USS Carp (SS-338)

USS ''Carp'' (SS/AGSS/IXSS-338), a Balao class submarine, ''Balao''-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the carp.

Construction and active service

''Carp'' (SS-338) was launched 12 November 1944 by Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut; sponsored by Mrs. W. E. Hess; and Ship commissioning, commissioned 28 February 1945.

''Carp'' departed Naval Submarine Base New London, New London 14 April 1945, conducted training at Balboa, Panama, and arrived at Pearl Harbor 21 May. On her first and only war patrol (8 June – 7 August), ''Carp'' cruised off the coast of Honshū, destroying small craft and patrolling for the aircraft carrier, carriers of the US 3rd Fleet, 3rd Fleet engaged in air strikes on the mainland. Undergoing refit at Midway Atoll, Midway when hostilities ended, ''Carp'' returned to Seattle 22 September.

''Carp'' received one battle star for her service in World War II. Her single war patrol was designated as "successful".

Based in San Diego as flagship for Submarine Division 71, ''Carp'' operated along the West Coast with occasional training cruises to Pearl Harbor. Between 13 February and 15 June 1947 she made a simulated war patrol to the Far East, and in 1948 and 1949 ''Carp'' made two exploratory cruises to extreme northern waters, adding to the knowledge of an increasingly important strategic area for submarine operations.

Converted to a Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program#Fleet Snorkel Program, Fleet Snorkel-type submarine in February 1952, which added to her submerged speed and endurance, ''Carp'' supported United Nations' forces in the Korean War during her cruise of 22 September 1952–April 1953 to the Far East. Arriving at Pearl Harbor, her new home port 15 March 1954, ''Carp'' remained on active duty with the fleet from that port through July 1959. During this time she continued to make cruises to the Far East, one of which included a good-will visit to Australia and participation in a Southeast Asia Treaty Organization exercise, and to Alaskan waters.

On 1 August 1959 ''Carp'' departed Pearl Harbor for her new assignment with the US Atlantic Fleet, Atlantic Fleet. Arriving at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, 28 August 1959, the submarine conducted type exercises and training off the United States East Coast and in the Caribbean Sea through 1967.

Auxiliary and training service

''Carp'' was redesignated an Auxiliary Submarine, AGSS-338, in 1968, and Miscellaneous Submarine IXSS-338 in 1971.

Around 1971, ''Carp'' was moored at South Boston Naval Annex, across the harbor from Logan International Airport at about the point where Interstate 90 now crosses. She was used for training. Her battery room was converted into a television lounge, and her rudder was Welding, welded in place; otherwise, ''Carp'' seemed fully operational to trainees.

Fate

''Carp'' was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 20 December 1971 and sold for scrapping in 1973. Her conning tower has been preserved at Seawolf Park on Pelican Island (Texas), Pelican Island just north of Galveston, Texas.

Awards

* Combat Action Ribbon
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one battle star for World War II service
* World War II Victory Medal
* Navy Occupation Service Medal with "ASIA" clasp
* China Service Medal
* National Defense Service Medal with star
* Korean Service Medal
* Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation (Republic of Korea)
* United Nations Korea Medal (United Nations)
* Korean War Service Medal (Republic of Korea)

References

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Carp (SS-338)
Balao-class submarines
World War II submarines of the United States
Cold War submarines of the United States
Korean War submarines of the United States
Ships built in Groton, Connecticut
1944 ships