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USS Loggerhead SS-374

The USS Loggerhead was a United States Navy Balao-class submarine who was not named for a fish, but after a very large sea turtle. However, the military Loggerhead was not turtle-like in its ability to move; her top speed was 21 knots per hour when surfaced and 9 while submerged. Propulsion of her 312 feet came from equipment that consisted of 4 x Model V16 diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, 4 x high-speed electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers. With such power, she could endure 48 hours at 2 knots under water, as well as 75 days on patrol, with a range of 11,000 nautical miles if surfaced at 10 knots. Loggerhead's armament consisted of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 5-inch / 25 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. Her complement was a total of 81 sailors.

A Long Journey to Her Mission

Loggerhead's keel was laid down by Manitowoc Shipbuilding in1944, in Wisconsin, and she was launched the same year. She was not commissioned until February of 1945; within weeks she traversed the Manitowoc River to Lake Michigan. From there, her journey continued to Lockport, Illinois, and onto a floating dry-dock for a tow in the Mississippi River, all the way down to New Orleans. Arriving in Louisiana on March 7, she then progressed via the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor. By May, USS Loggerhead was in position for her maiden voyage and her first war patrol as she stood out from Hawaii and sailed toward Saipan.

A Short But Sweet Career

She then commenced to the Luzon Straits and the South China Sea. In June, she succeeded in a bombing near Gap Rock, which was south of Hong Kong. The target was a tower that was believed to be a radar unit, and it suffered serious damage. Loggerhead proved versatile, and as such, was directed to patrol various areas in the role of lifeguard. In this capacity, she was able to ascertain much information regarding Japanese military maneuvers. While performing this duty the following month in Semarang Roadstead, she also fired at enemy ships. Loggerhead was next ordered to Australia, and as she sailed between Bali and Lombok Island, she was shot at by enemy batteries positioned on shore. She managed to avoid any damage. On her way to the Gulf of Siam a few weeks later, Loggerhead heard the news of the cease fire. She thus returned to her Pacific base in San Francisco in September. After being decommissioned in the following June at the Mare Island Navy Yard, USS Loggerhead joined the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Six years later, in December of 1962, USS Loggerhead was reclassified an auxiliary submarine. She was towed to Portland, Oregon, and, in her new home, served in a reserve training capacity for five years. In 1969, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register and sold for scrap.

There were many Navy vessels, and even other craft, that spent much time preparing for war, only to serve a very short while before the Japanese surrendered. Some were put to use serving their country in other ways, others, like the Loggerhead, were placed on reserve status and used for educational purposes. All tasks were honorable, and just because a submarine did not score "kills" in terms of sinking enemy ships did not mean that they did not make valuable contributions to the war effort. The sailors aboard the USS Loggerhead did a fine job of skillfully evading enemy fire and providing excellent watch-dog results that helped with high-level tactical planning. Yet, like sailors on all ships, they could possibly have been placed at risk concerning asbestos exposure. Builders during the mid-twentieth century relied a lot on asbestos, as it was deemed to be an excellent retardant against heat, flame, and electrical hazards. Since ships had areas that required constant heat, but tiny and awkward spaces, asbestos seemed to be the ideal regulator, due to its flexibility and almost weightless nature. The Navy would have done whatever it thought necessary to protect its men against the threat of an onboard fire, which was every bit as feared as enemy gunfire, given the limited resources and escape routes. However, it probably was not realized at the time that asbestos sealant could have been damaged during the normal wear and tear submarines faced in their repeated dives, jarring, and evasion of depth charge explosions. Had the sealant broken and asbestos fibers escaped, they would have floated through the vessel's air system. Any crew member could have thus inhaled or swallowed them. It's been found that they have remained in people's lungs for several decades, and only recently have sailors found that the long-term irritation has caused diseases and even malignancies. It is therefore imperative that anyone who served on the USS Loggerhead see their doctor at the first sign of unusual symptoms, and then contact us for additional information.

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 168 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 Piranha 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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