USS Salmon (SS-182)
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{|{{Infobox Ship Begin}}
{{Infobox Ship Image
|Ship image=[[Image:USS Salmon (SS-182), 1938.jpg|300px|USS Salmon (SS-182)]]
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox Ship Career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1945}}
|Ship name=
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[General Dynamics Electric Boat|Electric Boat Company]], [[Groton, Connecticut]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates">{{cite book
| last = Friedman
| first = Norman
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History
| publisher = [[United States Naval Institute]]
| date = 1995
| location = [[Annapolis, Maryland]]
| pages = pp. 285–304
| url =
| doi =
| isbn = 1-55750-263-3 }}</ref>
|Ship laid down=[[15 April]] [[1936]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Ship launched=[[12 June]] [[1937]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=[[15 March]] [[1938]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Ship decommissioned=[[24 September]] [[1945]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=[[11 October]] [[1945]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship fate=Constructive loss due to battle damage; broken up for scrap, 1946<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Ship status=
}}
{{Infobox Ship Characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[Salmon class submarine|''Salmon''-class]] composite [[Diesel locomotive#Diesel-hydraulic|diesel-hydraulic]] and [[diesel-electric]] [[submarine]]<ref name="Register">{{cite book
| last = Bauer
| first = K. Jack
| authorlink =
| coauthors = Roberts, Stephen S.
| title = Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants
| publisher = Greenwood Press
| date = 1991
| location = [[Westport, Connecticut]]
| pages = pp. 269
| url =
| doi =
| isbn = 0-313-26202-0 }}</ref>
|Ship displacement=1,435 [[long ton|tons]] (1458 [[tonne|t]]) standard, surfaced<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs">''U.S. Submarines Through 1945'' pp. 305–311</ref><br />2,198 tons (2,233 t) submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship length={{convert|308|ft|0|in|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship beam=26 ft 1¼ in (8.0 m)<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship draft={{convert|15|ft|8|in|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship propulsion=4 × [[Hooven-Owens-Rentschler]] (H.O.R.) 9-[[Cylinder (engine)|cylinder]] [[diesel engine]]s (two hydraulic-drive, two driving [[electrical generator]]s)<ref name="Register"/><ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/><ref name="FriedmanSubs1-composite-drive">''U.S. Submarines Through 1945'' pp. 202–204</ref><br />
2 × 120-[[Electrochemical cell|cell]] [[Battery (electricity)|batteries]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/><br />
4 × high-speed [[Elliott Company|Elliott]] [[electric motor]]s with [[Reduction drive|reduction gears]]<ref name="Register"/><br />
two shafts <ref name="Register"/><br />
5,500 [[Horsepower#Shaft horsepower (shp)|shp]] (4.1 [[Watt|MW]]) surfaced<ref name="Register"/><br />
2,660 shp (2.0 MW) submerged<ref name="Register"/>
|Ship speed={{convert|21|kn|km/h|0}} surfaced<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/><br />{{convert|9|kn|km/h|0}} submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship range={{convert|11000|nmi|km}} at {{convert|10|kn|km/h}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship endurance=48 hours at {{convert|2|kn|km/h}} submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship test depth={{convert|250|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship complement=5 officers, 54 enlisted<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=8 × 21-inch (533 mm) [[torpedo]] tubes<br /> (four forward, four aft)<br /> 24 torpedoes <ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/><br />1 × 3-inch (76 mm) / 50 [[Caliber#Caliber as measurement of length|caliber]] deck gun <ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/><br />four machine guns
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
{{otherships|USS Salmon}}
'''USS ''Salmon'' (SS-182)''' was the [[lead ship]] of [[Salmon class submarine|her class]] of [[submarine]]. She was the second ship of the [[United States Navy]] to be named for the [[salmon]], a soft-finned, gamy fish which inhabits the coasts of America and Europe in northern latitudes and ascends rivers for the purpose of spawning.
Her keel was laid down on [[15 April]] [[1936]] by the [[Electric Boat]] Company in [[Groton, Connecticut]]. She was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on [[12 June]] [[1937]] sponsored by Miss Hester Laning, and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on [[15 March]] [[1938]] with Lieutenant M.M. Stephens in command.
== 1939 – 1941 ==
After shakedown training and trials along the Atlantic coast from the [[West Indies]] to [[Nova Scotia]], ''Salmon'' joined Submarine Division 15, Squadron 6 of the Submarine Force, [[United States Fleet|U.S. Fleet]], at [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]]. As [[flagship]] of her division, she operated along the Atlantic coast until she relinquished the flag to sister ship {{USS|Snapper|SS-185|3}} late in 1939 as the division was shifted to the West Coast at [[San Diego, California]].
''Salmon'' operated along the West Coast through 1940 and the greater portion of 1941. Late that year, she was transferred with her division and the submarine tender {{USS|Holland|AS-3|3}}, to the Asiatic station. On [[18 November]], ''Holland'' with ''Salmon'', {{USS|Swordfish|SS-193|3}}, {{USS|Sturgeon|SS-187|3}}, and {{USS|Skipjack|SS-184|3}} arrived at Manila and formed SubDiv 21 of the Asiatic fleet to bolster defenses in the [[Philippines]] as marked tension was growing due to Japanese militarism.
== World War II ==
''Salmon'' was conducting a patrol from [[Manila, Philippines]], along the west coast of [[Luzon]] at the time of the surprise air raid by the Japanese against the Philippine bases and [[Pearl Harbor]]. Having been on defensive deployment since [[27 November]], in a wait-and-watch posture, she commenced war patrolling immediately upon receiving word of the attacks. On [[22 December]], while on the surface in the [[Lingayen Gulf]], she encountered two Japanese [[destroyers]] and pressed home an attack which seemed to bewilder the reluctant enemy. She succeeded in damaging both targets by delivering a "down the throat" spread of torpedoes which caught them as they veered course in opposite directions. She then was able to avoid further contact by ducking into a rain squall.
=== 1942 ===
In January 1942, she moved south to operate in the [[Gulf of Davao]] and off the southern tip of [[Mindanao]] and thence proceeded to [[Manipa Strait]] between [[Bura]] and [[Ceram]] in the [[Molucca Islands]]. In February, she patrolled the [[Flores Sea]] from north of [[Timor]] to [[Lombok Strait]] in the [[Sunda Islands]], then put into [[Tjilatjap]] on the south coast of [[Java (island)|Java]] on [[13 February]].
The capture of the airfield on [[Bali]] on [[18 February]] [[1942]] and the losses suffered by [[American-British-Dutch-Australian Command]] (ABDA) forces in the [[battle of Badung Strait]] on [[20 February]] forced the abandonment of the ABDA base at [[Surabaya]] and exposed [[Tjilatjap]] to a possible trap. The tender ''Holland'' moved her base of operations to [[Exmouth Gulf]], [[Australia]], on [[20 February]], as ''Salmon'' set out on her second war patrol.
''Salmon'' spent the next month in the [[Java Sea]] on patrol between [[Sepandjang]] and the area just west of [[Bawean]]. She arrived at [[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle]], [[Australia]], on [[23 March]] to end her second patrol.
Beginning her third war patrol, ''Salmon'' departed from Fremantle on [[3 May]] and established a barrier patrol along the south coast of [[Java (island)|Java]] to intercept Japanese shipping. On [[3 May]], she [[torpedo]]ed and sank the 11,441-ton repair ship, [[Japanese battleship Asahi|''Asahi'']]; and, on [[28 May]], she sank the 4,382-ton passenger-cargo vessel, ''Ganges Maru''. On [[24 June]], ''Salmon'' returned to Fremantle and commenced preparations for her next assignment.
''Salmon'' departed from Fremantle on [[21 July]] for her fourth war patrol in the [[South China Sea]]-[[Sulu Sea]] area. Sailing via [[Lombok Strait]] and [[Makassar Strait]], the [[Sibutu Passage]], and the [[Balabac Strait]], she stationed herself between [[North Borneo]] and [[Palawan]], Philippine Islands. During this patrol, ''Salmon'' was unable to gain a favorable position for successful attack, but made numerous sightings and reports of shipping movements to sister subs in the vicinity. She returned to Fremantle on [[8 September]].
<i>Salmon</i>'s fifth war patrol began on [[10 October]], and her area of operations was off [[Corregidor]] and [[U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay|Subic Bay]]. On the night of [[10 November]], she challenged a large [[sampan]] moving in the vicinity of [[U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay|Subic Bay]] during the hours of darkness. After ignoring the challenge, the vessel was ordered to stop and shots were fired across its bow. ''Salmon'' then maneuvered for a closer inspection and saw that the [[sampan]] was displaying rising-sun emblems on its deckhouse and that its crew was attempting to jettison objects over the side. ''Salmon'''s crew fired at it with .50-caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns. The vessel stopped and was boarded by ''Salmon'' crewmen who found that most of the Japanese sailors had gone over the side. They removed papers, radio equipment, and other articles then set the sampan afire. As ''Salmon'' pulled away, the enemy vessel was seen to explode and sink.
On [[17 November]], off the approach to [[Manila Bay]], ''Salmon'' sighted three vessels and maneuvered for attack. She fired torpedoes at each of the ships and succeeded in damaging two and sinking the 5,873-ton, converted salvage vessel, ''Oregon Maru''. ''Salmon'' ended her fifth patrol on [[7 December]] at [[Pearl Harbor]]. She then proceeded to [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]], [[California]], the following day, and arrived on [[13 December]]. ''Salmon'' remained at Mare Island until on [[30 March]] [[1943]], undergoing alterations including the installation of new [[radar]] equipment and two 20 mm mounts to augment her firepower. She returned to [[Pearl Harbor]] on [[8 April]].
=== 1943 ===
[[Image:USS Salmon (SS-182), 22 March 1943.jpg|thumb|left|USS Salmon (SS-182), [[22 March]] [[1943]]]]
''Salmon'' departed from [[Pearl Harbor]] on [[29 April]] [[1943]] for her sixth war patrol via [[Midway Island]]. She was assigned a special mission which took her to the coast of [[Honshū]], [[Japan]], at [[Hachijo Shima]], [[Kantori Saki]], and [[O Shima]]. During this mission, she damaged two freighters on [[3 June]] and returned to [[Midway Island]] on [[19 June]].
''Salmon'''s seventh patrol was conducted in the [[Kuril Islands]] to cut the [[Paramushiro]]-[[Aleutian]] supply route. She departed from [[Midway Island]] on [[17 July]]; sank a small coastal patrol vessel on [[9 August]], and, on [[10 August]] sank the 2,411-ton passenger-cargo vessel, ''Wakanoura Maru'' off the northern coast of [[Hokkaidō]]. She returned to [[Pearl Harbor]] on [[25 August]].
''Salmon'''s eighth war patrol saw her return to the [[Kuril Islands]] where she was credited with damaging two freighters. This patrol lasted from [[27 September]] to [[17 November]] when she returned to [[Pearl Harbor]].
=== 1944 ===
The ninth war patrol for ''Salmon'' was conducted between [[15 December]] and on [[25 February]] [[1944]]. She succeeded in damaging one freighter on [[22 January]].
On [[1 April]], ''Salmon'' departed from [[Pearl Harbor]] en route to [[Johnston Island]] in company with [[submarine]] {{USS|Seadragon|SS-194|3}}. She was assigned a special photo reconnaissance mission for her tenth patrol which would assist in preparing plans for gaining control of the [[Caroline Islands]]. She conducted a reconnaissance of [[Ulithi]] from [[15 April]] to [[20 April]]; [[Yap]] from [[22 April]] to [[26 April]]; and [[Woleai]] between [[28 April]] and [[9 May]]. She returned to [[Pearl Harbor]] on [[21 May]] with much valuable information that was utilized in last-minute changes to the assault plans.
''Salmon'''s eleventh and last war patrol was conducted in company with submarines {{USS|Trigger|SS-237|3}} and {{USS|Sterlet|SS-392|3}} as a [[Wolf pack|coordinated attack group]] in the [[Ryukyu Islands]]. This patrol began on [[24 September]]. On [[30 October]], ''Salmon'' attacked a large tanker that had been previously damaged by ''Trigger''. This tanker was protected by four antisubmarine patrol vessels which were cruising back and forth around the stricken ship. ''Salmon'' fired four torpedoes and made two good hits, but was forced to dive deep under a severe depth charge attack by the escorts. She leveled off at {{convert|300|ft}} but was soon forced to nearly {{convert|500|ft}} due to damage and additional pounding of the depth charges. Unable to control leaking and maintain depth level, she battle surfaced to fight for survival on the surface.
The enemy seemed wary and held their distance while sniffing out the situation, and gave ''Salmon'''s crew a few precious minutes to correct a bad list and to repair some of the damage. The vessels began to close, but ''Salmon'' showed an aggressive stance, turned on the attackers and passing within 50 yards down the side of one, raked her with 20 mm gunfire and her deck gun. Apparently killing the topside personnel of the patrol escort which came to a stop, ''Salmon'' then exchanged fire with a second which again seemed to hesitate at some distance for reinforcement from the other two which were coming to the scene. ''Salmon'' began sending out plain language directions for all other subs in the vicinity to attack, giving the position of the action. This probably further discouraged the enemy who, fearing other submarines in the area, began milling around pinging on sound gear. ''Salmon'' took advantage of a rain squall and slipped away.
Other than the damage caused by [[depth charge]]s, ''Salmon'' suffered only a few small caliber hits from the enemy vessels. Escorted by ''Sterlet'', ''Trigger'', and {{USS|Silversides|SS-236|3}}, she made it to Saipan. She was given one-third credit for the 10,500-ton tanker, ''Jinei Maru'' which was eventually sunk by a torpedo from ''Sterlet''. On [[3 November]], she moored alongside submarine tender {{USS|Fulton|AS-11|3}}, in [[Tanapag Harbor]], [[Saipan]].
=== 1945 ===
[[Image:USS Salmon (SS-182), February 1945.jpg|thumb|USS Salmon (SS-182), February 1945]]
On [[10 November]], ''Salmon'' stood out from [[Saipan]], in company with ''Holland'', and sailed via [[Eniwetok]] and [[Pearl Harbor]] to [[San Francisco, California]]. On [[26 January]] [[1945]], she departed from San Francisco with submarine {{USS|Redfish|SS-395|3}} and proceeded via the [[Panama Canal]] to [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]], where she arrived on [[17 February]].
After repairs and overhaul at the [[Portsmouth Navy Yard]], ''Salmon'' was assigned as a training vessel for the [[U.S. Atlantic Fleet|Atlantic Fleet]]. After the war's end, ''Salmon'' was slated for disposal and was decommissioned on [[24 September]]. Struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on [[11 October]], she was scrapped on [[4 April]] [[1946]].
== Awards ==
''Salmon'' was awarded the [[Presidential Unit Citation (US)|Presidential Unit Citation]] for extraordinary heroism against enemy surface vessels during her eleventh war patrol in restricted, enemy-held waters of the Pacific.
''Salmon'' earned nine [[battle star]]s for [[World War II]] service in the Asiatic-Pacific area.
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s3/salmon-ii.htm}}
{{refend}}
{{Salmon class submarine}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salmon (SS-182)}}
[[Category:Salmon class submarines]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of the United States]]