USS Bluefish (SS-222)

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Career

Ordered:
Laid down:
Launched:	21 February 1943
Commissioned:	24 May 1943
Decommissioned:	20 November 1953
Struck:	1 June 1959
Fate:	sold for scrap, 8 June 1960
General Characteristics
Displacement, Surfaced: Submerged:	1526 tons (1550t), 2424 tons (2460 t)
Length:	307 ft (93.6m) waterline, 311ft 9in (95m) overall
Beam:	27.3 ft (8.3 m)
Draft:	19.3 ft (5.9 m)
Test depth:	300 ft (91.4m)
Speed, Surfaced: Submerged:	20.25 knots (37 km/h) 8.75 knots (16 km/h)
Propulsion:	four 1350-hp (1010kW) 16-cylinder General Motors 278A diesel engines two 1370hp (1020 kW) General Electric electric motors (two 126-cell Exide main storage batteries), two shafts
Submerged Endurance:	48 hours at 2 knots (3.7kph)
Patrol Endurance:	75 days
Range:	11,000 nmi. (20,000 km) at 10 knots (18.5kph) surfaced
Complement:	70 officers and enlisted men (peacetime), 80-85 (war)
Armament:	10 × 21 in torpedo tubes (53 cm), (6 forward, 4 aft), 24 torpedoes; 1 × 3 in (76.2mm) / 50 cal deck gun, 2 × .50" (12.7mm) and 2 × .30" (7.62mm) machine guns
Motto: Ship's Flag Motto: "WE MADE 'EM BLUE!"

USS Bluefish (SS-222), 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 (SS-222) was launched 21 February 1943 by Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn.; 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 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 Japanese ships totaling 50,839 tons, including the destroyer Sanae, 18 November 1943 in 04°52′N, 122°07′E.; the submarine I-351, 15 July 1945 in 04°30′N, 110°00′E., and a submarine chaser. In addition Bluefish assisted Puffer (SS-268) in sinking a 5135-ton tanker.

With the cessation of hostilities Bluefish returned to the United States, arriving at Philadelphia Navy Yard 9 October. 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.

See USS Bluefish for other ships of the same name.