The USS SC-761 was part
of the American "Splinter Fleet"—small warships made of wood ordered to
sail into harms way against the superior Japanese vessels made of steel. The vessel began it naval career in 1942
performing convoy duty guarding against German U-boats along the
Atlantic coast from New York to Cape May. However, America's critical
needs in the Pacific caused the SC-761 and other selected
subchaser's to be reassigned to the warmer waters of the South Pacific
Fleet in January 1943. SC-761 reported for duty in the South Pacific in April 1943 and
promptly went to war against the enemy. The smallest warships in the US
Navy, the SC-class vessels were tasked with some of the most dangerous
missions in the war. The wooden ship fought-off attacks from Japanese
aircraft, protecting convoys from submarine attack and survived the fury
of Pacific hurricanes. SC-761 rescued coast watchers in islands
deep behind Japanese lines. They fought in the bloody campaign to
capture Guadalcanal and sailed repeatedly up and down the deadly
Ironbottom Sound rescuing downed airmen. It is an incredible story of
one of America's most gallant and unsung ships.
New softbound edition. 110 pages, 31 black and white photographs,
a crew roster, appendix and an index.
New Book --- $12.95
"I
am delighted to see that ibooks has released Captain Henry Doscher's
Subchaser in the South Pacific in paperback format—a
dozen years after it was published in hardcover. Otherwise available only as
an expensive collector's item, this edition will allow a new generation of
readers to benefit from Doscher's absorbing descriptions of his wartime
experiences in the Pacific Theater.
About twice the size of the more famous PT boats, popularized in movies and
television shows, the all-wood, lightly-armed subchasers patrolled the
Solomon Islands waters searching for enemy submarines, which they attacked
with depth charges. Twenty-seven crew and three officers manned the
subchasers, sleeping and eating aboard.
Doscher's subchaser SC-761 participated in two dramatic rescue
missions in which coastwatchers and their support staff were spirited from
behind enemy lines. Escorting convoys to Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Rendova
and Vella Lavella Islands was another duty.
Part of the so-called Splinter Fleet, subchasers under the command of men
like Capt. Doscher went in harm's way to defeat a determined enemy.
Subchaser in the South Pacific is a fitting memorial to their bravery and
sacrifice." Duane Hove
SUBCHASER
In
The South Pacific.
A Saga of the USS SC-761
During World War II
by Captain J. Henry Doscher, Jr., USN
(Ret.)
Softbound edition
110 pages, 31 black and white photographs
New $12.95
Note: Photos below appear in the book
Photo above: Coast watchers gather aboard the Subchaser
for a photo.
Photo above: Gun drills at general quarters
aboard the SC-761.
The Author
J. Henry Doscher, Jr., was commissioned an ensign in
the navy in 1942 and assigned as executive officer aboard the USS SC-761
in January 1943. Soon after arriving in the Solomon Islands, he became the
commanding officer of the subchaser and led it through the tough campaigns
in the southwest Pacific. Following the war he became a successful lawyer
and retired in 1985.
ISBN # 1-59687-332-9
