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USS Moray SS-300

The USS Moray was a United States Navy Balao-class submarine who earned one Battle Star for her service during World War II. Like her namesake, a large eel found in coral reefs, the military Moray spent her share of time in tropical waters, although, at 311 feet long, she was a bit larger. Her complement was 81 sailors; she also toted an armament that consisted of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 5-inch / 25 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. She was able to reach a top speed of 20 knots per hour when surfaced and 9 knots while submerged, and could endure 75 days on patrol, as well as 48 hours at 2 knots when diving as deep as 400 feet. Moray was propelled by 4 x 9-cylinder opposed piston diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, 4 x high-speed electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers.

Early Missions

After Moray's keel was laid down at Philadelphia 1943, she waited for a launch date until 1944, then again for her commission in 1945. She stood out a few weeks later for trials which took place in the waters off New London, Connecticut and Newport, Rhode Island. Completing her shakedown training by February, she teamed with sister ships USS Carp and USS Gillette for her maiden voyage, which was to Balboa, Panama. Moray then continued to Pearl Harbor, where she received additional final training. When deemed ready, she set sail for the Marianas, and finally arrived at her destination in Saipan on June 20. Moray departed from Saipan a week later on war patrol; she was the senior unit of a coordinated attack group. Her partners were USS Sea Poacher, USS Angler, USS Cero, USS Lapon, and USS Carp. By July 1, they had reached an area off the shores near Tokyo, where their first mission was lifeguard duty. However, USS Moray was assigned a special job: she had picket-boat duty southeast of Honsh?. Her contribution was to aid in the military preparation for the vicinity's planned bombardment by the 3rd Fleet.

Alert to Possibilities

Within two weeks, USS Moray seized the opportunity to do even more for her country. In collaboration with USS Kingfish, she attacked an enemy convoy off Kinkazan, Honsh?. Moray fired six torpedoes, one of which struck a Japanese whaler. Six days later, the entire team was transferred to the Kurile Islands, where Moray finished this call to duty in early August before receiving orders to travel to Midway.

Post-War Assignments

Answering her next call in September, Moray traveled to San Francisco's Mare Island Navy Yard, where she was placed into the category of deactivation. Seven months later, her decommission took place. In January 1947, Moray became part of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was re-designated as Auxiliary Research Submarine (AGSS-300) 15 years later, on 1 December 1962. In April of 1967, USS Moray was struck from the Navy List. She was later sunk as a torpedo target off San Clemente, California, on June 18, 1970.

Perhaps Moray should have received more than one battle star for her contributions to the war effort; after all, lifeguard services were extremely important to naval maneuvers at the time when enemy targets were becoming less obvious. Plus, what she was directed to do, Moray did well, and her recognition of the chance to fire upon Japanese vessels proved that her crew was alert, brave, and skilled. This expertise served Moray well in her record of not incurring tragic accidents or mishaps such as minor collisions or onboard problems. The Navy attempted to ensure that vessels had more than adequate protection against technical problems, but luck was a factor as well. Hopefully, fortune played a part when it came to all aspects of the crew's risk of danger.

Some sailors may have faced dangers from a source other than enemy fire; their own ships may have contained asbestos that might have escaped from its surrounding sealant and drifted into the submarine's contained air system. It would not have been that unusual, since repeated jarring or wear and tear may have caused small rips or breaks in the sealant. Unfortunately, once released, small asbestos fibers may have been inhaled or swallowed by anyone, and could have remained inside crewmen's bodies during these last decades. Such long-term irritation has been found to result in serious medical conditions, or even malignancies. One cancer of the lung lining, mesothelioma, is caused only by exposure to asbestos. That is why it is very important that any sailor who served aboard the USS Moray see their doctor at the first sign of any unusual physical symptom, and then contact us for additional information. We will be happy to assist in further investigation and provide as much help as our experience in this area will allow.

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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Select... Mesothelioma Lung Cancer Asbestosis Severe Asbestosis Unknown

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