When Commissioned, the Balao Class submarine was 311'9" in length overall; had an extreme beam of 27'3"; had a standard displacement on the surface of 1,526 tons, and, when in diving trim, had a mean draft of 16'10". Submerged displacement was 2,424 tons. The designed compliment was 6 officers and 60 enlisted men. Safe maximum operating depth was 400 feet. Armament consisted of six bow and four stern 21-inch torpedo tubes (twenty-four torpedoes could be carried), one 5-inch/25 caliber dual-purpose deck gun; one 40-mm antiaircraft gun, one 20-mm antiaircraft gun, and two .50-caliber machine guns. Diesel oil in the amount of 118,000 gallons could be carried to fuel four General Motors 1600 horsepower main propulsion engines...and one auxiliary engine...which generated electricity to turn General Electric main propulsion motors that could develop 2,740 shaft horsepower...that could propel the submarine on the surface at 20.25 knots. The engines could also charge the Exide 252-cell main storage battery...which provided the power for submerged propulsion for a maximum speed of 8.75 knots.
At the Commissioning exercises on 20 May 1944 Commander Arnold H. Holtz, USN, came aboard as commanding officer, and training and sea trials began in the New London area. On 25 June the new sub sailed for Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal. At Pearl Harbor a final training period put the finishing touch on the operating and battle efficiency of the crew. On 23 August 1944 the BAYA sailed from Pearl Harbor headed toward the Japanese Empire in company with the BECUNA and the HAWKBILL. After topping off at Saipan, the pack proceeded to Palau where they joined a reconnaissance line formed in connection with the invasion of the island. This line, known as the "Zoo", was composed of three such wolf-packs. While the amphibious landings of Peleliu and Anguar were in full swing a fast carrier force moved north and west to strike at Manila. The "Zoo" line moved to the northward to clear the submarines off the THIRD Fleet's track. The line was again shifted in the third week of September as Halsey's forces raced on north to attack the northern Philippines. Formosa, and the Nansei Shotos. For the submarines it was a month of heavy seas, plane contacts, and no shipping. On the night of the 25th, while on patrol in Luzon Strait, she was driven down by a plane. About 30 minutes later she surfaced with all hands at battle stations, and the executive officer, engineering officer, and quartermaster went up to the bridge. The sea was rough, but no more so than earlier in the evening. With the boat "well blown up" and the bridge personnel topside, the main induction was opened, preparatory to starting the engines. The next moment a hill of ocean hovered over the BAYA's stern. Then it rushed forward with a roar and whirled the three submariners off the bridge. The BAYA shuddered, staggered, and started to settle. Before the main induction and the conning tower hatch could be closed she dived to 45 feet. The well-trained crew responded to the emergency with quick action; drained the conning tower, blew the ballast tanks, and surfaced the partially flooded ship. Twenty minutes later the men washed overboard had been recovered and the damage was speedily repaired. The ship's life preserver was lost during the incident, and several months later a Japanese radio broadcast announced the confirmed sinking of the BAYA.
On the night of 7 October, while patrolling independently in the middle of the South China Sea, the BAYA was given her first opportunity to fire torpedoes in action. Radar contact was made on an 8,407 ton passenger cargoman with two escorts, and the approach was begun. Meanwhile, the HAWKBILL had also made contact and was giving chase. After tracking for an hour the two submarines converged upon the convoy. The HAWKBILL's first attack was unsuccessful. The BAYA submerged to radar depth, closed range, and fired a full salvo from the bow tubes for two hits. The HAWKBILL then fired three torpedoes at close range for two more hits. Bursting pyrotechnics floated into the black sky. Within seconds the doomed KINU-GASA MARU exploded with a roar, spewing fire and debris.
Two days later the BAYA was ordered to Fremantle, West Australia. She left the area proceeding via Karimata Strait, Java Sea, and Lombok Strait, arriving 22 October. In company with the CAVALLE she departed Fremantle on her second war patrol after normal refit and training, but a shaft squeal necessitated return to port. Underway again five days later the BAYA returned to the South China Sea to form a pack with the CAVELLE and HOE. On 8 December contact was made on a single destroyer. She began a submerged approach in heavy seas with low visibility. Despite difficulty in maintaining depth control the range was closed. Then right at the firing position, the target changed course forcing the BAYA deep to avoid being rammed and thwarting the attack. Two destroyers were sighted the following day headed north at high speed, but they could not be closed for attack. On the 10th a properly marked hospital ship was allowed to proceed peacefully on it's way.
After this series of contacts the BAYA shifted stations and joined the submarine scouting line deployed off Mindoro Island during its occupation 14 through 25 December. While changing areas to the Westward, a major enemy task force of two heavy cruisers escorted by four destroyers was contacted on the night of 27 December 1944. These ships were evidently attempting to flee the Philippine area, and a contact report was transmitted and the range closed for attack. Reaching the attack position she submerged to radar depth ahead of the enemy, but difficulties in depth control necessitated carrying out the attack by sound. At medium range, a full bow salvo was fired at the leading cruiser, but no damage was inflicted. The patrol was terminated by orders to proceed to Fremantle, West Australia via Karimata and Lombok Straits, where she arrived 12 January 1945.
At Fremantle the routine refit was accomplished alongside the ANTHEDON, during which time Commander Holtz was relieved by Lieutenant Commander Ben C. Jarvis. On 19 February 1945 the BAYA sailed on her third patrol in company with the HAMMERHEAD, and proceeded to her area off Cape Varella, French Indo-China. The first contact on 26 February consisted of four small ships headed northward along the coast. At dawn the targets were identified as patrol craft, and unworthy of torpedo fire. Shore-based enemy radar, night flying radar planes, and numerous sailboats were constantly in evidence in this sector, and on the 27th a hospital ship was sighted headed in a southerly direction.
A five-ship convoy consisting of one tanker, one large freighter, and three escorts was detected by radar during the night of 4 March. A calm sea and bright inshore haze favored the enemy's position. The BAYA's approach was additionally hampered by numerous sailboats in the area. From radar depth she fired six torpedoes. Two hits were scored on the 5,236 ton tanker, PALEMBANG MARU, which promptly exploded in a tremendous blaze. Two more hits damaged the freighter but the extant of the damage was obscured by the fires from the sinking tanker. The BAYA went deep and sat out the forty-two depth charges delivered by their escorts. No damage was sustained, and she rejoined her wolf pack in the Camranh Bay area.
At 2200 on 20 March she contacted a single ship leaving Phang Rang Bay. A stern tube salvo of three torpedoes were fired for one hit to sink the 524 ton submarine chaser, KAINAN MARU, about 1600 yards off shore. Planes and costal radar were particularly active following the attack, but at 0400 the following morning a convoy of two destroyer escorts and another sub chaser emerged from the bay with an airplane escort. Conducting a periscope attack, a spread of three torpedoes was fired from the stern tubes. Sound reported two erratic runs, and no hits were obtained. The sub chaser had now detected the BAYA, passed directly overhead, dropping six close depth charges. The patrol ended upon her arrival at Subic Bay on 27 March.
The BAYA and CAVALLA departed Subic Bay April 26th to return to the Camranh Bay area. Submerged patrolling was combined with lifeguard duty for air strikes over Saigon. On 2 May she joined the Lagarto on station in the Gulf of Siam just north of Singapore. The next night the BAYA contacted a four-ship convoy comprised of two gasoline-loaded tankers and two radar-equipped escorts. She maneuvered into attack position for a night surface engagement and began firing bow tubes at extreme range. After the first two torpedoes passed the leading escort, a minelayer, swung toward the BAYA at high speed and the other three ships turned away. The BAYA changed course at flank speed to prevent being rammed, and was passed at 900 yards in a hail of gunfire. Unable to dive in seven fathoms of water, the BAYA began firing first of four down-the-throat shots to drive away the pursuer, who gave up the chase after a half-hour of fortunately erratic shooting.
The BAYA sent a report to the LAGARTO requesting a rendezvous, and the two submarines met early the following morning to discuss attack plans. It was agreed that the LAGARTO would dive on the convoy's track when a certain point was reached, and the BAYA would strike from a point some 12 miles ahead of the LAGARTO. The submarines parted company, and the convoy chase was on. The subs exchanged contact reports during the day, and the LAGARTO attacked with no success. At midnight the BAYA attempted another surface attack before moonrise, but was again driven off by the unusually alert escorts. No further attempt was made. Early the next morning the BAYA tried to contact her team-mate. The LAGARTO made no reply. The silence is still unbroken. Post-war Japanese records reported an attack on a submarine by the minelayer at that time in 30 fathoms of water -- a depth which gave the submarine little chance for evasion.
Shifting now to the Java Sea, a three ship convoy was attacked just off Rembang Roads on the morning of 13 May 1945. A tanker, a medium freighter, and a minelayer escort were detected leaving the Roads, and a radar surface approach was begun on the tanker which was hugging the coast inside the ten-fathom curve. Racing at high speed, the BAYA fired six torpedoes for three hits. Reversing course, she shifted to the escort and scored two hits with the two remaining stern tube torpedoes. Two torpedoes were left forward, and these were fired into the freighter. The BAYA retired leaving the 2500 ton tanker, YOSEI MARU, sinking, and the other two ships severely damaged. Five days later a refit was underway in Fremantle alongside the CLYTIE. Commander Jarvis won the Navy Cross for this action. CLICK HERE TO READ THE CITATION.
A fire in the maneuvering room delayed her departure for the fifth patrol, and it was not until 20 June that she got underway. The first part of this run was devoted to support the landings at Balikpapan, Borneo. While south of Cape Selatan, a single target was intercepted on the morning of 27 June. Six torpedoes were fired at the minelayer from periscope depth. Three passed under the speeding ship, and no hits were scored. Smoke sighted by the periscope watch on 29 June led to an approach on three sea trucks, one patrol craft and a sub chaser. As a torpedo attack was about to be launched, the targets became alerted, so a coordinated gun attack with the USS CAPITAINE was made resulting in sinking the sub chaser and damaging two sea trucks. Heavy return fire prevented further attack.
During the following two weeks, lifeguard duties were performed for raids on Kota Warigen. On the morning of 16 July a 595 ton torpedo boat was attacked from a range of 1100 yards. One hit in the stern set the ship ablaze and stopped it dead in the water. An hour later another hit demolished the KARI. On the 20th a PC-4 patrol craft was encountered off Seorabaya. It was too small for torpedo fire, and at dawn the BAYA merged her efforts with the BLENNY in a gun attack. The enemy was chased back to port, but no damage was inflicted. Five days later the BAYA was ordered to Subic Bay, thus ending her last patrol.
Two weeks after V-J Day the BAYA departed for San Francisco, and on 24 September steamed under the Golden Gate Bridge as part of Admiral Halsey's symbolic parade. During 235 days at sea she had cruised 50,722 miles in the Pacific and Indiana Oceans and in the Philippine, South China and Java Seas. She has participated in the following campaigns: Palau Landings; Philippine Liberation; Balikpapan, Borneo Landings and the total blockade of the Indo-China Coast. She has rendered life guard services to our Air Forces for strikes on French-Indo China, Saigon and Borneo. She avoided and was attacked by 36 enemy anti-submarine vessels. She evaded one hundred and forty-two enemy plane contacts. During anti-submarine attacks she received over one hundred and sixty depth charges. She destroyed six floating mines by gunfire. She has fought it out on the surface on three occasions with anti-submarine vessels. She has made six hundred and eighty-four dives.
The BAYA is credited with sinking the following enemy ships:
| SHIP TYPE | SHIP NAME | FLAG | TONAGE | DATE | LOCATION | CMDR/PATROL# | CREDIT WITH |
| Transport (converted to Sea Plane Tender) | KINU GASA MARU |
|
8407 | 10/7/44 | 14-30N, 115-47.5E | Holtz/ 1st | USS HAWKBILL |
| Large Tanker | PALEMBANG MARU |
|
5236 | 3/4/45 | 12-52N, 109-30E | Jarvis/ 3rd | Alone | Large Cargo | Unk |
|
10,000 | 3/4/45 | 12-52N, 109-30E | Jarvis/ 3rd | Alone |
| Matsu Class Destroyer | *** Unk |
|
1,000 | 3/21/45 | 11-55N, 109-18E | Jarvis/ 3rd | Alone |
| Large Minelayer | * Unk |
|
1500 | 5/13/45 | 06-31S, 111-19E | Jarvis/ 4th | Alone |
| Stack Aft Cargo Vessel | * Unk |
|
7500 | 5/13/45 | 06-31S, 111-19E | Jarvis/ 4th | Alone |
| Tanker | YOSEI MARU |
|
4000 | 5/13/45 | 06-31S, 111-19E | Jarvis/ 4th | Alone |
| Subchaser | ** Unk |
|
100 | 6/29/45 | 6-29S, 117-08E | Jarvis/ 5th | USS CAPITAINE |
| Torpedo Boat | KARI |
|
595 | 7/16/45 | 5-48S, 115-53E | Jarvis/ 5th | Alone |
| Destroyer Escort | ***Unk |
|
***Unk | ***Unk | ***Unk | ***Unk | ***Unk |
* Information obtained from declassified June 23, 1945, memo recommending Cmdr Jarvis for Navy Cross.
** Information obtained from December 1, 1955 Baya History compiled by unknown author.
*** Information obtained from 1945 Navy Day Program.
The Second World War ended on 2 September 1945.
USS Baya departed Subic Bay in the Philippine Islands during September of 1945 and transited to the United States. She arrived at San Francisco, California, on the 24th of that month. Shortly thereafter, she commenced preparations for inactivation, and, on 14 May 1946, went out of commission in reserve at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California.
USS Baya was recommissioned on 10 February 1948 and converted to an electronics experimental submarine by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard and the Naval Electronics Laboratory (NEL). USS Baya conducted experiments for NEL; participated in local operations near San Diego; and served with the Joint American-Canadian Task Force that gathered scientific data off the west coast of Canada during November and December of 1948.
During 1949, USS Baya (SS-318) was turned over to NEL at San Diego, California, to be a sonar test ship. All torpedo-loading and handling gear in the forward torpedo room was removed to provide space for experimental electronic equipment. On 12 August 1949, USS Baya (SS-318) was reclassified (AGSS-318). "AGSS" is the designation for an "Auxiliary Submarine."
During the period July through September of 1949, USS Baya (AGSS-318) made a cruise to the Arctic to gather valuable scientific data in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. Between July and October of 1955, she was deployed to Pearl Harbor for further experimental research. During 1958 and 1959, USS Baya was completely reworked to test the LORAD equipment, an experimental long-range sonar. The forward torpedo tubes were removed and replaced by a blunt bow with a mushroom anchor in the bottom of the hull. A 23-foot section was added between the former forward torpedo room and the forward battery compartment, with quarters for twelve scientists. These modifications increased her overall length to 330 feet, her surface displacement to 2,220 tons, and her submerged displacement to approximately 2,600 tons.
Accommodations for ship's company were increased to provide for eight to eleven officers and 68 to 70 enlisted men (approximately). One main propulsion engine was removed to gain additional interior room for these modifications. The changes in the hull configuration, the lengthening of the hull and the loss of one main propulsion engine...all caused the top surface speed to drop to 10.5 knots. The additional hull mass also caused the top submerged speed to drop to 8 knots. The original main propulsion motor reduction gear drives for the propeller shafts were replaced by direct drive motors to reduce ship-generated noise. Laboratory facilities were incorporated into the modifications by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard...which did the work.
During 1962 and 1963, further alterations were made, followed, in 1964, by the installation of the BRASS-II sonar equipment and a second set of LORAD hydrophone "wings." During 1967, all remaining fire-control and weapons equipment was removed, leaving the ship completely demilitarized.
USS Baya (AGSS-318) continued to serve NEL in this capacity until she was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Register on 30 October 1972. On 12 October 1973, the submarine was sold for scrapping to the National Metal and Steel Company of Terminal Island, California, for $142,615.
