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Notable events involving Bumper include:

The history of USS Bumper as compiled on this page is extracted from her patrol reports.

This page was last updated in March 2017.

1 Jan 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) departed New London, Connecticut for Newport, Rhode Island for torpedo trials.

4 Jan 1945
Having completed her torpedo trials, USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN), returned to New London, Connecticut.

13 Jan 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises in Long Island Sound together with USS Scott (Lt.Cdr. Cdr. H.W. Osterhaus, Jr., USNR) and USS Schmitt (Lt. T.A. Melusky, USNR).

15 Jan 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises in Long Island Sound together with USS Enright (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Bradley, Jr., USNR) and USS Burke (Lt.Cdr. W.L. Dommerich, USNR).

21 Jan 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) departed New London, Connecticut for Key West, Florida.

27 Jan 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) arrived at Key West, Florida for services with the Fleet Sound School.

29 Jan 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

30 Jan 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

31 Jan 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) departed Key West, Florida for New London, Connecticut.

5 Feb 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) arrived at New London, Connecticut from Key West, Florida for repairs to the hydraulic system.

19 Feb 1945
With her repairs completed, USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN), departed from New London, Connecticut bound for Key West, Florida.

25 Feb 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) arrived at Key West, Florida for further services with the Fleet Sound School.

26 Feb 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

27 Feb 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Key West.

28 Feb 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) departed Key West, Florida for the Panama Canal Zone.

4 Mar 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) arrived at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone from Key West, Florida.

6 Mar 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises in Panama Bay together with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR), USS PC-592, USS PC-1191 (Lt. J.W. Garnant, USNR) and USS USS SC-1299.

7 Mar 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises in Panama Bay together with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR), USS Bulmer (Lt. T.C. Farrell, USNR), USS MacLeish (Lt. D.S. Cramer, USNR), USS PC-1191 (Lt. J.W. Garnant, USNR) and USS USS SC-1299.

8 Mar 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises in Panama Bay together with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR), USS Bulmer (Lt. T.C. Farrell, USNR), USS MacLeish (Lt. D.S. Cramer, USNR), USS PC-592, USS PC-1191 (Lt. J.W. Garnant, USNR) and USS USS SC-1299.

9 Mar 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises in Panama Bay together with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR), USS Bulmer (Lt. T.C. Farrell, USNR), USS MacLeish (Lt. D.S. Cramer, USNR), USS PC-592, USS PC-1191 (Lt. J.W. Garnant, USNR) and USS USS SC-1299.

10 Mar 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises in Panama Bay together with USS MacLeish (Lt. D.S. Cramer, USNR).

11 Mar 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises in Panama Bay together with USS Paul Jones (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Payne, USNR), USS MacLeish (Lt. D.S. Cramer, USNR) and USS PC-592.

15 Mar 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) departed Balboa, Panama Canal Zone for Pearl Harbour.

1 Apr 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) arrived at Pearl Harbor.

11 Apr 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Allen (Lt. J.A. Rowe, USN) and USS Staff (Lt. W.A. Upton, USNR).

15 Apr 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Pruitt (Lt. D.B. Harby, USNR), USS Seagull (Lt. W.S. Hall, USN), USS PGM-21 (Lt. L. Gardiner, USNR), USS Jack (Lt.Cdr. A.S. Fuhrman, USN) and USS Ray (Cdr. W.T. Kinsella, USN).

16 Apr 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Pruitt (Lt. D.B. Harby, USNR).

17 Apr 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Pruitt (Lt. D.B. Harby, USNR) and USS PGM-21 (Lt. L. Gardiner, USNR).

21 Apr 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour together with USS Whitman (Lt. E.A. Sandor, USNR).

22 Apr 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea. She was escorted out by USS PC-780.

For daily positions of USS Bumper during this patrol see the map below.

4 May 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) arrived at Saipan. She was escorted in by USS LCI(L)-1025 (Lt. W.C. Kingsley, USNR)

5 May 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) departed Saipan for her patrol area. She was escorted out by USS LCI(L)-1062 (Lt. W.O. Crawford, USNR).

14 Jun 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) ended her 1st war patrol at Subic Bay, Philippines. She was escorted in by USS Rolf (Lt.Cdr. L.E. Hubbell, USNR).

At Subic Bay she was refitted by a relief crew from Submarine Division 261 and USS Anthedon.

20 Jun 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) was docked at Subic Bay in floating dock ARD-12.

22 Jun 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) was undocked.

10 Jul 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) departed from Subic Bay for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Gulf of Siam.

She was escorted out by USS Woodson (Lt.Cdr. A.R. Corlett, USNR).

For daily and attack positions of USS Bumper during this patrol see the map below.

15 Jul 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) sank a sailing vessel with gunfire in the Gulf of Siam in position 06°39'N, 101°41'E.

(All times are zone I, -9)
1410 hours - Sighted a large schooner in position 06°42'N, 101°45'E. Commenced approach.

1500 hours - Battle surfaced at a range of 3100 yards. Immediately opened fire with 5", 40mm and 20mm.

1514 hours - After three 5" hits overserved the target to sink like a rock in position 06°39'N, 101°41'E. Ammunition expended; 24 rounds of 5", 90 rounds of 40mm and 135 rounds of 20mm.

17 Jul 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) claims the destruction of a small engines aft coastal tanker in the Gulf of Siam.

(All times are zone I, -9)
0915 hours - Sighted a small engines aft coastal tanker anchored in a cove. Commenced approach. Position 10°54'N, 99°33'E.

1030 hours - In position 10°54'30"N, 99°31'E fired one torpedo from 1600 yards. The torpedo broached and took a slight jog to the right and then ran straight throwing a plume of water. It was noticed that it was going to miss so at .....

1031 hour - Fired a second torpedo. This torpedo also broached but turned left before it ran straight. Looked like this was also going to miss.

1032 hours - The first torpedo exploded on the beach.

1033 hours - Fired a third torpedo. Six seconds after firing this torpedo the second torpedo fired did hit the target after all hitting him in the stern demolishing that section of the ship.

1034 hours - The third torpedo hit the target in the middle. A large fire now erupted. The target was a total loss.

1045 hours - Secured from battle stations.

20 Jul 1945
During 19/20 July 1945, USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN), made four torpedo attacks on a Japanese convoy. In the first three attacks the Japanese destroyer Kamikaze was attacked with a total of 13 torpedoes which all missed. In the fourth attack Bumper torpedoed and sank the Japanese tanker Kyoei Maru No.3 (1189 GRT, built 1941) in the Gulf of Siam in position 08°08'N, 103°40'E.

(All times are zone I, -9)
19 July 1945
1610 hours - Sighted three Japanese floatplanes. They were circling, most likely they were cover for a convoy. Turned towards them.

1722 hours - Sighted the masts of a destroyer. Battle stations torpedo. The contact developed into a convoy made up of two small tankers and a very small freighter escorted by several patrol craft. The destroyer was of the Kamikaze class. Commenced an attack on the destroyer. Position was 06°55'N, 103°40'E.

1815 hours - In position 06°50'N, 103°35'E fired three bow torpedoes at the destroyer. Then went deep to 160 feet.

1820 hours - The first of six single depth charges was dropped. None were very close.

1930 hours - Returned to periscope depth. Sighted the destroyer at a range of 7500 yards.

2044 hours - Surfaced in a heavy rain storm. No radar contact. Went ahead full on two engines, charging on the other two hading up the convoy's base course. We want that destroyer on the bottom of the sea.

2120 hours - Went ahead full on three engines, now charging on one engine.

2126 hours - Received a contact report from USS Brill.

2302 hours - SJ radar contact on the enemy bearing 120°(T), range 17000 yards. Commenced drawing ahead.

2314 hours - USS Brill communicated that she was attacking.

20 July 1945
0053 hours - Turned in to attack again.

0100 hours - Submerged to ST radar depth.

0135 hours - In position 07°45'N, 103°40'E fired six bow torpedoes from 2040 hours.

0136 hours - The destroyer turned away and all torpedoes missed again.

0139 hours - The destroyer is running away.

0254 hours - Surfaced. Commenced attack on the convoy itself.

0346 hours - In position 07°58'N, 103°40'E fired the last four bow torpedoes at the nearest target. Range was 1800 yards. All missed. Opened out to the north-west.

0355 hours - Started another attack.

0437 hours - In firing position but range was 3000 yards. Decided to start another attack run and get in closer. Opened out on the convoy's port quarter and then went in again.

0529 hours - In position 08°08'N, 103°40'E fired the last three torpedoes on board from the stern tubes at a tanker. Torpedo run was 2200 yards.

0531 hours - Observed and heard a timed hit on the target. Then opened out to 7500 yards. The target was stopped on the radar scope.

0605 hours - The target was still on the radar scope. Closed to sink it with gunfire if needed. When closing the radar pip was seen to come from the target's bow section that was sticking high in the air. The remainder of the ship was below the water.

0630 hours - All ahead full and made off for deeper water. In the evening course was set for Subic Bay to reload torpedoes.

24 Jul 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) arrived at Subic Bay. She was escorted in by USS Pratt (Cdr. R.H. Wanless, USNR).

26 Jul 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) departed Subic Bay to resume her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to perform lifeguard duties in the Singapore area. She was escorted out by USS Woodson (Lt.Cdr. A.R. Corlett, USNR).

5 Aug 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) sank three small vessels with gunfire north of Banka Island.

(All times are zone I, -9)
0930 hours - Sighted a small tug with a barge in tow moving along the coast in position 01°31'S, 105°34'E. On seeing us he slipped his tow and headed for the beach.

1000 hours - Opened fire on the barge with 40mm from a range of 2500 yards and closing. Then opened fire with the 5". The first shot was a hit and the barge sank. Now turned the 5" on the tug. Three hits out of eighteen rounds sank him. Ammunition expended; 19 rounds of 5" and 144 rounds of 40mm.

1150 hours - Sighted a medium sized lugger at anchor behind some rocks.

1230 hours - Sank the lugger in position 01°36'S, 105°24'E with five hits of 5" out of twenty-four rounds from a range of 3500 yards.

10 Aug 1945
During the night of 10/11 August 1945, USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN), made the southbound passage of Lombok Stait on the surface.

15 Aug 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Fremantle.

31 Aug 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) departed Fremantle for Subic Bay.

9 Sep 1945
USS Bumper (Cdr. J.W. Williams, Jr., USN) arrived at Subic Bay, Philippines.

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