|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

USS Manta SS-299

The USS Manta was a United States Navy Balao-class submarine, named after a ray that was sometimes called a devilfish. This 311 foot long military version did not get much of an opportunity to be considered devilish, but she did her duty well nonetheless. Manta's power came from her propulsion of 4 x 9-cylinder opposed piston diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, 4 x high-speed electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers. This equipment enabled her to reach a top speed of 20 knots per hour when surfaced, and 9 while underwater. It was also responsible for her ability to dive to 400 feet and endure 75 days on patrol or 48 submerged hours at 2 knots, along with a range of 11,000 nautical miles if surfaced at 10 knots. Manta carried a complement of 81 sailors, as well as an armament of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 5-inch / 25 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns.

A Late Start

Built by Philadelphia's Cramp Shipbuilding Company-and having finishing touches added at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine-Manta's keel was laid down in 1943. Ten months later she was launched, but she had to wait another year to be commissioned. Finishing her fitting out and shakedown off the shore of Connecticut, Manta's maiden voyage began on March 27, 1945. She set sail through the Panama Canal and continued to Pearl Harbor, arriving there at the end of May to begin her war contribution. Assigned to a war patrol near Kurile Islands, Manta's tour of duty was uneventful, and in the midst of her mission, the Japanese surrendered.

Post-War Contributions

Manta thus traveled back to Hawaiian waters, arriving there in early September, and was ordered to take part in training operations for the remainder of the year. On the second day of 1946, she was sent to San Francisco, where she received an overhaul; she was decommissioned five months later and was a member of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Three years after that, in August of 1949, Manta was re-commissioned and re-designated as an AGSS-299. She subsequently stood out for Key West, Florida, where she acted in the capacity as a target ship for experimental antisubmarine warfare. USS Manta performed her call to duty with the Atlantic Fleet's Operational Development Force for four years. In July of 1955, she followed orders to return to New England, and began her inactivation process in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Unable to voyage back to New London, Connecticut, she was towed. Her decommissioning took place in December of 1955, and Manta officially became part of the Inactive Reserve Fleet. Five years later, Manta again resumed training duties in the Naval Reserve with the 3rd Naval District, but in 1967, was deemed to be of no more use to the military. Therefore, on July 16, 1979, she was stricken from the Navy List and sunk as an aircraft target off the shore of Virginia, near the Norfolk Naval Base.

Any vessel that was considered to be useless and then sunk probably elicits much sympathy from its former crew members. It wasn't Mantra's fault that her construction did not take place earlier and that she was unable to fully utilize her technology or sailors' skills in the war effort. But she served a valuable purpose in her training tasks and in her final role as an aircraft target. There is no documentation of any tragedy associated with the USS Manta, or even minor mishaps, accidents, or collisions. Her position was that of a behind-the-scenes support specialist, but just like the ships who scored hits and who sunk enemy vessels, she was revered and respected by her men. And, just like sailors onboard other submarines, the crew of the USS Manta faced risk-both in the face of enemy fire and in the threat of dangerous situations like fires aboard their ships. Yet another peril concerned the possibility of asbestos exposure. Asbestos was commonly used as an added insulation during construction of the mid-twentieth century; it had been found to be an excellent retardant against fire, heat, and electricity. It also seemed ideal for ships due to its lightweight consistency and ability to be squeezed into small spaces. Furthermore, since submarines had limited escape routes and resources, the threat of fire would have been feared almost as much as any enemy. The Navy tried to offer as much protection as possible, and the sealant around asbestos would have appeared to ensure the crew's safety. However, it is not known if the repeated diving and depth charge explosions would have shaken the vessel enough to cause rips in the sealant. Had that occurred, tiny fibers may have floated out of the sealant and into the ship's air system, where it may have been inhaled or swallowed by any sailor. Asbestos fibers could have remained inside crew member's bodies these many decades, and only now would the resulting effects of long-term irritation be seen in serious medical diseases and malignancies. That is why it is very important that anyone who served onboard the USS Manta see their doctor at the first sign of unusual physical symptoms, and then contact us for more information.

Submarines Index

USS Albacore SS 218 USS Amberjack SS 219 USS Angler SS 240 USS Apogon SS 308 USS Archer-Fish SS 311 USS Argonaut-SM-1 USS Argonaut SS 475 USS Aspro SS 309 USS Atule SS 403 USS Balao SS 285 USS Bang SS 385 USS Barbel SS 316 USS Barbero SS 317 USS Barb SS 220 USS Barracuda SS 163 USS Bashaw SS 241 USS Bergall SS 320 USS Besugo SS 321 USS Billfish SS 286 USS Blackfin SS 322 USS Blackfish SS 221 USS Blenny SS 324 USS Blower SS 325 USS Blueback SS 326 USS Bluefish SS 222 USS Bluegill SS 242 USS Boarfish SS 327 USS Bonefish SS 223 USS Bonita SS 165 USS Bowfin SS 287 USS Bream SS 243 USS Brill SS 330 USS Bugara SS 331 USS Bullhead SS 332 USS Bumper SS 333 USS Burrfish SS 312 USS Cabezon SS 334 USS Carbonero SS 337 USS Hake SS 256 USS Hammerhead SS 364 USS Harder SS 257 USS Hardhead SS 365 USS Hawkbill SS 366

USS Herring SS 233 USS Hoe SS 258 USS Icefish SS 367 USS Jack SS 259 USS Jallao SS 368 USS Kete S 369 USS Kingfish SS 234 USS Kraken SS 370 USS Lagarto SS 371 USS Lizardfish SS 373 USS Loggerhead SS 374 USS Macabi SS 375 USS Mackerel 204 USS Manta SS 299 USS Mapiro SS 376 USS Marlin SS 205 USS Mingo SS 261 USS Moray SS 300 USS Muskallunge SS 262 USS Narwhal SS 263 USS Nautilus SS 168 USS Paddle SS 167 USS Pampanito SS 383 USS Parche SS 384 USS Pargo SS 264 USS Perch SS 176 USS Permit SS 178 USS Peto SS 265 USS Pickerel SS 177 USS Picuda SS 382 USS Pike SS 173 USS Pilotfish SS 386 USS Pintado SS 387 USS Pipefish SS 388 USS Piranha SS 389 USS Plaice SS 390 USS Plunger SS 179 USS Pogy SS 266 USS Pollack SS 180 USS Pomfret SS 391 USS Pompano SS 181 USS Pompon SS 267 USS Porpoise SS 172

USS Puffer SS 268 USS Queenfish SS 393 USS Quillback SS 424 USS Rasher SS 269 USS Raton SS 270 USS Ray SS 271 USS Razorback SS 394 USS Redfin SS 272 USS Redfish SS 395 USS Robalo SS 273 USS Rock SS 274 USS Ronquil SS 396 USS Runner SS 275 USS Runner SS 476 USS S-1 SS 105 USS S-20 SS 125 USS S-46 SS 157 USS Sailfish SS 192 USS Salmon SS 182 USS Sand Lance SS 381 USS Sargo SS 188 USS Saury SS 189 USS Sawfish SS 276 USS Scabbardfish SS 397 USS Scamp SS 277 USS Scorpion SS 278 USS Sculpin SS 191 USS Sea Cat SS 399 USS Sea Devil SS 400 USS Sea Dog SS 401 USS Seadragon SS 194 USS Sea Fox SS 402 USS Seahorse SS 304 USS Sealion SS 195 USS Seal SS 183 USS Sea Owl SS 405 USS Sea Poacher SS 406 USS Searaven SS 196 USS Sea Robin SS 407 USS Seawolf SS 197 USS Segundo SS 398 USS Sennet SS 408

Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Phone Number:

Email:

Diagnosis:

Select... Mesothelioma Lung Cancer Asbestosis Severe Asbestosis Unknown

Comments:

Show Your Support

Free Wristbands
Get an Asbestos Awareness Wristband. Read More

VA Claim Help

Support Book

Cancer Support Book
Get a Free Copy of Lean on Me - Cancer Through a Carer's Eyes. Read More

In Your Area

Asbestos Exposure
Learn about asbestos exposure and legal options in your area. Read More

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: Verify Here.