USS Darter Challenge Coin

October 24, 1944 -- No Men Lost

A beautiful 1.75 inch brass coin honoring the men of World War II who gave their lives fighting for our country...

The front of the coin honors the USS Darter SS-227. The back has the following quote:

"To the 374 officers and 3131 men of the Submarine Force who gave their lives in the winning of this war, I can assure you that they went down fighting and that their brothers who survived them took a grim toll of our savage enemy to avenge their deaths."

-Vice Admiral C.A. Lockwood, Jr. Commander Submarine Force, 1943 - 1946

About the USS Darter SS-227...

On September 1, 1944, DARTER, commanded by CDR D.H. McClintock, left Brisbane for a period of training en route to her fourth war patrol. She topped off with fuel at Darwin on September 10 and departed on the same day to perform routine reconnaissance duty in the Celebes Sea from September 14 to 24.

Proceeding then to the South China Sea with DACE, commanded by CDR B.D. Claggett, DARTER formed a coordinated attack team with that vessel. The period from October 12 to 24 was productive of many targets and attacks for DARTER, and she sank 9,900 tons of enemy shipping and damaged 19,900 tons in this time.

In the early morning of October 23, 1944, both DARTER and DACE contacted and tracked a large enemy force heading north through Palawan Passage en route to engage our forces in the battles for Leyte Gulf. They attacked while the enemy were unable to alter course appreciably and in brilliant pre-dawn submerged attacks, sank the heavy cruisers ATAGO and MAYA, and so severely damaged the heavy cruiser TAKAO, that she was useless for the rest of the war. During daylight, DARTER tried a submerged attack on TAKAO, which had been stopped, but was driven off by screening destroyers. Thus a night coordinated attack plan was drawn up by the two boats. Since she could not surface to take sights, DARTER was forced to navigate on a 24-hour-old dead reckoning plot. At 2200 TAKAO got underway, and DARTER began a surface attack. Detecting two radars sweeping, she decided to do an end around, and then make an attack at radar depth. At 0005 on October 24, 1944, DARTER grounded on Bombay Shoal, and making 17 knots at the time, rode up to a draft of nine feet forward. Efforts to get off the reef were unsuccessful, and a message was sent to DACE requesting assistance. DACE closed DARTER and, after confidential gear had been smashed and classified matter burned, the men of DARTER were transferred to DACE. This was all done before dawn, and there were no losses of DARTER personnel.

DARTER's four patrols (including her last) resulted in 23,700 tons of enemy ships being sent to the bottom, and 30,000 tons being damaged. She began her patrolling career south and west of Truk in January and February 1944. She damaged a freighter on this first patrol. In the second patrol of this vessel, she covered the area in and around the Celebes Sea; she sank a freighter here. DARTER's third patrol was again in the eastern Celebes Sea, and she sank the large mine layer TSUGARU on June 29, 1944. She was credited with sinking the heavy cruiser ATAGO and damaging the heavy cruiser TAKAO on the night of October 23, 1944 shortly before she stranded. DARTER was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for the last patrol.

Would make an excellent addition to your collection or for your favorite sailor! Collect the entire series!

OPTIONAL: Our Air-Tite acrylic cases provide the ultimate long-term protection for your coin. They are made of crystal clear, hard Acrylic and will never yellow over time; the foam rings are made of Volara and both are free of PVC that could damage your coin.