The Submarine Has No Friends: Friendly Fire Incidents Involving United States Submarines During World War Two

The term “friendly fire”, or fratricide, is defined as an attack by a military force on their own (friendly) or neutral troops, while believing they are actually attacking the enemy. At last count, more than 80 U.S. submarines recorded some type of actual “friendly fire” incident in which they were involved during their WWII war patrols. From being attacked by Allied bombers, depth-charged by U.S. ships or fired upon by armed Allied merchant ships, submariners quickly came to understand the bitter truth of the maxim: ‘The submarine has no friends.’” While the majority of submarines and their crew escaped with little more than bruised egos or minor injuries, three submarines and their crews were lost to friendly fire. Here is a comprehensive research effort into all such “friendly fire” incidents involving U.S. submarines during World War II. Compiled through relentless research by the co-authors, their stories of loss and survival by “other than the enemy” is presented here.