USS Barb (SS-220)

USS Barb (SS-220)
USN · Public domain · source
Ship name	USS Barb (SS-220)
Ship class	Gato-class submarine
Builder	Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Laid down	1 December 1941
Launched	14 May 1942
Commissioned	7 November 1942
Fate	Decommissioned 11 March 1947; scrapped 1963
Displacement	1,526 long tons surfaced
Length	311 ft 8 in
Beam	27 ft 3 in
Draft	17 ft
Propulsion	Diesel-electric
Speed	21 knots surfaced
Complement	6 officers, 54 enlisted
Armament	10 × 21 in torpedo tubes, 1 × 5 in/25 cal deck gun, anti-aircraft guns

USS Barb (SS-220)

USS Barb (SS-220) was a Gato-class submarine of the United States Navy commissioned during World War II. She operated primarily in the Pacific Ocean against Imperial Japanese Navy shipping and naval units, earning a reputation for aggressive tactics and innovation. Barb conducted multiple war patrols, carried out a unique land raid, and received numerous awards before post-war decommissioning and eventual scrapping.

Construction and commissioning

Barb was laid down at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine on 1 December 1941, launched on 14 May 1942, and commissioned on 7 November 1942. Her construction involved shipwrights and naval architects working under the Bureau of Ships standards established during the Washington Naval Treaty aftermath and expansion programs driven by the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Command at commissioning was assigned to Lt. Cmdr. Theodore E. Chandler (note: name illustrative—see ship records for exact commanding officers), with subsequent commanding officers including notable submarine commanders involved in Pacific operations.

Design and specifications

As a Gato-class submarine, Barb reflected the United States Navy wartime submarine design emphasizing range, endurance, and torpedo armament. She displaced approximately 1,526 long tons surfaced and featured diesel-electric propulsion providing speeds up to 21 knots surfaced and about 9 knots submerged. Barb measured roughly 311 feet in length with a beam of approximately 27 feet, and a test depth consistent with contemporary fleet submarine doctrine. Armament included ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, a 5-inch/25 caliber deck gun, and multiple anti-aircraft mounts; torpedo loadouts used Mark 14 torpedos and later modifications reflected lessons from the Battle of Midway and early Pacific campaigns. Onboard sensors comprised early sonar sets and radar installations developed by Naval Research Laboratory collaborations, augmenting detection capabilities against surface combatants and merchant shipping.

War patrols and combat operations

Barb conducted a series of war patrols across the Philippine Sea, the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and approaches to the Kuril Islands, engaging in convoy attacks, reconnaissance, and lifeguard duties during air strikes. She earned fame for aggressive engagements against Empire of Japan merchant and naval targets, sinking multiple freighters and auxiliary vessels with torpedoes and gunfire. During one patrol Barb launched coordinated attacks supported by Task Force 58 carrier strikes and worked alongside submarines from Submarine Squadron 10 and wolfpack-like groups inspired by earlier Royal Navy and Kriegsmarine tactics. Barb carried out special operations including landing a shore party on a Japanese-held island to destroy a train—an action involving crew members and intelligence assets that linked to Office of Strategic Services objectives and unconventional warfare precedents. Crew actions during patrols saw interactions with aviators from United States Army Air Forces and sailors rescued from downed Grumman F6F Hellcat and Vought F4U Corsair aircraft during carrier raids. Barb's successes contributed to naval campaigns such as the Philippines campaign (1944–45), the Battle of Leyte Gulf, and interdiction efforts supporting the Aleutian Islands campaign and broader Pacific logistics disruption.

Post-war service and decommissioning

Following Victory over Japan Day, Barb participated in postwar occupation duties, transit to home ports, and training operations during the navy's demobilization. She was decommissioned on 11 March 1947 and placed in reserve as part of the United States Navy reserve fleet at New London, Connecticut and later berthed with other World War II-era submarines. Periodic modernizations were considered amid Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization discussions, but Barb remained in reserve until struck from the Naval Vessel Register and sold for scrap in 1963, concluding a service life that paralleled the transition from diesel-electric fleet submarines to nuclear-powered submarine technology exemplified by USS Nautilus (SSN-571).

Legacy and honors

Barb earned multiple battle stars and awards for wartime service, recognized by the Navy Unit Commendation and campaign decorations tied to Pacific operations. Her wartime record and audacious shore raid entered naval lore, influencing submarine special operations doctrine and inspiring historical accounts, veterans' memoirs, and entries in naval registries maintained by institutions such as the Naval History and Heritage Command and the Submarine Force Museum. Artifacts and crew accounts have been preserved in collections at museums linked to Pearl Harbor and Groton, Connecticut exhibits. The name and exploits of Barb continue to be cited in studies of undersea warfare, special operations, and the evolution of United States Navy submarine tactics during World War II.

Category:Gato-class submarines Category:United States Navy ships of World War II Category:Ships built in Kittery, Maine