USS Lancetfish (SS-296)

USS "Lancetfish" (SS-296), a "Balao"-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the lancetfish ("Alepisaurus ferox"), a large voracious, deep sea fish having long lancetlike teeth and a high long dorsal fin.

Her keel was laid down on 30 September 1942 by Cramp Shipbuilding Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was launched on 15 August 1943 sponsored by Miss Beatrice P. Barker, towed to Boston Navy Yard 19 May 1944 for completion, and commissioned 12 February 1945 with Commander Ellis Burton Orr in command.

While tied up alongside Pier 8, "Lancetfish" flooded through an aft torpedo tube and sank 15 March 1945. She was raised eight days later and decommissioned 24 March. Assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in uncompleted condition, she was transferred to the First Naval District 27 February 1947 and was assigned to the New London Group 9 December 1952. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 9 June 1958 and sold for scrap on 20 August 1959 having never gone to sea on patrol, to Yale Waste Co., Boston, Mass. For $ 57,189.00.

According to Chief Radioman C. M. Hayes, a member of Lancetfish's crew at the time of the accidental sinking, the cause was an argument between two yard workmen. In the after torpedo room they were examining the sight glass in a torpedo tube. One insisted it was empty, indicating a dry tube. The other believed the sight glass was full, indicating sea water in the tube and thus an open outer door. The man who was sure the torpedo tube was dry undogged the inner door to prove his point. He was wrong, and with both inner and outer doors open the torpedo tube quickly flooded the boat.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l3/lancetfish.htm