| Navy | The US Navy |
| Type | Submarine |
| Class | Balao |
| Pennant | 325 |
| Built by | Electric Boat Co. (Groton, Connecticut, U.S.A.) |
| Ordered | 6 Jun 1942 |
| Laid down | 15 Jul 1943 |
| Launched | 23 Apr 1944 |
| Commissioned | 10 Aug 1944 |
| End service | |
| History | Decommissioned 16 November 1950 and loaned to Turkey being renamed Dumlupinar. |
Commands listed for USS Blower (325)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | T/Cdr. James Harry Campbell, USN | 10 Aug 1944 | 6 Jun 1945 |
| 2 | T/Lt.Cdr. Nelson Payne Watkins, USN | 6 Jun 1945 | 1 Aug 1946 |
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Notable events involving Blower include:
The history of USS Blower as compiled on this page is extracted from her patrol reports.
This page was last updated in February 2017.
30 Aug 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) shifted from New London, Connecticut to Newport, Rhode Island to conduct her torpedo trials.
3 Sep 1944
Having completed her torpedo trials, USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN), shifted from Newport, Rhode Island to New London, Connecticut.
5 Sep 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) was put on the slipway at New London.
6 Sep 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) was put back in the water.
17 Sep 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) departed from New London, Connecticut for duty with the Fleet Sound School at Key West, Florida.
24 Sep 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) arrived at Key West, Florida from New London, Connecticut.
26 Sep 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
27 Sep 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
28 Sep 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
29 Sep 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
30 Sep 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
2 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
3 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
4 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
5 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
6 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
7 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
9 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Key West, Florida.
10 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) departed Key West, Florida for the Panama Canal Zone.
11 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) collides with US patrol craft USS PC-1145 (Lt. J.L. Hoguet, USNR). Both ships are damaged. Blower set course for Key West for repairs.
12 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) arrived back at Key West. Due to the damage from the collision the submarine had to go to New London for repairs.
13 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) is put on the slipway at Key West to inspect the damage from the collission.
15 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) is put back in the water.
20 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) departed Key West, Florida for New London, Connecticut for repairs.
25 Oct 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) arrived at New London, Connecticut from Key West, Florida for repairs.
13 Nov 1944
With her repairs completed, USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN), departed from New London, Connecticut for the Panama Canal Zone.
20 Nov 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) arrived at Colon, Panama Canal Zone from New London, Connecticut.
29 Nov 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) departed Balboa, Panama Canal Zone for Pearl Harbour.
16 Dec 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) arrived at Pearl Harbour. After voyage repairs a period of trainingexercises was started (not much details of this period are currently known to us).
21 Dec 1944
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Doherty (Lt. W.J. O'Brien, USNR).
21 Dec 1944
USS Charr (Cdr. F.D. Boyle, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Doherty (Lt. W.J. O'Brien, USNR), USS Cabana (Lt.Cdr. R.L. Bence, USNR), USS Sicard (Lt. J.W. Botten, USN), USS YMS 193, USS YMS 235, USS YMS 374, USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN), USS Ronquil (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Monroe, USN) and USS Threadfin (Cdr. J.J. Foote, USN).
17 Jan 1945
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to proceed to Saipan and then to patrol in the South China Sea.
For daily and attack positions (though incomplete) of USS Blower during this patrol see the map below.
28 Jan 1945
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) arrived at Saipan.
29 Jan 1945
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) departed Saipan for her patrol area. She was escorted out by USS LCI(L)-1054.
13 Feb 1945
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) attacked a Japanese task force with a full bow salvo of six torpedoes in the South China Sea west of the Paracel Islands in position 15°50'N, 110°50'E. No hits were obtained.
The Japanese task force was made up of the hybrid battleship/carriers Ise and Hyuga, light cruiser Oyodo and destroyers Kasumi, Asashimo and Hatsushimo.
(All times are zone H, -8) 1150 hours - Sighted two objects on the haze bearing 180°(T), range about 20000 yards. SJ radar did not pick them up. Dived.
1151 hours - Battle stations. The objects were not in sight through the periscope while at 60 feet.
1208 hours - In position 15°55'N, 110°56'E sighted the foremast of two Japanese battleships and one other unidentified ship, later identified as a Tone class heavy cruisers (this must have been Oyodo however). Range as about 18000 yards.
1235 hours - Heard explosions. Came up for a look.
1238 hours - Something had happened, the column had scattered and the task force had zigged towards. Started attack.
1243 hours - In position 15°50'N, 110°50'E fired a full bow salvo of six torpedoes at the cruiser and one of the battleships.
1245 hours - Heard a torpedo explosion.
1246 hours - Heard two more torpedo explosions.
1330 hours - Returned to periscope depth. Sighted the Japanese task force at a range of 20000 yards bearing 020°(T).
1345 hours - Surfaced. Course due north and all ahead full. Sent out contact report.
1405 hours - Sighted two oil streaks. Followed them.
1500 hours - The seas were now breaking up the oil streaks. Blower searched for the enemy for the remainder of the day but they were not sighted again.
6 Mar 1945
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) departed her patrol area for Fremantle, Australia.
9 Mar 1945
King Neptune paid a visit to USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) while she crossed the equator.
12 Mar 1945
During the night of 12/13 March 1945, USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN), made the southbound transit of Lombok Strait on the surface.
16 Mar 1945
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) made a short stopover at Onslow to take on board additional fuel for the passage to Fremantle.
20 Mar 1945
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) ended her 1st war patrol at Fremantle, Australia. She was escorted in by HMAS ML 812 (Lt. D.G. Phillips, RANR). At Fremantle she was refitted by a relief crew of SubDiv 182 and USS Euryale.
14 Apr 1945
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) departed from Fremantle for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Java Sea. Before proceeding on patrol exercises were carried out with HMAS Katoomba (Lt.Cdr. F.N. Allison, RANR).
For daily positions (though incomplete) of USS Blower during this patrol see the map below.
17 Apr 1945
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) made a short stop at Exmouth Gulf to top off with fuel before proceeding to her patrol area.
21 Apr 1945
In the early morning hours, USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN), made the northbound transit of Exmouth Gulf on the surface.
8 May 1945
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) receives orders to patrol in the South China Sea.
24 May 1945
USS Blower (Cdr. J.H. Campbell, USN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Subic Bay, Philippines. She was escorted in by USS Jaccard (Lt.Cdr. C.R. Hamilton, USNR). At Subic Bay she was refitted by a relief crew from Submarine Division 262 and USS Anthedon.
23 Jun 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) departed from Subic Bay for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Gulf of Siam. She was escorted out by USS Pratt (Cdr. R.H. Wanless, USNR).
For daily and attack positions of USS Blower during this patrol see the map below.
5 Jul 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) attacked an unidentified ship in the South China Sea east of Malaya in position 04°41'N, 104°08'E with one torpedo. The torpedo missed the target.
(All times are zone I, -9) 0300 hours - In position 04°41'N, 104°08'E obtained a radar contact on an unidentified object to the south of Pulo Tenggol. Tracked the contact at a speed of 1 to 2 knots. Then the target stopped and remained stationary. Believed the target to have anchored.
0400 hours - In position 04°45'N, 103°43'E fired one torpedo at the stationary target from a range of about 5800 yards. No result war noted.
9 Jul 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) attacked two Japanese patrol vessels with three torpedoes north-east of Singapore in position 02°05'N, 105°00'E.
(All times are zone I, -9) 8 July 1945 1908 hours - In position 02°39'N, 105°35'E sighted masts of two ships bearing 330°(T), range 5 to 6 miles.
1910 hours - Commenced approach. Identified the targets as two submarine chasers.
2024 hours - Surfaced and started trailing at two engine speed. Their tops were barely in sight through high periscope. No radar contact.
2030 hours - Sent a contact report to USS Bluefish.
2150 hours - Started attack.
2210 hours - The targets changed course putting Blower astern. Commenced trailing again.
2328 hours - Received a signal from USS Bluefish that the had attacked with negative results.
9 July 1945 0003 hours - Received a signal from USS Bluefish that he was going in for another attack.
0050 hours - USS Bluefish reported that her attack was completed. Started own attack. The targets were on a steady course of 200°(T) at a speed of 9 knots.
0110 hours - In position 02°05'N, 105°00'E fired three bow torpedoes from 3700 yards. All missed. The first torpedo fired was seen to broach.
0115 hours - Pulled clear.
0129 hours - Started in for a gun attack together with USS Bluefish.
0200 hours - The targets must have seen us as they turned tail on and were soon lost out of sight.
0225 hours - Secured the guns and decided that the action was over.
11 Jul 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) attacked an unidentified ship east of Singapore in position 01°28'N, 104°58'E. Three torpedoes were fired but no hits were obtained.
(All times are zone I, -9) 2226 hours - In position 01°28'N, 104°58'E obtained SJ radar contact bearing 105°(T), range 11000 yards. Commenced tracking and found the target on a steady course of 210°(T) at about 5 knots.
2311 hours - Commenced attack. Sighted the target at a range of 7500 yards. It was either a large escort or medium transport.
2323 hours - In position 01°28'N, 104°58'E fired three bow torpedoes. The first two torpedoes broached and chased each other off in a direction not that of the target. Porpoising merrily as they went. After firing closed the range to 2700 yards. A sail was now seen. Broke off the attack as to not give away our position and wait for more valuable prey.
15 Jul 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) attacked the Japanese transport submarine I-351 with a full bow salvo of six torpedoes north-east of the Riau Archipaligo in position 05°30'N, 109°57'E. Two of the torpedoes were heard to hit the target but were duds and failed to explode.
(All times are zone I, -9) 14 July 1945 2346 hours - In position 05°36'N, 109°37'E obtained SJ radar contact bearing 105°(T), range 11000 yards. Commenced tracking and sent a contact report to USS Bluefish, USS Charr and USS Hammerhead. The target was zig-zagging from 000°(T) to 070°(T) at a speed of 14 knots.
15 July 1945 0205 hours - The target was spotted and thought to be a large submarine.
0211 hours - In position 05°30'N, 109°57'E commenced firing a full bow salvo of six torpedoes from 1000 yards. As the 4th torpedo was fired the target suddenly changed course.
0212 hours - Two thumbs were heard which were thought to be torpedo hits but DUDS !. Commenced to go deep for a short while to evade possible torpedoes fired by the enemy down the torpedo tracks.
0216 hours - Commenced firing the stern tubes. Due to a defect only one tube was fired and the torpedo missed the target.
0401 hours - Received a contact report from USS Bluefish and that she was attacking.
0415 hours - Saw a terrific explosion over the horizon followed shortly afterwards by a report from USS Bluefish that she had sank an enemy submarine.
21 Jul 1945
During the night of 21/22 July 1945, USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN), made the southbound transfer of the Sunda Strait.
28 Jul 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) ended her 3th war patrol at Fremantle, Australia.
29 Aug 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) departed Fremantle for Guam, via Sydney.
5 Sep 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) arrived at Sydney, Australia.
8 Sep 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) departed Sydney for Guam.
17 Sep 1945
USS Blower (Lt.Cdr. N.P. Watkins, USN) arrived at Guam.
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