Mannert L. Abele
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Commander Mannert Lincoln Abele, USN was a World War II submarine commander who posthumously received the Navy Cross
for his heroism in the Pacific Theater
.
, enlisted in the United States Navy
August 12, 1920; was appointed midshipman
in June 1922; and was commissioned ensign
June 3, 1926 following graduation from the United States Naval Academy
. He completed training at the Naval Submarine Base New London
, Connecticut in 1929; and, prior to America's entry into World War II
, he commanded submarine
s R-13
and S-31
.
Promoted to lieutenant commander
December 1, 1940, he assumed command of the USS Grunion (SS-216)
at her commissioning April 11, 1942 and took her out of Pearl Harbor
June 30 on her first and only war patrol. Grunion steamed to the western Aleutians where from 15 to July 30 she sank two 300-ton patrol boats, heavily damaged a third, and twice escaped enemy depth charge
attacks. Because of intensive antisubmarine activity off Kiska Island, she was ordered to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, July 30. She did not arrive and was reported missing and presumed lost August 16.
For extraordinary heroism during an aggressive war patrol, LCDR Abele was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
.
Abele's three sons financed a search for their father's lost ship. On August 23, 2007, USS Grunion was found by the search team in the Bering Sea
off the coast of the Aleutian Islands in about 1000 meters of water.
destroyer
, named in his honor.
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for his heroism in the Pacific Theater
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
.
Biography
Abele was born July 11, 1903 in Quincy, Mass.Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
, enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
August 12, 1920; was appointed midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in June 1922; and was commissioned ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
June 3, 1926 following graduation from the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. He completed training at the Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".-History:...
, Connecticut in 1929; and, prior to America's entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he commanded submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s R-13
USS R-13 (SS-90)
USS R-13 was an R-class coastal and harbor defense submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down by the Fore River Shipbuilding Company in Quincy, Massachusetts on 27 March 1918. She was launched on 27 August 1919 sponsored by Miss Fanny B. Chandler, and commissioned on 17 October...
and S-31
USS S-31 (SS-136)
USS S-31 was a first-group S-class submarine of the United States Navy. Her keel was laid down on 13 April 1918 by the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, California. She was launched on 28 December 1918 sponsored by Mrs. George A. Walker, and commissioned on 11 May 1922 with Lieutenant William A...
.
Promoted to lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
December 1, 1940, he assumed command of the USS Grunion (SS-216)
USS Grunion (SS-216)
was a Gato-class submarine that was sunk at Kiska, Alaska, during World War II. She was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the grunion, a small fish of the silversides family, indigenous to the western American coast....
at her commissioning April 11, 1942 and took her out of Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
June 30 on her first and only war patrol. Grunion steamed to the western Aleutians where from 15 to July 30 she sank two 300-ton patrol boats, heavily damaged a third, and twice escaped enemy depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
attacks. Because of intensive antisubmarine activity off Kiska Island, she was ordered to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, July 30. She did not arrive and was reported missing and presumed lost August 16.
For extraordinary heroism during an aggressive war patrol, LCDR Abele was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
.
Abele's three sons financed a search for their father's lost ship. On August 23, 2007, USS Grunion was found by the search team in the Bering Sea
Bering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
off the coast of the Aleutian Islands in about 1000 meters of water.
Namesake
, an Allen M. Sumner-classAllen M. Sumner class destroyer
The Allen M. Sumner class was a group of 58 destroyers built by the United States during World War II. Another twelve ships were completed as destroyer minelayers...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
, named in his honor.