USS Tang (SS-306)

The first Tang (SS-306) was laid down on 15 January 1943 at Vallejo, Calif., by the Mare Island Navy Yard; launched on 17 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Antonio S. Pitre; and commissioned on 15 October 1943, Lt. Cmdr. Richard H. O'Kane in command.

Tang completed fitting out at Mare Island and then moved south to San Diego for 18 days of intensive training before sailing for Hawaii. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 8 January 1944 and conducted two more weeks of exercises in preparation for combat. Tang stood out of Pearl Harbor on 22 January to begin her first war patrol in the Caroline-Mariana Islands area.

On the morning of 17 February 1944, she sighted a convoy of two freighters, their escorts, and five smaller ships. The submarine tracked the convoy, plotted its course, and then prepared to attack. An escort suddenly appeared at a range of 7,000 yards and closing. Tang went deep and received five depth charges before the escort departed. Undamaged, she returned to periscope depth and resumed the attack. The range on the nearest freighter closed to 1,500 yards, and Tang fired a spread of four torpedoes. Three of them hit, and Gyoten Mam sank by the stern. The submarine cleared the area by running deep and then attempted to get ahead of the convoy for a dawn attack, but the remaining freighter passed out of range under air escort.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Tang I (SS-306)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.