USS Batfish (SS-310) facts for kids
USS Batfish (SS-310), at Muskogee, Oklahoma.
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Name | Batfish |
| Namesake | Batfish |
| Ordered | 21 April 1942 |
| Builder | Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine |
| Laid down | 27 December 1942 |
| Launched | 5 May 1943 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Nellie W. Fortier |
| Commissioned | 21 August 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 6 April 1946 |
| Recommissioned | 7 March 1952 |
| Decommissioned | 1 November 1969 |
| Stricken | 1 November 1969 |
| Honors and awards |
Presidential Unit Citation and 6 battle stars for World War II |
| Status | Museum ship in Muskogee, Oklahoma, 18 February 1972 |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Balao class diesel-electric submarine |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 311 ft 6 in (94.95 m) |
| Beam | 27 ft 3 in (8.31 m) |
| Draft | 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m) maximum |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Endurance |
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| Test depth | 400 ft (120 m) |
| Complement | 10 officers, 68 enlisted |
| Armament |
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The USS Batfish (SS/AGSS-310) is a special type of submarine called a Balao-class submarine. It is famous for an amazing achievement during World War II. In February 1945, the Batfish sank three Japanese submarines in just 76 hours! This was a very rare and impressive feat.
The USS Batfish was the first ship in the United States Navy to be named after the batfish. This is a unique fish found near the coast of Peru. It lives deep in the ocean, from about 10 to 250 feet down.
Contents
Building the Batfish
The submarine was first going to be named Acoupa. But on September 24, 1942, its name was changed to Batfish. Its construction started on December 27, 1942.
The Batfish was built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. It was launched into the water on May 5, 1943. Mrs. Nellie W. Fortier was its sponsor, which is like a godmother for a ship. The submarine officially joined the Navy on August 21, 1943. Lieutenant Commander Wayne R. Merrill was its first captain.
War Service (1943-1945)
The Batfish began its war missions on December 11, 1943. It completed seven "war patrols" by August 26, 1945. A war patrol is when a submarine goes out on a secret mission to find and sink enemy ships.
During these patrols, the Batfish sank nine Japanese ships. These ships weighed a total of 10,658 tons. The submarine operated in areas like the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.
The Batfish received a special award called the Presidential Unit Citation. This award is given to military units for outstanding bravery. It earned this for its sixth war patrol, when it sank three Japanese submarines. It also received six battle stars for its service in World War II.
Sinking Enemy Submarines
The Batfish sank several enemy ships during its service. These included:
- A Japanese minesweeper (a ship that clears mines) on August 23, 1944.
- The destroyer Samidare on August 26, 1944.
- Most likely the Japanese submarine RO-115 on February 10, 1945.
- The Japanese submarine RO-112 on February 11, 1945.
- The Japanese submarine RO-113 on February 13, 1945.
These Japanese submarines had radar, which helped them find targets. But it also made them easier for the Batfish to find. The Batfish could detect their radar signals and then attack them.
Later Service (1946-1969)
After Japan surrendered, the Batfish arrived in San Francisco on September 9, 1945. It was prepared for peacetime service. On April 6, 1946, the Batfish was taken out of active service. It was used as a training vessel in the Pacific Reserve Fleet.
When the Korean War started, the Batfish was brought back into service. It was recommissioned on March 7, 1952. Lieutenant Commander Robert J. Jackson became its new captain. The submarine sailed through the Panama Canal to Key West, Florida.
For the rest of its active career, the Batfish was used for training. It operated in the Caribbean Sea and along the eastern coast of the U.S. It was taken out of service again on May 5, 1957. In 1959, it became a training vessel for naval reservists in New Orleans. On July 1, 1960, it was renamed an Auxiliary Research Submarine (AGSS-310). The Batfish was officially removed from the Navy's list of ships on November 1, 1969. It had served for 26 years.
Becoming a Museum Ship
After the Batfish was retired, submarine veterans in Oklahoma wanted to save it. They were inspired by another museum submarine, the USS Drum, in Alabama. They asked the U.S. Navy if they could have a retired submarine.
Getting the Submarine
At first, the Navy offered the USS Piranha. But it was in poor condition and had many parts missing. The veterans decided to wait for another submarine.
In September 1970, they looked at the Batfish. It was in much better shape than the Piranha. The committee was also very impressed by the Batfish's amazing war record. In 1971, they formally asked to get the Batfish. The Navy agreed, and the transfer was approved on November 8, 1971.
Moving the Batfish to Oklahoma
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On December 9, 1971, the Batfish officially belonged to the Oklahoma Maritime Advisory Board. Moving the submarine was a huge challenge. First, it was towed from Texas to New Orleans. There, it was supposed to be lifted onto barges to make it float higher. This was needed to move it up the Arkansas River.
However, there were some problems. A strike delayed the work. Then, when the Batfish was being secured to barges, a large tanker passed by too fast. Its waves caused damage to some of the barges.
The team fixed the barges, and the Batfish slowly began its journey upriver. It was pulled by two tugboats at about 4 miles per hour. On May 3, 1972, it passed through a lock and dam easily. But its top part, called the superstructure, was too tall for a bridge near Little Rock, Arkansas. The U.S. United States Army Corps of Engineers had to lower the river level by 3 feet so it could pass!
The Batfish finally arrived at the Muskogee Terminal on May 7, 1972. This was its temporary home. A long trench, about 120 feet wide, was dug to its permanent spot. On July 4, 1972, the Batfish was unofficially opened to the public.
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In March 1973, heavy spring rains caused the Arkansas River to flood. The Batfish strained at its ropes, and there were worries it might break free. But it stayed moored safely.
On April 4, 1973, the trench to its new home was finished. The Batfish was carefully moved into place using cables and bulldozers. By May 1, it was in its final spot, overlooking the river at what is now the Muskogee War Memorial Park. The Batfish officially opened on Memorial Day weekend. It quickly became a popular attraction, drawing many visitors. The submarine has been well restored and is open to the public most of the year.
In May 2019, the submarine was damaged by floods. While the park is open, the submarine itself is closed for repairs. In November 2019, a video game company called Wargaming held a fundraiser to help fix the Batfish. Players could buy special in-game items, and all the money went to the "Save the Batfish" fund.
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entries can be found here and here.
- Photo gallery of Batfish at NavSource Naval History
