Allied Warships

Barbel (SS-316)

Submarine of the Balao class


USS Barbel being launched on 14 November 1943.

NavyThe US Navy
TypeSubmarine
ClassBalao 
Pennant316 
Built byElectric Boat Co. (Groton, Connecticut, U.S.A.) 
Ordered6 Jun 1942 
Laid down11 Mar 1943 
Launched14 Nov 1943 
Commissioned3 Apr 1944 
Lost4 Feb 1945 
Loss position07.49N, 116.47E
History

USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Conde Leroy Raguet, USN) 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)

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CommanderFromTo
1Lt.Cdr. Robert Allan Keating, Jr., USN3 Apr 1944Dec 1944
2Lt.Cdr. Conde Leroy Raguet, USNDec 19444 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.) arrived at Pearl Harbor.

15 Jul 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Ryukyu Islands.

5 Aug 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant passenger/cargo ship Miyako Maru (970 GRT) off Tokuno Jima in position 27°36'N, 128°54'E. (see map)

7 Aug 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) torpedoed and sank the Japanese wooden-hulled army cargo ship Sakura Maru No.11 (???? GRT) southwest of Tokuno Jima in position 27°36'N, 121°46'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) torpedoed and sank 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 27°56'N, 128°47'E. (see map)

13 Aug 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) torpedoed and sank the Japanese guard boat Koan Maru (223 GRT) 2 nautical miles east of Amami Oshima in position 28°31'N, 129°18'E. (see map)

21 Aug 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) ended her 1st war patrol at Majuro.

13 Sep 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) departed from Majuro for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the East China Sea.

25 Sep 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Robert Allan Keating, jr.), attacked a convoy with torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Bushu Maru (1223 GRT) off Tokara Gunto in position 29°46'N, 129°40'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 29°38'N, 127°27'E. Neither claim is confirmed by Japanese sources. (see map)

24 Oct 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) ended her 2nd war patrol at Saipan.

30 Oct 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Keating) departed from Saipan for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.

15 Nov 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Robert Allan Keating, jr.) attacked a convoy in the South China Sea about 250 nautical miles east of Tourane, French Indo-China, torpedoed and sank the Japanese troop transports Misaki Maru (4422 BRT) in position 15°10'N, 112°40'E, and Sugiyama Maru (4379 GRT) in position 15°14'N, 112°14'E. (see map)

7 Dec 1944
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Robert Allan Keating, jr.) ended her 3rd war patrol at Fremantle, Australia.

5 Jan 1945
USS Barbel (Lt.Cdr. Conde Leroy Raguet) departed from Fremantle, Australia for her 4th war patrol. She was 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.

Media links


U. S. Submarines in World War II

Kimmett, Larry and Regis, Margaret


U.S. Submarines Through 1945

Friedman, Norman

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