January 24, 1943 Wahoo spotted a destroyer with submarines around it. Morton fired three torpedoes on the destroyer, but they missed.

Wahoo watched as the destroyer headed its way, and at dangerously close range, Wahoo fired another torpedo that broke the enemy ship in half. A few days later, Wahoo encountered another convoy and was credited with sinking Buyo Maru, Fukuei Maru, and an unknown maru. On February 7, Wahoo arrived at Pearl Harbor to a hero’s welcome. Morton was nicknamed “The One-Boat Wolf Pack.” He received the Navy Cross, and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur presented to him the Army Distinguished Service Cross.

📸 1: March 3, 1943, “Hero’s Welcome. A Navy band is on hand to greet the submarine Wahoo on her return to Pearl Harbor following a patrol during which she sank a Japanese destroyer and an entire enemy convoy of four ships. The battle with the convoy lasted for a period of 14 hours.” **Note that Wahoo’s radar antennas have been crudely censored out of the image. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

📸 2: At Pearl Harbor after her third war patrol, circa February 7, 1943. Her Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Dudley W. Morton, is on the open bridge, in right center. Officer standing at left appears to be the Executive Officer, Lieutenant Richard H. O’Kane. Note that the forward radar mast, mounted in front of the periscope shears, has been censored out of this photograph. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.