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History | |
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United States | |
Name | USS Barb |
Namesake | Barbus |
Builder | General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton, Connecticut [1] |
Laid down | 7 June 1941 [1] |
Launched | 2 April 1942 [1] |
Sponsored by | Mrs. Charles A. Dunn |
Commissioned | 8 July 1942 [1] |
Decommissioned | 12 February 1947 [1] |
Identification | SS-220 |
Recommissioned | 3 December 1951 [1] |
Decommissioned | 5 February 1954 [1] |
Recommissioned | 3 August 1954 [1] |
Decommissioned | 13 December 1954 [1] |
Stricken | 15 October 1972 [2] |
Fate | Transferred to Italy on 13 December 1954 [2] |
Italy | |
Name | Enrico Tazzoli |
Acquired | 13 December 1954 |
Identification | S 511 |
Fate | Sold for scrap in 1972 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Gato-class diesel-electric submarine [2] |
Displacement | 1,525 long tons (1,549 t) surfaced, [2] 2,424 long tons (2,463 t) submerged [2] |
Length | 311 ft 9 in (95.02 m) [2] |
Beam | 27 ft 3 in (8.31 m) [2] |
Draft | 17 ft (5.2 m) maximum [2] |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 21 kn (39 km/h) surfaced, [6] 9 kn (17 km/h) submerged [6] |
Range | 11,000 nmi (20,000 km) surfaced @ 10 kn (19 km/h) [6] |
Endurance | 48 hours @ 2 kn (3.7 km/h) submerged, [6] 75 days on patrol |
Test depth | 300 ft (91 m) [6] |
Complement | 6 officers, 54 enlisted [6] |
Armament |
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USS Barb (SS-220), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Barbus, a genus of ray-finned fish. She compiled one of the most outstanding records of any U.S. submarine in World War II. During her twelve war patrols, Barb is officially credited with sinking 17 enemy vessels totaling 96,628 tons, including the Japanese aircraft carrier Un'yō. In recognition of one outstanding patrol, Barb received the Presidential Unit Citation. On her twelfth and final patrol of the war, she landed a party of carefully selected crew members who blew up a train, the only ground combat operation in the Japanese (four main) home islands.
The keel of USS Barb was laid down on 7 June 1941 by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 2 April 1942 (sponsored by Mrs. Charles A. Dunn, wife of Rear Admiral Dunn), and commissioned on 8 July 1942.
Barb's war operations spanned the period from 20 October 1942 – 2 August 1945, during which time she completed 12 war patrols.
During her first patrol she carried out reconnaissance duties prior to, and during, the invasion of North Africa. Operating out of Rosneath naval base, Scotland until July 1943, she conducted her next four patrols against the Axis blockade runners in European waters. Barb's fifth patrol terminated 1 July and she proceeded to the Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut, arriving on 24 July.
Following a brief overhaul period at New London, Barb departed for Pearl Harbor where she arrived in September. It was in the Pacific waters that Barb found lucrative hunting and went on to compile one of the more outstanding submarine records of World War II. During the seven war patrols she conducted in the Pacific between March 1944 and August 1945, Barb is officially credited with sinking 17 enemy vessels totaling 96,628 tons, including Un'yō, sunk on 17 September 1944. On 15–16 September Barb rescued 14 Australian and British POW survivors of SS Rakuyō Maru. [7]
The last five war patrols (8-12) conducted by Barb were under Commander Eugene B. Fluckey. Her 11th patrol lasted from 19 December 1944 – 15 February 1945, in the Formosa Straits and East China Sea off the east coast of China, from Shanghai to Kam Kit. During this patrol, Barb sank four Japanese merchant ships and numerous enemy small craft. On 22–23 January Barb penetrated Namkwan Harbor now called Yanpu Wan (沿浦湾) [8] on the China coast, opposite the Matsu Islands, and wrought havoc upon a convoy of some 30 enemy ships at anchor. Maneuvering in dangerously shallow waters, Barb launched her torpedoes into the enemy group and then retired at high speed on the surface in a full hour's run through uncharted, heavily mined, and rock-obstructed waters. In recognition of this outstanding patrol, Commander Fluckey was awarded the Medal of Honor and Barb received the Presidential Unit Citation.
Upon completion of her 11th patrol, Barb was sent to the U.S. for a yard overhaul and alterations, which included the installation of 5 in (130 mm) rocket launchers at the Captain's request. Returning to the Pacific, she commenced her 12th and final patrol on 8 June. This patrol was conducted along the coasts of the Sea of Okhotsk. For the first time in U.S. submarine warfare, Barb successfully employed rockets, against the towns of Shari, Hokkaido; Shikuka, Kashiho; and Shiritoru on Karafuto. [9] On 2 July; she also bombarded the garrison on Tyuleny (Kaihyo) Island with her regular armament, destroying the constructions and causing the fire. She next landed a party of carefully selected crew members who blew up a railroad train.
During the night of 22–23 July 1945 these men went ashore at Karafuto, Japan, and planted an explosive charge that subsequently wrecked a train. They were: Chief Gunners Mate Paul G. Saunders, USN; Electricians Mate 3rd Class Billy R. Hatfield, USNR; Signalman 2nd Class Francis Neal Sever, USNR; Ships Cook 1st Class Lawrence W. Newland, USN; Torpedomans Mate 3rd Class Edward W. Klingesmith, USNR; Motor Machinists Mate 2nd Class James E. Richard, USN; Motor Machinists Mate 1st Class John Markuson, USN; and Lieutenant William M. Walker, USNR. This raid is represented by the train symbol in the middle bottom of the battle flag. [10]
Returning to the United States after the cessation of hostilities, Barb was placed in commissioned reserve on 9 March 1946 and decommissioned reserve on 12 February 1947 at New London, Connecticut. On 3 December 1951, she was recommissioned and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet, operating out of Key West, Florida. She was again decommissioned on 5 February 1954 and underwent the Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY) conversion. Recommissioned on 3 August 1954, she served with the Atlantic Fleet until 13 December 1954, when she was decommissioned a final time and loaned to Italy under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program.
The submarine was renamed Enrico Tazzoli (S 511) by the Italian Navy, after Enrico Tazzoli, an Italian priest.
The submarine was eventually sold for scrap in 1972 for approximately $100,000 (currently $728,000). Admiral Fluckey noted that, had the crew known of this, they would have bought the sub and brought her back to the U.S. to serve as a museum ship. [11]
Barb's battle flag is on display at the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton, Connecticut.
Another submarine was named for USS Barb and served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1989.
On 13 October 2020, Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite announced that a future Virginia-class submarine (SSN-804) will be named for USS Barb. [12]
The Gato class of submarines were built for the United States Navy and launched in 1941–1943. Named after the lead ship of the class, USS Gato, they were the first mass-production U.S. submarine class of World War II.
USS Dace (SS-247), a Gato-class submarine, was the first submarine of the United States Navy to be named for any of several small North American fresh-water fishes of the carp family.
USS Skate (SS-305) was a Balao-class submarine in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. She was used as a target ship in the 1946 atomic bomb tests and finally sunk as a target ship in October 1948.
USS Barbel (SS-316), a Balao-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the barbel, a fish commonly called a minnow or carp.
USS Herring (SS-233), a Gato-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the herring.
USS Cuttlefish (SC-5/SS-171), a Cachalot-class submarine and one of the "V-boats," was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the cuttlefish. Her keel was laid down by Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 21 November 1933 sponsored by Mrs. B. S. Bullard, and commissioned on 8 June 1934, Lieutenant Commander Charles W. "Gin" Styer in command. Cuttlefish was the first submarine built entirely at Electric Boat's facility in Groton, Connecticut; construction of previous Electric Boat designs had been subcontracted to other shipyards, notably Fore River Shipbuilding of Quincy, Massachusetts. Four Peruvian R-class submarines had previously been finished in Groton, using material from cancelled S-boats salvaged from Fore River.
USS Silversides (SS/AGSS-236) is a Gato-class submarine, the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the silversides.
USS Porpoise (SS–172), the fifth United States Navy ship to bear her name, was the lead ship of her class of submarines.
USS Lionfish (SS-298), a Balao-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy named for the lionfish, a scorpaenid fish native to the Pacific and an invasive species found around the Caribbean. She was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986, and is now on display at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts.
USS Scabbardfish (SS-397), a Balao-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the scabbarddfish, a long, compressed, silver-colored fish found on European coasts and around New Zealand. In 1965 she was transferred to the Hellenic Navy and renamed Triaina.
USS Cero (SS-225), a Gato-class submarine, was the first submarine and second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the cero.
USS Bashaw (SS/SSK/AGSS-241), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the bashaw. Between 10 March 1944 and 29 April 1945, she completed six war patrols in the Celebes, Philippine, and South China Seas during World War II. Bashaw sank three Japanese merchant vessels totaling 19,269 gross register tons as well as several small craft. She later served in the Vietnam War.
USS Capitaine (SS/AGSS-336), a Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the capitaine, a brilliantly colored fish inhabiting waters of the Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to Panama.
USS Kraken (SS-370), a Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the kraken, a legendary sea monster believed to haunt the coasts of Norway.
USS Pomfret (SS-391), a Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the pomfret, a fish of the seabream family which is a powerful and speedy swimmer, capable of operating at great depths.
USS Queenfish (SS/AGSS-393), was a Balao-class submarine, the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the queenfish, a small food fish found off the Pacific coast of North America.
Samuel David Dealey was the commanding officer of a United States Navy submarine killed in action with his crew during World War II. Among American service members, he is among the most decorated for valor during war, receiving the Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross (4), the Army Distinguished Service Cross, and the Silver Star for his service on the submarine USS Harder. He was the nephew of George B. Dealey, publisher of the Dallas News and for whom Dealey Plaza is named.
Eugene Bennett Fluckey, nicknamed "Lucky Fluckey", was a United States Navy rear admiral who received the Medal of Honor and four Navy Crosses during his service as a submarine commander in World War II.
Paul Golden (Swish) Saunders was a highly decorated United States Navy submarine sailor who was twice awarded the Silver Star medal during World War II.
Enrico Tazzoli was an Italian patriot and priest, the best known of the Belfiore martyrs.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.