USS Becuna

USS Becuna
Becuna (SS-319), after commissioning in May 1944.
USS Becuna (SS-319) after commissioning in May 1944.
History
United States
NamesakeBecuna
OrderedApril 10, 1942
BuilderElectric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut[1]
Laid downApril29, 1943[1]
LaunchedJanuary 30, 1944[1]
Sponsored byMrs. George C. Crawford, wife of Commander Crawford
CommissionedMay 27, 1944[1]
DecommissionedNovember 7, 1969[1]
StrickenAugust 15, 1973[1]
MottoTiger of the Sea
Honors and
awards		4 Battle Stars
StatusMuseum ship at Philadelphia, June 21, 1976[2]
Badge
General characteristics As built
Class and typeBalao-class diesel-electric submarine[2]
Displacement
  • 1,500 long tons (1,500 t) surfaced[2]
  • 2,080 long tons (2,110 t) submerged[2]
Length311 ft 9 in (95.02 m)[2]
Beam27 ft 3 in (8.31 m)[2]
Draft16 ft 10 in (5.13 m) maximum[2]
Propulsion
Speed
  • 20.25 knots (38 km/h) surfaced[3]
  • 8.75 knots (16 km/h) submerged[3]
Range11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h)[3]
Endurance
  • 48 hours at 2 knots (3.7 km/h) submerged[3]
  • 75 days on patrol
Test depth400 ft (120 m)[3]
Complement10 officers, 72 enlisted[3]
Armament
General characteristics Guppy IA
Class and typenone
Displacement
  • 1,830 tons (1,859 t) surfaced[5]
  • 2,440 tons (2,479 t) submerged[5]
Length307 ft 7 in (93.75 m)[6]
Beam27 ft 4 in (8.33 m)[6]
Draft17 ft (5.2 m)[6]
Propulsion
Speed
  • Surfaced:17.3 knots (32.0 km/h) maximum
  • 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h) cruising
  • Submerged: 15.0 knots (27.8 km/h) for 1⁄2 hour
  • 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h) snorkeling
  • 3.0 knots (5.6 km/h) cruising[5]
Range17,000 nmi (31,000 km; 20,000 mi) surfaced at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)[6]
Endurance36 hours at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged[6]
Complement
  • 10 officers
  • 5 petty officers
  • 64–69 enlisted men
Armament
USS Becuna (SS-319)
USS Becuna is located in Pennsylvania
USS Becuna
LocationPenn's Landing, Columbus Blvd. & Spruce St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Arealess than one acre
Built1944
Built byElectric Boat Co.
Architectural styleBalao-class submarine
NRHP reference No.78002458[7]
Added to NRHPAugust 29, 1978

USS Becuna (SS/AGSS-319), a Balao-class submarine in commission from 1944 to 1969, was a submarine of the United States Navy named for the becuna, a pike-like fish of Europe. During World War II, she conducted five war patrols between August 23, 1944 and July 27, 1945, operating in the Philippine Islands, South China Sea, and Java Sea. She is credited with sinking two Japanese tankers totaling 3,888 gross register tons.[8]

After World War II, Becuna operated as part of the United States Pacific Fleet from 1945 to 1949. She served in the United States Atlantic Fleet from 1949 to 1969, primarily as a training ship, although she also made two deployments with the United States Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.

After her decommissioning, Becuna was designated a National Historic Landmark for her service in World War II. She became a museum ship at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  1. ^ a b c d e f Friedman, Norman (1995). U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. pp. 285–304. ISBN 1-55750-263-3.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Bauer, K. Jack; Roberts, Stephen S. (1991). Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 275–280. ISBN 0-313-26202-0.
  3. ^ a b c d e f U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305–311
  4. ^ a b U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305–311
  5. ^ a b c d e f Friedman, Norman (1994). U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. pp. 11–43. ISBN 1-55750-260-9.
  6. ^ a b c d e f U.S. Submarines Since 1945 pp. 242
  7. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 9 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Seaport Museum Philadelphia Submarine, Becuna". Archived from the original on 4 February 2012.