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USS Barb SS-220

The USS Barb was a Gato¬-class submarine, launched on April 2, 1942, and commissioned on July 8, 1942. During World War II the USS Barb completed a total of twelve patrols in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and she was awarded eight battle stars and a Presidential Unit Citation and Navy Unit Commendation for her service.

The USS Barb during World War II

During World War II the USS Barb completed twelve patrols between October 20, 1942 and August 2, 1945; five each in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, one in the Formosa Straits and East China Sea, and one in the Sea of Okhotsk.

The first five patrols completed by the USS Barb were in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. During the first, she was involved in reconnaissance before and during the invasion of North Africa. Her remaining four patrols, during which she operated out of Roseneath, Scotland, were spent in European waters, hunting down Axis blockade runners. The fifth Atlantic patrol of the USS Barb ended on July 1, 1943, after which she headed to New London, Connecticut, for an overhaul.

Overhaul completed, she departed for Pearl Harbor, and arrived in September. The USS Barb completed a total of five patrols in the Pacific Ocean between September 1943 and November 1944, during which she amassed a long list of targets, and one of the most extensive and outstanding records for a submarine in World War II. During her five pacific patrols and her next two patrols in the East China Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk, she has been credited with the sinking of seventeen vessels with a total weight of 96,628 tons, including the escort carrier Unyo, on September 16 1944.

After her five successful Pacific Ocean patrols were completed, the USS Barb was next assigned to patrol in the Formosa Straits and the East China Sea. Between December 19, 1944 and February 15, 1945 she is credited with sinking four Japanese merchant ships, and a number of smaller craft. In a daring maneuver on January 22 and 23, she moved into Namkwan Harbor on the coast of China, in pursuit of a large convoy of around thirty enemy ships which were anchored in the harbor. Despite the danger of moving into the relatively shallow waters, she launched several torpedoes into the group before retreating at high speed through territory which was heavily mined as well as uncharted and obstructed with rocks. For her exemplary service in this patrol, the USS Barb was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, and her Commander Eugene B. Buckley was awarded the Medal of Honor.

The next port of call for the USS Barb was an overhaul in the United States, where she was fitted with five-inch rocket launchers. Upon returning to the Pacific, she was assigned her twelve and final patrol. On June 9, 1945 she departed Pearl Harbor, bound for the coastal regions of the Sea of Okhotsk, where she became the first submarine in warfare's history to successfully use rockets in battle. Using the rocket launchers she had been fitted with in her recent overhaul, she bombarded several towns, including Shari on Hokkaido, and Shiritoru, Kashiho, and Shikuka on Karafuto. For her actions during this last patrol she was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation.

After the War

The USS Barb returned to the United States shortly after the cessation of hostilities, and she was placed on reserve in commission on March 9, 1946. On February 12, 1947 she was decommissioned at New London, Connecticut. She was recommissioned to serve in the Atlantic Fleet on December 3, 1951, operating out of Key West. On February 5, 1954 she was again decommissioned, this time for the purpose of undergoing conversion via the Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY). After the completion of her conversion she was recommissioned on August 3, 1954, and she served with the Atlantic fleet until December 13.

At this time she was decommissioned, and then loaned to Italy under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. After her admittance to the Italian Navy she was renamed Enrico Tazzoli. After her service in the Italian Navy she was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1972.

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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