USS Spadefish SS-411 (1944-1946)
The USS Spadefish was a Balao-class submarine first laid down in May 1943 by the Mare Island Navy Yard, located in Vallejo, California. She was commissioned on March 9, 1944, with Commander Gordon W. Underwood in command. Despite being commissioned toward the end of World War II, spending only one year in the Pacific war zone, USS Spadefish SS-411 managed to sink 21 ships. Many of these enemy ships were trawlers, earning her a total of 88,091 tons sunk.
World War II
As part of Spadefish’s maiden war patrol she was teamed up with Picuda SS-382 and Redfish SS-395 as part of a coordinated attack group. During this time Spadefish patrolled Philippine waters off the northwest coast of Luzon where she quickly torpedoed and sank Japan’s 9,589-ton passenger-cargo ship Tamatsu Maru. On this same war patrol Spadefish sank the tanker Hakko Maru No. 2 and damaged another tanker before needing to replenish her torpedo supply. Once she had been reloaded Spadefish went on to sink cargo ships Nichiman Maru, Nichian Maru, Shinten Maru, and Shokei Maru. Upon conclusion of her first war patrol Spadefish was credited with sinking 31,500 tons. The sister ships in her coordinated attack group were credited with an additional 33,000 tons, resulting in over 64,000 collective tons from the sinking of 13 enemy ships.
USS Spadefish’s subsequent war patrols were also effective and included kills in the Yellow Sea, Majuro Atoll, Tsushima Strait, Port Arthur, and the Sea of Japan. Throughout these patrols Spadefish managed to thwart off any major damage. She was fitted with new mine-detection equipment prior to her fifth patrol and was part of a convoy of eight other United States submarines whose mission was to penetrate the minefields of Tsushima Strait. This undertaking ended successfully, and Spadefish exited the Sea of Japan, returning to Pearl Harbor on July 4, 1945.
Decommissioning
Before she could depart for her sixth war patrol, hostilities with Japan ceased. Spadefish was decommissioned at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on May 3, 1946. She was first placed in reserve before being reclassified as an auxiliary submarine, AGSS-411, in November 1962. She was eventually struck from the Naval Vessel Register on April 1, 1967, and sold for scrap two years later. Spadefish’s efforts during World War II earned her four battle stars.
Asbestos in Navy Ships
Although an essential component of the naval fleet, especially throughout conflicts of the last century, submarines also pose a lasting health risk to soldiers serving on them. However, these risks extend beyond the inherent dangers that existed while operating the vessels during military conflicts. Unfortunately, products containing asbestos were also common aboard submarines because of the material’s high resistance to heat and fire. Despite its value as an insulator, asbestos fiber intake can lead to several serious health consequences, including mesothelioma, a devastating cancer without cure. Furthermore, the enclosed environment of submarines put servicemen at an even higher risk of exposure. Current and former military personnel who came into contact with or served on submarines should seek immediate medical attention in order to detect possible health consequences associated with asbestos exposure.
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