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USS SILVERSIDES
SILVERSIDES was commissioned into the U.S. Navy on December 15, 1941,
just eight days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. She left for the
first of her 14 war patrols on April 30, 1942. |
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SILVERSIDES served with the Pacific Fleet in the Empire waters
along Japan's coasts and in the East China Sea as well as through
key enemy shipping routes around the Marianas, Carolines, Bismarck,
Archipelago and along the Solomon Islands to Guadalcanal. Her
mission was to stop raw materials and supplies like oil, bauxite,
rubber, coal, food and iron ore from reaching Japan.
Vital Statistics:
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Built in Vallejo, California at the Mare Island Shipbuilding
Yard
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Length: 312 feet
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Width: 27 feet in the beam
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Displacement: 1,525 tons surfaced and 2,410 tons submerged
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Top Speed: 21 knots
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Standard Complement: 8 officers, 72 enlisted men
War Record
SILVERSIDES sank 30 ships and damaged 14 ships. She ranks third
highest among all World War II U.S. submarines in ships sunk,
totaling 90,080 tons. None of the boats scoring more sinkings or
tonnage sunk exists today, leaving SILVERSIDES as the nation's most
famous surviving WWII submarine.
For outstanding and aggressive performance SILVERSIDES was awarded
the Presidential Unit Citation for four patrols, the highest award
given to Navy Ships, and twelve Combat Insignia Battle Stars for
successful patrol runs.
The Lucky Boat
SILVERSIDES was named the "Lucky Boat" because of her exceptional
survival record. In honor of the one man lost in action aboard
SILVERSIDES, a bronze plaque was placed on the deck to commemorate
Mike Harbin, Torpedoman Third Class.
The Operation
The war's most publicized operation was performed on board
SILVERSIDES. Pharmacist Mate Thomas Moore successfully removed a
gangrenous appendix from crew member George Platter. Moore had never
performed an operation before, but armed with makeshift instruments
and a volunteer surgical team, he performed the operation
successfully. The patient recovered admirably and was standing
regular watch duties just six days later. The operation was
reenacted in the movie Destination Tokyo.
Click
here for a
virtual tour of the USS Silversides.
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