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'''Bang''' (SS 385) was laid down on April 30, 1943 at Kittery, [[Maine]], by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; launched on August 30.  It was sponsored by Mrs. Robert W. Neblett, and commissioned on December 4, 1943, Lt. Comdr. Antone R. Gallaher in command.

'''Bang''' (SS 385) was laid down on April 30, 1943 at Kittery, [[Maine]], by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; launched on August 30.  It was sponsored by Mrs. Robert W. Neblett, and commissioned on December 4, 1943, Lt. Comdr. Antone R. Gallaher in command.

Following four weeks of shakedown training off New England, the [[submarine]] departed New London on 8 February 1944 and headed for the Pacific. After transiting the [[Panama Canal]], she proceeded to [[Pearl Harbor]] for intensified training in torpedo approaches, evasive maneuvers, and simulated warfare. As March came to an end, ''Bang'' was fully provisioned and ready for battle. On the 29th of that month, she departed Pearl Harbor in company with ''Parche'' (SS 384) and ''Tinosa'' (SS 283) for her first war patrol. After a one day fueling stop at Midway, the trio continued to their patrol area in Luzon Strait and waters southwest of [[Formosa]].

Following four weeks of shakedown training off New England, the [[submarine]] departed New London on 8 February 1944 and headed for the Pacific. After transiting the [[Panama Canal]], she proceeded to [[Pearl Harbor]] for intensified training in torpedo approaches, evasive maneuvers, and simulated warfare. As March came to an end, ''Bang'' was fully provisioned and ready for battle. On the 29th of that month, she departed Pearl Harbor in company with ''Parche'' (SS 384) and ''Tinosa'' (SS 283) for her first war patrol. After a one-day fueling stop at Midway, the trio continued to their patrol area in Luzon Strait and waters southwest of [[Formosa]].

The three submarines exchanged contact information and coordinated attack plans throughout the patrol. On 29 April, ''Bang'' sighted a 12 ship, southbound convoy. After maneuvering into a favorable position, she fired her torpedoes into the convoy, sinking the 1,930 ton freighter, ''Takegawa Maru''. The submarine continued to hound the convoy during the night and, the following morning, sank the 2,859 ton cargo ship, ''Nittatsu Maru''. The enemy rained down depth charges on ''Bang'', but training in evasive maneuvers and a bit of good luck enabled her to escape damage.

The three submarines exchanged contact information and coordinated attack plans throughout the patrol. On 29 April, ''Bang'' sighted a 12 ship, southbound convoy. After maneuvering into a favorable position, she fired her torpedoes into the convoy, sinking the 1,930 ton freighter, ''Takegawa Maru''. The submarine continued to hound the convoy during the night and, the following morning, sank the 2,859 ton cargo ship, ''Nittatsu Maru''. The enemy rained down depth charges on ''Bang'', but training in evasive maneuvers and a bit of good luck enabled her to escape damage.

On 17 July, the ship headed back to Pearl Harbor for refit, which continued into the last week of August. She left Pearl Harbor again on the 27th, refueled at Midway on 31 August, and continued to waters northeast of Formosa off the Nansei Shoto. While passing northwest of the Bonin Islands to take up her station, Bang encountered an enemy convoy on 9 September. Diving to make a periscope attack, she fired a salvo at two loaded freighters, both of which—the 1,804 ton Tokiwasan Maru and the 1,916 ton Shoryu Maru—disintegrated due to internal explosions triggered by the hits. The escorts evidently sighted Bang's periscope and torpedo wakes, because as she dove deep, the depth charges accurately drove her down beyond her test depth to 580 feet where depth control almost disappeared. A pattern of 16 charges exploded directly over the boat, but Bang waited out her enemies. The escorts departed apparently satified that they had scored a kill, but Bang suffered only minor damage which her crew easily repaired. Three days later, she arrived on station.

On 17 July, the ship headed back to Pearl Harbor for refit, which continued into the last week of August. She left Pearl Harbor again on the 27th, refueled at Midway on 31 August, and continued to waters northeast of Formosa off the Nansei Shoto. While passing northwest of the Bonin Islands to take up her station, Bang encountered an enemy convoy on 9 September. Diving to make a periscope attack, she fired a salvo at two loaded freighters, both of which—the 1,804 ton Tokiwasan Maru and the 1,916 ton Shoryu Maru—disintegrated due to internal explosions triggered by the hits. The escorts evidently sighted Bang's periscope and torpedo wakes, because as she dove deep, the depth charges accurately drove her down beyond her test depth to 580 feet where depth control almost disappeared. A pattern of 16 charges exploded directly over the boat, but Bang waited out her enemies. The escorts departed apparently satisfied that they had scored a kill, but Bang suffered only minor damage which her crew easily repaired. Three days later, she arrived on station.

On 3 May, the submarine received orders to return to Hawaii. She refueled at Saipan and continued on to Pearl Harbor where she arrived on 18 May. After 10 days of recreation and inspection of the boat, additional orders sent her back to the United States for overhaul at the the Portsmouth (N.H.) Navy Yard. She stopped at Hunters Point, Calif., then continued on through the Panama Canal and up the Atlantic coast to Portsmouth where she arrived on 22 June. The submarine was still undergoing overhaul when hostilities ended. Following completion of the overhaul, Bang operated out of New London in the early postwar period. She was placed out of commission on 12 February 1947 and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

On 3 May, the submarine received orders to return to Hawaii. She refueled at Saipan and continued on to Pearl Harbor where she arrived on 18 May. After 10 days of recreation and inspection of the boat, additional orders sent her back to the United States for overhaul at the Portsmouth (N.H.) Navy Yard. She stopped at Hunters Point, Calif., then continued on through the Panama Canal and up the Atlantic coast to Portsmouth where she arrived on 22 June. The submarine was still undergoing overhaul when hostilities ended. Following completion of the overhaul, Bang operated out of New London in the early postwar period. She was placed out of commission on 12 February 1947 and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

After operating with the fleet in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea for two years, Bang entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for a routine overhaul in August 1954. Upon completion of the overhaul in December, she rejoined the fleet with still more modern equipment. The submarine carried out normal operations along the eastern seaboard primarily engaged in training missions with other submarines and with surface antisubmarine units. She left her home port of New London in July 1957 to begin another overhaul in Portsmouth. When she came out in January 1958, she resumed peacetime operations, including a midshipmen training cruise during the summer of 1958 to Spain and Denmark, a four month deployment to the Mediterranean and northern Europe in 1962, and participation in Operation "Springboard" in the Caribbean in 1966. Between these cruises and major yard work in 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, and 1970, Bang provided training services to Basic Submarine School in New London as well as to units of the Atlantic Fleet.

After operating with the fleet in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea for two years, Bang entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for a routine overhaul in August 1954. Upon completion of the overhaul in December, she rejoined the fleet with still more modern equipment. The submarine carried out normal operations along the eastern seaboard primarily engaged in training missions with other submarines and with surface antisubmarine units. She left her home port of New London in July 1957 to begin another overhaul in Portsmouth. When she came out in January 1958, she resumed peacetime operations, including a midshipmen training cruise during the summer of 1958 to Spain and Denmark, a four-month deployment to the Mediterranean and northern Europe in 1962, and participation in Operation "Springboard" in the Caribbean in 1966. Between these cruises and major yard work in 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, and 1970, Bang provided training services to Basic Submarine School in New London as well as to units of the Atlantic Fleet.