MM-1-97 US SUBMARINE USS ARCHERFISH

The USS Archerfish (SS-311) was an American diesel-electric fighter submarine (SS) of the Second World War. The keel for this unit was laid in 1943, the launch took place in May of the same year, and entry into service - in September. The ship was 95 meters long, 8.3 meters wide, and had a displacement of about 2,400 tons. The maximum underwater speed is around 8.5-9 knots. The ships of this type had ten 533 mm torpedo tubes - including six bow and four stern. The ship's armament also included single 127 mm, 40 mm and 20 mm cannons. The USS Archerfish was one of the Balao-class submarines. Ships of this class were developed and put into production as one of the basic types of US Navy submarines. The ships were very similar to the Gato-class ships, but were made of a different type of steel, the so-called HTS, which allowed them to reach a greater immersion depth of 120-130 meters. They also had other artillery weapons in a marginal way. Like the Gato-type units, they had highly reliable and proven diesel engines, which allowed for a relatively long patrol time of a single ship. Units of this type also offered - as for the submarines of that time - a good working comfort for the crew. They also had radio and electronic equipment as rich as those times. For example, the airspace search radar was mounted on them. The USS Archerfish's combat career in this class took place within the Pacific Fleet, to which the ship was officially incorporated in November 1943. One woman took part in seven combat patrols in the period from December 1943 to September 1945. The unit was most successful during its fifth patrol, when on November 28, 1944, it sank the Japanese carrier Shinano with a displacement of approx. 70,000-72,000 tons! It was the largest submarine sunk in history. Moreover, only four torpedoes launched by the USS Archerfish were enough to sink Shinano. The ship was placed in reserve in 1952 and finally sunk as a target ship in 1968