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Quiz about American Submarines of World War II

American Submarines of World War II Quiz

A simple quiz about American submarines in World War 2. A few simple questions, mixed with a few harder questions.

A multiple-choice quiz by 8_T_1. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
8_T_1

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
377,004

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
173

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which American submarine sank the most tonnage according to Japanese records? Hint

USS Wahoo

USS Pampanito

USS Archerfish

USS Barb

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The USS Archerfish holds the record for sinking the largest ship sunk by a submarine. Which ship did the Archerfish sink to hold this record? Hint

Shinano

Mikuma

Bismark

Musahi

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which submarine has credit to destroying a Japanese train on their battle flag? Hint

USS Gato

USS Wahoo

USS Sculpin

USS Barb

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which submarine was renamed the Sailfish after it was raised when it was sunk due to mechanical failure in a test dive? Hint

USS Sculpin

USS Squalus

USS Seawolf

USS Sargo

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Question 5 of 10

5. The submarine Squalus sank due to mechanical failure in a test dive in 1939. Which submarine (hint: her sister ship) participated in the rescue effort of the Squalus? Hint

USS Sculpin

USS Queenfish

USS Sealion

USS Golet

6. The only known usage of the Momsen Lung, an underwater re-breathing apparatus, was when 13 submariners tried to escape from a bottomed submarine. Which submarine where these men escaping from? Hint

USS Kete

USS Sculpin

USS Tang

USS Shark

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Question 7 of 10

7. The famous USS Tang was sunk. What was the cause of her sinking? Hint

naval mine

circular run of her own torpedo

rammed by a cruiser

depth charged by a destroyer

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which submarine was launched July of 1943, participated in a rescue operation with the Barb, Queenfish, and Sealion, rescuing British and American PoWs from a sunken ship, and is now a museum ship in San Francisco? Hint

USS Bowfin

USS Pampanito

USS Tunny

S-6

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Question 9 of 10

9. This submarine has the most battle stars of any US Navy submarine, with 15 battle stars to her credit. An infamous nuclear submarine later bore the same name. Which submarine is this? Hint

USS Thresher

USS Wahoo

USS Narwhal

USS Scorpion

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which was the last US submarine lost in World War II? Hint

USS Sealion

USS Bullhead

USS Bonefish

R-12

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which American submarine sank the most tonnage according to Japanese records?

Answer: USS Barb

The Barb sank a total of 96,628 tons in World War II. Her victories include the aircraft carrier Unyo, the raider cruiser Gokoku, numerous cargo ships, and a frigate. After the war, the Barb was sold to Italy.

2. The USS Archerfish holds the record for sinking the largest ship sunk by a submarine. Which ship did the Archerfish sink to hold this record?

Answer: Shinano

The USS Archerfish torpedoed and sank the Japanese aircraft carrier Shinano. The Shinano was an aircraft carrier built on the Yamato class battleship hull. The Shinano was 872 feet long.

3. Which submarine has credit to destroying a Japanese train on their battle flag?

Answer: USS Barb

On the night of July 22, 8 crew members of the Barb paddled ashore to the Japanese island of Hokkaido, rigged scuttling charges underneath a railroad track, and blew up an oncoming train. This action is notable because it is the only time an Allied ground action took place on the Japanese home islands.

4. Which submarine was renamed the Sailfish after it was raised when it was sunk due to mechanical failure in a test dive?

Answer: USS Squalus

On a test dive in 1939, a mechanical failure occurred, sinking the vessel. The Squalus was raised afterwards and renamed Sailfish, which went on to serve in World War II. Her coning tower is now in Portsmouth Naval Yard as a memorial.

5. The submarine Squalus sank due to mechanical failure in a test dive in 1939. Which submarine (hint: her sister ship) participated in the rescue effort of the Squalus?

Answer: USS Sculpin

When the Squalus sunk, her sister ship, the Sculpin, greatly aided in the rescue effort of the crew trapped inside the Squalus. The Sculpin was able to locate the bottomed Squalus. Divers managed to rescue 33 of the crew.

6. The only known usage of the Momsen Lung, an underwater re-breathing apparatus, was when 13 submariners tried to escape from a bottomed submarine. Which submarine where these men escaping from?

Answer: USS Tang

When the crippled USS Tang bottomed at 180 feet below the surface, fires broke out forcing the crew to abandon ship. Thirteen crew members escaped from the forward escape trunk, but only 9 were able to reach the surface successfully. The rest of the crew perished.

7. The famous USS Tang was sunk. What was the cause of her sinking?

Answer: circular run of her own torpedo

On the night of October 25th, the Tang fired a torpedo. The erratic torpedo made a curve, circled around, and impacted the side of the Tang. This flooded the submarine and it sank to the sea floor.

Answer: USS Pampanito

The Pamapanito is now docked at Pier 45 with the SS Jeremiah O'Brian. Currently it is a museum ship, with overnight camps aboard for children. She was also used to portray the USS Stingray in the 1991 film Down Periscope.

9. This submarine has the most battle stars of any US Navy submarine, with 15 battle stars to her credit. An infamous nuclear submarine later bore the same name. Which submarine is this?

Answer: USS Thresher

The USS Thresher (SS-200) accumulated 15 battle stars from 1940 to 1945. Not to be confused with the USS Thresher (SSN-593), a nuclear submarine which was lost at sea in 1963.

10. Which was the last US submarine lost in World War II?

Answer: USS Bullhead

The USS Bullhead was sunk on August 6, 1945 by Japanese aircraft, on the same day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

Source: Author 8_T_1

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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