Boat History

From Naval History and Heritage Command: The submarines Barb (SS-220) and Herring (SS-233)combine to sink all five ships of an enemy convoy off Matsuwa in the Kurile Islands, Japan. The next day, after Herring sinks the Japanese freighter Hiburi Maru, shore batteries sink Herring. Pictured Barb above, Herring below

23  May1939 – The US submarine Squalus sank off  Portsmouth New Hampshire on this date to perform a test dive demonstrating the boat’s capability to submerge within 60 seconds while running at full speed on the surface. Although the board showed green, the induction failed to shut. Squalus

15 May 1969 – USS Guitarro (SSN 665) While moored alongside the pier in Mare Island Naval Shipyard (MINSY), two different groups commenced system testing. Unfortunately, the teams did not coordinate their actions. At about 16:00 (4 p.m.) the first group began filling the aft ballast tanks

6 May 1986 The USS Hawkbill (SSN 666) surfaced at the North Pole along with the USS Ray (SSN 653) and USS Archerfish (SSN 678). It was the first time three nuclear powered submarines surfaced simultaneously at the pole. The sail from the decommissioned Hawkbill is on

Pre World War Two 23 May 1939 USS Squalus SS 192 Foundered on test dive off New Hampshire 26 killed – World War Two 3   May 1945 SS 371 Lagarto 86 killed, all hands lost, Post war examination of Japanese Naval records suggest Lagarto was sunk in the

30 April 1943 – British Submarine Seraph, took part in preparations for the invasion of Sicily in one of the most unusual operations of World War Two. In a cloak and dagger plot Seraph went to sea carrying a cadaver alleged to be that of the deceased Major Martin

26 April 56 – USS Corporal (SS 346) While participating in ASW exercise off Key West Florida, copied a distress call from Navy helicopter 51. The Chopper, also participating in the exercise, developed an oil leak and was in danger of being forced to ditch in the

22 April 1930 – On this date the United State joined Great Britain and Japan in signing the London Naval Treaty, which placed restrictions on submarine warfare and limited the tonnage of shipbuilding. The Treaty was the result of the London Naval Conference which met in Europe with

17 April 1943 –Coast Guard Cutter Spencer engaged German Submarine U – 175 on this date. Spencer dropped depth charges forcing the U Boat to surface. suffering extensive damage. The crew was attempting to scuttle when Lt. Ross P. Bullard and Boatswain’s Mate First C.S. “Mike” Hall boarded

11 April 1943 – USS Tunny (SS 282) began its day on the surface and sighted by a Japanese ship 40 kilometers off of Truk, in the Caroline Islands, but there was no subsequent attack. Early in the afternoon, she intercepted Japanese submarine I-9; Tunny fired three forward torpedoes, and