USS Batfish (SS310)
Amateur Radio Call Sign "WW2SUB"
USS Batfish Today
Today, the USS Batfish is dry docked at the War Memorial Park in Muskogee Oklahoma.
History of the USS Batfish
Precommisioning
During the planning stages, its was named Acoupa. But on September 24, 1942, prior to her keel laying on December 27, 1942, she was renamed Batfish after a “small, pediculate fish resembling the stingray, which sits on the bottom, supported by its fins, waiting for its prey which consists of almost everything coming within its reach.” Although the physical comparison was unflattering, the implication of the expected performance came through loud and clear. Batfish was constructed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire, launched May 5, 1943 under the sponsorship of Mrs. Nellie W. Fortier, and commissioned on August 21, 1943.
Commisioning
Upon commissioning on August 21, 1942, Lieutenant Commander Wayne R. Merrill, USN, assumed command of Batfish. The crew stood rigidly proud in salute as the United States flag was hoisted above the Batfish’s stern. Then Captain Merrill read his orders. Shakedown training began the next day.
Post-commissioning shakedown was held around Portsmouth, New Hampshire. During the month of training exercises included in the shakedown cruise, about 66% of the crew had to be qualified in submarines and also learn the war time procedure of submarines. Diving, gunnery and seamanship drills were held daily. In mid-September, Batfish sailed for Newport, Rhode Island for torpedo exercises and then on to New London, Connecticut, arriving on September 26, where gunnery drills took priority. While in New London, Batfish had to pass the rigid operational readiness inspection and prove to
Commander Submarines Atlantic that the submarine was ready to go to war. On October 9, Batfish passed her exams and went back to New London for minor repairs and to take on fuel, provisions, and a full load of live ammunition. On October 14, Batfish was pronounced ready for battle and embarked towards Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal.
En route, on October 31, a periscope of a German U-boat was sighted. Batfish avoided the submarine and in the process, fired one stern torpedo. The torpedo missed and the U- boat was never heard or sighted. On November 8, Batfish entered the Bay of Panama and began the journey westward across the Pacific to Pearl Harbor. On November 19, the rendezvous point off Oahu was reached and Batfish was met by her escort, YMS 286 which led Batfish into Pearl Harbor. At 1 p.m. on December 11, 1943, Batfish backed from the dock, departing on her first war patrol.
Physical Properties | |
| Class | Balao |
| Length (ft-in) | 311-9 |
| Beam (ft-in) | 27-3 |
| Draft (ft-in) | 15-3 |
| Pressure Hull Thickness (lb/sq in) | 35-35.7 |
| Surfaced Displacement (tons) | 1525 |
| Submerged Displacement (tons) | 2415 |
| Complement | 10/70-71 |
| Surface plant | 4 X 1350 BHP (brake horse power) |
| Submerged plant | 4 X 685 HP |
| Auxiliary plant | 1 X 300 Kw |
| Battery (cells) | 2 X 126 Sargo (Battery Type) |
| Capacity (amp-hr) | 2 X 9300 (war) |
| Surface speed (kt) | 20.25 |
| Surface endurance (nm/kt) | 11000 / 10 |
| Submerged speed (kt) | 8.75 |
| Submerged endurance | 48 hr at 2 kt |
| Test Depth (ft) | 400 |
| Tubes (bow) | 6 X 21 in |
| Tubes (aft) | 4 X 21 in |
| Torpedoes | 24 |
Weights (tons) | |
| Hull | 697.06 |
| Hull Fittings | 149.15 |
| Machinery | 448.65 |
| Engines (dry) | 52.43 |
| Batteries | 192 |
| Motors | 24.30 |
| Armament | 41.05 |
| Ammunition | 40.88 |
| Equipment and Outfit | 54.19 |
| Stores and Fresh Water | 37.99 |
| Complement | 6.47 |
| MBT Capacity | 615.72 |
| Lead Ballast | 87 |
| Standard Displacement | 1545.29 |
| Fuel Oil | 175.94 / 300.91 |
| Lubricating Oil | 19.33 / 22.63 |
| Design Displacement | 1804.1 |
Machinery | |
| Main Engines | No. / Mfg.: 4 / Fairbanks, Morse |
| Type: Opposed Piston | |
| Cylinders: 9 | |
| Model: 38D8 1/8 | |
| BHP: 1535 | |
| Main Generators | No. / Mfg: 4 / Elliott |
| KW: 1100 | |
| Auxiliary Engine | No. / Mfg.: 1 / General Motors |
| Type: ? | |
| Auxiliary Generators | No. / Mfg.: 1 / ? |
| KW: 300 | |
| Main Motors | No. / Mfg.: 4 / Elliott |
| HP: 1375 | |
| Reduction Gears | Mfg.: Westinghouse |
| Ratio: ? | |
| Arrangement | E5 |
E=Engine, M=Motor, | |
| Storage Batteries | No.: 2 X 126 |
| Mfg.: Gould Storage Battery Co. | |
| Model: OWTX49B | |
| Propulsion Controls | Westinghouse |
| Total Shaft HP | Surface: 5400 |
| Submerged: 2740 | |
| Sources: – Alden, The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy: A Design and Construction History – Friedman, U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History | |