USS Batfish

Two ships of the United States Navy have borne the name Batfish, named in honor of the batfish, any of several fishes; a pediculate fish of the West Indies, the flying gurnard of the Atlantic, or a California sting ray.

Source

USS Batfish (SSN-681)

USS Batfish (SSN-681), a Sturgeon-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the bat ray,as implied by the ship's badge, or the batfish.

Construction and commissioning

The contract to build Batfish was awarded to the Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics Corporation in Groton, Connecticut, on 25 June 1968 and her keel was laid down there on 9 February 1970. She was launched on 9 October 1971, sponsored by Mrs. Arthur R. Gralla, and commissioned on 1 September 1972 with Commander Richard E. Enkeboll in command.

Service history

1972-1978

After commissioning, Batfish was assigned Naval Station Charleston at Charleston, South Carolina, as her home port.

On 22 January 1973 Batfish ran hard aground at Charleston while proceeding to sea. She was pulled free by tugs and returned to port where extensive damage to her bottom was repaired.

Operation Evening Star, 1978

On 2 March 1978, Batfish, commanded by Commander (later Rear Admiral) Thomas Evans, left Charleston on what would transpire to be a remarkable 77-day patrol known as "Operation Evening Star". On 17 March 1978, Batfish detected a Soviet Navy Yankee I-class ballistic missile submarine in the Norwegian Sea some 200 nautical miles (370 km) above the Arctic Circle.Batfish began trailing the boat, collecting valuable information on how the Soviet Navy operated. During the next 50 days, the Yankee I never detected Batfish, and Batfish only lost contact with the boat: the first time during a bad storm, and the second time when a fishing fleet passed overhead. Both times, Batfish quickly reacquired the Soviet submarine.

USS Batfish (SS-310)

USS Batfish (SS/AGSS-310), is a Balao-class submarine, known primarily for the remarkable feat of sinking three Imperial Japanese Navy submarines in a 76-hour period, in February 1945. USS Batfish is the first vessel of the United States Navy to be named for the Batfish, a small pediculate fish resembling the stingray.

Construction and commissioning

Originally to be named Acoupa, hull SS-310 was renamed Batfish on 24 September 1942 prior to its keel laying on 27 December 1942. The Batfish was constructed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Kittery, Maine and launched 5 May 1943 sponsored by Mrs. Nellie W. Fortier; and commissioned 21 August 1943, with Lieutenant Commander Wayne R. Merrill in command.

Service history

1943-1945

Batfish's war operations spanned a period from 11 December 1943 to 26 August 1945 during which she completed seven war patrols. She is credited with having sunk nine Japanese ships totaling 10,658 tons while operating east of Japan, in the Philippine Sea, Luzon Strait, and South China Sea. Batfish received the Presidential Unit Citation for her sixth war patrol in the South China Sea during which she sank the three Japanese submarines. She was also awarded six battle stars for her World War II service.