Allied Warships
Barbel (SS-316)
Submarine of the Balao class
USS Barbel being launched on 14 November 1943.
| Navy | The US Navy |
| Type | Submarine |
| Class | Balao |
| Pennant | 316 |
| Built by | Electric Boat Co. (Groton, Connecticut, U.S.A.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 11 Mar 1943 |
| Launched | 14 Nov 1943 |
| Commissioned | 3 Apr 1944 |
| Lost | 4 Feb 1945 |
| Loss position | 07.49N, 116.47E (See a map) |
| History | USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Conde Leroy Raguet) was caught, on the surface or broaching, by a Japanese aircraft, probably a naval aircraft of the 761st Naval Air Flotilla based on Labuan. This aircraft attacked, dropping 2 depth bombs which the claimed to have both hit (one near the sail), and causing the sub to sink "in a cloud of smoke, flames and water" off southwest Palawan island and west of Balabac Strait, in position 07º49'5"N, 116º47'5"E. All hands lost. |
Commands listed for USS Barbel (316)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt.Cdr. Robert Allan Keating, Jr., USN | 3 Apr 1944 | Dec 1944 |
| 2 | Lt.Cdr. Conde Leroy Raguet, USN | Jan 1945 | 4 Feb 1945 (+) |
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Noteable events involving Barbel include:
21 Jun 1944
With her trials and initial training completed USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Robert Allan Keating,jr.) arrives at Pearl Harbour.
15 Jul 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) departs Pearl Harbour for her 1st war patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the Ryukyu Islands.
5 Aug 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant passenger/cargo ship Miyako Maru (970 GRT) off Tokuno Jima in position 27º36'N, 128º54'E. (see map)
7 Aug 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese wooden-hulled army cargo ship Sakura Maru No.11 (???? GRT) southwest of Tokuno Jima in position 27º36'N, 121º46'E.Note that the sub's CO claimed the sinking of a Tonan maru class ship (oilers of over 10,000 tgr) and the ship's actual identity was established through ULTRA intercepts. (see map)
9 Aug 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Yagi Maru (1937 GRT) and the Japanese merchant cargo ship Boko Maru (2333 GRT, former British Sagres) north of Okinoshima in position 27º56'N, 128º47'E. (see map)
13 Aug 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese guardboat Koan Maru (223 GRT) 2 nautical miles east off Amami Oshima in position 28º31'N, 129º18'E. (see map)
21 Aug 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) ends her 1st war patrol at Majuro.
13 Sep 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) departs Majuro for her 2nd war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the East China Sea.
25 Sep 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Robert Allan Keating,jr.), attacks a convoy with torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Bushu Maru (1223 GRT) off Tokara Gunto in position 29º46'N, 129º40'E.At the same time the sub claims the sinking of a "600-ton destroyer escort" as well as that of a 4,000-ton freighter, neither of which are confirmed to be the case by Japanese sources. (see map)
13 Oct 1944
In the East China Sea, Barbel makes a torpedo attack in twilight (about 0600 hrs) on radar bearing against a convoy, claiming one hit and damage on a target identified as a 10,000-ton tanker and the sinking of a 1500-ton destroyer at position 29º38'N, 127º27'E. Neither claim is confirmed by Japanese sources. (see map)
24 Oct 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) ends her 2nd war patrol at Saipan.
30 Oct 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) departs Saipan for her 3rd war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.
15 Nov 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Robert Allan Keating, jr.) attacks a convoy in the South China Sea about 250 nautical miles east of Tourane, French Indo-China, torpedoes and sinks the Japanese troop transports Misaki Maru (4422 BRT) in position 15º10'N, 112º40'E, and Sugiyama Maru (4379 GRT) in position 15º14'N, 112º14'E. (see map)
7 Dec 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Robert Allan Keating,jr.) ends her 3rd war patrol at Fremantle, Australia.
5 Jan 1945
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Conde Leroy Raguet) departs Fremantle, Australia for her 4th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.
8 Jan 1945
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Conde Leroy Raguet) refuels at Exmouth Gulf.
3 Feb 1945
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Conde Leroy Raguet) sent a message reporting numerous aircraft contacts daily. She had been attacked by aircraft three times with depth charges, and would transmit a message tomorrow night giving more information. This was the last heard from her.