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USS Balao SS-285
The submarine USS Balao SS-285 was named after a tropical fish that travels in schools. Built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard and launched in 1942, the Balao reported to the Pacific Fleet, where she served in 10 patrols in World War II — often in the East China and Yellow Seas — receiving nine battle stars for her contribution.
Many Personnel Worked on the Balao
Many individuals helped build, maintain, repair, and overhaul the Balao over her 20-year career with the U.S. Navy. For example, in 1944, the Balao underwent a complete overhaul at the Mare Island Navy Yard in California. She was also refit in Guam and had another overhaul at Pearl Harbor in 1945.
Extensive Travels
The Balao docked at many ports as part of her service, including:
Caracas, Venezuela
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Montevideo, Uruguay
Mar del Plata and Buenos Aires, Argentina
Post-War Years as a Training Ship
When the Balao was decommissioned in 1946, she was berthed as part of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet in New London, Conn. She later served as an antisubmarine and Special Development Forces training ship, operating in the Guantanamo Bay and Key West area.
Operation Petticoat
In 1958, the USS Balao was overhauled again at the Charleston Naval Shipyard and then continued as a training ship in Newport, Rhode Island and New London. The following year, the Balao had its first and only movie role, as the pink submarine in “Operation Petticoat,” starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis.
The Sixth Fleet was the next home of the Balao, where she participated in NATO exercises and the Navy’s response in the Cuban missile crisis. In 1963, the Balao was mothballed for the last time, and her stripped hulk was used as a target off the coast of Florida.
Asbestos Concerns
If you or your family member worked on or aboard the USS Balao, you may have concerns about the potential asbestos exposure. Contact an asbestos law firm to get answers to your questions. You may be eligible for a legal remedy and financial compensation for losses due to asbestos exposure — even if the exposure occurred many years ago.
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