdale (8032 GRT, built 1942), Echodale (8150 GRT, built 1941), Easedale (8032 GRT, built 1942), Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937), Pearleaf (5911 GRT, built 1917), Appleleaf (5891 GRT, built 1917) and supplyship (used as distilling ship) Bacchus (3154 GRT, built 1936). This force had already left Trincomalee on 30 April and was escorted by the heavy cruisers HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN), HMS Suffolk (A/Capt. W.F.H.C. Rutherford, RN). They had also been escorted near Ceylon by a local escort for A/S purposes, this local escort had been made up of the destroyers HMS Rotherham, HrMs Van Galen and the frigate HMS Findhorn (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Dawson, RD, RNR). The local escort returned to Ceylon on 5 May 1944. The two cruisers mentioned above now joined Task Force 66. Later this day Task Forces 65 and 66 went to sea again for the actual attack on Surabaya. On leaving Exmouth Gulf the fleet was spotted by the merchant vessel Aroona. This ship was now instructed to put into Exmouth Gulf and was held there by HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdale, OBE, RAN) for 24 hours and to impress on the master and crew of this vessel the necessity of not disclosing any information concerning the Fleet on the arrival of their ship at Fremantle (their next port of call).

In the early morning hours of the 17th the carriers launched 45 dive bombers and 40 fighters for an attack on the harbour and oil installations (Wonokromo oil refeniry) of Surabaya, Netherlands East Indies. (USS Saratoga: 12 Avengers (1 had to return with engine trouble shortly after being launched), 18 Dauntless, 24 Hellcats; HMS Illustrious: 18 Avengers (2 of which force landed in the sea shortly after being launched), 16 Corsairs). On the ground they destroyed 12 enemy aircraft (20 were claimed). The damage to the harbour and shipping were over estimated (10 ships were thought to have been hit) as in fact only the small transport ship Shinrei Maru (987 GRT, built 1918) was sunk and patrol vessel P 36, auxiliary submarine chasers CHa-107 and CHa-108, tanker Yosei Maru (2594 GRT, built 1928, former Dutch Josefina) and cargo ships Choka Maru (???? GRT, built ????) and Tencho Maru (2716 GRT, built 1919) were damaged.

On the 18th the US ships were released. The other ships then proceeded to Exmouth Gulf where they arrived to fuel the next day before starting on the return trip to Ceylon less destroyer HMAS Quiberon which was to refit in Australia and was sent to Fremantle.

On 23 May 1944, the Dutch light cruiser Tromp and the destroyers were fuelled at sea by the capital ships and the cruisers.

The ships of Task Force 65 and 66 arrived back at Colombo or Trincomalee on the 26 or 27th.

On 1 June 1944, Task Force 67 arrived at Trincomalee from Exmouth Gulf having been escorted by HMS London and HMS Suffolk until 1700FG/31. On arrival at Trincomalee Task Force 67 had an A/S escort made up of the destroyers HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN), HMAS Quickmatch, HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. K.W. Michell, DSC, RN), HMS Roebuck (Cdr. J.T. Lean, DSO, RN) and corvette HMS Burnet (Lt. D.S. Charles, RNR). These ships had joined at 2300FG/28 (HMAS Nizam, HMS Roebuck and HMS Burnet) and 0630FG/30 (HMAS Quickmatch and HMS Raider).

During this operation several US Submarine guarded the passages to the Indian Ocean to spot a possible Japanese counter attack. The submarines deployed for this purpose were the following; In the Sunda Strait from 12 to 23 May 1944; USS Angler (T/Cdr. R. I. Olsen, USN) and USS Gunnel (T/Cdr. J.S. McCain, Jr., USN).
South of Lombok Strait from 13 to 20 May 1944; USS Cabrilla (T/Cdr. W.C. Thompson, Jr., USN) and also the USS Bluefish (T/Cdr. C.M. Henderson, USN) from 13 May until the night of the 16th.
South of Bali Strait from 17 to 20 May; USS Bluefish.
North of Bali Strait; USS Puffer (Cdr. F.G. Selby, USN) during the night of 16/17 May.

The following US Submarines were deployed in the Surabaya area for air/sea rescue duties; USS Puffer in the Madura Strait about 40 miles to the east of Surabaya.
USS Rasher (Cdr. W.R. Laughton, USN) in the Java Sea about 40 miles to the north of Surabaya. (2)

11 May 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) torpedoed and sank the Japanese auxiliary vessel Choi Maru (1074 GRT) in the Molucca Sea northwest of Boeroe Island in position 03°30'S, 126°06'E.

29 May 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) torpedoed and damaged the Japanese auxiliary gunboat Anshu Maru (2601 GRT) about 110 nautical miles north-north-west of Halmahera in position 03°32'N, 127°07'E.

30 May 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) torpedoed and sank the Japanese auxiliary gunboat Anshu Maru (2601 GRT) about 110 nautical miles north-north-west of Halmahera in position 03°40'N, 126°58'E.

8 Jun 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) torpedoed and sank the Japanese underway replenishment vessel Shioya (7950 GRT) in the Celebes Sea northwest of Menado in position 03°15'N, 124°03'E.

14 Jun 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) torpedoed and sank the Japanese army cargo ship Koan Maru (3183 GRT) in the Celebes Sea about 130 nautical miles south of Mindanao, Philippines in position 04°33'N, 122°23'E.

23 Jun 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Laughon) ended her 4th war patrol at Fremantle.

22 Jul 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Munson) departed from Fremantle for her 5th war patrol. she was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.

6 Aug 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Munson) torpedoed and sank the Japanese army cargo ship Shiroganesan Maru (4379 GRT) in the South China Sea west of Luzon, Philippines in position 14°10'N, 117°12'E.

18 Aug 1944
While attacking a Japanese convoy in the South China Sea off the west coast of Luzon, Philippines USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Munson) torpedoed and sank the Japanese escort carrier Taiyo (17830 tons, offsite link), the Japanese troop transport Teia Maru (17537 GRT, former French Aramis) and the Japanese army cargo ship Eishin Maru (542 GRT) in position 18°16'N, 120°21'E. Rasher also torpedoed and sank the Japanese oiler Teiyo Maru (9849 GRT) southwest of Cape Bojeador in position 18°09'N, 120°13'E, and finally she torpedoed and damaged the Japanese troop transport Noshiro Maru (7184 GRT, offsite link) southwest of Cape Bojeador in position 18°09'N, 119°56'E.

3 Sep 1944
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Munson) ended her 5th war patrol at Pearl Harbor. She is now sent to the Hunters Point Navy Yard for a major overhaul.

11 Sep 1944
USS Rasher arrived at the Hunters Point Navy Yard.

20 Dec 1944
With her overhaul completed USS Rasher departed from San Francisco bound for Pearl Harbor.

29 Jan 1945
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. B.E. Adams, Jr.) departed from Midway for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the East China Sea.

16 Mar 1945
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. B.E. Adams, Jr.) ended her 6th war patrol at Guam.

17 Apr 1945
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Nace) departed from Guam for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in Japanese home waters off Honshu.

29 Apr 1945
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Nace) sank a small Japanese vessel with gunfire south of Honshu, Japan in position 33°45'N, 139°20'E.

29 May 1945
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Nace) ended her 7th war patrol at Midway.

23 Jun 1945
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Nace) departed from Midway for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off southern Formosa.

14 Aug 1945
USS Rasher (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Nace) ended her 8th war patrol at Subic Bay, Philippines.

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