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USS Bream SS-243

The USS Bream was the first ship to be named for that type of fish. It was built by the Electric Boat Company out of Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on January 24, 1944.

Built as a Gato class submarine, the Bream was over 300 foot in length and about 27 feet wide. Her propulsion system consisted of four V16 diesel engines that were provided by General Motors. These motors supplied power to two Sargo batteries and four high speed electric motors, provided by General Electric. All of this ran two propellers which could push the ship along at surface speeds of up to 21 knots and submerged speeds of about nine knots. She was crewed by 60 sailors, six officers and 54 enlisted men. When she made contact with the enemy, she had at her disposal six forward and four aft torpedo tubes and she could carry up to 24 torpedoes. Her armaments also included four machine guns and one three inch 50 caliber gun on her deck for surface fighting. She was rated for depths of up to 300 feet.

She spent just a little over a year in wartime operations during World War II. During that year, she completed six patrols in various waters. Most of her time was spent in the Gulf of Siam and the Sulu, Java, Celebes and South China Seas. After shakedown activities, the Bream reached the Panama Canal area in March of 1944. She spent a couple of weeks in training exercises and then passed through the Panama Canal on her way to Australia. After passing through several ports, she arrived in Seeadler Harbor and prepared for her first patrol. Beginning in June, she patrolled the waters around the Halmahera Islands. Her first few attacks on the enemy were unsuccessful, but she was able to dive down deep enough to avoid their counterattacks. She was able to sink a freighter in the middle of June, but her patrol was cut short. A few days after that last encounter with the enemy, the seal around the conning tower's hatch was broken and took on water. The seawater flooded the pump room and killed all the power to that room. She had to return to Seeadler Harbor for repairs.

Repairs were completed and she was able to head back out for her second patrol on July 21, 1944. This time her patrol area was located in waters in the southern part of the Philippine Islands. A small fire broke out on board as she was making her way to her destination, but the damage was repaired easily and she wasn't forced to return to port. She spotted the enemy several times, but conditions were such that she was never able to get into a good firing position. She was ordered to return to Australia. On her way there, a Japanese plane spotted her on the surface and dropped a few bombs. There were no direct hits, but the Bream did suffer significant damage. She made port in Brisbane, Australia on September 6, 1944 where repairs were started.

Once repairs were completed, she returned for another patrol through Philippine waters. She met with the enemy several times during this patrol, as well. On one occasion, she inflicted enough damage on the enemy heavy cruiser, Aoba, that the ship was not involved in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which was a major naval battle. She returned to Fremantle, Australia for a refit and some training exercises on November 22, 1944. Once the work was complete she headed out for her fourth tour. Most of this patrol took place in the Java Sea, but interaction with the enemy was at a minimum.

Her fifth and sixth patrols took place from March through May of 1945. Disaster struck during her fifth patrol. As she was preparing to attack a convoy, Japanese ship spotted her. They began dropping depth charges and forced the Bream to the bottom in 100 feet of water. The enemy continued to rain down depth charges on the ship for five hours. One of them went off close enough that it blew the hatch off the conning tower. It took her several days to complete makeshift repairs. As she was preparing to return to port to receive more extensive repairs, she spotted enemy ships. She attempted to fire on the vessels, but the torpedoes sank immediately after being fired. The beating she had received had damaged the tubes. After repairs were completed, she left for sixth patrol. She made contact with the enemy on a couple of occasions, but the high point of the patrol happened off the southern end of Formosa. While performing lifeguard duties, she was able to rescue five American pilots who had been shot down.

The USS Bream reached San Francisco, California on June 24, 1945. She was scheduled for a complete overhaul. While the work was still in progress, the Japanese surrendered and war activities ended. She was decommissioned in January of 1946 and entered the reserve fleet. She recommissioned in June of 1951 as things were heating up in Korea. The Bream spent her time on the west coast in training exercises. In September of 1952, a conversion was started to turn her into an antisubmarine sub. Once the work was done, she resumed operation in the waters off the west coast and was used as a sonar training sub. In 1954 she underwent cold water training in Alaska. She continued in standard peacetime operations until she was finally decommissioned in June of 1969. In November of that year, she was designated as a training target and was sunk. She had been awarded four Battle Stars for her service in World War II.

One of the dangers that existed for her crew, and the crew of many Navy vessels, was exposure to asbestos. The mineral had been used extensively in many of the ships serving America. The two primary results of asbestos exposure are asbestosis and mesothelioma. Both of these diseases can take up to fifty years to show up. If you have questions about asbestos exposure or either of the diseases that result, please feel free to contact us.

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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