USS Bumper (SS-333)

USS "Bumper" (SS-333), a "Balao"-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the bumper, a fish of the West Indian Ocean.

"Bumper" (SS-333) was launched 6 August 1944 by Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn.; sponsored by Mrs. Joseph W. Williams, Jr., wife of the prospective commanding officer; and commissioned 9 December 1944, Commander J. W. Williams, Jr., in command.

Between 22 April and 15 August 1945 "Bumper" completed two war patrols in the Java and South China Seas and the Gulf of Siam. During this time she sank a 1189-ton tanker, destroyed another small tanker at anchor, and sank four miscellaneous small craft by gunfire.

"Bumper" arrived at Fremantle, Australia, from her last war patrol 15 August 1945. On 31 August 1945 she departed Fremantle for Subic Bay, Philippine Islands where she arrived 9 September. She served as a unit of Submarines, Philippine Sea Frontier, until February 1946 when she returned to California for repairs. Repairs completed, she reported for duty with Submarine Squadron 5 at Pearl Harbor and operated in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands until December.

On 16 December 1946 she departed Pearl Harbor to conduct a simulated war patrol. She called at Truk, Caroline Islands; Subic Bay, Philippine Islands; Yokosuka, Japan; and Midway. She also spent six weeks with Northern Training Group, Western Pacific, at Tsingtao, China, and in the Yellow Sea. She returned to Pearl Harbor 29 March 1947.

Early in January 1948 "Bumper" proceeded to California and underwent yard overhaul until 1 June 1948. She arrived back at Pearl Harbor 12 June and shortly thereafter commenced her second simulated war patrol in the Western Pacific, returning to Pearl Harbor 29 September 1949.

TCG "Çanakkale" (S 333)

"Bumper" operated out of Pearl Harbor until 7 February 1950 when she returned to the United States. She transited the Panama Canal 22 February 1950 and operated along the eastern seaboard until 16 September 1950 when she was decommissioned. She was transferred to Turkey 16 November 1950 and recommissioned as TCG "Çanakkale" (S 333). She served in the Turkish Navy until she was decommissioned 11 August 1976.

"Bumper" received one battle star for her World War II service.

References

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b10/bumper-i.htm|http://hazegray.org/danfs/submar/ss333.htm

External links

*navsource|08/08333|Bumper
* [http://www.rddesigns.com/ww2/bumper.html Sinkings by boat: USS "Bumper"]