USS Marlin (SS-205)
Encyclopedia
USS Marlin (SS-205), a Mackerel-class
submarine
, was the first ship of the United States Navy
to be named for the marlin
, a large game fish.
Her keel was laid down by Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine
, on 23 May 1940. She was launched
on 29 January 1941 sponsored by Mrs. John D. Wainwright, and commissioned
on 1 August 1941 with Lieutenant George A. Sharp in command.
After service in the Atlantic Fleet off New London, Connecticut
, for half a year, Marlin departed New London 21 March for Casco Bay, Maine. She arrived the next day for duty with TG 27.1, training new escort vessels in antisubmarine warfare. She returned to New London 18 April, and operated in Long Island Sound
through 1942.
On 7 January 1943 the submarine arrived in Casco Bay for further duty with TG 27.1 until 16 January. She then spent the next 2½ years patrolling and training ships off New London and Portsmouth, New Hampshire
. On 26 July 1944, while making a submerged practice approach on , she collided with SC-642 with slight damage to both ships. In September Marlin kept company with on one of her trips from Portsmouth, reaching New London 10 September.
On 20 October Marlin departed New London with for Bridgeport, Connecticut
, arriving that day. Five days later she continued on to Boston, Mass, arriving 31 October. She decommissioned at the Boston Navy Yard
9 November. Marlin was sold 29 March 1946 to the Boston Metal Company of Baltimore, Maryland, for scrapping.
Mackerel class submarine
The Mackerel class submarines were a pair of experimental prototype submarines built just prior to the World War II. The two submarines were similar in size and capability to the S class submarines built at the end of World War I, and had been ordered to test the feasibility of using mass...
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 marlin
Marlin
Marlin, family Istiophoridae, are fish with an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long rigid dorsal fin, which extends forward to form a crest. Its common name is thought to derive from its resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike...
, a large game fish.
Her keel was laid down by Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine
Kittery, Maine
Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals...
, on 23 May 1940. She was launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 29 January 1941 sponsored by Mrs. John D. Wainwright, and commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
on 1 August 1941 with Lieutenant George A. Sharp in command.
After service in the Atlantic Fleet off New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, for half a year, Marlin departed New London 21 March for Casco Bay, Maine. She arrived the next day for duty with TG 27.1, training new escort vessels in antisubmarine warfare. She returned to New London 18 April, and operated in Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
through 1942.
On 7 January 1943 the submarine arrived in Casco Bay for further duty with TG 27.1 until 16 January. She then spent the next 2½ years patrolling and training ships off New London and Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
. On 26 July 1944, while making a submerged practice approach on , she collided with SC-642 with slight damage to both ships. In September Marlin kept company with on one of her trips from Portsmouth, reaching New London 10 September.
On 20 October Marlin departed New London with for Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, arriving that day. Five days later she continued on to Boston, Mass, arriving 31 October. She decommissioned at the Boston Navy Yard
Boston Navy Yard
The Boston Navy Yard, originally called the Charlestown Navy Yard and later Boston Naval Shipyard, was one of the oldest shipbuilding facilities in the United States Navy. Established in 1801, it was officially closed as an active naval installation on July 1, 1974, and the property was...
9 November. Marlin was sold 29 March 1946 to the Boston Metal Company of Baltimore, Maryland, for scrapping.
External links
- Photo gallery at navsource.org