The USS Kingfish (SS-234) was the first U.S. Navy ship to be named for “kingfish,” a generic name for many fish species. The Kingfish was a Gato-class submarine, about 312 feet long and 27 feet wide, with a crew of 54 enlisted men and six officers. She was built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine and launched in 1942.
Twelve World War II Patrols
Over the course of 12 World War II patrols, the USS Kingfish sank so many enemy vessels that she was awarded nine battle stars for her service. The vessels sunk by the Kingfish include the:
Yome Maru
Seiko Maru
Hino Maru #3
Choyo Maru
Sana Maru
Ruei Maru
Bokuei Maru
Ikutagawa Maru
Tokai Maru #4
Yaei Maru
Shibozono Maru
Depth Charge Damages
In March 1943, during the Kingfish’s third war patrol in the South China Sea, the Kingfish suffered heavy damages from a depth charge attack. She made it back to Pearl Harbor and on to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California for extensive repairs. In 1944, the Kingfish underwent a complete overhaul at Mare Island.
Decommissioned Shortly after the War’s End
The war ended shortly after Kingfish’s last patrol. She proceeded to Galveston, Texas via the Panama Canal, and then on to New London, Connecticut for decommissioning. After four years in reserve, the USS Kingfish was struck from the Naval Vessel List and sold for scrap to Albert Heller.
Serving Aboard, Building, Repairing, Scrapping the USS Kingfish
All of the people who came into contact with a WWII-era submarine such as the USS Kingfish were at risk of being exposed to a toxic level of asbestos, the mineral used for insulation, gaskets, sealants, tiles, and much more in the construction of Navy ships.
If you or your family member served aboard the Kingfish or helped build, repair, overhaul or scrap her, asbestos exposure may well be of concern to you. Contact an experienced lawyer in your area who represents people impacted by asbestos poisoning, and learn about your legal rights and alternatives.
