USS Barb (SS-220)

USS Barb (SS-220) was a ''Gato''-class submarine of the United States Navy that served with great distinction during World War II. Commissioned in 1942, it conducted twelve war patrols, primarily in the Pacific and South China Sea, under the command of the celebrated submarine commander Eugene B. Fluckey. The vessel is renowned for its aggressive tactics and record of sinking enemy merchant shipping and warships, earning numerous battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation.

Construction and commissioning

The keel for the future USS *Barb* was laid down on 7 June 1941 at the Electric Boat Company shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. Its construction progressed rapidly as part of the massive naval expansion program preceding American entry into World War II. The submarine was launched on 2 April 1942 and officially commissioned into the United States Navy on 8 July 1942, with Lieutenant Commander John R. Waterman in command, joining the growing fleet of ''Gato''-class boats that would form the backbone of the Pacific Fleet's submarine force.

Service history

Following its shakedown cruise off the coast of New England, USS *Barb* was assigned to the Pacific Theater. It operated from key Allied bases including Pearl Harbor, Brisbane, and Fremantle, conducting offensive patrols against Japanese naval and commercial traffic. The submarine’s service history is marked by a change in command in April 1944, when Commander Eugene B. Fluckey took over, instituting an exceptionally aggressive command philosophy that would define its most successful patrols and cement its legendary status within the United States Pacific Fleet.

World War II patrols

Over the course of twelve war patrols, USS *Barb* compiled one of the most formidable records of any American submarine in World War II. Its notable actions included the sinking of the Japanese aircraft carrier *Un'yō* in September 1944 and a daring raid on the harbor of Namkwan in January 1945, where its crew used rocket launchers to bombard shore installations and landed a sabotage party to destroy a locomotive. The submarine is credited with sinking over 96,600 tons of enemy shipping, including numerous merchant ships and several warships, during patrols in the East China Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk, and along the coast of Japan.

Post-war service and fate

After the surrender of Japan, USS *Barb* returned to the United States, arriving at San Diego in September 1945. It was decommissioned and placed in reserve at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 12 February 1947. Struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 August 1951, the submarine was transferred to the Italian Navy under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program on 13 January 1954, where it was renamed *Enrico Tazzoli* and served until 1973 before being scrapped.

Awards and legacy

USS *Barb* received the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, and earned eight battle stars for its World War II service. Commander Eugene B. Fluckey was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership during the submarine’s eleventh patrol. The legacy of USS *Barb* endures in naval history as a symbol of exceptional submarine warfare innovation and daring, with its name perpetuated by the later attack submarine USS *Barb* (SSN-596). Category:Gato-class submarines Category:World War II submarines of the United States Category:Ships built in Connecticut