Albert Collins Burrows, USN

Born  23 Sep 1905Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA
Died  24 Feb 1984(78)Pima County, Arizona, USA

Ranks

10 Jul 1923 Mid.
7 Jun 1928 Ens.
7 Jun 1931 Lt.(jg)
1 Jul 1936 Lt.
1 Jan 1942 T/Lt.Cdr.
1 Mar 1942 Lt.Cdr.
15 Sep 1942 T/Cdr.
25 Mar 1945 T/Capt.
1 Jul 1958 R.Adm. (Retd.)

Decorations

May/Jun 43 Navy Cross (1)

Warship Commands listed for Albert Collins Burrows, USN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
USS McCormick (DD 223)Lt.Destroyer10 Apr 194010 May 1940
USS Swordfish (193)Lt.Cdr.SubmarineJul 194229 Sep 1942
USS Whale (239)T/Cdr.Submarine20 Feb 19439 Feb 1944
USS Shenandoah (AD 26)T/Capt.Destroyer tender13 Aug 1945??? (2)

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Submarine USS Swordfish (193)


27 Jul 1942
USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows, USN) departed Fremantle for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.

For the daily and attack positions of USS Swordfish during this patrol see the map below.

3 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the early morning hours, USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows, USN), made the northbound passage of Lombok Strait.

16 Aug 1942 (position 15.23, 144.58)
USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows, USN) attacked a what is thought to be a Japanese merchant vessel with four torpedoes south-east of Macclesfield Bank, South China Sea. No hits were obtained.

(All times are zone -8)
2002 hours - In position 15°45'N, 114°55'E sighted a dark object dead ahead. It turned out to be a large vessel on an opposite course as our own. Range was about 3000 yards. Started attack.

2008 - Submerged to completed the attack from periscope depth as Swordfish was likely to be sighted if she remained on the surface.

2030 hours - In position 15°23'N, 114°58'E fired four torpedoes from a range of about 2000 yards. It is thought all torpedoes missed.

2125 hours - Surfaced and set of in pursuit of the target but she was not seen again.

17 Aug 1942 (position 15.25, 113.05)
USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows, USN) attacked a Japanese merchant vessel with three torpedoes south-west of Macclesfield Bank, South China Sea. No hits were obtained.

(All times are zone -8)
1606 hours - In position 15°30'N, 113°30'E sighted smoke bearing 355°. Closed to investigate. The target turned out to be a 10000 tons merchant vessel.

1636 hours - Increased speed to get into a firing position. Targets course was 210°, speed 8 knots.

1711 hours - Range was now 2300 yards. In position 15°25'N, 113°05'E fired three torpedoes. Swordfish lost depth control and ended up at 200 feet.

1718 hours - Heard three end of run torpedo detonations.

1930 hours - Surfaced. Nothing in sight.

5 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows, USN) departed her patrol area to return to Fremantle.

9 Sep 1942
USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows, USN) attacked an unidentiefied enemy ship with four torpedoes about 8 nautical miles south-west of Ambulong, Island, Philippines. No hits were obtained.

(All times are zone -8)
2008/08 - In position 10°50'N, 121°25'E sighted white light about 10° on our port bow. Bearing remained steady for about 2 minutes before the light was extinghuised.

2018/08 - Visibility was bad due to heavy rain. Dived to avoid a possible collision. Shortly after diving a heavy screw was heard bearing 155°, 84 rpm. Changed course to follow the bearing of the screw. The vessel passed very close to Swordfish. Enemy course was 335° - 340°.

2108/08 - Surfaced on course 340° and set off chasing the target at 14 knots. It was still raining heavily, visibility was only 200 yards.

2240/08 - Sighted the ship on the port bow.

0042/09 - The enemy must have sighted Swordfish she laid a smoke screen and disappeared in it.

0104/09 - Swordfish closed to 1700 yards and fired four torpedoes but no hits were obtained. Dived on firing the last torpedo.

0114/09 - Heard screws bearing 295° turing at high speed.

0135/09 - Surfaced. Nothing in sight.

16 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the early morning hours, USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows, USN), made the southbound passage of Lombok Strait.

21 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows, USN) ended her 5th war patrol at Fremantle, Australia.


Submarine USS Whale (239)


20 Feb 1943
Whale's Commanding Officer, Lt Cmdr John Behling Azer was relieved by Lt Cmdr Albert C. Burrows.

28 Feb 1943
USS Whale (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows) left base for her 3th war patrol. She was to patrol between the Mariana Islands and Japan.

6 Apr 1943
USS Whale (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows) ended her 3th war patrol at Midway.

10 May 1943
USS Whale (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows) left Midway on her 4th war patrol. She was to patrol in the Saipan area.

26 May 1943 (position 14.17, 144.54)
USS Whale (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows) torpedoed and sank the Japanese auxiliary gunboat Shoei Maru (3580 GRT) about 17 nautical miles north-northwest of Rota Island, Mariana Islands in position 14°17'N, 144°54'E.

21 Jun 1943
USS Whale (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows) ended her 4th war patrol at Pearl Harbor.

8 Aug 1943 (position 24.12, 142.52)
While on her 5th war patrol USS Whale (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows) torpedoed and sank the Japanese ammunition ship Naruto Maru (7148 GRT) northwest of the Mariana Islands in position 24°12'N, 142°52'E. Whale survives a counter-attack by the escorting Japanese destroyer Asanagi (offsite link).

7 Sep 1943
USS Whale (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows) ended her 5th war patrol at Pearl Harbor. She now underwent a major overhaul.

25 Dec 1943
USS Whale (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows) left base for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol the shipping lanes between Tokyo and Truk.

16 Jan 1944 (position 23.09, 135.14)
USS Whale (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows) torpedoed and sank the Japanese transport ship Denmark Maru (5869 GRT) about 400 nautical miles southeast of Okinawa in position 23°09'N, 135°14'E. She also finishes off the Japanese troop transport Tarushima Maru (4865 GRT, torpedoed earlier that day by USS Seawolf) in position 22°50'N, 135°40'E.

3 Feb 1944
USS Whale (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Burrows) ended her 6th war patrol when she returned to Midway.

9 Feb 1944
Lt Cmdr Albert C. Burrows was relieved as Commanding Officer by Lt Cmdr James B. Grady.


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