USN · SS
AfloatBalao-class submarine, SS-311, the first ship of the name. Portsmouth Navy Yard. Laid down 22 January 1943, launched 28 May 1943, commissioned 4 September 1943, Lieutenant Commander George W. Kehl in command. Commander William H. Wright relieved him on 18 May 1944. Commander Joseph Francis Enright relieved Wright on 29 September 1944. Early on 29 November 1944 she sank the carrier Shinano. She had fired six torpedoes after a surface chase of about six and a half hours. Four hits are the number carried against Shinano. A Presidential Unit Citation for that patrol. NavSource counts seven battle stars. Decommissioned on 12 June 1946. Struck on 1 May 1968 and sunk as a target off California later that year. The day of the target sinking is not settled here.
| Type | Submarine (SS) |
|---|---|
| Hull | SS-311 |
| Builder | Portsmouth Navy Yard |
| Launched | 1943-05-28 |
| Commissioned | 1943-09-04 |
| Fate | Afloat. Survived the war. On 29 November 1944 she sank Shinano, after a surface chase of about six and a half hours. The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships says she fired six torpedoes. Four hits are the number carried against Shinano. Decommissioned on 12 June 1946. Struck on 1 May 1968 and sunk as a target off California later that year. |
| Command |
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Laid down, displacement, length, beam, draft, speed, and complement are not stored for each hull, so this table leaves them out.
USS Archerfish (SS-311) near San Francisco on 5 June 1945. The hull number is not readable in this view. U.S. Navy photograph. Public domain.
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Command
Loss of Shinano
1944-11-29 · sank Shinano. Not sunk
Shot and shell
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