USS Torsk SS 423
The USS Torsk SS 423 was a Tench-class submarine that was originally launched on September 6th, 1944 from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine and was sponsored by a Mrs. Allen B. Reed. The submarine was officially commissioned on December 16th, 1944 under the leadership of Commander Bafford E. Lewellan. The Torsk’s was later dubbed the nickname the “Galloping Ghost of the Japanese Coast.” Her construction of the submarine was finally completed on December 31st, 1944 and for the next two months she carried out her shakedown trials and operation training off the eastern seaboard of the United States until February 11th, 1945 when she was prepped and ready to head west to join the fight in the Pacific.
She was ordered south where she arrived at Port Everglades, Florida and briefly assisted with antisubmarine research before departing the U. S. mainland and transiting the Panama Canal heading west to join the Pacific Fleet. She arrived to her new home port at Pearl Harbor on March 23d, 1945 and began immediate preparations for her first war patrol. After stopping briefly at Guam for refitting, refueling and supplies she headed for the regional waters around Kii Suido entering the area on May 11th to conduct life guard duty in support of ongoing Allied aircraft carrier strikes against the Japanese home islands in the near vicinity.
She then moved towards the coast off Honshu, Japan arriving on May 13th where she rendezvoused with the San Lance SS 381 and the Cero SS 225 to form a hunter killer wolf pack of attack submarines. Although their complete coverage of the northeastern coast of Honshu didn’t offer any enemy contacts except for naval mines. On June 2nd while patrolling the waters between Honshu and Hokkaido Island the Torsk came across a Japanese enemy minelayer and attempted to sink her but was unsuccessful.
Operating mainly out of Midway for the remainder of the war she sailed for the Sea of Japan on July 19th, 1945 where she carefully passed through the minefields of the Tsushima Strait on August 10th on her way to the Marianas Islands. After the war she was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet until she was decommissioned on March 4th, 1968. The USS Torsk SS 423 was awarded two battle stars for her service during World War II as well as a Navy Unit Commendation for her service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. She rests today on display at the Baltimore Maritime Museum.
The USS Torsk SS 423 and her crewmembers served their country bravely. Unfortunately, the submarine was built of materials that were made with the deadly substance asbestos. Asbestos is a dangerous material that can lead to respiratory diseases, more specifically the asbestos cancer known as mesothelioma. Asbestos is made up of tiny fibers, so it can be easily inhaled where it can cause great harm and can even be fatal. Crewmembers that sailed aboard the Torsk should receive evaluations from a physician.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
