USS Bowfin (SS-287)
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USS Bowfin (SS/AGSS-287), Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the bowfin, a fresh water fish of the eastern United States.
| Missing image Uss_bowfin_at_pearl_harbor.jpg USS Bowfin moored at Pearl Harbor, where it is now a museum Bowfin moored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where it is now a museum. | |
| Career | 
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|---|---|
| Ordered: | |
| Laid down: | 23 July 1942 |
| Launched: | 7 December 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 1 May 1943 |
| Decommissioned: | 12 February 1947 |
| Recommissioned: | 27 July 1951 |
| Redecommissioned: | 1 December 1971 |
| Struck: | 1 December 1971 |
| Fate: | Now a museum ship |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement, Surfaced: Submerged: | 1,526 tons (1550 t), 2,424 tons (2460 t) |
| Length: | 311.8 ft (95.0 m) |
| Beam: | 27.3 ft (8.3 m) |
| Draft: | 15.3 ft (4.6 m) |
| Depth limit: | 400 ft (120 m) |
| Speed, Surfaced: Submerged: | 20.25 knots (37 km/h) 8.75 knots (16 km/h) |
| Propulsion: | 4 x 5400 hp (4.0 MW) diesel engines 4 x 2740 hp (2.0 MW) electric motors, two propellers |
| Submerged Endurance: | 48 hours at 2 knots (4 km/h) |
| Patrol Endurance: | 75 days |
| Range: | 11,000 nmi. (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Complement: | 66 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: | 10 x 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes, (six forward, four aft), 24 torpedoes, 1 x 4 in (102 mm) 50 deck gun, four machine guns |
| Motto: | |
Bowfin was laid down by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard at Kittery, Maine on 23 July 1942; launched on 7 December, 1942 by Mrs. Jane Gawne, wife of Captain James O. Gawne.; and commissioned on 1 May, 1943, Commander Joseph H. Willingham in command.
Bowfin departed New London, Conn., 1 July 1943 and arrived at Brisbane, Australia 10 August 1943. Between 16 August 1943 and 4 July 1945 she completed nine war patrols operating from the Netherlands East Indies to the Sea of Japan and the waters south of Hokkaido. Bowfin sank 15 merchantmen and one frigate for a total of 68,032 tons. She also shared credit with Aspro (SS-309) for a 4,500-ton merchantman.
Leaving Pearl Harbor 29 August 1945 Bowfin sailed to the east coast, arriving at Tompkinsville, N.Y., 21 September. She operated with the Atlantic Fleet until placed out of commission in reserve at New London, Conn., 12 February 1947.
Bowfin was decommissioned on 12 February, 1947 and placed in reserve at New London in Connecticut, until recommissioned on 27 July 1951. She was decommissioned again on 22 April, 1954 and placed in reserve at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. She was recommissioned on 10 January 1960 and served as a pierside trainer at Seattle, Washington. She was redesignated an Auxiliary Research Submarine, AGSS-287, in 1962.
On 1 December, 1971, Bowfin was decommissioned for the final time and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. She is preserved as a memorial at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Bowfin was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for her 2nd offensive war patrol and the Navy Unit Commendation for her 6th offensive war patrol and eight battle stars for her World War II.
Sunken enemy vessels
- The passenger-cargo ship Kirishima Maru on 25 September, 1943
- The tanker Ogurasan Maru and cargo ship Tainan Maru on 26 November, 1943
- The passenger-cargo ship Sydney Maru and the 9,866-ton tanker Tonan Maru on 28 November, 1943
- The cargo ship Shoyu Maru on 17 January, 1944
- The cargo ship Tsukikawa Maru on 10 March, 1944
- The cargo ships Shinkyo Maru and Bengal Maru on 24 March, 1944
- The passenger-cargo ship Tsushima Maru on 22 August, 1944
- Assisted USS Aspro (SS-309) in the sinking of the 4,500-ton cargo ship Bisan Maru on 14 May, 1944
- The frigate Coastal Defense Vessel No. 56 on 17 February, 1945
- The passenger-cargo ship Chowa Maru on 1 May, 1945
- The cargo ship Daito Maru No. 3 on 8 May, 1945
- The passenger-cargo ship Shinyo Maru No. 3 on 11 June 1945
- The cargo ship Akiura Maru on 13 June 1945
The sinking of Tsushima Maru was tragic, as that ship was evacuating more than 850 children to Nagasaki from Naha when it was sunk off the coast of Akusekijima Island,
References
This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
External links
- hazegray.org: USS Bowfin (http://hazegray.org/danfs/submar/ss287.htm)
- navsource.org: USS Bowfin (http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08287a.htm)
- Sinkings by boat: USS Bowfin (http://www.rddesigns.com/ww2/bowfin.html)
- The USS Bowfin Museum and Park (http://www.bowfin.org/)