This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Kent Weekly (SS/DSV) (DBF), EMCS
to remember
Fyfe, John Kerr (Jake), RADM USN(Ret).
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Admiral Fyfe was the Commanding Officer of USS Batfish (SS-310) when in February 1945, in the span of 76 hours, he sunk 3 IJN submarines.
World War II/Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Antisubmarine Campaign
From Month/Year
December / 1941
To Month/Year
September / 1945
Description For members of the military who did not receive campaign credit, but still served on active duty in the Pacific Theater, the following “blanket” campaigns are authorized for which the medal is awarded without service stars.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
January / 1945
To Month/Year
September / 1945
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories 11 February 1945: Camiguin Island, Luzon Strait, Philippines. At 1951, Cdr John K. Fyfe's USS BATFISH (SS-310) SJ radar picks up a contact at 8,000 yards, bearing 310 degrees. The BATFISH's AN/APR-1 radar detector also detects radar emissions. At 2037, the BATFISH makes visual contact on a submarine running on the surface at 1,300 yards. At 2043, contact is broken as the target submerges. At 2105, the BATFISH's soundman hears a submarine blowing tanks. At 2106, the RO-112 surfaces again. The BATFISH again detects radar emissions and her SJ radar makes contact at 8,650 yards, bearing 018 degrees. Cdr Fyfe closes the range to the target for the next hour. At 2150, with the range down to 6,000 yards, Fyfe dives to radar depth. At 2202, at 880 yards, he fires four bow torpedoes set to run at four feet on a 100 degree starboard track using a 1 knot speed spread. The first torpedo hits and disintegrates the submarine - probably the RO-112. She sinks almost immediately with all hands at 18-53N, 121-50E.
