USS YP-422

Service history

YP-422 was briefly commanded by Lieutenant L. Ron Hubbard, later known as the controversial founder of Scientology. Hubbard was assigned to Lawley & Son Shipyard, in the Neponset area of Boston, Massachusetts in connection with the conversion of the YP-422 from 25 June to 28 July 1942, when she was placed in commission with Hubbard in command.

Hubbard was relieved of his command on 1 October 1942, a few weeks after YP-422 underwent a 27-hour training exercise in August 1942. A dispatch sent by the Commandant of the Boston Navy Yard on 25 September 1942 described Hubbard as "not temperamentally fitted for independent command". Ironically, Hubbard was then given command of the submarine chaser USS PC-815 which also resulted in his being officially reprimanded and relieved of command.

In early 1943, YP-422 was dispatched to the Pacific theater of operations to support the Solomon Islands campaign. However, she was lost on 23 April 1943 after striking Tumbo Reef, three miles south-east of the entrance to North Bulari Passage – a break in the reefs near Nouméa, New Caledonia.