Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms By Flag By Year By Tag

USS Clamagore (SS-343)

1945 COLD WAR WORLD WAR 2

History of USS Clamagore (SS-343)

The Barau-class diesel-electric submarines in service with the United States Navy (USN) during World War II (1939-1945) became one of the more important contributors to warfare waged under the waves. 120 of these ships were completed between 1942 and 1946, and the ships were in service with the U.S. Navy and other global navies until the mid-1970s.

109 classes eventually retired (and scrapped), while 8 survived. Eleven were killed in service.

USS Clamagore (SS-343) was one of them, laid on March 16, 1944 by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on 25 February 1945 and commissioned on 28 June 1945 after being tested. However, with the end of the war in Europe and the surrender of Japan in August 1945, Karamagor was destined to never serve in World War II.

Her first position was in Key West, where she began her official tenure, and her early work focused on various businesses in Caribbean waters.

She has a traditional profile, sailing amidships. The dive plane was placed in front of the boat near the bow. Her dimensions include a length of 312 feet, a beam of 27 feet, and a draft of 17 feet. The surface displacement is 1,550 tons and the underwater displacement is 2,460 tons. Power is provided by 4 GM 16-278A V16 diesel engines for surface cruise and 4 GE engines for underwater cruise.

This arrangement drives the power to 2 axles at the stern.

Internally, the crew consists of 80 personnel, including 10 officers and 70 soldiers. The boat can stay underwater for about 48 hours and 75 days - useful for long-term patrol missions. It has a range of 11,000 nautical miles at 20 knots on the surface and nearly 9 knots underwater.

Test depth is 400 feet.

In terms of armament, the Clamagore is equipped with 10 x 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes, six of which point forward and four aft. A total of 24 torpedoes were carried.

In response to threats from the surface, she also deployed a 1 x 5" (127mm) /25 caliber deck gun and 40mm Bofors and 20mm Oerlikon guns for close range defense against approaching enemy aircraft.

During the subsequent decades of the Cold War (conflict between the Soviet Union and the West), the USS Clamagore proved valuable. With the formation of NATO and the combined power of the West, Kramagor found new life, participating in exercises in the North Atlantic and performing various tours on the East Coast of the United States.

From late 1947 to mid 1948, the USS Clagore program was upgraded to the new "GUPPY II" standard - the US Navy developed the "Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program" to improve underwater performance, including endurance and maneuverability sex. boat power. Much was learned from the capture of two Nazi German Type XXI submarines, which was incorporated into existing U.S. submarine designs. Since a whole new class of submarines was not possible, it was decided to simply convert existing types such as Clagore. Modifications start with the GUPPY I program and are completed with the GUPPY III program.

Clamagore is part of the GUPPY II and GUPPY III conversion program.

After GUPPY II, the Clagore drained 1,900 tons above ground and 2,480 tons underwater. Her surfacing/submerging speeds have increased to 18 and 9 knots respectively, with a range of up to 15,000 nautical miles (surfaced).

Although she retained ten torpedo tubes, all her deck gun weapons were removed. Snorkels were also added during GUPPY II, as was the Mk 106 Torpedo Fire Control System (FCS). Work was done at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Work on the GUPPY III began in 1962, with changes to the boat including a 15-foot hull lengthening and the installation of a passive ranging sonar (BQG-4 PUFFS). This adds three fin-like protrusions to her back. In her GUPPY III camouflage, the Clagore has a surface displacement of 2,007 tons and a submerged displacement of 2,490 tons. Surface speed is 17 knots, reaching 14.5 knots when submerged.

Stamina dropped to 36 hours (submerged). Their sensor suite includes the BQS-4 active search sonar, the BQR-2B passive search sonar, and the BQG-4 passive attack sonar.

While 24 ships were used in the GUPPY II conversion program, only 9 were used in the GUPPY III program. GUPPY III's work on the Clamagore was completed in February 1963 and she joined the 2nd Submarine Squadron at Groton.

USS Clamagore completed her tenure as a watch ship and retired on June 12, 1973 after a 30-year career. She was removed from the Naval Register on June 27, 1975, and preserved as a museum ship, stationed at Patriots Point in Charleston, South Carolina, from May 1981.

There, she joined the WWII aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) and destroyer USS Laffey (DD-724). She is the only surviving GUPPY III submarine in the United States, but she is reported to be in rather poor condition - if her hull is not repaired, she is in danger of becoming an underwater reef.