USS Piranha SS-389

USS Piranha was obviously named after one of the most feared marine creatures, the flesh-eating fish. She was a United States Balao-class submarine, 311 feet long, which could dive to 400 feet. With a complement of 81 sailors, she was armed with 10 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, one five-inch (127 mm) 25-caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. She reached a top speed of 20 knots per hour on the surface, nine when submerged, and, underwater at two knots, could endure 48 hours. Piranha could also maintain 75 patrol days. Her propulsion consisted of four 10-cylinder opposed piston diesel engines driving electrical generators, two 126-cell batteries, four high-speed electric motors, and two propellers. Piranha was awarded five Battle Stars for World War II service.

A Strong Start

In June of 1943, Piranha was laid down by the Portsmouth Navy Yard and she was launched later that fall. After her commissioning in 1944, she received her early training off the eastern seaboard. By April of the following year, Piranha made her maiden voyage from Key West, through the Panama Canal, to her base in Pearl Harbor. She sailed for her first war patrol and served in that capacity until August. As part of a coordinated attack group, Piranha protected the waters off the shore of Luzon. During this period, she was responsible for sinking Nichiran Maru and Seattle Maru while succeeding in evading enemy aircraft attacks.

On her next patrol, Piranha performed offensive reconnaissance with nine other submarines, covering the Third Fleet's attack on Peleliu, which resulted in the liberation of the Philippines. Once that mission was accomplished, USS Piranha sought targets along the 20th parallel. It was there that she suffered a heavy depth charge attack in October, but managed to avoid the enemy patrol vessel. On her next patrol, with another attack group in the East China Sea, Piranha acted as lifeguard during B-29 strikes on Kyūshū. This tour of duty lasted until January 1945, and was notable for her hit on a merchantman vessel.

Military Cunning and Prowess

After a refit in Guam, Piranha was ordered to watch for targets in the areas around Luzon, Formosa and Hong Kong, before being directed to lifeguard duty off Formosa. In February, she sunk one junk but was able to reach a nearby convoy, even after running up an improvised Japanese naval ensign. USS Piranha blasted the Pratas Island during the next month with 100 five-inch shells, and then avoided multiple enemy hits off Wake Island. Her next refit took place in Midway that spring; she next traveled to Marcus Island and finished deployment at Honshū. June of 1945 saw Piranha sinking a Japanese coastal tanker, causing extensive damage to a freighter, and ruining an oil-carrying trawler. Her gun power was also seen destroying two additional trawlers later that summer, resulting in a repercussion of slight damage from their escorts' depth charges. Piranha returned to Pearl Harbor a month before the war ended, and was sent to San Francisco that September. She was decommissioned the following May at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and was placed in reserve. In 1962, the USS Piranha was re-designated AGSS-389, and remained in that role for five years until stricken on March 1, 1967 from the Naval Register. She was later sold for scrap.

It's a shame that successful submarines like the Piranha enjoyed careers of less than a quarter century. Probably many former crew members would like to visit their old homes once again, but only a few vessels are still utilized as museums or tourist attractions. The rest were sunk or sold, quite often for scrap, due to their condition from battle experiences. In the case of the Piranha, she incurred minor damage from repeated depth attacks, but it could have been greater than noticeable, even to repair personnel. It is only now that experts have found that submarines' asbestos, an added insulation against fires, may have been damaged during attacks. (At the time of construction in the 1940's, asbestos was seen as an excellent retardant against the tragedy of onboard fires. Plus, since it was lightweight, flexible, and readily available, it seemed an easy way to regulate high heat conditions.) But, if asbestos sealant was ripped or worn, tiny fibers may have escaped and entered the ship's contained air system. Recycling through the vessel, anyone on board could have inadvertently inhaled or swallowed them. Discoveries have shown that these fibers have remained in human tissue for decades, and some people have had reactions to this long-term irritant. Such individuals are now beginning to see signs of medical problems which could be serious conditions, malignancies, or the lung lining cancer, mesothelioma, which is caused only by exposure to asbestos. It is therefore very important that anyone from the USS Piranha who notices unusual physical symptoms see their physician quickly, and then contact us for additional information.

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