USS Blueback (SS-326)

Excerpt from the decommissioning booklet of the second USS Blueback (SS-581) describing the first USS Blueback (SS-326). The booklet was printed and distributed by the U.S. Navy.
History
United States
NameBlueback
NamesakeBlueback salmon
BuilderElectric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut
Laid down29 July 1943
Launched7 May 1944
Commissioned28 August 1944
Decommissioned23 May 1948
Stricken28 May 1948
Fate
  • Transferred to Turkey 23 May 1948
  • Transferred to United States 1975
  • Sold for scrap
Turkey
NameTCG İkinci İnönü
NamesakeSecond Battle of İnönü
Acquired23 May 1948
Commissioned25 May 1948
Identification
  • Pennant number D-12 (1948–1955)
  • Pennant number S-18 (1955–1959)
  • Pennant number S 331 (1959–1973)
Decommissioned30 November 1973
RenamedTCG Ceryan Botu-2 (Y-1241) 1973
In service1973 (non-commissioned)
Out of service1975 (non-commissioned)
FateReturned to United States 1975
NotesNon-commissioned charging platform for submarine batteries 1973–1975
General characteristics
Class & typeBalao-class diesel-electric submarine
Displacement
  • 1,526 tons (1550 t) surfaced
  • 2,424 tons (2460 t) submerged
Length311 ft 9 in (95.02 m)
Beam27 ft 3 in (8.31 m)
Draft16 ft 10 in (5.13 m) maximum
Propulsion
Speed
  • 20.25 knots (37 km/h) surfaced
  • 8.75 knots (16 km/h) submerged
Range11,000 nm (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h)
Endurance
  • 48 hours at 2 knots (4 km/h) submerged
  • 75 days on patrol
Test depth400 ft (120 m)
Complement10 officers, 70–71 enlisted
Armament

USS Blueback (SS-326), a Balao-class submarine in commission from 1944 to 1948, was the first submarine of the United States Navy to be named for the blueback salmon, also known as the sockeye salmon. She completed three war patrols in the South China Sea and Java Sea during World War II. She sank a 300-displacement ton submarine chaser as well as eight smaller vessels.

After her U.S. Navy service, the submarine was transferred to Turkey, and was in commission in the Turkish Naval Forces from 1948 to 1973 as TCG İkinci Inönü (D-12) (also written TCG 2. Inönü (D-2)), later renumbered S-18 and S 331.