USS Barbel (SS-316)

insert image here insert caption here (insert link to larger image here)
Career
Ordered:
Laid down:
Launched:	14 November 1943
Commissioned:	3 April 1944
Fate:	sunk, probably by Japanese
Stricken:	16 February 1945
General Characteristics
Displacement:	1526 tons
Length:	311 feet 9 inches
Beam:	27 feet 3 inches
Draft:	16 feet 10 inches
Speed:	20.3 knots
Complement:	66 officers and men
Armament:	one five-inch gun, ten 21-inch torpedo tubes

USS Barbel (SS-316), a Balao-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the barbel, a cyrinoid fish, commonly called a minnow or carp. Her keel was laid down by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 14 November 1943 sponsored by Mrs. Harold A. Allen, and commissioned 3 April 1944 with Commander R. A. Keating in command.

Barbel arrived at Pearl Harbor on 21 June 1944 and commenced preparation for her first war patrol. Between 15 July 1944 and 4 February 1945 she carried out four war patrols and is officially credited with sinking six Japanese ships totaling 15,263 tons.

Barbel departed Fremantle, Australia, on 5 January 1946 for the South China Sea on her fourth patrol. Late in January she was ordered to form a wolf-pack with Perch (SS-313) and Gabilan (SS-252) and patrol the western approaches to Balabac Strait and the southern entrance to Palawan Passage. On 3 February Barbel sent a message reporting that she had been attacked three times by enemy aircraft dropping depth charges and would transmit further information on the following night.

Barbel was never heard from again. Japanese aviators reported an attack on a submarine off southwest Palawan on 4 February. Two bombs were dropped and one landed on the submarine near the bridge. The sub plunged, under a cloud of fire and spray. This was very likely the last engagement of Barbel. She was officially reported lost 16 February 1945.

Barbel received three battle stars for her World War II service.

See USS Barbel for other ships of the same name.

References

This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.