USS Haddo (SS-255)
History | |
---|---|
United States | |
Builder | Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut[1] |
Laid down | 1 October 1941[1] |
Launched | 21 June 1942[1] |
Sponsored by | Mrs. Charles F. Russell |
Commissioned | 9 October 1942[1] |
Decommissioned | 16 February 1946[1] |
Stricken | 1 August 1958[1] |
Fate | Sold for scrap, 4 May 1959[1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | |
Displacement | |
Length | 311 ft 9 in (95.02 m)[3] |
Beam | 27 ft 3 in (8.31 m)[3] |
Draft | 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m) maximum[3] |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | |
Range | 11,000 nmi (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 kn (19 km/h)[2] |
Endurance |
|
Test depth | 300 ft (90 m)[2] |
Complement | 6 officers, 54 enlisted[2] |
Armament |
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Construction and commissioning
Haddo′s
Atlantic war patrols, April – July 1943
After conducting shakedown off New England, Haddo departed New London 9 April 1943 to patrol the shipping lanes to Rosneath, Scotland. She arrived 30 April and joined Submarine Squadron 50 (Subron 50), which was assigned to patrol off Norway and Iceland and stand ready in case of a breakthrough of the German fleet from Norway. When it became clear after three patrols that targets were scarce in this region, Haddo and her sister submarines were sent back to the United States.
Fourth–sixth war patrols, November 1943 – July 1944
Haddo returned to New London 29 July 1943 and steamed via the
Sailing from Fremantle 29 February, Haddo embarked on her fifth war patrol in waters off
Haddo departed Fremantle 18 May 1944 to conduct her sixth war patrol in the
Seventh war patrol, August – October 1944
For her seventh war patrol Haddo joined a
Learning from Harder that a convoy had been attacked by Ray 4 days before and trailed to Paluan Bay, the submarines closed for the attack. As the convoy headed out to sea before daylight 21 August, Ray sank one transport while the escort vessels pursued Harder. At this point Haddo entered the fray, launched six torpedoes at three targets, and dived to avoid air attack. Over one hundred depth charges churned the sea, but Haddo had already sunk cargo ships Kinryu Maru and Norfolk Maru.
Next day Haddo followed Harder in for an attack on a small convoy with escorts, and Haddo succeeded in sending escort ship
Cruising off
Diverting to
On 22 September, while serving on lifeguard station in Subic Bay,"Haddo" rescued Hollis Hills, a US Navy pilot shot down by antiaircraft fire. Hills was an American who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force before the United States entered the war, after which he joined the USN. Notably, while flying an RCAF P-51 Mustang over France in 1942, he had become the first P-51 pilot to shoot down an enemy aircraft.[7]
Haddo returned to Fremantle 3 October 1944. For this outstanding patrol the submarine received the Navy Unit Commendation.
Eighth and ninth war patrols, October 1944 – July 1945
Haddo returned to the waters off Manila for her eighth war patrol. Departing Fremantle 20 October she sank oiler Hishi Maru No. 2 on 9 November, Serving as lifeguard boat for aircraft, she was credited with sinking No.3 Kyoei Maru on 6 December 1944, (but postwar accounting showed the target was only damaged)[8] before terminating her eighth war patrol at Pearl Harbor 27 December. From there she was sent to Mare Island shipyard for much-needed repairs, arriving 5 January 1945.
Haddo departed on her ninth war patrol 16 May 1945. Cruising the
Post-war
Haddo departed on her 10th and last war patrol 10 August 1945 but it was soon terminated by the surrender of Japan. She then headed for Tokyo Bay, where she witnessed the signing of the surrender on board the battleship Missouri and departed for home. Touching at Hawaii, Haddo arrived at Panama 28 September and New London 6 October 1945. Decommissioning 16 February 1946, Haddo was kept in reserve until her name was stricken from the Navy List 1 August 1958. She was sold for scrap 30 April 1959 to Luria Brothers & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
In addition to the
References
- ^ ISBN 1-55750-263-3.
- ^ a b c d e f U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305-311
- ^ ISBN 0-313-26202-0.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-313-26202-9.
- ^ a b c U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305–311
- ^ Blair, Clay. Silent Victory (Philadelphia: Bantam, 1976), p.899
- ^ "First Mustang Victory Credit - Hollis Hills", Armchair General 20 December 2007. https://forums.armchairgeneral.com/forum/historical-events-eras/world-war-ii/45540-first-mustang-victory-credit-hollis-hills[permanent dead link]
- OCLC 41977179. Retrieved 6 December 2007.
Bibliography
- Wright, C. C. (2005). "Question 17/03: Replacement of US Submarine Diesel Engines". Warship International. XLII (4): 431–434. ISSN 0043-0374.
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
External links
- navsource.org: USS Haddo
- SS255 Pictures Archived 26 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine