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USS Bergall SS-320

The USS Bergall SS-320 was an integral part of the United States Navy. Part of the Balao class of ships, this submarine was built by the Electric Boat Company and designed by Portsmouth Navy Yard. It measured over 300 feet long and operated at a depth of about 400 feet with a crew of about 80 people. The USS Bergall SS-320 had 10 torpedo tubes, as well as deck guns and mine abilities. Built in 1943, she was launched in February of 1944 and took part in World War II from her home port of Pearl Harbor.

Lieutenant Commander John Milton Hyde first commanded the USS Bergall SS-320. After being launched, she headed to the Pacific via the Panama Canal. From the start, this ship was important, as on the way to Panama, she rescued Army aviators from a trainer aircraft crash of the coast of the Dominican Republic.

Upon arriving in the Pacific, the USS Bergall SS-320 took up patrols between Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and Fremantle in Australia. The ship and her crew traveled through the China Sea, Java Sea, and Lombok Straight on their first of what would become five patrols. Their first military victory came in October of 1944 when they sank a medium-sized cargo ship called the Shinshu Maru in the Camrahn Bay. Later that month, they also sunk the Nippo Maru, a Japanese tanker.

Near the end of the year, the USS Bergall SS-320 was involved in a battle with the heavy cruiser IJN Myoko and the destroyer IJN Ushio, which were on their way to Camranh Bay from Sinapore. Although they damaged this ship, the USS Bergall SS-320 also suffered injuries from enemy fire, and they were forced to head back to Pearl Harbor for repairs. They made this long journey on the surface, since one of the enemy shells had pierce the hull during the battle.

It wasn't long, however, before the USS Bergall SS-320 was back out to sea. In January of 1945, she damaged and sunk Japanese Minesweeper #102 in the Java Sea. Japanese Coast Defense Vessel #54 in the China Sea also fell victim to the USS Bergall SS-320 early that year, and during February, she chased a Japanese destroyer through the Asian waters. The ship, however, hugged the bottom and was not destroyed.

The spring of 1944 was fairly uneventful, and the USS Bergall SS-320 didn't see more action until June. On June 13, 1945, she hit a mine in the Gulf of Siam, which damaged a number of the torpedo tubes. They headed to Subic Bay in Luzon for emergency repairs and then traveled home to the Portsmouth Navy Yard for permanent repairs and an overhaul.

Unlike many World War II era ships, the USS Bergall SS-320 remained a part of the active Pacific Fleet even after the war ended. After repairs, she returned to Pearl Harbor and took part in training exercises and mapping projects. In June of 1950, she headed back to the Atlantic and while on the way there, the Korean War started. When the USS Bergall SS-320 arrived at the Panama Canal ahead of schedule, there was a bit of panic, as people thought it was an enemy submarine at first coming to damage the canal.

During the early 1950s, the USS Bergall SS-320 operated out of New London, Connecticut. They traveled to Guantanamo Bay for exercises and were converted to a snorkel submarine in Philadelphia. In 1955, she went on her first Mediterranean tour, and later that decade also departed on a second Mediterranean cruise and was loaned to Turkey. In 1958, the USS Bergall SS-320 was decommissioned from the Navy and officially delivered to Turkey, where it was renamed Turgutreis S-342.

In 1965, the USS Bergall SS-320's name was canceled from the Navy's list so that the name USS Bergall could be given to one of the Navy's new nuclear-powered, fast attack submarines. The submarine was still officially on the Navy' roster, though, until 1973, when the lease to Turkey ended. Turkey then officially bought the vessel, and she remained in active service until April of 1983, when she was decommissioned and served as a charging boar in Golcuk Naval Shipyard. She worked there until 1996, when she joined the list of ships to be scrapped and officially sold in 2000 to MYS Steel Company in Turkey.

During her service, this submarine received four battle stars and a number of other awards. Although the USS Bergall SS-320 served her country well, if you worked on this submarine or any other Navy vessel, keep in mind that you were put at risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related medical conditions. Make sure that you see a doctor right away and talk to a lawyer about your rights involving the development of medical problems due to asbestos exposure while in the Navy.

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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