USS Cavalla (SS-244) facts for kids
Cavalla, possibly making her way to the International Naval Review in Norfolk, Va., 1957. She is in hunter-killer submarine (SSK) configuration, with a streamlined sail and large bow sonar housing for the BQR-4 sonar system.
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Name | Cavalla |
| Namesake | Cavalla |
| Builder | Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut |
| Laid down | 4 March 1943 |
| Launched | 14 November 1943 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. M. Comstock |
| Commissioned | 29 February 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 16 March 1946 |
| Recommissioned | 10 April 1951 |
| Decommissioned | 3 September 1952 |
| Recommissioned | 15 July 1953 |
| Decommissioned | 3 June 1968 |
| Reclassified |
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| Stricken | 30 December 1969 |
| Status | Museum ship at Galveston, Texas as of 21 January 1971 |
| Notes | Sank the Japanese carrier Shōkaku |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Gato-class diesel-electric submarine |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 311 ft 9 in (95.02 m) |
| Beam | 27 ft 3 in (8.31 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft (5.2 m) maximum |
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| Speed |
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| Range | 11,000 nmi (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 kn (19 km/h) |
| Endurance |
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| Test depth | 300 ft (90 m) |
| Complement | 6 officers, 54 enlisted |
| Armament |
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USS Cavalla (submarine)
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 USS Cavalla
Location in Texas
USS Cavalla
Location in the United States
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| Location | E. end of Seawolf Park, Galveston, Texas |
| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000477 |
| Added to NRHP | 27 May 2008 |
The USS Cavalla (SS-244) was a special type of submarine called a Gato-class submarine. It was part of the United States Navy. The submarine was named after a fast-swimming saltwater fish. The Cavalla is famous for sinking the Japanese aircraft carrier Shōkaku during World War II.
The Cavalla's construction began on March 4, 1943, in Groton, Connecticut. It was built by the Electric Boat Company. The submarine was launched into the water on November 14, 1943. It officially joined the Navy on February 29, 1944. Lieutenant Commander Herman J. Kossler was its first captain.
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Cavallas Wartime Adventures
The Cavalla left New London on April 11, 1944. It arrived at Pearl Harbor on May 9 for training. On May 31, 1944, the submarine began its first active mission.
First Mission: A Big Victory
During its first mission, the Cavalla was heading to the eastern Philippines. On June 17, it found a large group of Japanese warships. The Cavalla followed these ships for many hours. It sent important information back to the United States Navy. This information helped the U.S. win the Battle of the Philippine Sea. This battle is also known as the "Marianas Turkey Shoot."
On June 19, the Cavalla spotted the Japanese aircraft carrier Shōkaku. The carrier was busy getting its planes back. The submarine quickly fired five torpedoes, and four of them hit. The Shōkaku sank at 11°50′N 137°57′E. After this, three Japanese destroyers attacked the Cavalla with depth charges. These are underwater bombs. The Cavalla managed to escape with only minor damage. This amazing achievement earned the submarine a special award called the Presidential Unit Citation.
Second Mission: Supporting an Invasion
The Cavallas second mission took it back to the Philippine Sea. It worked with a group of submarines called a wolfpack. They were helping with the invasion of Peleliu on September 15, 1944.
Third Mission: More Successes
On November 25, 1944, during its third mission, the Cavalla found two Japanese destroyers. It attacked from the surface and sank the Shimotsuki at 02°21′N 107°20′E. The other destroyer tried to attack the Cavalla with depth charges, but the submarine got away. Later in the same mission, on January 5, 1945, the Cavalla attacked an enemy convoy at night. It sank two ships that were used for laying nets, the Kanko Maru and the Shunsen Maru, at 05°00′S 112°20′E.
Fourth and Fifth Missions: Helping a Friend
The Cavalla patrolled the South China Sea and Java Sea during its fourth and fifth missions. There were not many enemy ships to find. However, on May 21, 1945, it helped an allied submarine. The British submarine HMS Terrapin was damaged by enemy depth charges. It could not go underwater or move at full speed. The Cavalla stayed with the damaged submarine and escorted it safely to Fremantle. They arrived on May 27, 1945.
Sixth Mission: End of the War
The Cavalla was on its sixth mission, guarding off Japan, when it received the order to stop fighting on August 15. A few minutes later, a Japanese plane bombed it. The plane likely had not heard that the war was over. The Cavalla joined other ships entering Tokyo Bay on August 31. It stayed for the signing of the surrender on September 2. Then, it left for New London, arriving on October 6, 1945. The submarine was taken out of service on March 16, 1946.
Cavallas Life After the War
The Cavalla was brought back into service on April 10, 1951. It joined Submarine Squadron 8 and took part in different training exercises. These exercises happened in the Caribbean and near Nova Scotia. It was taken out of service again on September 3, 1952. Then, it went to the Electric Boat Company yard for a big change.
Becoming a Hunter-Killer Submarine
The Cavalla was changed into a "hunter-killer submarine" (SSK-244) on February 18, 1953. This conversion involved changing the front of the submarine. A curved housing was added for a new sonar system called BQR-4. Sonar uses sound waves to detect objects underwater. Two torpedo tubes were removed from the front. The original control tower and bridge were also changed into the "sail" you can see today.
The Cavalla was put back into service on July 15, 1953. It was assigned to Submarine Squadron 10. Its new sonar system made the Cavalla very useful for testing new weapons and equipment. It joined Submarine Development Group 2 on January 1, 1954. The submarine also traveled to Europe several times for NATO exercises. It visited Norfolk, Va., for the International Naval Review in 1957. On August 15, 1959, its classification changed back to SS-244.
In November 1961, the Cavalla went to Puerto Rico. It provided electricity to another submarine, the USS Thresher (SSN-593). The Thresher had problems with its diesel generator. The Cavalla helped the Thresher restart its nuclear reactor. Sadly, the Thresher was lost during deep-sea tests in 1963.
Cavallas Final Resting Place
The Cavalla was reclassified as an "auxiliary submarine," AGSS-244, in July 1963. It was officially taken out of service and removed from the Navy list on December 30, 1969.
On January 21, 1971, the Cavalla was given to the Texas Submarine Veterans of World War II. Today, the Cavalla is a museum ship at the Galveston Naval Museum. It is located in Seawolf Park on Pelican Island, near Galveston. The Cavalla has been carefully restored. Visitors can take self-guided tours inside the submarine.
Gallery
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The mess of the restored USS Cavalla (SS-244)
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The cramped officer quarters of Cavalla
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Damage in Seawolf Park following Hurricane Ike
See also
