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Rob Roy McGregor (admiral)

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Rob Roy McGregor
Born(1907-02-07)February 7, 1907
Seattle, Washington[1]
DiedSeptember 5, 2000(2000-09-05) (aged 93)
San Diego, California
Buried
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Branch United States Navy
Years of service1929-1957
Rank Rear Admiral
Service number62649
CommandsUSS S-36 (SS-141)[2][3]
USS S-1 (SS-105)
USS Grouper (SS-214)[4]
USS Sea Cat (SS-399)[4]
Submarine Division 202
Submarine Squadron Five[5]
Submarine Squadron One[5]
Destroyer Squadron Five[6]
USS Cascade (AD-16)[7]
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsSilver Star (3)[4][8]
Alma materUnited States Naval Academy[2]
Spouse(s)Mary Elizabeth Osborn[2]

Robert Roy McGregor (7 February 1907 – 5 September 2000), was an American submarine commander during World War II who reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.[8] After his retirement, McGregor worked as the technical director on the film Run Silent, Run Deep.[9]

Early life

Robert Roy McGregor was born in Seattle, Washington, on 7 February 1907, son of Francis Alexander and Lydia McGregor (née Schmidt). McGregor was accepted to the United States Naval Academy on 16 June 1925.[10] While attending the Naval Academy, Midshipman McGregor participated in wrestling and lacrosse.[1] Upon graduating from Annapolis in 1929, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy.[10]

Early naval career

Upon receiving his commission, Ensign McGregor was assigned to the USS Arkansas (BB-33).[10] After finishing his duty on the Arkansas, he was assigned to the Naval Submarine Base New London for instruction on submarines.[11] While attending submarine school at New London, McGregor and two other officers were injured when a torpedo motor they were working on exploded.[12] McGregor was promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade in June of 1932 and upon completion of submarine school was assigned to the USS S-14 (SS-119).[13] While serving aboard the S-14, McGregor became qualified on submarines.[citation needed] In November 1934, he was transferred from S-14 to USS S-17 (SS-122).[14] In 1935 he was transferred to USS R-4 (SS-81).[15] While assigned to R-4, he became qualified to command submarines and was transferred to the Third Naval District in New York where he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.[16] In January of 1938 Lieutenant McGregor was assigned to USS S-20 (SS-125) before taking command of his first submarine, USS S-36 (SS-141), on 28 March.[17][18] S-36 was assigned to the United States Asiatic Fleet with its homeport being U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay at Manila. McGregor married Mary Elizabeth Osborn at Sterberg Chapel in Manila on 20 January 1940.[2]

World War II

Grouper second patrol

The summer following the attack on Pearl Harbor, McGregor took command of USS Grouper (SS-214) from Lieutenant Commander Claren Emmet Duke. On 28 August 1942, Lieutenant Commander McGregor setoff from Pearl Harbor on his first war patrol, the second for Grouper's crew. He was tasked with patrolling the East China Sea. On 21 September, in waters off the coast of Shanghai, McGregor made his first kill, sinking the Japanese transport Tone Maru.[19]

On near Qing-bang, Dongji Islands, in the eastern Zhoushan Archipelago on 1 October Grouper fired on the Japanese transport Lisbon Maru which was unknown to the captain, transporting about 1,800 prisoners of war. Three of Grouper's torpedos missed, but the fourth one hit "stopping the freighter dead in the water" Grouper fired two more torpedoes of which one hit. When an enemy aircraft appeared and dropped depth chargers on Grouper it dived to escape.[20]

The sinking resulted in deaths of more than 800 British lives.[21] McGregor and Grouper arrived in Midway on 21 October, with credit of 12000 tons of enemy freight sunk, which earned McGregor his first Silver Star.[22][8]

Grouper third patrol

Grouper was refit at Midway and had an SJ radar installed. On 12 November, Grouper disembarked[clarification needed] for the Solomon Sea. On 17 December, McGregor sighted two large camouflaged freighters. He fired six torpedos, damaging one freighter, and sinking the 8000 ton Bandoeng Maru.[23][24] McGregor and his crew finished their patrol arriving in Brisbane on 31 December 1942.

Grouper fourth patrol

After refitting in Brisbane, McGregor and Grouper were again underway. Leaving Brisbane on the 21 January, to patrol north of the Solomon Islands. Grouper made contact with two convoys, the first convoy, all fired torpedos missed. The second convoy of more than 20 destroyers, McGregor waited until the last destroyers were passing, only to have an allied air raid on the convoy causing his target to alter course and ruining his chance to attack. On 9 February, McGregor received orders to rescue downed aviator 1LT Lawrence R. McKulla, who had been shot down 26 January and was stranded on Rengi Island.[23][25] Grouper continued its patrol gathering intelligence on Japanese radar stations and arrived in Brisbane 18 March. McGregor's commanding officer James Fife Jr. was known for being a cold and unforgiving leader. "Fife's patrol report endorsements were long, detailed, professional and often harsh. Two skippers who felt the lash were Dick Lake in Albacore and Rob Roy McGregor in Grouper"[26] Fife's report on Grouper's fourth war patrol was particularly harsh, claiming McGregor had not been aggressive enough causing him to miss a golden opportunity. McGregor's war patrol was officially unsuccessful, as a result, McGregor was relieved of command. He was subsequently sent to serve on the staff of Submarine Squadrons Eight and Six before being assigned to new construction.[26][27] It would not be until 16 May 1944 with the commissioning of USS Sea Cat (SS-399) before McGregor would be given another chance at commanding a submarine. The Navy would seemingly take back its punitive action against McGregor,[citation needed] as in March 1945 he would be awarded a second Silver Star for his second patrol commanding Grouper.[8]

Sea Cat first patrol

Commander McGregor took command of Sea Cat with her commissioning at Portsmouth Navy Yard on 16 May 1944. After Sea Cat's shakedown and trials, she sailed to Pearl Harbor arriving 3 October. On 28 October Sea Cat got underway, heading to patrol the Gulf of Tonkin.[28] On 3 December, McGregor fired on a convoy. He was credited with sinking one ship and damaging a second, adding 15000 tons to his record.[22] Sea Cat finished her patrol and returned to Guam on 27 December.[citation needed] McGregor was awarded his third silver star for the successful war patrol.[8] This was McGregor's last war patrol, after the war he would be credited with a total of 35400 tons sunk with an additional 8000 tons damaged.[22]

End of the war

After completing his war patrol in command of Sea Cat, McGregor was promoted to a Division Commander under Lewis Smith Parks. After the surrender of Japan was announced, Admiral Nimitz invited Admiral Lockwood to attend the ceremony. Lockwood in turn ordered a dozen submarines to sail to Tokyo to be present for the ceremony. After arriving in Tokyo Bay Admiral Parks took control of the Japanese submarine base at Yokosuka. Admiral Parks with Robert McGregor and Barney McMahon went into the city of Tokyo to visit the Tokyo Imperial Palace before Nimitz arrived. They were the first US military forces to set foot inside of Tokyo.[29]

Later career

In May 1952, McGregor took command of the destroyer tender USS Cascade (AD-16).[citation needed] As a favor to the Italian societies of Newport, and with approval from the Navy, McGregor delivered a life sized bronze statue of Christopher Columbus to Newport from La Spezia, Italy. McGregor had to personally settle a dispute with the Italian customs official to have to the statue released. It was delivered to Newport 22 June 1953.[30]

Later life and death

Rear Admiral McGregor retired from the Navy in February 1957, after 28 years of naval service.[31]

References

  1. ^ a b The Lucky Bag 1929. Rochester, NY. 1929. p. 287. Retrieved 4 December 2021. {{cite book}}: |newspaper= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ a b c d "Miss Osborn Wed in Manila". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 4 Feb 1940. p. B5. Retrieved 4 December 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Submarine Commanders". www.fleetorganization.com.
  4. ^ a b c "Submarine Skipper Coming With Caravan to Mason City". Globe-Gazette. Mason City, Iowa. 8 Feb 1947. p. 10. Retrieved 4 December 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Submarine Force Changes Two Commands Here". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 29 Jul 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 4 December 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Capt., Mrs. McGregor return from France". Coronado Journal. Vol. 42, no. 32. 11 Aug 1955. p. 3. Retrieved 4 December 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  7. ^ "Cascade Skipper Going to NATO College". The Newport Mercury and Weekly News. 26 Jun 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 4 December 2021 – via NewspaperArchive.com.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Rob Roy McGregor". Military Times. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  9. ^ Walker, Danton (15 Mar 1958). "Broadway". Daily News. New York. p. 20. Retrieved 4 December 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. US Navy. 1 Jan 1930. p. 176.
  11. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. US Navy. 1 Jan 1932. p. 176.
  12. ^ "Engine Blast Injures Three Naval Officers". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 18 Mar 1932. p. 16. Retrieved 4 December 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officer of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. US Navy. 1 Jan 1933. p. 172.
  14. ^ "Naval Orders". San Pedro News-Pilot. 28 Nov 1934. p. 8. Retrieved 5 December 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. US Navy. 1 Jul 1935. p. 166.
  16. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. US Navy. 1 Jul 1937. p. 154.
  17. ^ "Naval Orders". The Los Angeles Times. 14 Jan 1938. p. 14. Retrieved 5 December 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. US Navy. 1 Jul 1939. p. 146.
  19. ^ Roscoe, Theodore (1949). United States Submarine Operations in World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. p. 175.
  20. ^ Whitlock, Flint; Smith, Ron (2008). The depths of courage : American submariners at war with Japan, 1941-1945. New York: Berkley Publishing Group. pp. 116–117.
  21. ^ Widders, Robert (2012). The emperor's Irish slaves: prisoners of the Japanese in the Second World War. Dublin: History Press Ireland. p. 147.
  22. ^ a b c Results of U.S. Submarine War Patrols. Office of Strategic Planning COMSUBPAC. 1946. p. 16.
  23. ^ a b USS Grouper Official War Patrol Reports. US Navy. pp. 53–54. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  24. ^ "USS Grouper SS-214". Pacific Wrecks. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  25. ^ Roscoe, Theodore (1949). United States Submarine Operations in World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. p. 221.
  26. ^ a b Clay, Blair (1975). Silent victory: the U.S. submarine war against Japan. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. pp. 378–379.
  27. ^ Wheeler, Keith (1980). War under the Pacific. Alexandria, Va: Time-Life Books. p. 46.
  28. ^ USS Sea Cat Official War Patrol Reports. US Navy.
  29. ^ Blair, Clay (1975). Silent victory: the U.S. submarine war against Japan. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. pp. 871–872.
  30. ^ "Lifesize Columbus Statue Arrives, Oct. 12 Dedication Set". Newport Daily News. 22 June 1953. p. 16. Retrieved 7 December 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Register of Retired Commissioned and Warrant Officers, regular and Reserve, of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. US Navy. 1964. p. 257. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
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