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USS Cabezon SS 334

The USS Cabezon SS 334 was a Balao-class submarine that was originally launched on August 27^th, 1944 from the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut and was sponsored by a Mrs. T. R. Cooley. The newly built submarine was officially commissioned on December 30^th, 1944 under the leadership of Commander G. W. Lautrup. Following her shakedown trials and initial operations training, she headed south on February 19^th, 1945 and underwent three weeks of Fleet Sound School off the coast of Key West, Florida and then transited the Panama Canal in order to reach her final destination of Pearl Harbor where she arrived on March 15^th, 1945.

On May 25^th through July 11^th, 1945 the USS Cabezon has successfully completed her first war patrol through the Sea of Okhotsk where she was able to bring down a Japanese cargo vessel on June 19^th sinking the ship that totaled two thousand six hundred thirty one tons. She returned to Midway where she was refitted, refuled and repaired until August 4^th when she departed for Saipan in order to service as a target ship for U. S. surface force training operations. From September 7^th, 1945 until January 12^th, 1946 she had engaged with local operations and exercises within Philippine waters at Subic Bay.

The USS Cabezon SS 334 arrived at San Diego Bay, California on February 6^th, 1946 where she was stationed until she was ordered to sail to her new home port at Pearl Harbor. Just before her arrival to her new base on November 20^th, 1946 she had participated with the Naval Reserve forces off the west coast involving in operational training and fleet maneuvers with countless submarines as well as cruise exercises throughout the South Pacific, the North Pacific and the Arctic Circle.

Between March 18^th, 1950 and October 16^th, 1952 she had made two cruises to the Far East, the second of such voyages had involved her traveling on a reconnaissance mission through the La Perouse Strait between Hokkaido Island, Japan and Sakhalin, U. S. S. R. On April 21^st, 1953 the USS Cabezon SS 334 sailed for Mare Island Naval Shipyard to begin pre-inactivation procedures and was placed out of commission and into reserve there on October 24^th, 1953. The USS Cabezon SS 334 was awarded one battle star for her service during World War II.

Throughout her history, the USS Cabezon SS 334 provided valuable support and training for the Navy. Her crews served her well without being aware that they were facing danger from an invisible enemy. The Cabezon was constructed with asbestos used as a common insulator of duct systems and pipes within the submarine. Now we know that crewmen who worked in close proximity with asbestos are at risk for a variety of respiratory problems including mesothelioma, a deadly type of cancer. Any veterans of the USS Cabezon who may be concerned that they’ve been exposed to asbestos should monitor their respiratory health and consult a medical physician immediately to possibly begin mesothelioma treatment.

Last modified: December 09 2009.