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USS Blower SS-325

The USS Blower SS-325 was one of many Naval submarines that worked in the Pacific during World War II. This vessel, named after an Atlantic fish inhabiting the waters of the West Indies, was a vital part of the United States' success in Far Eastern waters. Without submarines like the USS Blower SS-325, Japan would have strongly controlled Pacific waters.

The USS Blower SS-325 was built as part of the Balao class of submarines. These vessels were an improvement until the earlier Gato class, and later, this design was again improved upon with the Tench class. Over 125 Balao class submarines were build during the mid-1940s, and today, nine of these vessels are reserved, many in museums open to the public. Like all Balao class submarines, the USS Blower SS-325 was over 300 feet long and was propelled by four diesel engines, which, in turn, drive electrical generators connected to two large propellers. The submarine could travel 20.25 knots per hour when surfaced and 8.75 knots per hour when submerged. At lower speeds, she could remain submerged for up to 48 hours, with a test depth of 400 feet. The USS Blower had 10 torpedo tubes and carried 24 torpedoes at a time.

Launched on April 23, 1944 by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut, the USS Blower SS-325 was sponsored by Mrs. Richard F. J. Johnson, the wife of a Naval commander, and commissioned just a few months later under the command of Lieutenant Commander J. H. Campbell. After her initial shakedown cruise, she was assigned to pearl harbor, where she arrived on December 16, 1944. After undergoing slight repairs and training exercises in Hawaiian waters, the USS Blower SS-325 set out on her first wartime patrol.

This was to be the first to three wartime patrols for the submarine and her crew. Her first patrol began on January 17, 1945 and she completed her last tour on July 28, 1945, after hostilities had ceased. During this time, the USS Blower SS-325's journeys at sea were by and large uneventful. When her three wartime patrols were complete, she was called back to the port at Fremantle, Australia, where she was refitted and minor repairs were made. In September of that same year, she was assigned to the Mariana Islands and Carolina Island. Off the coast of these locations, the USS Blower SS-325 took part in a number of training exercises. Finally, on January 29, 1946, the USS Blower SS-325 returned home to San Diego, California via Pearl Harbor.

As she was still in great condition, taking on no damages from enemies during the war, the USS Blower SS-325 was chosen to be one of the submarines that remained active in the United States Navy. She joined the Pacific Fleet's submarine force rather than being put on reserve, and during the late 1940s, the USS Blower SS-325 took part in a number of training and research programs, including torpedo exercises, submerged sound school, and other training programs for new recruits. In 1946, she was sent on a tour to Japan via Pearl Harbor and making a stop at the Mariana Islands. During the next year, she also traveled to Pearl Harbor to take part in fleet operations and training exercises.

During 1948, the USS Blower SS-325 was sent to the Chukchi sea to perform Artic water radar tracking and sonar exercises with the vessel USS Carp SS-338. She returned to San Diego in 1950, and at this point, she was reassigned to the submarine Force of the Atlantic Fleet. She traveled with her crew through the Panama Canal and arrived in Philadelphia on March 3, 1950. Her repairs and renovations lasted for many months, and upon completion in September, she was assigned to New London, Connecticut, where she worked as a training vessel for the Turkish Navy.

In November of 1950, the USS Blower SS-325 was decommissioned at New London in order to be lent to the Turkish Navy. She was leased to Turkey under the Mutual Defense Assistant Program and was recommissioned as a TCG Dumlupinar. On April 4, 1953, she was returning from NATO training in the Blue Sea when she collided with the Naboland, a Swedish freighter, off the coast of Nara Point. She was lost and 81 personnel on board perished in this accident.

Like many ships during this time period, the USS Blower SS-325 was built with products containing asbestos. Even though you may have served on her many decades ago, the medical problems caused by asbestos exposure often take more than twenty years to appear. So, it is important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible, and keep in mind that you do have rights. Talk to a lawyer today to find out more about asbestos and how to get the conversation you deserve.

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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