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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch on left depicting F.C. Wyse was probably drawn by Lt. Robert Gulman & contributed by Lester Palifka, on right by Mike Smolinski.

Baya (SS-318) (AGSS-318)

Radio Call Sign: November - Zulu - Oscar - Victor
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 8 April 1943, at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.; Launched, 2 January 1944; Commissioned USS Baya (SS-318), 20 May 1944; Decommissioned, 14 May 1946, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Mare Island Group; Recommissioned, 10 February 1948; Reclassified Auxiliary Research Submarine (AGSS-318), 12 August 1949; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 30 October 1972; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping , 12 October 1973, to National Metal and Steel Company, Terminal Island, CA., for $142,615. Baya received four battle stars for her World War II service.

As built to the specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,242 t.; Length 311' 9"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10kts; Submerged Endurance, 48 hours at 2kts; Operating Depth, 400 ft; Complement 6 Officers, 60 Enlisted; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 5"/25 deck gun, one 40mm gun, one 20mm gun, two .50 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear with four main generator engines, General Motors diesel engines, HP 5400, Fuel Capacity 118,000, four General Electric motors, HP 2,740, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
Specs after her 1964 conversion: Length Overall and Max. Breadth: 330 ft. x 27 ft. 4 in. Displacement: surfaced - 2220 tons, submerged - 2600 tons (approx.) Max Speed: surfaced 10.5 knots, submerged 8 knots (rated) Propulsion: Diesel-electric direct with three main generator engines (one removed) 3430 shp surfaced, two slow-speed main motors (reduction gear removed) 2740 shp submerged.
References: The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy (John D. Alden), U.S. Submarines Since 1945 (Norman Polmar), courtesy of QM2(SS)David Johnston
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For Full Size		Size Image Description Source
Baya 18k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Baya's (SS-318) keel laying, 8 April 1943, at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Baya 99k The Baya (SS-318) was sponsored by Mrs. C. C. Kirkpatrick, wife of Lieutenant Commander Kirkpatrick. Electric Boat /USN photo courtesy of ussbaya.com.
Baya 119k The Baya (SS-318) slides down the launching ways on 2 January 1944 at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. USN photo courtesy of San Francisco Examiner via David S. Smith.
Baya 22k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Baya's (SS-318) launching, 2 January 1944. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Baya 20k First Day Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Baya's (SS-318) commissioning, 20 May 1944. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Baya 84k Baya's (SS-318) Commissioning plaque. Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
Baya 90k The namesake of the Baya (SS-318) as it appeared on the Electric Boat's commissioning pamphlet. Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
Baya 205k Front cover of pamphlet & crew list on the occasion of Baya's (SS-318) party at Polly's Inn at Norwich CT, 28 April 1944.
Polly's Inn burned down (total loss) during the night of 5 March, 1947. See the attached newspaper article (Front page, bottom right under FLASHES!). 		Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
Polly's Inn insert courtesy of Joshua Blodgett.
Baya 81k Starboard side view of the Baya (SS-318) in WW II configuration. Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
Baya 61k Capt Ben Jarvis, Baya's (SS-318) skipper for her 3-5 war patrols, shaking hands with Admiral Fife. Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
Baya 97k One of Baya's (SS-318) plankowners, originally a Lt. when assigned to the Baya, Fred Wyse was the XO for all 5 war patrols. Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
Baya 325k Oil on canvas drawn by Lt. Robert Gulman, depicting Baya's (SS-318) handiwork. Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
Baya 38k Baya's (SS-318) WW II battleflag. Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
7Baya 46k Before "Bruce" came along, there was Baya (SS-318). Photo submitted by Lester Palifka, courtesy of John C Miller & ussbaya.com.
Baya 36k Baya (SS-318) in dry dock with a mouth full of teeth. Photo submitted by Lester Palifka, courtesy of John C Miller & ussbaya.com.
Baya 400k Pearl Harbor, September 1945: From Right to left:
Boats 1 through 5 are all EB design Balaos, with boat #1 being the Baya (SS-318).
Boats 6 and 7 are EB design Mod 4A Gatos.
Boats 8 and 9 are EB design 2/1/1 rigged Balaos.
Boat 10 is the Puffer (SS-268).
Boat 11 is a 2/1/1 rigged EB design Balao.
Boat 12 is a 1/3 (one/three) rigged EB design Balao. It is very hard to make out. If I had to take a very rough guess I might say Menhaden (SS-377) or Macabi (SS-375). The rest are too blurry or obscured to make a guess. 		Photo courtesy of Ric Hednan & text i.d. courtesy of David Johnston
Mare Island Reserve Fleet137kReserve fleet at Mare Island, circa January 1946. There are 52 submarines and 4 Sub Tenders in this photo. This photo is a Berthing list identifying the ships in the picture. Photo commemorating 50 years, U. S. Submarine Veterans of WW II 1996 calendar, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Mare Island Reserve Fleet453kPhoto of the Reserve fleet at Mare Island, circa January 1946. There are 52 submarines and 4 Sub Tenders in this photo. Whether coincidental or on purpose, the number of boats in the photo is the same as that which were lost in WW II.
From back to front and left to right, first group of 12 boats:
Sand Lance (SS-381)
Tunny (SS-282)
Aspro (SS-309)
Lionfish (SS-298)
Guvania (SS-362)
Sunfish (SS-281)
Macabi (SS-375)
Gurnard (SS-254)
Pampanito (SS-383)
Mingo (SS-261)
Guitarro (SS-363)
Bashaw (SS-241)
From back to front and left to right, second group of 12 boats:
Sealion (SS-315)
Hammerhead (SS-364)
Bream (SS-243)
Seahorse (SS-304)
Tinosa (SS-283)
Pintado (SS-387)
Mapiro (SS-376)
Pipefish (SS-388)
Moray (SS-300)
Batfish (SS-310)
Hackleback (SS-295)
Bluegill (SS-242)
From back to front and left to right, third group of 12 boats:
Hawkbill (SS-366)
Menhaden (SS-377)
Perch (SS-313)
Loggerhead (SS-374)
Barbero (SS-317)
Baya (SS-318)
Hardhead (SS-365)
Spadefish (SS-411)
Springer (SS-414)
Devilfish (SS-292)
Kraken (SS-370)
Dragonet (SS-293)
From back to front and left to right, fourth group of 12 boats:
Lamprey (SS-372)
Piranha (SS-389)
Manta (SS-299)
Pargo (SS-264)
Rancador (SS-301)
Archerfish (SS-311)
Mero (SS-378)
Sawfish (SS-276)
Spot (SS-413)
Lizardfish (SS-373)
Jallao (SS-368)
Icefish (SS-367)
From back to front and left to right, last group of 4 boats:
Steelhead (SS-280)
Puffer (SS-268)
Stickleback (SS-415)
Trepang (SS-412)
From back to front, Submarine Tenders group of 4 ships:
Pelias (AS-14)
Aegir (AS-23)
Euryale (AS-22)
Griffin (AS-13)
Photo commemorating 50 years, U. S. Submarine Veterans of WW II 1996 calendar, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Piranha 368k Post war predator photo of Piranha (SS-389), Moray (SS-300), Mapiro (SS-376), Baya (SS-318) & Jallao (SS-368). USN photo courtesy of subasepearl.com. via Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
Baya 81k Commissioning ceremonies aboard Baya (SS-318) at Mare Island on 10 February 1948. CDR Mason (center) is her commanding officer. USN photo # 167-2-48, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Baya 117k Baya (AGSS-318) & research vessel PCE(R) (855) (in background) were part of a small but active fleet of ships used by the Navy Electronics Laboratory (NEL)in its oceanographic investigations. Navy Electronics Laboratory (NEL)File Number A2268, courtesy of spawar.navy.mil. & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
Baya 78k Baya (SS-318) underway, circa possibly 1950's. Photo submitted by Lester Palifka, courtesy of John C Miller & ussbaya.com.
Caiman 291k Amidships looking forward plan view of Caiman (SS-323) at Mare Island on 25 September 1951. She was under conversion at the yard from 2 April to 10 October 1951. The Charr (SS-328) & Baya (SS-318) are in front of the Caiman undergoing their conversions to GUPPY. USN Photo # 10531-9-51, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Charr 135k Amidships looking forward plan view of Charr (SS-328) at Mare Island on 9 November 1951. Baya (SS-318) and Montrose (APA-212) are forward on Charr. USN Photo # 11035-11-51, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS-318 1.06k Baya's (SS-318) crew pose on deck following the 2,500 dive on 7 December 1954. Her quartermaster was Austin Smith, who poses here with part of the crew on that historic dive.Photo courtesy of son Clare Smith
Austin's Memorial #76281019 at Findagrave.com.
SS-318 1.37k 7 December 1954 marked the 2,500 dive for the Baya (SS-318).Photo courtesy of Clare Smith.
SS-318 678k Austin Smith taking the commission pennants & colors down before diving.Photo courtesy of Clare Smith.
SS-318 711k Another dive of sorts on Baya's (SS-318) steel beach.Photo courtesy of Clare Smith.
Rasher515kLCDR Alden Webster Adams Jr. was the 8th CO. July 1955 / July 1957.
The Baya (SS-318) is across the way.		Photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
USN photo courtesy of Peter Sasgen via Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
Baya 597k Baya (AGSS-318) underway with a large projection abaft the conning tower. USN photo courtesy of subvetsofwwii.org via Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Baya 883k Baya (AGSS-318) with a "tank" that is seen here is enclosing the array described in he photo below. They probably did this to eliminate flow noise across the array. The enclosure would have been free flooding. This photo shows the array as it was initially installed. The first tests at sea probably demonstrated the need for the enclosure. The array was a 14x14 element low frequency active/passive sonar, an early form of Lorad. Text courtesy of David Johnston. (USNR).
USN photo courtesy of subvetsofwwii.org via Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Baya 220k This photo of Baya (SS-318) was probably taken on 8 May 1956 as she emerged from San Francisco Naval Shipyard. The large "tank" was a fairing that housed a low frequency, active/passive billboard sonar array that faced starboard. Unseen in the photo was a 50 element line array at deck level on the starboard side. In this guise she was a test ship for one of the many Lorad sonar configurations. Text courtesy of David Johnston. (USNR).
USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Baya 344k A crowd of spectators watching the Auxiliary Research submarine Baya (AGSS-318) moored at Canadian Pacific Pier B in Vancouver BC, 31 May 1956. Visible is the "large "tank" which was a fairing that housed a low frequency, active/passive billboard sonar array that faced starboard. Walter E. Frost Photographer. Source: City of Vancouver Archives, Photo No. AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-8695 via Mike Green.
Baya 302k Baya (SS-318) in color, June 1956, Vancouver, B.C.. Photo courtesy of John Webber, Lt. (RCNR) ret'd, Historian, Submariners Association of Canada.
Baya 200k Port view of the Baya (AGSS-318) underway, probably in the March, 1959 timeframe. This is an earlier LORAD configuration, with just one set of receiver booms and without the 4.3 kHz set. A 23 foot section had been added between the forward torpedo room and the forward battery, all forward tubes had been removed, and accommodations installed for 12 scientists. Text courtesy of David Johnston. (USNR).
USN photo courtesy of subvetsofwwii.org.
Baya 135k April 1963 image of the Baya (AGSS-318) with the Constellation (CVA-64) steaming past at an unidentified location. US Navy and Marine Corps Museum/Naval Aviation Museum, Photo No.1996.488.103.043, courtesy of Mike Green.
Baya 167k Starboard view of the Baya (AGSS-318) underway. USN photo courtesy of subvetsofwwii.org via Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Baya 80k Baya (AGSS-318) port view entering harbor taken after a January, 1964 conversion in which she is shown in her second LORAD sonar test configuration. At this time, she was equipped with a 1.5 kHz forward facing billboard projector array in the bulbous bow, two 40 foot linear receivers in extendable booms on each side near the bow, and 4.3 kHz active/passive array in an extension of the bridge fairwater. Photo contributed by John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Text by QM2(SS)David Johnston
Pacific collection 214k A Pacific collection: From inboard to outboard: Sea Devil (SS-400), Redfish (SS-395), Baya (AGSS-318), Capitaine (SS-336) & Volador (SS-490).
This picture was taken sometime after January, 1964. At that time the Baya had emerged from a conversion that gave her the configuration that is shown here. This also correlates to the Guppy III in the background, the Volador. She was converted to this configuration in 1963. The rest of the boats have what is called the "Queenfish Mod", a minimal attempt at streamlining by removing all the deck guns and topside ammo lockers and cutting away small portions of the fairwater. 		Text courtesy of David Johnston. (USNR).
Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Jarvis 381k Captain B. C. Jarvis as Commander, Submarine Group Mare Island on 27 October 1966.Photo from the files of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Pickerel 759k Formal dinning-in retirement of CDR Edgar G. Hanson (Former CO of Pickerel (SS-524) at Mare Island on 22 July 1967. Captain B. C. Jarvis, standing to the far right, was the WWII commanding officer of the Baya (SS-318).
Left to right: Standing RADM Lawrence (Retired), CDR Edgar G. Hanson and Capt. B. C. Jarvis. Seated Mrs. Jarvis, Mrs. Hanson and Mrs. Lawrence.		Photo from the files of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Baya 235k Baya (AGSS-318) starboard view entering Hawaiian waters, in one of her final configurations, with three shark-fin arrays as test ship for the Wide Aperture Array system, or WAA. This photo was taken in the 1968-71 timeframe. Despite her appearance and contrary to statements in some texts, this is NOT a prototype for the BQG-4 PUFFS. WAA was actually a later outgrowth of PUFFS. By this time, Baya had been completely de-militarized, with all fire-control and weapons equipment removed. USN photo courtesy of subvetsofwwii.org, text by QM2(SS)David Johnston
Fremantle 365k This plaque was unveiled 20 March 1995 by His Excellency Major General P.M. Jeffery OA MC, Governor of Western Australia to commemorate the sacrifices made by Allied submarines that operated out of Fremantle, Western Australia during WW II. Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
View the Baya (SS-318)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
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