USS Bullhead (SS-332)

USS Bullhead (SS-332)
Overview
Keel laying	October 21, 1943
Launch	July 16, 1944
1. Period of service
period of service	December 4, 1944–6. August 1945
Whereabouts	sunk on August 6, 1945 by Japanese air raids near Bali , 84 dead
Technical specifications
displacement	1526  ts surfaced 2424 ts surfaced
length	95.0 meters
width	8.3 meters
Draft	5.1 meters (maximum)
Diving depth	120 meters
crew	10 officers , 70 NCOs and men ; 84 men (August 1945)
drive	4 × 1350 PS diesel engine (total 5400 PS) 4 × electric motor (total 2740 PS)
speed	Surfaced 20.25 knots surfaced 8.75 knots
Range	11,000  nautical miles at 10 knots
Armament	10 × 533 mm torpedo tubes (6 in the bow; 4 in the stern) 1 × 127 mm (5 inch) gun 1 × 40 mm Bofors gun 1 × 20 mm Oerlikon - MK 2 × Browning - MG

The USS Bullhead (SS-332) was a submarine of the Balao-class submarine of the US Navy . It was used in the Pacific against Japan as part of the Pacific Fleet during World War II . In all likelihood, the Bullhead was sunk on August 6, 1945, the day the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, as the last ship in the US Navy during World War II.

The boat was the only ship in the US Navy that was named Bullhead . The name is used to denote various different types of bony fish , including the bullheads . (→ See also: USS Cabezon (SS-334) .)

Technology and armament

The Bullhead was a Balao-class diesel-electric patrol submarine. The Balao class was only slightly improved compared to the Gato class and, like those, was designed for long offensive patrols in the Pacific . In particular, the diving depth has been increased and the interior has been improved based on experiences during the war against Japan . Outwardly and in their dimensions, the boats of both classes were largely the same.

technology

The Bullhead was 95 meters long and 8.3 meters wide, its maximum draft was 5.1 meters. When surfaced it displaced 1526 ts , and when submerged it displaced  2424 ts. The drive was provided by four 16-cylinder diesel engines from General Motors , model 16-278A, each with an output of 1000 kW (1350 hp). Under water, the submarine was powered by four electric motors with a total of 2740 hp, which obtained their energy from two 126-cell accumulators . The motors gave their power via a gearbox on two shafts with one screw each. The surface speed was a maximum of 20.25 knots , submerged the Bullhead still managed 8.75 knots. The possible diving time was 48 hours, the maximum construction diving depth was 120 meters. 440 cubic meters of diesel fuel could be stored in the fuel tanks , giving the boat a range of 11,000 nautical miles at 10 knots.

Armament

The main armament of the Bullhead consisted of ten 533-mm torpedo tubes , six in the bow, four aft, for which 24 torpedoes were on board. A five-inch deck gun was mounted behind the turret . A 20 mm Oerlikon automatic cannon and a 40 mm anti - aircraft gun were housed in the winter garden . In addition, two 12.7 mm machine guns could be mounted in various positions on the ship if necessary and stowed back in the boat after use. For locating enemy ships, the USS possessed Bullhead a JK / QC - and a QB - sonar under the bow, on deck were JP - hydrophones installed. On extendable electronics mast was a SD - radar with 20 mile range reconnaissance to locate enemy aircraft attached, in addition, the submarine had a SJ -Oberflächensuchradar with about twelve nautical miles range. When submerged, enemy ships could also be located using the ST radar attached to the periscope with a range of eight nautical miles.

history

Insignia of the Bullhead

The submarine with the number SS-332 was laid down on October 21, 1943 at Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut . The launch and christening took place on July 16, 1944. The godmother of the submarine, which was named Bullhead, was Mrs. Howard R. Doyle. As the commander , Commander WT Griffith took control of the boat, which initially carried out test drives and practice drives off the coast of New England .

From March 21, 1945 until its sinking on August 6, 1945, the Bullhead was in action in the Pacific theater of war . During this time, she completed two enemy voyages , mainly operating in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Siam .

First patrol (March / April 1945)

During the first patrol, their main task was to take positions along the flight routes of attacking Allied aircraft when they attacked Japan. In this role, Bullhead was able to rescue three crew members from a crashed B-29 Superfortress . In addition, the Dongsha Islands were fired at twice with on-board artillery in order to destroy the Japanese radio station there.

Second patrol (May / June 1945)

During the first patrol, their main task was again to secure Allied air strikes. In addition, two smaller cargo ships were torpedoed and sunk during operations in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Siam on June 18 and 25, 1945. In addition, on June 19, the Bullhead fought down a small Japanese submarine hunter and sank a small sailing schooner by means of gunfire. In addition, two other light submarine fighters were also damaged by gunfire, as was another small freighter.

Third patrol (July / August 1945)

On July 31, 1945, the Bullhead ran out on her third and last patrol. Together with the sister ship USS Capitaine (SS-336) and USS Puffer (SS-268) (Gato class), it was supposed to form a coordinated submarine group called "Wolfpack" and to operate in the Java Sea . On August 6th, the Bullhead gave the last sign of life when it announced that it had just passed the Lombok Strait between Bali and Lombok . That was the last message from the Bullhead and its crew.

After the war, research revealed that the boat was probably sunk shortly after the position report was issued. On August 6, 1945, a Japanese Mitsubishi Ki-51 aircraft reported two direct hits, followed by air bubbles and oil rising for ten minutes at the point where the attacked submarine disappeared. All 84 crew members were killed.

Awards

For its missions in World War II, the Bullhead received a total of two Battle Stars .

credentials

1. ^ ^{A b} Norman Friedman: US Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History . United States Naval Institute , Annapolis, Maryland 1995, ISBN 1-55750-263-3 , pp. 285-304.
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i} K. Jack Bauer, Stephen S. Roberts: Register of Ships of the US Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants . Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut 1991, ISBN 0-313-26202-0 , pp. 275-280.
3. ↑ ^{a b c} USS Bullhead 's crew members at the time of the sinking.
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e} U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305-311
5. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} USS Bullhead in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .
6. ↑ The Balao class at FleetSubmarine.com
7. ↑ ^{a b c} US Navy Chronicle 1945 .

Web links

• History of USS Bullhead (SS-332) in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (English)
• USS Bullhead : Casualty List
• USS Bullhead : List of Achievements.