file created: 12/07/02 00:12:45 , last update: 06/16/00
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SS-285 Balao
United States Navy submarine
Class Laid down, Shipyard LaunchedCommissioned Disabled and Why
Balao 1942/06/26
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
1942/10/27 1943/02/04 1963/09/04
target
Namesake: Balao is the name of any of several halfbeaks.
TTD differences from class:43/02-44/10: 1x102/50 cal, 2x20/Mk 10, SD, Ms 9
Camouflage:


WW II combat actions:
From Till Operation Force Action Source
43/07       joinPac  
43/07/25       patro01   66 
44/01/01     BrisbaneBase damaging Kijozumi Maru (8613 BRT) N of New Ireland (04-32N, 147-23E)   86  85 
44/02       sinking 3 ships (15383 BRT) off Mandiors  
44/02 44/03     patro: betw Halmahera & Hollandia  
44/02/23       patro: sinking AP Nikki Maru (5857 BRT) 35 nm N of Biak (00-11S, 135-00E)   83  85 
44/02/28       patro: sinking AK Shoko Maru (2723 BRT) 90 nm NNW of Manokwari, New Guinea (00-06N, 132-53)   83  85 
44/02/28       patro: sinking AP Akiura Maru (6803 BRT) 90 nm NNW of Manokwari, New Guinea (00-06N, 132-53)   83  85 
44/10       Mare Island Naval Shipyard - refit   68 
44/12       Majuro   66 
44/12/08 45/01?   Post's Panzers patro:   66 
44/12/15 44/12/17   Post's Panzers patro: Saipan   66 
45/01/08       patro: sinking AK Daigo Maru (5244 BRT) 185 nm WSW of Mokpo, Korea (34-28N, 122-39E)   83  85 
45/02 45/04   wolfpack patro: Yellow Sea - with Sea Devil, Tench, Grouper   81 
45/03/18       patro: sinking trawler Daito M. #2 (156) 125 nm W of Mokpo, Korea (35-00N, 123-51E)   85 
45/03/19       sinking AO Hakazaki M. (10413 BRT) from convoy MOTA-43 90 nm NNW of Shanghai (33-09N, 122-08E)   86  111  85
45/03/19       damaging AP Tacuharu Maru (6345 BRT) from convoy MOTA-43 90 nm NNW of Shanghai (33-09N, 122-08E)   86  85 
45/03/19       sinking fishing vessels Katsura M. #1, Eiho M., Eiho M.#2 120 nm W of Mokpo, Korea (34-40N, 122-55E)   85 
45/03/26       sinking AK Shinto Maru #1 (880 BRT) 130 nm WNW of Mokpo, Korea (35-14N, 123-44E)   83 
45/04 45/06     patro: Yellow Sea, East China Sea (with Shad, Dragonet, Spikefish)   66 
45/06/29       patro09: P.H.  
45/07? 45/08/27     patro10   66 

Ship status, hull number changes...: 1963/08/01 struck from Navy List
Ship score (awards, enemy ships credited...): 9 Battle Stars, 10 patrols; 6/31920 (DANFS 7/32108)
Notice: Conning tower and periscope shears are on display at the Navy Memorial Museum in Washington DC