USS Archer-Fish SS-311

The USS Archer-Fish, a Balao-class submarine, was launched on May 28, 1943 and commissioned on September 4. She was awarded a Presidential Citation Unit for her World War II service and sinking Shinano, a Japanese aircraft carrier and the largest warship sunk by a submarine.

After arriving at Pearl Harbor to join the Pacific Fleet on November 29, 1943, the USS Archer-Fish was underway for her first war patrol on December 23. After stopping at Midway Island to refuel, she made for her assigned patrol area in the waters north of Formosa. During her first patrol she attacked three ships, but scored no hits.

The second patrol for the USS Archer-Fish began on March 16 and she sighted no targets during this 42-day tour. On April 27, she arrived at the Pearl Harbor Submarine Base for a refit, which lasted just over a month. For her third patrol, the USS Archer-Fish was assigned to the Bornin Islands, where she undertook “lifeguard duty” during the Iwo Jima strikes.

After rescuing downed aviator John B. Anderson, she returned to Midway on July 15. She underwent a further refit, after which her fourth patrol commenced on August 7. She toured the waters around Honshu for an uneventful period of almost two months before returning to Pearl Harbor on September 29.

The fifth patrol of the Archer-Fish began on October 30. After stopping briefly at Saipan for quick repairs, she made for Tokyo, where her objective was to provide lifeguard services for the first B-29 Superfortress strikes against the city. During the evening of November 28, she spotted what appeared to be a tanker departing Tokyo Bay. Realizing that a surface attack would be virtually suicidal, Archer-Fish Captain Joseph F. Enright decided that the carrier should be tracked instead.

After six hours, the Archer-Fish was able to get into a safe position to dive, and she then fired a total of six torpedoes before descending to avoid depthcharges. Within just a few minutes, however, it became apparent that she had damaged the cruiser significantly. The ship was initially able to continue its path, but three hours after being hit it lost power, and five hours after that had capsized.

Naval Intelligence initially thought the vessel was simply a cruiser. After the war was over, however, the true identity of the sunken vessel was discovered: the “cruiser” was actually the Shinano, of the Yamato class of “super-battleships,” and the largest warship to be sunk by a submarine since World War II. The USS Archer-Fish was subsequently awarded a Presidential Citation Unit for this feat.

The USS Archer-Fish's fifth patrol ended on December 15 at Guam, and after a rest and refit period she was underway for her sixth patrol on January 10, 1945. As part of a three-submarine wolf pack under command of Captain Enright, she made for the South China Sea, near Hong Kong and Formosa. However, after damaging one target and sinking another, her patrol was cut short due to a need for unexpected repairs.

She made for San Francisco, arriving via Saipan and Pearl Harbor on March 13. Dry-docked at Hunters Point Navy Yard, she received an overhaul and the needed repairs. After the work was completed, she returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving on June 22.

Underway for her seventh and final patrol of World War II on July 10, the USS Archer-Fish traveled for Honshu and Hokkaido, where she was to carry out lifeguard duty for B-29 Superfortress strikes. She was still there when word of the Japanese surrender arrived on August 15, and on August 31 was one of the 12 submarines that entered Tokyo Bay. After the official surrender ceremony the Archer-Fish departed for Pearl Harbor, arriving September 12, before leaving on January 2, 1946 for San Francisco. She was decommissioned at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on June 12.

The fifth patrol of the Archer-Fish began on October 30. After stopping briefly at Saipan for quick repairs she made for Tokyo, where her objective was to provide lifeguard services for the first B-29 Superfortress strikes against the city. During the evening of November 28, she spotted what appeared to be a tanker departing Tokyo Bay. Realizing that a surface attack would be virtually suicidal, Archer-Fish Captain Joseph F. Enright decided that the carrier should be tracked instead. After six hours, the Archer-Fish was able to get into a safe position to dive, and she then fired a total of six torpedoes before descending to avoid depthcharges. Within just a few minutes, however, it became apparent that she had damaged the cruiser significantly. The ship was initially able to continue its path, but three hours after being hit it had lost power, and five hours after that had capsized.

Naval Intelligence initially thought the vessel was simply a cruiser. After the war was over, however, the true identity of the sunken vessel was discovered: the “cruiser” was actually the Shinano, of the Yamato class of “super-battleships,” and the largest warship to be sunk by a submarine in and since World War II. The USS Archer-Fish was subsequently awarded a Presidential Citation Unit for this feat.

The USS Archer-Fish's fifth patrol ended on December 15 at Guam, and after a rest and refit period she was underway for her sixth patrol on January 10, 1945. As part of a three-submarine wolf pack under command of Captain Enright, she made for the South China Sea, near Hong Kong and Formosa. However, after damaging one target and sinking another, her patrol was cut short due to a need for unexpected repairs. She made for San Francisco, arriving via Saipan and Pearl Harbor on March 13. Dry-docked at Hunters Point Navy Yard, she received an overhaul and the needed repairs. After the work was completed she returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving on June 22.

Underway for her seventh and final patrol of World War II on July 10, the USS Archer-Fish made for Honshu and Hokkaido, where she was to carry out lifeguard duty for B-29 Superfortress strikes. She was still there when word of the Japanese surrender arrived on August 15, and on August 31 was one of the twelve submarines that entered Tokyo Bay. After the official surrender ceremony the Archer-Fish departed for Pearl Harbor, arriving September 12, before leaving on January 2, 1946 for San Francisco. She was decommissioned at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on June 12.

After the War

The USS Archer-Fish was recommissioned for a brief period between 1952 and 1955 due to the necessity of augmenting the naval fleet during the Korean War. Commissioned on March 7, 1952, she joined the Atlantic Fleet on July 3 and operated out of Key West. She visited Cuba, Haiti, and other West Indies and Caribbean locations before being decommissioned again on 21 October, 1955.

There was still more work to come for the USS Archer-Fish, however. She was again recommissioned on August 1, 1957. In 1960, she was selected to take part in Operation Sea Scan, which was to study marine weather conditions and other ocean environmental factors. Over the next several years, until 1968, she operated in European and Pacific waters, collecting data for Operation Sea Scan, with brief periods for rest and upkeep.

After being declared unfit for further naval service early in 1968, the USS Archer-Fish was removed from the Naval Register on May 1 and was sunk as a torpedo target on October 19. Unfortunately, many U.S. Navy vessels, including submarines, contained asbestos for its insulating a fireproofing capabilities. If you have developed an asbestos-related disease as a result of asbestos exposure, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a free informational packet.

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