USS Redfish SS-395

Construction began on the USS Redfish in the fall of 1943 and she was completed in the spring of 1944. She was constructed at the Portsmouth Naval Yard in Maine. The USS Redfish was a Baloa-class submarine. The Balao-class subs were an improved class of submarines developed by the Navy for use in the second World War. The use of higher yield steel allowed the Balao-class submarines to dive up to 400 feet, an improvement over the earlier Gato-class subs. The Navy built 128 of the Balao subs, making them the largest class of submarines used by the military. The Redfish, like other Balao-class subs, was able to remain submerged for up to 48 hours. She could remain on patrol for up to 75 days. With a crew of around 80 men, the Redfish was prepared for battle with 10 torpedoes, a deck gun and four machine guns. The Redfish was part of history before she ever fired her first torpedo. She, along with the Razorback, the Ronquil and the Scabbardfish are the only four ships to be launched by the Navy on the same day from the same yard. This shows the incredible intensity that the U.S. Navy was working under to put these submarines into the water and defeat the Japanese.

Early Patrols

The Redfish departed from Pearl Harbor for her first war time patrol in the summer of 1944. On this first patrol, the Redfish saw a good bit of success. By the time she reached Midway Island at the conclusion of her tour, she had three successful sinkings. These sinkings included an enemy cargo ship, transport and tanker. On her second patrol, the Redfish encountered an enemy transport and launched a successful night attack. She then attacked an aircraft carrier. With help from another sub, the Redfish badly damaged the carrier, and left it incapacitated for the duration of the war.

Next, the Redfish encountered another aircraft carrier. She successfully sank this vessel as well. She dove deeply to evade the depth charges launched against her. At the completion of this patrol, she headed to Portsmouth Naval Yard, where she received repairs. After the work was completed, she headed to Pearl Harbor to prepare for next patrol. She was in Pearl Harbor at the end of hostilities.

After the War

At the end of World War II, the Redfish made a tour to Guam, returning to San Diego. The following spring, she again toured the Far Pacific, visiting Guam and Japan. She then participated in training activities along the west coast of the United States, down to Hawaii. The Redfish also spent time in the waters along Korea and Japan, supporting the United Nations. Upon her return, the Redfish once again docked in San Diego.

The Redfish began her new career as a movie star in 1954. Her first appearance was in the Walt Disney movie, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." She also appeared in the film "Run Silent, Run Deep" and episodes of the television show "Silent Service." She underwent some cosmetic changes before these appearances. For the Walt Disney movie, she received a fake rear fin, and for the movie "Run Silent, Run Deep" her weaponry and deck were modified.

In 1960, the Redfish was reclassified and given the name AGSS. After reclassification, she spent six months deployed in the Pacific, and for the next eight years made regular training runs through the area. In 1968, the submarine was decommissioned and struck from the Navy List. She was then sunk in a training exercise when she was used as a target. Despite her limited patrols in World War II, the Redfish received two Battle Stars for her performance.

Concerns for Navy Crewmen

The ships and submarines that navy crewmen spent much of their career on contained asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that was widely used prior to 1978. In the case of the military, asbestos was added to insulation as well as building components. Asbestos is fireproof and heatproof. It prevents sparks from igniting and dampens noises. These properties, combined with its ready availability and affordable price, made it a top choice for many functions on board ships and submarines.

Asbestos materials protected the men on the ship and subs from heat and fires, and made living conditions more tolerable by stopping heat transfer from boilers and torpedo rooms to living areas, and dampening sound so that the rotating shifts of crew could rest when not on duty. However, exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma and asbestosis, two serious health concerns. The diseases associated with asbestos exposure do not typically occur until many decades after the exposure took place. If you believe that you were exposed to asbestos while in the Navy and would like more information, please fill out the form on this page to receive a comprehensive packet in the mail.

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