Loss On 1 June 1971, Bugara, with no crew aboard, was under tow by the fleet tug to Bangor Naval Ammunition Depot at Bangor, Washington, when Cree′s crew noticed Bugara′s trim change rapidly. Cree slowed to heave a tow line at a distance of , and although her towing detail was fully manned at the time, the wire towing Bugara slipped out of the brake. Suddenly, Bugara′s bow rose sharply at 13:58 and she sank rapidly, disappearing beneath the surface at 14:00 in of water near Cape Flattery, Washington. At risk of being pulled down with Bugara, Cree cut the steel hawser tow cable. Wreck The wreck of Bugara lies under about of water in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The remotely operated underwater vehicle Hercules'', deployed by the research vessel EV Nautilus, used an underwater camera system to take photos of the wreck during an archaeological survey of it in 2007. Honors and awards Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three battle stars for World War II service Korean Service Medal with two service stars for Korean War service Vietnam Service Medal with seven service stars for Vietnam War service Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal References External links Kill Record: USS Bugara Collision with USS Whitehurst Balao-class submarines World War II submarines of the United States Cold War submarines of the United States Korean War submarines of the United States Shipwrecks of the Washington coast Ships built in Groton, Connecticut 1944 ships United States submarine accidents Maritime incidents in 1947 Maritime incidents in 1950 Maritime incidents in 1952 Maritime incidents in 1971