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USS Besugo (SS-321)
Encyclopedia
USS Besugo (SS/AGSS-321), a Balao-class
submarine
, was a ship of the United States Navy
named for the besugo, a fish of the porgie family.
Besugo (SS-321) was launched 27 February 1944 by Electric Boat
Co., Groton, Conn.; sponsored by Mrs. P. J. Homer; and commissioned 19 June 1944, Commander T. L. Wogan in command.
Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, Besugo arrived at Pearl Harbor
25 July 1944. She made five war patrols between 26 September 1944 and 25 July 1945 operating in Bungo and Makassar Strait
s, Java Sea
, and South China Sea
. During these patrols Besugo sank the German
submarine U-183
, 23 April 1945 in 04°57′S 112°52′E.; one 10,020-ton tanker "Nichei Maru"; one LST (Landing Ship, Tank), one frigate
, and a minesweeper
totaling 2260 tons.
Besugo departed Fremantle
29 August and arrived at San Diego, Calif., 26 September 1945. After an overhaul she returned to the Central Pacific, operating out of Guam
until transferred to Pearl Harbor 6 May 1946. She remained based at Pearl Harbor for the next eight years during which time she made two Far Eastern tours (10 June – 21 September 1947 and 31 October 1950 – 11 April 1951). In August 1954 Besugo shifted her base of operations to San Diego and the west coast.
Besugo was decommissioned, 21 March 1958 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was reclassified an Auxiliary Research Submarine, AGSS-321, in 1962, and recommissioned, 15 June 1965. She was converted to a Fleet Snorkel Submarine in 1966. She was decommissioned and loaned to Italy
, 31 March 1966. Besugo was returned to US Navy custody and struck from the Naval Register, 15 November 1975. She was sold for scrapping, 16 April 1976.
Besugo received four battle stars for her World War II
service and one for the Korean War
.
Balao class submarine
The Balao class was a successful design of United States Navy submarine used during World War II, and with 122 units built, the largest class of submarines in the United States Navy. An improvement on the earlier Gato class, the boats had slight internal differences...
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
, was a ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
named for the besugo, a fish of the porgie family.
Besugo (SS-321) was launched 27 February 1944 by Electric Boat
Electric boat
While a significant majority of water vessels are powered by diesel engines, with sail power and gasoline engines also remaining popular, boats powered by electricity have been used for over 120 years. Electric boats were very popular from the 1880s until the 1920s, when the internal combustion...
Co., Groton, Conn.; sponsored by Mrs. P. J. Homer; and commissioned 19 June 1944, Commander T. L. Wogan in command.
Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, Besugo arrived at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
25 July 1944. She made five war patrols between 26 September 1944 and 25 July 1945 operating in Bungo and Makassar Strait
Makassar Strait
Makassar Strait is a strait between the islands of Borneo and Sulawesi in Indonesia. To the north it joins the Celebes Sea, while to the south it meets the Java Sea.The Mahakam River of Borneo empties into the strait....
s, Java Sea
Java Sea
The Java Sea is a large shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf. It was formed as sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age. The Java Sea lies between the Indonesian islands of Borneo to the north, Java to the south; Sumatra to the west, and Sulawesi to the east...
, and South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
. During these patrols Besugo sank the German
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
submarine U-183
Unterseeboot 183
German submarine U-183 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine built during World War II. She was commissioned in April 1942, one of the first IXC/40 boats, somewhat larger and faster than the IXC type....
, 23 April 1945 in 04°57′S 112°52′E.; one 10,020-ton tanker "Nichei Maru"; one LST (Landing Ship, Tank), one frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
, and a minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
totaling 2260 tons.
Besugo departed Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
29 August and arrived at San Diego, Calif., 26 September 1945. After an overhaul she returned to the Central Pacific, operating out of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
until transferred to Pearl Harbor 6 May 1946. She remained based at Pearl Harbor for the next eight years during which time she made two Far Eastern tours (10 June – 21 September 1947 and 31 October 1950 – 11 April 1951). In August 1954 Besugo shifted her base of operations to San Diego and the west coast.
Besugo was decommissioned, 21 March 1958 and laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was reclassified an Auxiliary Research Submarine, AGSS-321, in 1962, and recommissioned, 15 June 1965. She was converted to a Fleet Snorkel Submarine in 1966. She was decommissioned and loaned to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 31 March 1966. Besugo was returned to US Navy custody and struck from the Naval Register, 15 November 1975. She was sold for scrapping, 16 April 1976.
Besugo received four battle stars for her World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
service and one for the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.