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USS Besugo SS-321

Named for a tropical fish member of the porgie family, the USS Besugo SS-321 was an important part of the United States Navy during World War II and the Korean War. This Submarine as part of the Balao class. Balao class submarines were an improvement on a previous class, the Gato class. The mist significant difference was the use of high-yield steel in Balao class submarines. This use of steel in the pressure hull allowed the ships to dive to depths of 400 feet. There were 128 Balao class submarines completed between 1942 and 1946, and the last of these went out of commission in 1975. The USS Besugo SS-321, launched in 1944, was an instrumental vessel among this class.

The USS Besugo SS-321 was laid down on May 27, 1943. She was built by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut, a shipbuilding company that was responsible for quite a number of World War II submarines. This submarine was over 300 feet long with a beam width of just over 27 feet. She could travel over 20 knots and hour when surfaced and over 8.5 knots per hour when submerged. This speed was achieved by four General Motors V16 diesel engines, which controlled electrical generators. With ten mounted torpedoes, as well deck guns and machines guns, this vessel was a menace to enemies.

The USS Besugo SS-321, which was sponsored by Mrs. P. J. Homer, was launched on February 27, 1944 under the command of Commander T. L. Wogan. After thorough testing, she became a part of the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet on June 19, 1944. She travels to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, her home port, through the Panama Canal, arriving on July 25, 1944. From there, her missions took her to the waters of Asia.

Between September 26, 1944 and July 25 of the following year, the USS Besugo SS-321 made five war patrols. Her main missions had her sailing to The Bungo Strait, the Makassar Strait, the Java Sea, and the South China Sea. During this time, the USS Besugo SS-321 battled with a number of enemy vessels. She sank one German submarine, one tanker (the Nichei Maru), on LSV, one frigate, and one minesweeper.

One of the most significant battled for the USS Besugo SS-321 during World War II came near the end with the German Unterseeboot (submarine) U-183. This submarine was one the “Monsun boats” that was used to protect Japanese bases in Indonesia, especially around Penang. Over the prior two years, U-183 had sunk four commercial vessels, so this victory was especially sweet. The submarine was taken down just a day before the war ended. There was only one survivor from the crew.

After World War II was over, the USS Besugo SS-321 departed from the Asian waters and headed for home. During her time in this area, she had been based out of Fremantle, Australia. On August, 29, 1945, she left for San Diego, where she arrived on September 26, 1945. After a complete overhaul for repairs and updates, the USS Besugo SS-321 was sent to Guam, where she operated for a while before being transferred once again to Pearl Harbor in May of 1946. During the next eight years, the USS Besugo SS-321 traveled around the Pacific from her base in Hawaii. She completed two tours to Asia during this time – one that lasted from June 10, 1947 to September 21, 1947 and the other that lasted from October 31, 1950 to April 11, 1951. After almost a decade in Hawaii, the USS Besugo SS-321 was transferred to San Diego, where she patrolled the west coast of the United States.

In 1958, the USS Besugo SS-321 was decommissioned and became part of the growing United States Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was recommissioned in 1965, this type with the classification “Auxiliary Research Submarine, and less than a year later was taken to a shipyard to be converted to a Fleet Snorkel Submarine. In March of 1966, the USS Besugo SS-321 was sent on lease to Italy, where she was renamed “Francesco Morosini.”

The USS Besugo SS-321 was returned to the United States in November of 1975 after the lease with Italy was over. However, at this point, she was struck from the United State Navy's Naval Register list that month. By the middle of April the following year, the USS Besugo SS-321 was sold for scrap metal, which has been the fate of most Balao class submarines, although there still are nine preserves, many on display at various Navy museums and facilities.

While in commission, the USS Besugo SS-321 served the Navy well. However, it is important to remember that if you worked on this submarine at any time, you may have been exposed to asbestos, which is a substance that can cause serious medical conditions. See a doctor and talk to a lawyer today if you worked on the USS Besugo SS-321 during your time in the military.

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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