In July 1945, the Dutch submarine O-19 ran hard aground on Ladd Reef in the South China Sea deep in enemy waters.  The Gato class submarine USS Cod was sent to rescue the Dutch sub. After  two days of attempting to free the stricken sub, the Dutch crew of 56 was taken aboard the USS Cod and the the O-19 was destroyed with torpedoes and fire from the Cod‘s deck guns to prevent it from falling into Japanese hands.

Yesterday in Cleveland, Ohio, the USS Cod‘s deck guns were fired again to commemorate the anniversary of the only international submarine-to-submarine rescue in history.

Cleveland: USS Cod opens fire on Lake Erie

On Saturday, a reenactment of the rescue and ceremonial firing of the Cods five inch gun was held with Dutch-Americans and the public. The last Captain of the USS Cod, Captain Joseph Adelman received the Dutch flag to commemorate the rescue.  

The USS Cod, now a museum that opens for tours, is docked on Lake Erie between Burke Airport and the Coast Guard Station.

Here is a remarkable video of the rescue of the O-19’s crew and the firing on the Dutch sub by the USS Cod. Thanks for Phil Leon for passing along both the article and the video.

USS COD gato class destroys dutch submarine