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USS Bluefish (SS-222)
Encyclopedia
, a Gato-class
submarine
, was the second ship of the United States Navy
to be named for the bluefish
, a fish of the Atlantic coast of the United States.
Bluefish was laid down 5 June 1942 by Electric Boat
Co., Groton, CT
. She was launched 21 February 1943 (sponsored by Mrs. Robert Y. Menzie), and commissioned 24 May 1943, Commander George E. Porter (Class
of 1932) in command.
Bluefish departed New London, Conn.
21 July and reported to Task Force 72
(TF 72) at Brisbane, Australia 21 August 1943. Between 9 September 1943 and 29 July 1945 she completed nine war patrols. Her operating area extended from the Netherlands East Indies to the waters south of Honshū
. Bluefish sank 12 Japan
ese ships totaling 50,839 tons, including the destroyer
Sanae (18 November 1943 at 04°52′N 122°07′E); the submarine I-351
(15 July 1945 at 04°30′N 110°00′E), and a submarine chaser. In addition, Bluefish assisted in sinking a 5,135 ton tanker.
With the cessation of hostilities Bluefish returned to the United States, arriving at Philadelphia Navy Yard 9 October 1945. She was placed in the 16th Fleet and on 31 October moved to the Submarine Base, New London. She was later towed to Electric Boat Co., Groton, where she underwent repairs. On 12 June 1946 she returned to New London where she went out of commission in reserve 12 February 1947.
Bluefish was recommissioned 7 January 1952 at the Submarine Base, New London, and reported to Submarine Division 82, Atlantic Fleet
. On 7 April she proceeded to Key West
, Fla., and reported to Submarine Division 41 on 11 April. She operated along the Florida coast and in the Caribbean
, engaging in local operations and training exercises until May 1953.
On 7 June 1953 Bluefish arrived at the Naval Base Portsmouth, N.H. Following pre-inactivation overhaul at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
, she was placed out of commission in reserve at New London 20 November 1953.
Bluefish received ten battle stars for her World War II
service.
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 second 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 bluefish
Bluefish
The bluefish , called tailor in Australia, is a species of popular marine gamefish found in all climates. It is the sole species of the Pomatomidae family....
, a fish of the Atlantic coast of the United States.
Bluefish was laid down 5 June 1942 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, CT
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....
. She was launched 21 February 1943 (sponsored by Mrs. Robert Y. Menzie), and commissioned 24 May 1943, Commander George E. Porter (Class
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
of 1932) in command.
Bluefish departed New London, Conn.
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:...
21 July and reported to Task Force 72
Task Force 72
Task Force 72 is an international association of Radio controlled model boat builders, all building in the common scale of 1:72 .- History :...
(TF 72) at Brisbane, Australia 21 August 1943. Between 9 September 1943 and 29 July 1945 she completed nine war patrols. Her operating area extended from the Netherlands East Indies to the waters south of Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
. Bluefish sank 12 Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese ships totaling 50,839 tons, including the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
Sanae (18 November 1943 at 04°52′N 122°07′E); the submarine I-351
Japanese submarine I-351
The Japanese submarine was a tanker/transport submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy , serving during 1945. The IJN called this type of submarine .-Construction:Project number S47...
(15 July 1945 at 04°30′N 110°00′E), and a submarine chaser. In addition, Bluefish assisted in sinking a 5,135 ton tanker.
With the cessation of hostilities Bluefish returned to the United States, arriving at Philadelphia Navy Yard 9 October 1945. She was placed in the 16th Fleet and on 31 October moved to the Submarine Base, New London. She was later towed to Electric Boat Co., Groton, where she underwent repairs. On 12 June 1946 she returned to New London where she went out of commission in reserve 12 February 1947.
Bluefish was recommissioned 7 January 1952 at the Submarine Base, New London, and reported to Submarine Division 82, Atlantic Fleet
U.S. Atlantic Fleet
The United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
. On 7 April she proceeded to Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
, Fla., and reported to Submarine Division 41 on 11 April. She operated along the Florida coast and in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, engaging in local operations and training exercises until May 1953.
On 7 June 1953 Bluefish arrived at the Naval Base Portsmouth, N.H. Following pre-inactivation overhaul at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
, she was placed out of commission in reserve at New London 20 November 1953.
Bluefish received ten 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.