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USS Blackfish (SS-221)
Encyclopedia
, a Gato-class
submarine
, was the first ship of the United States Navy
to be named for the blackfish
, any one of several small, toothed whales.
She was launched on 18 April 1942 by Electric Boat Corporation
, Groton, Connecticut
(sponsored by the wife of Captain
Henry de F. Mel), and commissioned on 22 July 1942, Commander
Raymond W. Johnson in command.
. From October 1942-July 1943, Blackfish completed five war patrols in waters extending from Dakar
, West Africa, to the north of Iceland
. She is credited with having sunk a German anti-submarine trawler, Patrol Boat No. 408 with two torpedoes off the north coast of Spain
on 19 February 1943. She was damaged by a second German vessel and had to return to port early for repairs.
She returned to the United States in July 1943, and after refitting, proceeded to the Southwest Pacific. From 19 October 1943-14 August 1945, she completed seven war patrols in an area including the Solomon Islands
, New Guinea
, South China Sea
, East China Sea
, and the Yellow Sea
. Blackfish sank one Japanese cargo vessel of 2,087 tons during her Pacific patrols.
She completed her 12th and last war patrol on 14 August 1945. While no targets worthy of torpedo fire were encountered during this patrol, on 5 August she rescued six Army fliers, and on 8 August effectively bombarded shore installations on Kusakaki Shima.
on 27 August 1945 for the East Coast of the United States. After visiting New York, New York and Camden, New Jersey
, she proceeded to the Naval Submarine Base New London
, where she was placed in inactive status. On 11 May 1946, Blackfish was placed out of commission in reserve, and on 5 May 1949 she reported to the Naval Reserve Training Center, St. Petersburg, Florida
, to be used in reserve training. She returned to New London on 2 February 1954.
Gato class submarine
The United States Navy Gato class submarine formed the core of the submarine service that was largely responsible for the destruction of the Japanese merchant marine and a large portion of the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II...
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 the first 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...
to be named for the blackfish
Blackfish
Blackfish may refer to:* Several kinds of fish:** Alaska blackfish, Dallia pectoralis.** Black sea bass, Centropristis striata.** Sacramento blackfish, Orthodon microlepidotus.** Tautog, Tautoga onitis.** Parore, Girella tricuspidata....
, any one of several small, toothed whales.
She was launched on 18 April 1942 by Electric Boat Corporation
Electric Boat Corporation
The General Dynamics Electric Boat is a division of General Dynamics Corporation. It has been the primary builder of submarines for the United States Navy for over 100 years....
, Groton, Connecticut
Groton, Connecticut
Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
(sponsored by the wife of Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Henry de F. Mel), and commissioned on 22 July 1942, Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Raymond W. Johnson in command.
World War II
Blackfish was assigned to Submarine Squadron 50 (SubRon 50), United States Naval Forces in Europe. On 15 October 1942, now under the command of Lieutenant Commander J. F. Davidson, she departed Montauk Point, New York on her first war patrol in support of Operation TorchOperation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
. From October 1942-July 1943, Blackfish completed five war patrols in waters extending from Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, West Africa, to the north of Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
. She is credited with having sunk a German anti-submarine trawler, Patrol Boat No. 408 with two torpedoes off the north coast of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
on 19 February 1943. She was damaged by a second German vessel and had to return to port early for repairs.
She returned to the United States in July 1943, and after refitting, proceeded to the Southwest Pacific. From 19 October 1943-14 August 1945, she completed seven war patrols in an area including the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, 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...
, East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
, and the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
. Blackfish sank one Japanese cargo vessel of 2,087 tons during her Pacific patrols.
She completed her 12th and last war patrol on 14 August 1945. While no targets worthy of torpedo fire were encountered during this patrol, on 5 August she rescued six Army fliers, and on 8 August effectively bombarded shore installations on Kusakaki Shima.
Post-War
Blackfish departed GuamGuam
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...
on 27 August 1945 for the East Coast of the United States. After visiting New York, New York and Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, she proceeded to the Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy's primary submarine base, the "Home of the Submarine Force", and "the Submarine Capital of the World".-History:...
, where she was placed in inactive status. On 11 May 1946, Blackfish was placed out of commission in reserve, and on 5 May 1949 she reported to the Naval Reserve Training Center, St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, to be used in reserve training. She returned to New London on 2 February 1954.