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USS Macabi SS-375

The USS Macabi was a United States Navy Balao-class submarine named for a fish from the California coast, where the military version also found itself on occasion. But the USS Macabi was a bit longer-311 feet-and could dive a little deeper-400 feet, to be exact. She could also speed along at 20 knots per hour on the surface and 9 knots under water. Her armament consisted of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 5-inch / 25 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. Macabi also carried a complement of 81 sailors, who could endure 48 hours at 2 knots when submerged and 75 days on patrol, with a range of 11,000 nautical miles surfaced at 10 knots. The ship's propulsion equipment was comprised of 4 x V16 diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, 4 x high-speed General Electric electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers.

War Contributions

After her keel was laid down by Wisconsin's Manitowoc Shipbuilding in 1944, Macabi had to wait four months to be launched. Six months later, in March of 1945, she was commissioned. Her fitting out trials and exercises took place close to home on Lake Michigan, and within a month, Macabi commenced a floating dry-dock voyage to Lockport, Illinois. Once there, she traveled through the Chicago Canal and down the Mississippi River, reaching New Orleans in less than two weeks. USS Macabi was ready to commence on her maiden voyage to Panama, where her shakedown operations were scheduled. From Balboa in the Canal Zone, Macabi stood out for her final training at Pearl Harbor, which was completed on July 9th; she then set sail to Guam, Marianas, and continued to the Caroline Islands. At that point, she received orders to provide lifeguard service duty near Truk. While answering this call off Moen Island, she narrowly avoided two aerial bombs on July 31 by immediate diving. This resulted in a need for repairs, which Macabi received back at Apra Harbor; they were not completed until August 13.

Her Later Career

While on a voyage back to Truk, USS Macabi was notified that the war had ended. She was thus directed to return to Pearl Harbor, and from there, embarked on the final leg of her route back to San Francisco. Arriving in early September, she was based there for the next three months. In December, Macabi was summoned to the Mare Island Navy Yard for an inactivation overhaul. She was decommissioned the following June. After a rest period of 14 years, USS Macabi was transferred to the Argentine Navy under the Military Assistance Program. On August 11, 1960, she became ARA Santa Fe and departed from San Francisco within six weeks for her new assignment. By November of 1960, the former Macabi was based at Naval Base Mar del Plata and subsequently struck from the US Naval Register. Argentina bought her 11 years later, in September of 1971, but during the following year Macabi was taken apart and used for spare parts.

Fortunately, Macabi was not seriously damaged during the one battle incident that found her eluding enemy firepower. However, she must have suffered some amount of jarring and related problems since she needed repairs afterwards, and as soon as possible. It's surprising how much damage submarines suffered at the hands of depth charge attacks and other incidents which caused intense shaking. Repeated occurrences of such intense vibrations could have forced anything within a ship's internal structure to be pushed out of place, or even slightly broken. Such an example could be the sealant around asbestos. Since almost every World War II submarine has been dismantled, scrapped or sunk, it's impossible to know the situation regarding asbestos use. However, because asbestos was regarded as an excellent retardant against fire, heat and electricity, it was heavily utilized during mid-twentieth century construction, on ships as well as in buildings. Since it was flexible and weighed practically nothing, it was ideal for the small and cramped spaces of submarines, especially since they needed as much protection as possible against fire. The threat of an onboard fire in a contained area, with limited resources and escape routes, was as terrifying as enemy fire to most crews. Therefore, it was probably used throughout the vessel and, in all likelihood, posed no immediate danger. Yet, if its sealant was damaged and tiny fibers escaped into the ship's air system, they could have been inhaled or swallowed by anyone. It's been only recently that such asbestos pieces have been found in bodies after 40 or 50 years. Such a long term irritant has been deemed responsible for serious medical conditions as well as malignancies, including mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining that is caused only by asbestos. This is why it is very important that former sailors from the USS Macabi see their doctor at the first sign of an unusual physical symptom, and then contact us as soon as possible 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-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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