USS Tang (SS-306)

USS Tang (SS-306)

USS Tang (SS-306) was a Balao-class submarine of World War II, the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the tang. She was built and launched in 1943.

In her short career, Tang sank 33 ships displacing 116,454 tons Her commanding officer received the Medal of Honor for her last two engagements (October 23 and October 24, 1944). Tang was sunk during the last engagement by a circular run of her final torpedo.

The ship sank in 180 ft (55 m) of water. Several of the crew managed to reach the surface, and some survived to be captured by the Japanese. These were the first American submariners to escape a sunken submarine using a Momsen lung.

The contract to build her was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 15 December 1941, and her keel was laid down on 15 January 1943. She was launched on 17 August sponsored by Mrs. Antonio S. Pitre, and commissioned on 15 October 1943 with Lieutenant Commander Richard H. O'Kane, former executive officer of Wahoo, in command, and delivered to the Navy on 30 November 1943.

Tang completed fitting out at Mare Island and moved south to San Diego, California 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, destined for the Caroline Islands-Mariana Islands area.