MUSKOGEE WAR MEMORIAL PARK

USS BATFISH & USS OKLAHOMA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

The famed submarine was a powerful U.S. weapon during World War II. Named for a ferocious West
Indian fish, the Battish sank 15 Japanese vessels during the war, among them three submarines in just
76 hours. The latter accomplishment has not since been matched and U.S.S. Batfish to this day re­
mains the most successful submarine killing sub in history. The USS Batfish (SS-310) is a Balao class
submarine, the second class of fleet submarine introduced during World War I:. The United States
Navy designed the Batao Class to replace the older Gato Class. In comparison to the Gato class, the
Balao class could dive much deeper due to its increase hull thickness (7/8 of an inch compared to the
Gato’s 9/16). Construction started on the USS Battish on December 27,1942. By May 1943, the United
States r~avy Launched the USS Battish under the sponsorship of Nellie W. Fortier.

Following the launch, the United States Navy commissioned the USS Battish on August 21, 1943.
Lieutenant Commander Wayne R. Merrill, USN, assumed command of the Battish.

Skills

Posted on

November 13, 2020

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