| |
N7KTP > NAVNET 21.01.06 23:40l 73 Lines 3980 Bytes #999 (0) @ USA
BID : 49576_N7FSP
Read: GUEST
Subj: USS STEELHEAD (SS-280)
Path: ON0AR<F6KMO<EA5DVS<KP4IG<N9ZZK<WA7V<N7FSP
Sent: 060121/1513z @:N7FSP.#SEA.#WWA.WA.USA.NOAM West Seattle, WA. on 145.010
Steelhead notched six battle stars during World War II
By Fred Miles Watson -- Managing Editor - Northwest Navigator
The Gato class submarine USS Steelhead (SS-280) was built by the
Portsmouth (N.H.) Navy Yard and was commissioned on Dec. 7, 1942. Lt.
Cmdr. David L. Whelchel was the boat's first commanding officer.
When submerged Steelhead displaced 2,415-tons and carried a draft
of 15 feet, 3-inches At nearly 312-feet in length, there were 80
Sailors assigned in Steelhead. At the time of commissioning, Steelhead
was outfitted with one, 5-inch gunmount and one 40mm anti-aircraft
gunmount. Below the waterline were the standard 10, 21-inch torpedo
tubes. Steelhead steamed the standard top speed of 8.75 knots submerged
and 20 knots when on the surface.
Steelhead conducted shakedown operations off Long Island in
December 1942 and January 1943. In February, she sailed for the Pacific
and arrived at Pearl Harbor on April 8. After intensive training, she
sailed for Midway Island. It was from there that she began her first
the war patrol on April 25th.
After the crew had placed 12 mines off the Japanese mainland near Erimo
Saki, they bombarded a steel plant and iron foundry near Muroran,
Hokkaido. No torpedoes were fired and Steelhead returned to Midway in
early June.
On the second patrol from June 30 to Aug. 6, Steelhead fired 10
torpedoes at a Japanese task force on July 10. Explosions were heard,
but specific damage could not be ascertained. After a refitting at
Pearl Harbor, the ship sailed on Sept. 13 for the Gilbert Islands where
she operated as a lifeguard submarine off
Tarawa during bombardment by Army aircraft. Stopping at Johnston Island
for fuel and provisions, Steelhead departed on the 25th to resume her
into the Palau Islands. On Oct. 6, off the Carolines, she damaged the
enemy tanker Kazalhaya, which Tinosa (SS-283) sank later that day. All
her torpedoes expended, Steelhead sighted a large convoy which she
trailed, while sending information to other submarines in the area.
On the next patrol, Steelhead operated off Bungo Suido from late
December 1943 to early March 1944. On Jan. 10, 1945, she torpedoed and
sank the 6,795-ton converted salvage vessel, Yamabiko Maru. During her
fourth patrol, off Formosa from early April to May 23, there were no
targets worthy of torpedo fire, but she sank a trawler by gunfire.
On June 17, she sailed from Midway Island with Hammerhead (SS-364)
and Parche (SS-384) to patrol south of Formosa. On July 31, the sub-
marine made three successful attacks in which one ship was damaged and
two were sunk. Parche also sank two from the convoy. Upon concluding
the patrol when she arrived at Pearl Harbor on Aug. 16, Steelhead was
ordered to the West Coast for a much needed overhaul.
While in drydock, on Oct. 1, 1944 Steelhead suffered a serious
fire which required the installation of a new conning tower. After a
long repair period, the submarine stood out of San Francisco on April
16, 1945, en route to Pearl Harbor. Steelhead began her last war patrol
on May 13. She performed lifeguard duty in the Caroline Islands and
later patrolled in the Tokyo Bay area. She made no torpedo attacks but
sank two trawlers by gunfire. The patrol ended at Midway Island on Aug.
5, 20 days later, she sailed for the West Coast.
Steelhead arrived at San Francisco on Sept. 5, 1945 and provided
services for the West Coast Sonar School until Jan. 2, 1946. She sailed
to Pearl Harbor and operated from there until March when she steamed
back to San Francisco for inactivation. The submarine was placed in
reserve, out of commission, on June 29, 1946 and attached to the
Pacific Reserve Fleet. In May 1947, Steelhead was placed in service, in
reserve, and used as a reserve training ship until struck from the Navy
list on April 1, 1960.
USS Steelhead was awarded six battle stars for its World War II
service
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
