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PRECOMMISSIONING
HISTORY
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During the planning stages, its
was named Acoupa. But on September 24, 1942, prior to her keel
laying on December 27, 1942, she was renamed Batfish after a
"small, pediculate fish resembling the stingray, which sits on the
bottom, supported by its fins, waiting for its prey which consists of
almost everything coming within its reach." Although the physical
comparison was unflattering, the implication of the expected performance
came through loud and clear. Batfish was constructed at the
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine, launched May 5, 1943 under
the sponsorship of Mrs. Nellie W. Fortier, and commissioned on August
21, 1943.
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Launching of the Batfish at Portsmouth,
ME, May 5, 1943
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COMMISSIONING OF THE
BATFISH |
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Upon commissioning on August 21, 1942, Lieutenant Commander Wayne
R. Merrill, USN, assumed command of Batfish. The crew
stood rigidly proud in salute as the United States flag was
hoisted above the Batfish's stern. Then Captain Merrill
read his orders. Shakedown training began the next day.
Post-commissioning shakedown was held around Portsmouth, New
Hampshire. During the month of training exercises included in the
shakedown cruise, about 66% of the crew had to be qualified in
submarines and also learn the war time procedure of submarines. Diving, gunnery and seamanship drills were held
daily. In mid-September, Batfish sailed for Newport,
Rhode Island for torpedo exercises and then on to New London,
Connecticut, arriving on September 26, where gunnery drills took
priority. While in New London, Batfish had to pass the rigid
operational readiness inspection |
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and prove to Commander
Submarines Atlantic that the submarine was ready to go to war.
On October 9, Batfish passed her exams and went back to
New London for minor repairs and to take on fuel, provisions, and
a full load of live ammunition. On October 14, Batfish
was pronounced ready for battle and embarked towards Pearl Harbor
via the Panama Canal.
En route, on October 31, a periscope of a German U-boat was
sighted. Batfish avoided the submarine and in the
process, fired one stern torpedo. The torpedo missed and the U-
boat was never heard or sighted. On November 8, Batfish
entered the Bay of Panama and began the journey westward across
the Pacific to Pearl Harbor. On November 19, the rendezvous
point off Oahu was reached and Batfish was met by her
escort, YMS 286 which led Batfish into Pearl
Harbor. At 1 p.m. on December 11, 1943, Batfish backed
from the dock, departing on her first war patrol. |
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Crew Training off Long Island, August, 1943 |
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Physical Properties
(Balao-class Submarines) |
| Class |
Balao |
| Length (ft-in) |
311-9 |
| Beam (ft-in) |
27-3 |
| Draft (ft-in) |
15-3 |
| Pressure Hull Thickness (lb/sq in) |
35-35.7 |
| Surfaced Displacement (tons) |
1525 |
| Submerged Displacement (tons) |
2415 |
| Complement |
10/70-71 |
| Surface plant |
4 X 1350 BHP (brake horse power) |
| Submerged plant |
4 X 685 HP |
| Auxiliary plant |
1 X 300 Kw |
| Battery (cells) |
2 X 126 Sargo (Battery Type) |
| Capacity (amp-hr) |
2 X 9300 (war) |
| Surface speed (kt) |
20.25 |
| Surface endurance (nm/kt) |
11000 / 10 |
| Submerged speed (kt) |
8.75 |
| Submerged endurance |
48 hr at 2 kt |
| Test Depth (ft) |
400 |
| Tubes (bow) |
6 X 21 in |
| Tubes (aft) |
4 X 21 in |
| Torpedoes |
24 |
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Weights (tons) |
| Hull |
697.06 |
| Hull Fittings |
149.15 |
| Machinery |
448.65 |
| Engines (dry) |
52.43 |
| Batteries |
192 |
| Motors |
24.30 |
| Armament |
41.05 |
| Ammunition |
40.88 |
| Equipment and Outfit |
54.19 |
| Stores and Fresh Water |
37.99 |
| Complement |
6.47 |
| MBT Capacity |
615.72 |
| Lead Ballast |
87 |
| Standard Displacement |
1545.29 |
| Fuel Oil |
175.94 / 300.91 |
| Lubricating Oil |
19.33 / 22.63 |
| Design Displacement |
1804.1 |
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Machinery |
| Main Engines |
No. / Mfg.: 4 /
Fairbanks, Morse |
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Type: Opposed Piston |
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Cylinders: 9 |
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Model: 38D8 1/8 |
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BHP: 1535 |
| Main Generators |
No. / Mfg: 4 /
Elliott |
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KW: 1100 |
| Auxiliary Engine |
No. / Mfg.: 1 /
General Motors |
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Type: ? |
| Auxiliary Generators |
No. / Mfg.: 1 / ? |
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KW: 300 |
| Main Motors |
No. / Mfg.: 4 /
Elliott |
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HP: 1375 |
| Reduction Gears |
Mfg.: Westinghouse |
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Ratio: ? |
| Arrangement |
E5 |
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E=Engine, M=Motor,
G=Generator, R=Reduction Gear |
| Storage Batteries |
No.: 2 X 126 |
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Mfg.: Gould Storage
Battery Co. |
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Model: OWTX49B |
| Propulsion Controls |
Westinghouse |
| Total Shaft HP |
Surface: 5400 |
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Submerged: 2740 |
Sources:
- Alden, The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy: A Design and Construction History
- Friedman, U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History
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