USS Becuna facts for kids
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The USS Becuna (SS/AGSS-319) was a submarine of the United States Navy. It was part of the Balao class of submarines. The name Becuna comes from a type of pike-like fish found in Europe. This submarine was active from 1944 to 1969.
During World War II, Becuna went on five important missions. These missions took place between August 1944 and July 1945. It operated in areas like the Philippine Islands, the South China Sea, and the Java Sea. The submarine is known for sinking two Japanese oil tankers.
After World War II, Becuna stayed with the United States Pacific Fleet until 1949. Later, it joined the United States Atlantic Fleet from 1949 to 1969. During this time, it was mainly used for training. It also went on two trips with the United States Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.
After it was no longer used by the Navy, Becuna was recognized as a National Historic Landmark. This was because of its service in World War II. Today, it is a museum ship at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Contents
- Early Training: May–August 1944
- First War Patrol: Hunting in the Pacific
- Second War Patrol: South China Sea Search
- Third War Patrol: Tanker Attack
- Fourth and Fifth War Patrols
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Namesake | Becuna |
| Ordered | April 10, 1942 |
| Builder | Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut |
| Laid down | April29, 1943 |
| Launched | January 30, 1944 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. George C. Crawford, wife of Commander Crawford |
| Commissioned | May 27, 1944 |
| Decommissioned | November 7, 1969 |
| Stricken | August 15, 1973 |
| Motto | Tiger of the Sea |
| Honors and awards |
4 Battle Stars |
| Status | Museum ship at Philadelphia, June 21, 1976 |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics As built | |
| Class and type | Balao-class diesel-electric submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 311 ft 9 in (95.02 m) |
| Beam | 27 ft 3 in (8.31 m) |
| Draft | 16 ft 10 in (5.13 m) maximum |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| 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, 72 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| General characteristics Guppy IA | |
| Class and type | none |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 307 ft 7 in (93.75 m) |
| Beam | 27 ft 4 in (8.33 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | 17,000 nmi (31,000 km; 20,000 mi) surfaced at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) |
| Endurance | 36 hours at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged |
| Complement |
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| Armament |
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USS Becuna (SS-319)
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Penn's Landing, Delaware Ave. & Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1944 |
| Built by | Electric Boat Co. |
| Architectural style | Balao-class submarine |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002458 |
| Added to NRHP | August 29, 1978 |
Becuna started being built on April 29, 1943. This happened at the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut. It was launched into the water on January 30, 1944. Mrs. George C. Crawford was its sponsor, a special person who helps launch a ship. Becuna officially joined the Navy on May 27, 1944.
Service History of the USS Becuna
World War II Missions
Early Training: May–August 1944
After some training near Naval Submarine Base New London, Becuna left Groton on July 1, 1944. It arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on July 29, 1944. There, the crew did more training exercises.
First War Patrol: Hunting in the Pacific
Becuna began its first war patrol on August 23, 1944. For a month, it saw only aircraft. On September 25, 1944, its lookouts spotted a group of three Japanese merchant ships with a destroyer. Becuna went underwater and fired six torpedoes.
The crew heard an explosion but couldn't confirm any sinkings. They had to quickly avoid depth charges from the enemy. Later, on October 9, 1944, Becuna had its first confirmed success. It helped another submarine, USS Hawkbill (SS-366), sink the Japanese cargo ship Tokuwa Maru. After this, Becuna went to Fremantle, Australia, for repairs.
Second War Patrol: South China Sea Search
On November 16, 1944, Becuna left Fremantle for its second patrol. It searched the South China Sea near French Indochina for Japanese warships. On December 23, 1944, it saw two large Japanese ships.
Becuna couldn't get into a good position to attack them. The rest of this patrol was also quiet. It destroyed some floating naval mines. On its way back to Fremantle, it sank two small Japanese cargo ships using its deck gun. In January 1945, it had more repairs in Fremantle.
Third War Patrol: Tanker Attack
Becuna started its third war patrol in February 1945. It returned to the South China Sea. On February 22, 1945, it found a Japanese convoy. It fired torpedoes at the tanker Nichiryu Maru and sank it.
Becuna then faced about 70 depth charges from two escort ships. It managed to escape. The submarine didn't see any other Japanese ships after that. Its patrol ended when it arrived at Subic Bay in the Philippine Islands for repairs.
Fourth and Fifth War Patrols
Becuna began its fourth war patrol in May 1945. It didn't find any Japanese ships. It then went to Fremantle, Australia, for more repairs in early June 1945.
On June 21, 1945, Becuna started its fifth war patrol. Japanese floatplanes attacked it with bombs twice. On July 15, 1945, it found a fast-moving target in the Java Sea. It fired torpedoes, but they missed. Another submarine, USS Baya (SS-318), then sank the Japanese torpedo boat Kari. Becuna finished its patrol in Subic Bay in July 1945. While it was being repaired there, World War II ended on August 15, 1945.
After World War II
Becuna returned to the United States on September 22, 1945, arriving in San Diego, California. It served in the United States Pacific Fleet until 1949. During this time, it trained submarine crews and took part in naval exercises. It also visited Japan and China.
In April 1949, Becuna moved to the United States Atlantic Fleet. It was based in Groton, Connecticut. It helped train new sailors and was a school ship for submarine students. In November 1950, it went into the shipyard for a big upgrade.
This upgrade was called the GUPPY Program. It made the submarine better at staying underwater and moving faster. Becuna received new batteries, a submarine snorkel (a tube to breathe air while submerged), and a smoother sail (the tower on top).
Becuna finished its upgrade in August 1951. For the next 18 years, it continued its training missions from Groton. It trained students, helped test new equipment, and trained Navy Reserve personnel.
Becuna also went on two trips to the Mediterranean Sea with the United States Sixth Fleet. It visited many ports there. It also cruised to Scotland and visited ports in northern Europe and Canada. In 1969, it was reclassified as an auxiliary submarine, meaning it supported other ships. Its new symbol was AGSS-319.
No Longer in Service
Becuna was officially taken out of service on November 7, 1969. It was stored in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1971, its symbol changed back to SS-319.
Becuna stayed in storage until August 15, 1973. In 1974, there was a plan to transfer Becuna to Venezuela, but it didn't happen. On June 21, 1976, it was given to the Cruiser Olympia Association to be used as a memorial.
Awards and Honors
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Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four battle stars for its service in World War II.
Navy Occupation Service Medal with "ASIA" clasp.
China Service Medal.
A Museum Ship Today
On June 21, 1976, Becuna was put on display next to the cruiser USS Olympia (C-6). This is at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1986, Becuna was named a National Historic Landmark. Since 1996, both ships have been managed by the Independence Seaport Museum. In 2001, Becuna received an award for its historical welded structure.
See also
