USS Baya (SS-318) Ship's History

USS Baya (SS-318), named for a serranoid food fish, was authorized to be built on 9 July 1942 by the Congress of the United States. Her keel was laid on 8 April 1943 by the Electric Boat Company at Groton, Connecticut. Mrs. C. C. Kirkpatrick, wife of Lieutenant Commander Kirkpatrick, christened the submarine at launching on 2 January 1944. Commissioning took place on 20 May 1944 with Commander A. H. Holtz in command.

When Commissioned, the Balao Class submarine was 311'9" in length overall; had an extreme beam of 27'3"; had a standard displacement on the surface of 1,526 tons, and, when in diving trim, had a mean draft of 16'10". Submerged displacement was 2,424 tons. The designed compliment was 6 officers and 60 enlisted men. Safe maximum operating depth was 400 feet. Armament consisted of six bow and four stern 21-inch torpedo tubes (twenty-four torpedoes could be carried), one 5-inch/25 caliber dual-purpose deck gun; one 40-mm antiaircraft gun, one 20-mm antiaircraft gun, and two .50-caliber machine guns. Diesel oil in the amount of 118,000 gallons could be carried to fuel four General Motors 1600 horsepower main propulsion engines...and one auxiliary engine...which generated electricity to turn General Electric main propulsion motors that could develop 2,740 shaft horsepower...that could propel the submarine on the surface at 20.25 knots. The engines could also charge the Exide 252-cell main storage battery...which provided the power for submerged propulsion for a maximum speed of 8.75 knots.

USS Baya arrived at Pearl Harbor during August of 1944. During the period 23 August 1944 to 25 July 1945, she completed five war patrols in the South China Sea, Gulf of Siam, Java Sea, and the Philippine Sea during the Second World War. USS Baya sank four Japanese vessels totaling 8,855 tons and an 8,407-ton passenger-cargo ship in conjunction with USS Hawkbill (SS-366).

The Second World War ended on 2 September 1945.

USS Baya departed Subic Bay in the Philippine Islands during September of 1945 and transited to the United States. She arrived at San Francisco, California, on the 24th of that month. Shortly thereafter, she commenced preparations for inactivation, and, on 14 May 1946, went out of commission in reserve at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California.

USS Baya received four battle stars for her services during the Second World War.

USS Baya was recommissioned on 10 February 1948 and converted to an electronics experimental submarine by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard and the Naval Electronics Laboratory (NEL). USS Baya conducted experiments for NEL; participated in local operations near San Diego; and served with the Joint American-Canadian Task Force that gathered scientific data off the west coast of Canada during November and December of 1948.

During 1949, USS Baya (SS-318) was turned over to NEL at San Diego, California, to be a sonar test ship. All torpedo-loading and handling gear in the forward torpedo room was removed to provide space for experimental electronic equipment.

On 12 August 1949, USS Baya (SS-318) was reclassified (AGSS-318). "AGSS" is the designation for an "Auxiliary Submarine."

During the period July through September of 1949, USS Baya (AGSS-318) made a cruise to the Arctic to gather valuable scientific data in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. Between July and October of 1955, she was deployed to Pearl Harbor for further experimental research.

During 1958 and 1959, USS Baya was completely reworked to test the LORAD equipment, an experimental long-range sonar. The forward torpedo tubes were removed and replaced by a blunt bow with a mushroom anchor in the bottom of the hull. A 23-foot section was added between the former forward torpedo room and the forward battery compartment, with quarters for twelve scientists. These modifications increased her overall length to 330 feet, her surface displacement to 2,220 tons, and her submerged displacement to approximately 2,600 tons.

Accommodations for ship's company were increased to provide for eight to eleven officers and 68 to 70 enlisted men (approximately). One main propulsion engine was removed to gain additional interior room for these modifications. The changes in the hull configuration, the lengthening of the hull and the loss of one main propulsion engine...all caused the top surface speed to drop to 10.5 knots. The additional hull mass also caused the top submerged speed to drop to 8 knots. The original main propulsion motor reduction gear drives for the propeller shafts were replaced by direct drive motors to reduce ship-generated noise. Laboratory facilities were incorporated into the modifications by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard...which did the work.

During 1962 and 1963, further alterations were made, followed, in 1964, by the installation of the BRASS-II sonar equipment and a second set of LORAD hydrophone "wings." During 1967, all remaining fire-control and weapons equipment was removed, leaving the ship completely demilitarized.

USS Baya (AGSS-318) continued to serve NEL in this capacity until she was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Register on 30 October 1972. On 12 October 1973, the submarine was sold for scrapping to the National Metal and Steel Company of Terminal Island, California, for $142,615.

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