USS Blackfish (SS-221)

USS|Blackfish|SS-221, a "Gato"-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the blackfish, any one of several small, toothed whales.

She was launched 18 April 1942 by Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn. (sponsored by the wife of Captain Henry de F. Mel), and commissioned 22 July 1942, Commander Raymond W. Johnson (Class of 1930) in command.

"Blackfish" was assigned to Submarine Squadron 50 (SubRon 50), United States Naval Forces in Europe, and on 15 October 1942 departed Montauk Point, N. Y., on her first war patrol. Between October 1942 and July 1943, "Blackfish" completed five war patrols in waters extending from Dakar, West Africa, to the north of Iceland. She is credited with having sunk German "Patrol Boat No. 408" off the north coast of Spain 19 February 1943.

She returned to the United States in July 1943, and after refitting, proceeded to the Southwest Pacific. From 19 October 1943 to 14 August 1945 she completed seven war patrols in an area including the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, South China Sea, East China Sea, and the Yellow Sea. "Blackfish" sank one Japanese cargo vessel of 2,087 tons during her Pacific patrols.

She completed her 12th and last war patrol on 14 August 1945. While no targets worthy of torpedo fire were encountered during this patrol, on 5 August she rescued six Army fliers, and on 8 August effectively bombarded shore installations on Kusakaki Shima.

She departed Guam 27 August 1945 for the East Coast of the United States. After visiting New York and Camden, N. J., she proceeded to the Submarine Base, New London, Conn., where she was placed in inactive status. On 11 May 1946 "Blackfish" was placed out of commission in reserve, and on 5 May 1949 she reported to the Naval Reserve Training Center, St. Petersburg, Fla., to be used in reserve training. She returned to New London 2 February 1954.

"Blackfish" received eight battle stars for her World War II service.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b6/blackfish-i.htm DANFS: USS "Blackfish"]
* [http://hazegray.org/danfs/submar/ss221.htm hazegray.org: USS "Blackfish"]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08221.htm navsource.org: USS "Blackfish"]