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| − | Bang (SS 385) was laid down on 30 April 1943 at Kittery, Maine, by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; launched on 30 August; sponsored by Mrs. Robert W. Neblett; and commissioned on 4 December 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 30th. It was sponsored by Mrs. Robert W. Neblett, and commissioned on December 4, 1943, Lt. Comdr. Antone R. Gallaher in command. |
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| | 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. |
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| | 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. |
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| | Tinosa sighted a northbound Japanese convoy on 3 May, and Bang moved in to pursue its 10 ships. Her first attempt to attack during daylight was foiled by enemy plane and surface escorts which forced her to dive. After dark, she and her colleagues coordinated a surface attack in which Bang sank a large cargo ship, the 5,947 ton Kinrei Maru, and claimed the destruction of a destroyer which was not confirmed by postwar study of Japanese records. Since all of her torpedoes had been expended, Bang departed the area on 6 May and arrived at Midway on the 14th for refit alongside Proteus (AS 19). | | Tinosa sighted a northbound Japanese convoy on 3 May, and Bang moved in to pursue its 10 ships. Her first attempt to attack during daylight was foiled by enemy plane and surface escorts which forced her to dive. After dark, she and her colleagues coordinated a surface attack in which Bang sank a large cargo ship, the 5,947 ton Kinrei Maru, and claimed the destruction of a destroyer which was not confirmed by postwar study of Japanese records. Since all of her torpedoes had been expended, Bang departed the area on 6 May and arrived at Midway on the 14th for refit alongside Proteus (AS 19). |
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| − | Bang (SS-385) received six battle stars for her World War II service.<ref>Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b2-list.htm]</ref> | + | Bang (SS-385) received six battle stars for her [[World War II]] service.<ref>Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b2-list.htm]</ref> |
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |