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The Operation Barney was an operation conducted by the United States Navy during the Pacific War in World War II. In June 1945, nine American submarines penetrated the Sea of Japan and sank numerous ships.

Leading up to the Operation
Commander Dudley W. Morton and the crew of the USS Wahoo (SS-238) were some of the most successful aggressive submariners against the Japanese in the Pacific. According to Charles A. Lockwood, Morton's aggressive tactics and desire to attack the enemy from inside the sea of Japan set in motion development for the technology for submarines to navigate underwater minefields. The Wahoo and her crew were sunk by the Japanese in the La Pérouse Strait, 11 October 1943, trying to gain access to the Sea of Japan.

Development of Frequency Modulated Sonar (FMS)
The Frequency Modulated Sonar (FMS), was developed at the top-secret University of California Division of War Research at Point Loma, San Diego. Admiral Lockwood was introduced to the first FMS prototype and the development team in April 1943. The FMS team included several top scientists including Franz N. D. Kurie and Dr. Gaylord Harnwell, and originally began developing the FMS to be used by minesweepers. The research team were not successful applying the new technology to minesweepers, because turbulent surface water distorted the signal. It took more than a year before many of the problems were worked out and the first FMS was installed on a submarine for testing. During that time a number of submarines had been reported overdue and presumed lost. It was the opinion of the admiralty that these losses were due to mines. This was because of several factors, the path of the lost submarine patrols, Japanese propaganda had not reported the successful sinking of these submarines, military intelligence, and an increasing number of run-away mines found along the Japanese coast.

In 1944, the new submarine USS Spadefish (SS-411), under command of Gordon Waite Underwood, had been build at Mare Island with FMS installed. During the sea trials, the Spadefish's crew had learned how to use the new equipment, but found it somewhat temperamental.

Operation
In 1944, the Japanese merchant fleet suffered heavy losses inflicted by American submarines, aircraft, and naval mines. Only a few Japanese ships were still moving in coastal areas, where they were relatively safe from submarine operations. In the secluded Sea of Japan, which was considered Japan's backyard, there was still active maritime traffic.

After experimenting with Frequency Modulated Sonar (FMS) from minesweepers in submarines, Admiral Lockwood conceived the idea to launch an attack using submarines equipped with mine sonar to navigate through the mine belts around the Sea of Japan. This would demonstrate to the Japanese that they were no longer safe anywhere, potentially aiding psychologically in bringing Japan to surrender. William Bernard (Barney) Sieglaff was tasked with devising the plan, which was subsequently named Operation Barney after him.

Under the command of E.T. Hydeman, three groups of three submarines (wolfpacks) entered the Sea of Japan through the Korea Strait on June 5 and 6, 1945, reaching their operation areas three days later. Over the span of eleven days, they sank 27 merchant ships totaling 54,784 BRT, as well as the Japanese submarine I-122 and accidentally the Soviet freighter Transbalt. The USS Bonefish was sunk by Japanese forces on June 19. On the night of June 24, the remaining eight submarines retreated from the Sea of Japan through the La Pérouse Strait. It was one of the most successful submarine operations of the war.

Operation Barney was considered dangerous enough that every submarine commander that took part in Operation Barney was awarded the Navy Cross.

Submarines, units sank, commanders, and awards for Operation Barney:
 * USS Sea Dog (SS-401) - 6 merchant ships
 * Earl T. Hydeman
 * USS Spadefish (SS-411) - 5 merchant ships
 * William J. Germershausen, Jr.
 * USS Tinosa (SS-283) - 4 merchant ships
 * Richard C. Latham
 * USS Skate (SS-305) - 3 merchant ships and Submarine I-122
 * Richard B. Lynch
 * USS Crevalle (SS-291) - 3 merchant ships
 * Everett H. Steinmetz
 * USS Bonefish (SS-223) - 2 merchant ships
 * Lawrence L. Edge - KIA
 * USS Flying Fish (SS-229) - 2 merchant ships
 * Robert D. Risser
 * USS Bowfin (SS-287) - 2 merchant ships
 * Alexander K. Tyree
 * USS Tunny (SS-282) - None
 * George E. Pierce

Encouraged by the success, Admiral Lockwood subsequently sent a group of seven boats into the Sea of Japan.

Literature

 * Lockwood, Charles A., and Hans Christian Adamson. Hellcats of the Sea. Eschenburg Press, 2017.
 * Sasgen, Peter T. Hellcats: The Epic Story of World War II’s Most Daring Submarine Raid. NAL Caliber, 2010.
 * Steven Trent Smith: Operation Barney: Bloody payback in the Pacific. Navytimes, September 29, 2019
 * Jack Sweetman: 50 Years Ago . . . Operation Barney., Proceedings, Vol. 121/6/1,108

In Media

 * Hellcats of the Navy, Columbia Pictures 1957 (starring Ronald Reagan)
 * The Silent Service - Season 1, Episode 35: | The Tshushima Straits Story, Twin Dolphin Productions Inc. (aired on Friday, July 11, 1958) (starring Nelson Leigh)