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USS Archer-Fish SS-311

The USS Archer-Fish, a Balao-class submarine, was launched on May 28, 1943, and commissioned on September 4. She was awarded a Presidential Citation Unit for her World War II service, in particular for sinking Shinano, a Japanese aircraft carrier and the largest warship sunk by a submarine.

The USS Archer-Fish during World War II

After arriving at Pearl Harbor to join the Pacific Fleet on November 29, 1943, the USS Archer-Fish was underway for her first war patrol on December 23. After pausing at Midway Island to refuel, she made for her assigned patrol area in the waters north of Formosa. During her first patrol she attacked three ships, but scored no hits. She returned to Midway on February 16, 1944. The second patrol for the USS Archer-Fish began on March 16, and she sighted no targets during this 42-day tour. On April 27, she arrived at the Pearl Harbor Submarine Base for a refit, which lasted just over a month. For her third patrol, the USS Archer-Fish was assigned to the Bornin Islands, where she undertook “lifeguard duty” during the Iwo Jima strikes. After rescuing downed aviator John B. Anderson, she returned to Midway on July 15. She underwent a further refit, after which her fourth patrol commenced on August 7. She toured the waters around Honshu for an uneventful period of almost two months before returning to Pearl Harbor on September 29.

The fifth patrol of the Archer-Fish began on October 30. After stopping briefly at Saipan for quick repairs she made for Tokyo, where her objective was to provide lifeguard services for the first B-29 Superfortress strikes against the city. During the evening of November 28, she spotted what appeared to be a tanker departing Tokyo Bay. Realizing that a surface attack would be virtually suicidal, Archer-Fish Captain Joseph F. Enright decided that the carrier should be tracked instead. After six hours, the Archer-Fish was able to get into a safe position to dive, and she then fired a total of six torpedoes before descending to avoid depthcharges. Within just a few minutes, however, it became apparent that she had damaged the cruiser significantly. The ship was initially able to continue its path, but three hours after being hit it had lost power, and five hours after that had capsized.

Naval Intelligence initially thought the vessel was simply a cruiser. After the war was over, however, the true identity of the sunken vessel was discovered: the “cruiser” was actually the Shinano, of the Yamato class of “super-battleships,” and the largest warship to be sunk by a submarine in and since World War II. The USS Archer-Fish was subsequently awarded a Presidential Citation Unit for this feat.

The USS Archer-Fish's fifth patrol ended on December 15 at Guam, and after a rest and refit period she was underway for her sixth patrol on January 10, 1945. As part of a three-submarine wolf pack under command of Captain Enright, she made for the South China Sea, near Hong Kong and Formosa. However, after damaging one target and sinking another, her patrol was cut short due to a need for unexpected repairs. She made for San Francisco, arriving via Saipan and Pearl Harbor on March 13. Dry-docked at Hunters Point Navy Yard, she received an overhaul and the needed repairs. After the work was completed she returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving on June 22.

Underway for her seventh and final patrol of World War II on July 10, the USS Archer-Fish made for Honshu and Hokkaido, where she was to carry out lifeguard duty for B-29 Superfortress strikes. She was still there when word of the Japanese surrender arrived on August 15, and on August 31 was one of the twelve submarines that entered Tokyo Bay. After the official surrender ceremony the Archer-Fish departed for Pearl Harbor, arriving September 12, before leaving on January 2, 1946 for San Francisco. She was decommissioned at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on June 12.

After the War

The USS Archer-Fish was recommissioned for a brief period between 1952 and 1955, due to the necessity of augmenting the naval fleet during the Korean War. Commissioned on March 7, 1952, she joined the Atlantic Fleet on July 3 and operated out of Key West. She visited Cuba, Haiti, and other West Indies and Caribbean locations before being decommissioned again on 21 October, 1955.

There was still more work to come for the USS Archer-Fish, however. She was again recommissioned on August 1, 1957. In 1960 she was selected to take part in Operation Sea Scan, which was to study marine weather conditions and other ocean environmental factors. Over the next several years, until 1968, she operated in European and Pacific waters, collecting data for Operation Sea Scan, with brief periods for rest and upkeep.

After being declared unfit for further naval service early in 1968, the USS Archer-Fish was removed from the Naval Register on May 1, and was sunk as a torpedo target on October 19.

Many United States Navy vessels contained large amounts of asbestos, as the substance was once used extensively as an insulator and fire-proofing material. Many people who served onboard these vessels, or were involved in building, repairing, or outfitting them, have subsequently developed asbestos-related diseases due to asbestos exposure. If you've developed an asbestos-related disease as a result of involvement with Navy vessels, contact us for information about your legal options.

Submarines Index

USS Albacore SS 218 USS AmberJack SS 219 USS Angler SS 240 USS Apogon SS 308 USS Archer-fish SS 311 USS Argonaut-SM-1 USS Argonaut SS 475 USS Aspro SS 309 USS Atule SS 403 USS Balao SS 285 USS Bang SS 385 USS Barbel SS 316 USS Barbero SS 317 USS Barb SS 220 USS Barracuda SS 163 USS Bashaw SS 241 USS Bergall SS 320 USS Besugo SS 321 USS Billfish SS 286 USS Blackfin SS 322 USS Blackfish SS 221 USS Blenny SS 324 USS Blower SS 325 USS Blueback SS 326 USS Bluefish SS 222 USS Bluegill SS 242 USS Boarfish SS 327 USS Bonefish SS 223 USS Bonita SS 165 USS Bowfin SS 287 USS Bream SS 243 USS Brill SS 330 USS Bugara SS 331 USS Bullhead SS 332 USS Bumper SS 333 USS Burrfish SS 312 USS Cabezon SS 334 USS Carbonero SS 337 USS Hake SS 256 USS Hammerhead SS 364 USS Harder SS 257 USS Hardhead SS 365 USS Hawkbill SS 366

USS Herring SS 233 USS Hoe SS 258 USS Icefish SS 367 USS Jack SS 259 USS Jallao SS 368 USS Kete S 369 USS Kingfish SS 234 USS Kraken SS 370 USS Lagarto SS 371 USS Lizardfish SS 373 USS Loggerhead SS 374 USS Macabi SS 375 USS Mackerel-204 USS Manta SS 299 USS Mapiro SS 376 USS Marlin SS 205 USS Mingo SS 261 USS Moray SS 300 USS Muskallunge SS 262 USS Narwhal SS 263 USS Nautilus-ss-0024 USS Paddle SS 167 USS Pampanito SS 383 USS Parche SS 384 USS Pargo SS 264 USS Perch SS 176 USS Permit SS 178 USS Peto SS 265 USS Pickerel SS 177 USS Picuda SS 382 USS Pike SS 173 USS Pilotfish SS 386 USS Pintado SS 387 USS Pipefish SS 388 USS Pirahna SS 389 USS Plaice SS 390 USS Plunger SS 179 USS Pogy SS 266 USS Pollack SS 180 USS Pomfret SS 391 USS Pompano SS 181 USS Pompon SS 267 USS Porpoise SS 172

USS Puffer SS 268 USS Queenfish SS 393 USS Quillback SS 424 USS Rasher SS 269 USS Raton SS 270 USS Ray SS 271 USS Razorback SS 394 USS Redfin SS 272 USS Redfish SS 395 USS Robalo SS 273 USS Rock SS 274 USS Ronquil SS 396 USS Runner SS 275 USS Runner SS 476 USS S-1 SS 105 USS S-20 SS 125 USS S-46 SS 157 USS Sailfish SS 192 USS Salmon SS 182 USS Sand Lance SS 381 USS Sargo SS 188 USS Saury SS 189 USS Sawfish SS 276 USS Scabbardfish SS 397 USS Scamp SS 277 USS Scorpion SS 278 USS Sculpin SS 191 USS Sea Cat SS 399 USS Sea Devil SS 400 USS Sea Dog SS 401 USS Seadragon SS 194 USS Sea Fox SS 402 USS Seahorse SS 304 USS Sealion SS 195 USS Seal SS 183 USS Sea Owl SS 405 USS Sea Poacher SS 406 USS Searaven SS 196 USS Sea Robin SS 407 USS Seawolf SS 197 USS Segundo SS 398 USS Sennet SS 408

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