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USS Mapiro SS-376

The USS Mapiro was a United States Navy Balao-class submarine; the origin of its name is a fish that is native to the West Indies and Atlantic Ocean areas near Mexico and Central America. Her complement of sailors numbered a total of 81, and she was almost 312 feet in length. Mapiro's armament consisted of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 5-inch / 25 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. She was propelled by 4 x V16 diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, 4 x high-speed electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers. This equipment enabled Mapiro to reach top speeds of 20 knots per hour while surfaced and 9 when submerged. Mapiro could also endure 48 hours at 2 knots at depths of up to 400 feet, and 75 days on patrol. Her range was 11,000 nautical miles at 10 knots while surfaced.

Just Missing War Action

In May of 1944, Mapiro's keel was laid down in Wisconsin by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company. She waited six months before being launched, and then another five months for her commissioning. Her fitting out and shakedown took place close to home, on Lake Michigan, and after those test exercises, she traveled to Lockport, Illinois via a floating dry dock. Mapiro was then towed to New Orleans and thus traversed both the Chicago and Mississippi Rivers. It was in Louisiana that she completed final preparations for her maiden voyage to the South Pacific. Finally, Mapiro was deemed ready to set sail on her own, and she embarked on her first trip to the Panama Canal Zone on May 31, 1945. Five days later, she reached Balboa, where she underwent additional training for almost a month. When that was done, Mapiro partnered with sister ship USS Cutlass and sailed to Pearl Harbor, arriving there two weeks later. From there, she was ordered to conduct her first mission on war patrol in the Marianas; ironically, she reached Saipan on the very day that Japan surrendered-August 15.

Valid Contributions in Other Areas

Mapiro was still able to serve her county in the midst of the former battle lines by conducting operations in observation patrol for a few days. However, it was soon time to travel back home, and USS Mapiro sailed to San Francisco, where she was later deactivated on August 25. After almost seven months of being idle, Mapiro was decommissioned on March 16, 1946. The following New Year's Day, she officially became part of the Pacific Reserve Fleet, with Mare Island, California, as her new base. Her career, however, was not over; fourteen years later, she was converted to a Fleet Snorkel submarine, and shortly after, on March 18, 1960, she found another home. Though the Military Assistance Program, USS Mapiro was transferred on loan to the Turkish Navy, who renamed her TCG Piri Reis (S 343). Within two months, she was ready to leave San Francisco for Istanbul. Her journey took her again through the Panama Canal, but this time with a new Turkish crew. Piri Reis arrived in Gölcük on June 23, 1960, and she had her commissioning on the following day. When Turkey decided to purchase her in 1973, Mapiro was struck from the United States Naval Register, but later that same year, the Turkish navy disposed of her.

It might have been frustrating, in a way, for the crew to reach Saipan and be notified that their assistance was not required. But, considering the atrocities of war, the sailors probably quickly realized that there were worse things than time and financial investment in military preparations that were never needed. Their families were probably also greatly relieved that the crew was not placed directly in peril by enemy gunfire. Unfortunately, all sailors were possibly placed in a different type of risk, without even being aware of it. That danger could have been from the potential exposure to asbestos.

During the time of submarine construction, asbestos was considered an excellent flame and heat retardant, and therefore used as additional protection against onboard fires. The Navy tried to provide every possible measure against that threat to its men, realizing a ship's limited resources and escape routes. Asbestos had the added benefits of being lightweight and flexible, so it could be utilized in the small and awkward spaces of fighting vessels. The problem, unknown at the time, was that its sealant could become damaged by repeated jarring or wear and tear. If that happened, tiny asbestos fibers may have escaped, and anyone onboard could have inhaled or swallowed them. It's only recently that medical conditions and diseases have been directly connected to asbestos. Fibers have remained in people's bodies for 40 to 50 years, all the while creating irritation that may lead to serious problems. It's therefore very important for any former sailor of the USS Mapiro see a doctor at the first sign of an unusual physical symptom, 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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