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U.S.S. BALAO
(SS-285)THE BATTELING B
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USS BALAO (SS-285) - a Balao class submarine
In Commission 1943 to 1946SS-285 Deployments - Major Events
| Add a SS-285 Shellback Initiation | Add a SS-285 Deployment - Major Event | ||||
| Month | Year | to | Month | Year | Deployment / Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JUN | 1942 | - | Keel Date: 26 JUN 1942 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Kittery ME | ||
| OCT | 1942 | - | Launch Date: 27 OCT 1942 | ||
| FEB | 1943 | - | Commissioned: 4 FEB 1943 | ||
| AUG | 1955 | - | Shellback Initiation - 10 AUG 1955 - Atlantic Ocean | ||
| APR | 1962 | - | AUG | 1962 | Mediterranean |
| JUL | 1963 | - | Decommissioned: 11 JUL 1963 | ||
SS-285 General Specifications
Class: Balao class submarine
Complement: 10 Officers and 70 Enlisted
Displacement: 1526 tons
Length: 311 feet 9 inches
Beam: 27 feet 3 inches
Draft: 16 feet 10 in
Range: 11 000 Nautical Miles
Final Disposition: Sunk as a target off Florida on 6 September 1963;
USS BALAO (SS-285)
Balao (SS-285) was launched 27 October 1942 by Portsmouth Navy Yard sponsored by Mrs. Theodore C. Aylward wife of Lieutenant Commander Aylward commissioned 4 February 1943 Lieutenant Commander R. H. Crane in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet.
Balao's war operations span a period from 25 July 1943 until 27 August 1945. During this period she completed ten war patrols. She is credited with having sunk seven Japanese ships totalling 32 108 tons in addition to sinking by gunfire 1100 tons of miscellaneous enemy small craft
Balao arrived at Staten Island N. Y. 27 September 1946 and on 20 August 1948 went out of commission in reserve at New London.
On 4 March 1952 Balao was recommissioned and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. Since that time she has been based at Key West Fla. and has operated as a unit of Submarine Division 121 engaging in various type exercises fleet maneuvers and submarine warfare training.
Balao received nine battle stars for her World War II service.
[Note: The above USS BALAO (SS-285) history may or may not contain text provided by crew members of the USS BALAO (SS-285) or by other non-crew members and text from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]