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USS Marlin SS-205

The USS Marlin was a United States Navy Mackerel-class submarine, the first ship to be named for the large game fish, the marlin. But the military version was a bit larger and more efficient, at 239 feet long and able to dive to 250 feet. Marlin could also travel a little faster: 14.5 knots per hour when on the surface and 9 knots while under water. She could do this via a propulsion system that was comprised of 2 x diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, and 2 x electric motors. Her range was 7,400 nautical miles at 10 knots. Marlin could carry a total complement of 38 sailors as well as an armament of 6 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 12 torpedoes, and 1 x 3-inch / 50 caliber gun.

Serving In a Support Capacity

USS Marlin's keel was laid down in May of 1940 in Kittery, Maine; she had been constructed by the Portsmouth Navy Yard. Her launch date was not until January 29, 1941, and her commissioning came seven months later. Her fitting out and shakedown took place off the eastern United States seashore as well, and was followed by the standard trials in military maneuvers and exercises. Once deemed ready, Marlin commenced serving her county in conjunction with the Atlantic Fleet. Working in the waters off New London, Connecticut, she thus conducted business as usual for the duration of that year. On March 21, 1942, Marlin set sail further north and arrived in Casco Bay, Maine, to begin working with the TG 27.1; her first assignment was to train new escort vessels in antisubmarine warfare. After completing her job, she traveled back home before resuming operations out of Long Island Sound, where she remained through the next year.

One Minor Mishap

In early 1943, USS Marlin returned to Casco Bay and was directed to serve the TG 27.1 again. However, before the month was out, she was ordered to commence another task as trainer and patrol guard in her native waters of New London and Portsmouth. Although this tour of duty saw Marlin away from the battle lines of World War II action, she had the responsibility of ensuring that other vessels were properly skilled and prepared, as well as protected. Her presence off the shore of the eastern seaboard was also vitally important. Over a year into this position, in July of 1944, Marlin experienced her only documented accident; she was testing the USS Chaffee with submerged practice approach, and failed to notice the nearby SC-642. The resulting collision caused both ships to incur slight damage. The end of that summer saw USS Marlin partnering with sister ship Chetco before sailing back home to New London. Next teaming up with Skipjack, she voyaged to Bridgeport, Connecticut, in October. Her journey continued to the Boston Navy Yard, where she arrived the following month. The USS Marlin was subsequently decommissioned in November of 1945 and struck from the Naval Registry three weeks later. In March of 1946 she was sold for scrapping to the Boston Metal Company of Baltimore, Maryland.

It's occasionally easy to not notice or appreciate efforts made by submarines such as the Marlin, who remained somewhat in the background of the war efforts. When reading about ships which sunk or damaged enemy vessels, the normal conclusion is that they were the ones doing all of the serious work. But they didn't acquire their experience instinctively; they had to obtain hands on knowledge long before the battle zone. It was through the efforts of training ships such as the Marlin that submarine crews learned their trade, practiced on their equipment, and perfected their responses. Sometimes that crew may have felt overlooked, but they had a great deal of which to be proud. Yet, just like other sailors, there was one risk they faced, even though they weren't in direct line of enemy fire: They were possibly exposed to the risk of asbestos. Like the rest of the ships built around the same time, Marlin probably was constructed with the addition of asbestos as extra protection against the ever-present threat of fires. Regardless of a ship's location or job, little was feared as much as an onboard inferno in a contained area that had limited resources and escape routes. Asbestos was considered an ideal supplement to all construction since it was flexible, and its lightweight composition made its use in submarines appear even more beneficial. Yet, if a vessel was repeatedly jarred or faced collisions, there was a chance that the asbestos sealant may have been damaged. If that had happened, some fibers could have escaped. Once in a ship's air system, they may have been inhaled by anyone and remained in their bodies these many decades. It is only recently that former sailors have started to receive news of serious medical conditions or diseases from such past exposure. If anyone who served aboard the USS Marlin notices unusual physical symptoms, they should seek medical care as soon as possible, and then contact us for more 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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