USS Wahoo vs. Harusame: The 1943 Head-On Torpedo Attack at Wewak

On January 24, 1943, USS Wahoo entered the dangerous shallow waters near Wewak, New Guinea, and attacked the Japanese destroyer Harusame during one of the most dramatic submarine engagements of the Pacific War. After repeated torpedo misses exposed Wahoo’s position, Harusame turned toward the American submarine and began closing the distance, leaving Lt. Cmdr. Dudley W. Morton and his crew with little room to dive, maneuver, or escape. This video reconstructs the tactical geometry of the encounter, the challenges posed by the Mark 14 torpedo, and the final close-range shot that struck Harusame amidships, stopped the destroyer’s charge, and allowed Wahoo to survive. Harusame was badly damaged and beached but later salvaged, repaired, and returned to service.