Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster.
Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

WW II Battle flag, USNHC # NH 98818-KN on left, patches center & right contributed by Mike Smolinski
on left by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.), on right by Francisco Javier Santos Vazquez

Bang (SS-385)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Alpha - Mike
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 30 April 1943, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H..; Launched, 30 August 1943; Commissioned USS Bang (SS-385), 4 December 1943; Decommissioned, 12 February 1947; Recommissioned 1 February 1951; Decommissioned 15 May 1952 for Guppy IIA conversion; Recommissioned, 4 October 1952; Decommissioned, 1 October 1972, and loaned to Spain under terms of the Security Assistance Program, Commissioned into the Spanish Navy as Cosme Garcia (S-34); Simultaneously sold outright to Spain, and struck from the Naval Register, 18 November 1974. Final Disposition, sold for scrapping by the Spanish government 30 September 1982. Bang received six battle stars for World War II service.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves (of blessed memory) & Yves Hubert.

As built to the specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,391 t.; Length 311' 8"; 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., Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, HP 5400, Fuel Capacity 116,000, four Elliot Motor Co. electric motors, HP 2,740, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
Click On Image
For Full Size		Size Image Description Source
Bang & Piolotfish 523k Off with a Bang (SS-385) & a Pilotfish (SS-386) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 30 August 1943. National Archives Identifier: 12562923
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
Bang 252k Navy Yard Portsmouth, N.H. launching of Bang (SS-385), bow view, previous to launching, 30 August 1943. National Archives Identifier: 12562916
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
Bang & Pilotfish 143k Governor Robert O. Blood and Rear Admiral T. Withers, U.S.N. at launching of Bang (SS-385) & Pilotfish (SS-386) at U.S. Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. 30 August 1943. National Archives Identifier: 12562932
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
Bang 57k Commemorative launching tag of the Bang (SS-385) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 30 August 1943. Photo courtesy of Ron Toth, Jr. via Tom Kermen.
Bang 183k Commissioning of Bang (SS-385) at Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. 4 December 1943 Lt. C'dr. [sic] Antone R. Gallaher, U.S.N. reading his orders of taking of command. National Archives Identifier: 12562950
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
Bang 27k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the Bang's (SS-385) commissioning, 4 December 1943, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H.. Courtesy of petloveshack.com.
Bang 15k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the Bang's (SS-385) first day in commission, 4 December 1943, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H.. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Bang 113k Bang (SS-385), underway starboard view, circa 1943-45, place unknown. Photo courtesy of John Hummel, (USN) retired.
Bang 83k Proteus (AS-19) at Midway Naval Base between 14 and 28 May 1944. The submarines alongside are (from left to right): Bang (SS-385); Pintado (SS-387); and Pilotfish (SS-386). USNHC photograph, NH # 93498.
Argonaut 354k Unknown boat along side pier, Argonaut (SS-475), and outboard boat is Bang (SS-385), circa 1945. Photo courtesy of John Hummel, (USN) retired.
Bang 35k LCDR Oliver W. Bagby, Jr. served as Executive Officer on the Bang (SS-385) during her first four war patrols in the Pacific. In February 1945 he assumed command of the Bang where he completed War Patrol 6. At age 24 he was then the youngest submarine skipper in the U.S. Navy. USN photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
Bang 215k Bang (SS-385) and the Diablo (SS-479) & one unidentified boat tied up in the Panama Canal Zone, 1945-46. Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
Bang 46k Bang (SS-385) tied up in the Panama Canal Zone, 1946. The smoke is coming from some boats' diesels that aren't properly "loaded". Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
Bang 81k Bang (SS-385), in port, dressed with flags, circa 1945-1946. USNHC photograph, NH # 83676. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1975.
Bang 73k 1952 Recommissioning ceremony onboard the Bang (SS-385). LDCR Perry Hall reading the orders as commanding officer. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Bang 81k 1952 Recommissioning ceremony onboard the Bang (SS-385) with her CPO's. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Bang 113k 1952 Recommissioning ceremony onboard the Bang (SS-385) with her officers and crew. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Bang 73k Officers of the Bang (SS-385) pose at her 1952 Recommissioning ceremony. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Perch 117k Perch (SS-313), aft view in San Diego Harbor, circa 1953.
The Bang (SS-385) is perched outboard of the Perch.		 Courtesy of Phil Gulick, former 1st Amphib Recon Company member aboard the Perch.
Bang 100k Bang (SS-385), underway in a harbor during the 1950s, following her "GUPPY" conversion. USNHC photograph, NH # 78978. Courtesy of Commander Donald J. Robinson, USN(MSC), 1974.
Bang 85k Bang (SS-385), underway on 6 June 1958. USNHC photograph, USN # 1035973.
Bang 59k Bang (SS-385), underway, place unknown. Photo from Subron 10 Cruise Book for 1964-1965. Courtesy of Fred Willshaw.
Fulton61kHalfbeak (SS-352), (second from right) immediately astern of Fulton (AS-11) at the Connecticut State Pier, New London, CT. Other submarines astern of Fulton, include (far right) Nautilus (SSN-571), (third from right) Bang (SS-385), and outboard of Bang , (fourth from right) is Tusk (SS-426). Moored to Fulton's starboard side are three additional submarines. The outboard boat on the starboard side is the Skipjack (SSN-585) & the other two are unidentified. Photo from Subron 10 Cruise Book for 1964-1965, courtesy of Fred (Doc) Gardner xHM1(SS) / FMF USS Skipjack SSN 585 - SN(SS) (1964-1965) and Fred Willshaw.
Bang346kBang (SS-385) as seen from the Springfield (CLG-7) at Naples, Italy in 1965. Photo courtesy of William C. Swisher CTR3 USN '62/'66 via Tom Bateman. Photo i.d. courtesy of David Johnston
Bang 117k Bang (SS-385) comes alongside Chivo (SS-341) at San Juan Naval Station, Puerto Rico, during Operation "Springboard". Photograph by PHC "CJ" Wiitala, USN, released 14 March 1968 by Tenth Naval District Public Affairs Office. Official USN photo # NH 98698, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center courtesy of John Hummel, (USN) retired.
Bang 45k Bang (SS-385) approaching pier at St Thomas 1967. Photo courtesy of Mike Cappucci.
Bang 110k Bang (SS-385) "Stands out" in San Juan harbor, Puerto Rico, prior to coming alongside at the San Juan Naval Station, during Operation "Springboard". A U.S. Coast Guard SA-16 "Albatross" is on the water beyond Bang's stern. Photograph by PHC "CJ" Wiitala, USN, released 14 March 1968 by Tenth Naval District Public Affairs Office. Official USN photo # NH 98699 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Bang 114k Bang (SS-385) preparing to tie up alongside Chivo (SS-341) at San Juan Naval Station, Puerto Rico, during Operation "Springboard". Bang's Commanding Officer, Commander R.J. Carlin, is giving orders from atop her sail. Photograph by PHC "CJ" Wiitala, USN, released 14 March 1968 by Tenth Naval District Public Affairs Office. The bow of a Canadian Ojibwa class submarine is visible in the lower left, and a U.S. Coast Guard SA-16 "Albatross" amphibian is flying low in the center background. Official USN photo # NH 98697 from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Bang 116k "Seaman R.L. Weber, the Bang's (SS-385) cook, and Interior Communications Fireman T.F. Prendergast prepare cheeseburgers in the sub's small galley. Officers and crew eat the same food, all of which is prepared in this galley." (quoted from the original caption, released 14 March 1968 by Tenth Naval District Public Affairs Office) Photograph and text by PHC "CJ" Wiitala, USN. Official USN photo # NH 98801, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Bang 92k "Torpedoman Third Class J.T. Spinger points out the indicator panel for gas build-up in torpedos to Lieutenant C.M. Clark. This is Spinger's final qualification test for his silver enlisted 'dolphins'." (quoted from the original caption, released 14 March 1968 by Tenth Naval District Public Affairs Office) Photograph and text by PHC "CJ" Wiitala, USN. Official USN photo # NH 98802, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Bang 109k Crew members of the Bang (SS-385) recover a torpedo, following an exercise with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea, circa 1968. This photograph was received by All Hands Magazine. magazine on 6 November 1968. Official USN photo # NH 98803, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Bang 104k "Every man has a job to perform as Bang (SS-385) recovers at torpedo following an exercise with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean." (quoted from the original caption) This view, taken circa 1968, shows the torpedo being struck below after recovery. This photograph was received by All Hands Magazine. magazine on 6 November 1968. Official USN photo # NH 98804, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Bang 82k Bang (SS-385), underway, May 1972. Official USN photo # NH 98697, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Bang 16k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the Bang's (SS-385) last day in commission, 1 October 1972. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Bang 752k Four page PDF history of the Bang (SS-385). Photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
Cosme Garcia (S-34)
Bang 28k Cosme Garcia Saez. Born in Logrono in 1818. Died in Madrid in 1874. Engineer and inventor, the first Spanish to invent a submersible, preceding Isaac Peral and Narciso Monturiol.Photo & text courtesy of Fabio Pena.
Bang 87k Bang (SS-385), pulling out of New London, CT. on November 1972 on her way to join the Spanish Navy as the Cosme Garcia (S-34). Photo courtesy of Bob Redden.
Bang 89k Bang (SS-385), pulling out of New London, CT. on November 1972 on her way to join the Spanish Navy as the Cosme Garcia (S-34). Photo courtesy of Bob Redden.
View the Bang (SS-385)
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
Bang SS-385
Guppy Submarines
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Submarine Index
Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.

This page is created by Gary Priolo, and maintained by Michael Mohl
All Pages © 1996 - 2024 NavSource History All rights reserved.