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U.S.S. BLACKFIN

(SS-322)

POLICEMEN OF THE PACIFIC
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USS BLACKFIN (SS-322) - a Balao class submarine

In Commission 1944 to 1972

SS-322 Deployments - Major Events

Add a SS-322 Shellback Initiation Add a SS-322 Deployment - Major Event
Month Year to Month Year Deployment / Event
JUN1943-Keel Date: 10 JUN 1943
at Electric Boat Company Groton CT
MAR1944-Launch Date: 12 MAR 1944
JUL1944-Commissioned: 4 JUL 1944
DEC1951-JUN1952Far East
JAN1955-JUN1955West Pac
JAN1957-JUL1957West Pac
MAY1957-NOV1957West Pac
NOV1958-MAY1959West Pac
APR1959-Shellback Initiation - 3 APR 1959 - Pacific Ocean
SEP1960-FEB1961West Pac
NOV1963-JUN1964West Pac
MAY1964- Shellback Initiation - 25 MAY 1964 - Pacific Ocean
DEC1966-JUN1967West Pac-Viet Nam
APR1967-Shellback Initiation - 23 APR 1967 - Pacific Ocean
APR1967-Shellback Initiation - 27 APR 1967 - Pacific Ocean
FEB1968-OCT1968West Pac
AUG1970-MAR1971West Pac-Viet Nam
JAN1971-Shellback Initiation - 28 JAN 1971 - Pacific Ocean
SEP1972-Decommissioned: 15 SEP 1972

SS-322 General Specifications

Class: Balao class submarine

Complement: 10 Officers and 70 Enlisted

Displacement: 1830 tons

Length: 307 feet 7 inches

Beam: 27 feet 3 inches

Draft: 16 feet 10 in

Range: 11 000 Nautical Miles

Final Disposition: Sunk as target off San Diego California 13 May 1973



USS BLACKFIN (SS-322)



Blackfin (SS-322) was launched 12 March 1944 by Electric Boat Co. Groton Conn. sponsored by Mrs. Charles A. Lockwood wife of Rear Admiral Lockwood; and commissioned 4 July 1944 Lieutenant Commander G. H. Laird Jr. in command.

Blackfin arrived at Pearl Harbor 11 September 1944. During her war operations (30 September 1944-5 September 1945) she completed five war patrols. Her operating areas included the South China and the Yellow Seas. Blackfin sank the Japanese destroyer Shigure 24 January 1945 in 06°00' N. 103°48' E. and a cargo ship for a total of 4325 toss.


The termination of hostilities occurred while Blackfin was on her fifth war patrol. After occupying a lifeguard station and destroying 61 floating mines she retired to Guam arriving in Apra Harbor 5 September 1945. After receiving voyage repairs and fuel she proceeded to San Diego where she joined Submarine Squadron 1.


Through July 1948 Blackfin continued on active duty in the Pacific. The majority of her operations were conducted near the Hawaiian and Marianas Islands. In June and July 1946 she participated in Operation Iceberg which took her across the Arctic Circle. She reported to Mare Island for inactivation in July 1948 and was placed out of commission in reserve there 19 November 1948.


In November 1950 Blackfin began conversion to a Guppy submarine and was recommissioned 15 May 1951.


Since that time she has operated with Submarine Force Pacific Fleet based at San Diego until 8 March 1954 and thereafter at Pearl Harbor. During this time she completed two tours in the Far East (December 1951-June 1952 and January-June 1955); conducted local and training operations; and has made several simulated war patrols.


Blackfin received three battle stars for her World War II service.

[Note: The above USS BLACKFIN (SS-322) history may or may not contain text provided by crew members of the USS BLACKFIN (SS-322) or by other non-crew members and text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]