USS Bang SS 385
The USS Bang SS 385 was a Balao-class submarine that was launched on August 3rd, 1943 from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine and was sponsored by a Mrs. Robert W. Neblett. The sub was officially commissioned on December 4th, 1943 under the command of Lieutenant Commander Antone R. Gallaher. After four weeks of intense operational training off the coast of New London, Connecticut, the Bang ready to embark on its first voyage on February 8th, 1944. The sub transited the Panama Canal and headed out into the Pacific driving towards Pearl Harbor where she carried out massive exercises such as evasive maneuvers, simulation warfare and torpedo approaches.
On March 29th, 1944 she was prepped and ready to set out on her first war patrol heading to the Luzon Strait and the cruising along the waters just south of Formosa. On April 29th, the Bang sighted an enemy cargo freighter with a convoy of ships and got into fighting positions and let her torpedoes loose successfully sinking her acquired target. She followed the convoy throughout the night stalking its prey and after sinking another two thousand ton vessel from the group, she escaped without damage even as the enemy ships rained down depths charges over her. She departed the area on May 6th after having exhausted her entire torpedo supply and headed back to base at Midway for refitting. On September 20th, she was patrolling once again when she sunk two enemy cargo ships near the Bonin Islands.
During her illustrious career with the U. S. Navy, the Bang was officially credited with sinking eight Japanese merchant ships totaling over twenty tons. On October 1st, 1972 the USS Bang SS 385 was officially decommissioned and then transferred to the Spanish Navy on a five-year loan. She was re-commissioned as SPS Cosme Garcia S34 and on November 1st she officially struck from the American Naval Vessel Register and the transfer to Spain was made permanent by sale. The USS Bang SS 385 was awarded six battle stars for her service during World War II.
The USS Bang SS 385 has been declared to be toxic, asbestos was used as a construction material in items commonly found on submarines. Asbestos is made up of tiny fibers, so the asbestos on board the USS Bang SS 385 could have been inhaled by the members of her crew, or could have attached to the items that were being delivered to other submarines. Asbestos can easily stick to most surfaces, and then be released into the air later. This led to the possibility that any person on a submarine which received goods from the Bang might also have been exposed to this toxic material and these deadly asbestos fibers were also utilized within the piping duct systems construction. Exposure to asbestos is very dangerous and can lead to potentially deadly diseases such as mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer. Any crewmembers who have been exposed to dangerous asbestos should seek medical attention and respiratory evaluation.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
