USS Paddle SS-263

USS Paddle was a United States Navy Gato-class submarine that was awarded eight Battle Stars for her actions in World War II . She carried a complement of 60 sailors and her armament included 10 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, one 3-inch / 50 caliber deck gun and four machine guns. At 311 feet long, she was propelled by four diesel engines driving electrical generators, two 126-cell batteries, four high-speed electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers. This equipment allowed for an endurance of 75 days on patrol and 48 hours submerged at two knots. The vessel could reach top speeds of 21 knots per hour on the surface and nine knots underwater.

Minor Damage, Major Hits

After her keel was laid down by the Electric Boat Company in May 1943, the USS Paddle launched that December and was commissioned in March of the following year. Her shakedown trials took place in New London, Connecticut, and she sailed for Pearl Harbor four months later. The USS Paddle then began war patrol assignments, duties in destroyer antisubmarine warfare training and the transport of equipment for military meteorological utilization. The USS Paddle was first directed into waters around the southern points of Japan, where she struck a freighter but endured 13 hours of depth charges on August 13. She incurred her first real damage six days later from seven bombs dropped out of enemy search planes. The USS Paddle retaliated with the sinking of passenger-cargo ship Ataka Maru within four days. Her next assignment was to service the carrier task force in the Gilberts and Marshalls area by transmitting constant weather reports and guide Army bombers into the Tarawa vicinity. While completing these duties, the USS Paddle also caused serious damage to the tanker Nippon Maru. She then received an overhaul back in the U.S. In response to her next order in April 1944, she sailed to the Dutch East Indies and the southern Philippines and sank Mito Maru and Hino Maru No. 1. Her next war patrol saw the USS Paddle in the Celebes Sea where she was unfortunately damaged by bombs. Again her crew responded quickly, allowing her to sink the destroyer Hokaze and damage two freighters within the week.

Misunderstandings and International Retirement

In September, she sank the cargo ship Shinyo Maru while damaging an enemy convoy vessel. Sadly, the vessel happened to be an unmarked Prisoner of War carrier with more than 750 Allied POWs aboard, unknown to the USS Paddle. Also unaware, Japanese boats then attacked and killed all but 83 of the POWs before they reached shore. A survivor died upon reaching land and another chose to stay in the Philippines while the other 83 sailed for their Australian homeland.

The USS Paddle then served as lifeguard off Balikpapan in the fall, and in doing so, sank two oil-laden sea trucks and a schooner. She was then sent to the South China Sea in early 1945, and west of Luzon, the USS Paddle sank the tanker Shoei Maru and damaged an enemy destroyer. Traveling in the Yellow and East China Seas of her last war patrol, she demolished floating mines with gunfire, while intermittently sinking eight schooners and picket boats and performing lifeguard duty near southern Honshū. After the war hostilities ended, she traveled back to New London, where she was placed in reserve. She was decommissioned in February 1946. Ten years later USS Paddle was re-commissioned for transfer to Brazil. On January 18, 1957, she joined the Brazilian Navy and was commissioned as Riachuelo (S-15). The vessel was sunk as a target in 1968.

The USS Paddle was fortunate that most of her repairs could be easily fixed by the onboard crew. Even after thorough overhauls and professional maintenance, however, crew members of the USS Paddle still faced the same risks as sailors on other submarines - the risk of asbestos exposure. Heavily used during the time of the USS Paddle's construction, asbestos was known to be an excellent addition to insulation, since it could fit into small spaces, weighed practically nothing and was naturally resistant to heat and fire. However, if its sealant became damaged during collisions or depth charge jarring, toxic fibers may have become airborne where they could enter the ship's air system. If the fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they may lead to inflammation or infection in the body. This can lead to the development of serious medical conditions or malignancies. If any former crew member of the USS Paddle or shipyard worker experiences unusual physical symptoms, they should see a physician immediately. Asbestos.com offers a complimentary packet with additional information about asbestos exposure and asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.

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