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USS Muskallunge SS-262

The USS Muskallunge was a United States Navy Gato-class submarine who earned five Battle Stars for her actions during World War II. At almost 312 feet long, she could reach a top surface speed of 21 knots per hour and 9 knots submerged, while carrying a complement of 60 sailors. Her armament consisted of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 3-inch / 50 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. She could dive to 300 feet and stay there for up to 48 hours at 2 knots, and endure 75 days on patrol. Muskallunge was propelled by 4 x diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, 4 x high-speed electric motors, and two propellers.

Success during Malfunctions and Hardships

The keel of Muskallunge was laid down in 1942 and she was commissioned the following year. After her fitting out and shakedown in the waters off New London, her maiden voyage took her to the Palau Islands via Pearl Harbor. Arriving there in September, she had the distinction of transporting the first electric torpedoes used by an American submarine. Muskallunge damaged a Japanese passenger freighter and cargo ship on this first war patrol, even though her torpedoes weren't functioning. She next sailed to the western Carolines area in November, where she sank Noroto Maru before an overhaul. By the following June, she was ready to partner with eight sister submarines in an intercept effort off the Marianas. It was during this Battle of the Philippine Sea that the team severely damaged numerous enemy carriers. In August, USS Muskallunge headed to the South China Sea on orders to patrol around French Indochina, and she complied by sinking the passenger-cargo Durban Maru. This skirmish left her badly damaged from retaliating depth charge attacks; her repair and refit lasted until October. Serving in the seas near the Palawan Passage, her next tour was uneventful, but her next job near Formosa found her providing lifeguard duties during air strikes on China. By the summer of 1944, Muskallunge achieved significant success around the Kurile Islands, which were north of Japan. On this last war patrol, she struck many small enemy vessels in what were severe fog limitations, still managing to pommel two Japanese ships. Sadly, return gunfire took the lives of three of her crew members.

Serving another Country As Well

When the war ended, Muskallunge resumed normal operations as a member of the Atlantic Fleet until being decommissioned in January of 1947. She thus became part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until spotlighted for a transfer to Brazil. Therefore, in August of 1956, Muskallunge was re-commissioned to serve in the Brazil Navy for a year. In 1958 she was again decommissioned before being loaned as part of the Military Assistance Program. Her new name was Humanita while on this mission, which was to last almost 12 years. The USS Muskallunge came back to the United States in 1968 and was later sunk as a target off Long Island, New York.

On more than one occasion, the Muskallunge persevered in the face of danger, even when hampered by technical difficulties or adverse weather conditions. She, like many vessels of the World War II era, showed strength and determination in fulfilling assignments. Apparently her damages were not so intense that they appeared to keep her from being considered for use by another Navy; she served an uneventful retirement for another decade. The unfortunate mark on her record, however, is the tragic loss of life of the sailors killed by enemy attack. This is the worst event that any submarine, or craft of any sort, faced during war. The rest of the crew was surely not alone in mourning this terrible loss.

All ships faced risks, and not just those that came from the enemy. Some were the result of onboard disasters, collisions, or accidents. Luckily, Muskallunge did not incur any notable mishaps, probably due to the extreme caution of her crew, as well as good luck. Yet, sailors everywhere faced a potential danger in terms of the asbestos builders used at the time of many ships' construction. Since it was imperative to prevent fires in an environment that was contained, with limited resources and escape routes, as much as possible was done to minimize any occurrence. This probably involved adding a good deal of asbestos to the insulation. Being lightweight and flexible, asbestos was especially useful in small and awkward submarine spaces, and had the added benefit of being considered an excellent retardant against fire and heat. The problem was that if the sealant around asbestos was damaged due to overhaul, wear and tear, or jarring from repeated depth charge explosions, tiny fibers may have escaped. Once in the ship's air system, they could have been inhaled or swallowed by anyone on board, and remained in their bodies these many years. In some individuals, these long-term irritants have caused serious medical conditions, and in many cases, diseases and malignancies. That is why it is very important for any former crew member of the USS Muskallunge to see their doctor at the first sign of any unusual physical symptom, and then call us for additional information regarding this possible asbestos exposure dilemma.

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

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