dp. 1526 (surf.), 2391 (subm.); l. 311'7"; b. 27'; dr. 16'10" (mean); s. 20.25 k. (surf.), 8.75 k. (subm.); td. 400'; a. 1-5"/25; 6-21" tt. fwd., 4-21" tt. aft.; cpl. 6 officers - 60 enlisted men; class: BALAO

Keel laid by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, NH 30 April 1943.

Launched 30 August 1943.

Sponsored by Mrs. Robert W. Neblett.

Commissioned 4 December 1943.

Lcdr. Antone R. Gallaher in command.

Decommissioned, loaned to Spain and recommissioned Cosme García 28 September 1972.   Cosme García (S-34)    (See Link to Cosme García web site on Links Page)

Stricken from Spanish navy 30 September 1982 and scrapped.

War operations of USS BANG (SS-385) span the period from 29 March 1944 until 18 May 1945, during which time she completed six war patrols. She is officially credited with sinking eight Japanese merchant ships totaling 20,177 tons while operating in the South China and Philippine Seas. BANG arrived at Portsmouth Navy Yard 22 June 1945 and after repairs proceeded to New London where she went into reserve 12 February 1947. BANG was converted to a Guppy type submarine and brought back into active service 4 October 1952. Until August 1953 she conducted training off the east coast and in the Caribbean. During August-24 September 1953 she operated east of Iceland and off Scotland.
In January 1954 she sailed to the Mediterranean for a cruise with the 6th Fleet which terminated 11 March 1954 at New London, Conn. Between March 1954 and December 1956 BANG operated out of New London on various exercises, conducted two training cruises in the Caribbean, one cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and one trip to Quebec, Canada. In addition she made another cruise to the Med in 1970 (where we showcased the boat to Spain.

BANG was decommissioned 1 October 1972. She was loaned to Spain in 1973, returned, struck 18 November 1974 and sold to Spain where she was renamed the Cosme García.

BANG received six battle stars for her World War II patrols.

USS Bang
History

A dark blue or black fish of the herring family found in U. S. Atlantic coastal waters north of North Carolina that migrates to the rivers for spawning. The fish is one of the most abundant East Coast food fishes and is of great economic importance in the eastern United States.

BANG (SS-385) was laid down on 30 April 1943 at Kittery, Maine, by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; launched on 30 August; sponsored by Mrs. Robert W. Neblett, mother of an Army Air Force private captured by the Japanese at Corregidor; and commissioned on 4 December 1943, Lt. Comdr. Antone R. Gallaher in command.

On 8 February 1944, following four weeks of shakedown training off New England, the submarine departed New London Submarine Base and headed for the Pacific. After transiting the Panama Canal, BANG steamed to Pearl Harbor, where she intensified her training in torpedo approaches, evasive maneuvers, and simulated warfare. As March came to an end, the submarine was fully provisioned and ready for battle. On 29 March, BANG departed Pearl Harbor in company; with PARCHE (SS-384) and TINOSA (SS-283) on her first war patrol. After a one day fueling stop at Midway, the subs continued to the patrol area in the Luzon Straits and the waters southwest of Formosa.

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