USS Lancetfish (SS-296)

Career
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Laid down:	15 December 1942
Launched:	15 August 1943
Commissioned:	12 February 1945
Fate:	sold for scrap
Stricken:	9 June 1958
General Characteristics
Displacement:	1526 tons surfaced, 2424 tons submerged
Length:	311 feet 8 inches
Beam:	27 feet 3 inches
Draft:	15 feet 3 inches
Speed:	20.25 knots surfaced, 8.75 knots submerged
Complement:	66 officers and men
Armament:	one five-inch gun; two .50-caliber machineguns; ten 21-inch torpedo tubes

USS Lancetfish (SS-296), a Balao-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the lancetfish (Plagyodus ferox), a large voracious, deep sea fish having long lancetlike teeth and a high long dorsal fin. Her keel was laid down on 15 December 1942 by Cramp Shipbuilding Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was launched on 15 August 1943 sponsored by Miss Beatrice P. Barker, towed to Boston Navy Yard 19 May 1944 for completion, and commissioned 12 February 1945 with Commander Ellis B. Orr in command.

While tied up alongside Pier 8, Lancetfish flooded through an after torpedo tube and sank 15 March 1945. She was raised eight days later and decommissioned 24 March. Assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in uncompleted condition, she was transferred to the First Naval District 27 February 1947 and was assigned to the New London Group 9 December 1952. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 9 June 1958 and sold for scrap on 20 August 1959 having never gone to sea on patrol.

References

This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.