USS Lionfish: The WWII submarine that survived Japanese torpedoes and now rests peacefully in Massachusetts

The USS Lionfish

Walk into USS Lionfish today and you step back to 1945. Her cramped quarters look exactly as they did when her crew sailed home from Japan that August.

Unlike other museum subs, Lionfish never got Cold War upgrades. She’s the real deal.

Her final mission was lifeguard duty off Japan, part of a secret program that saved over 500 American pilots from certain death or capture. This Balao-class sub represents the Navy’s lesser-known rescue mission.

Here’s the complete story of the Lifeguard League, and how this floating museum at Battleship Cove preserves that history.

Admiral’s Son Takes Submarine Into Battle

Ed Spruance took over USS Lionfish with big shoes to fill. As famous Admiral Raymond Spruance’s son, people expected a lot from him.

The submarine launched on November 7, 1943, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and got its commission on November 1, 1944.

After testing in cold New England waters, Lionfish headed to the Pacific on January 8, 1945. She reached Pearl Harbor on February 25, where crews got her ready.

Hunting Japanese Ships Near Their Home Waters

Lionfish left Pearl Harbor on March 19, 1945, ready for her first fight. The submarine stopped at Saipan for fuel and food before moving to her patrol area.

By April 1, she reached her spot south of Bungo Suido, a key strait between Japanese islands. This risky zone put Lionfish right in the path of enemy ships.

The submarine hid underwater, watching for Japanese vessels while staying clear of enemy patrol boats that hunted American submarines with depth charges.

Quick Moves Save Submarine From Enemy Torpedoes

The crew nearly died at 4:00 AM on April 11, 1945. Two Japanese torpedoes raced toward Lionfish in the dark. Alert lookouts spotted the torpedo trails just in time.

The submarine dove deep and zigzagged away from the deadly weapons that missed them. Though they searched afterward, they never found the Japanese submarine that fired at them.

The close call showed everyone that underwater warfare often came down to quick thinking and luck.

Old-Style Naval Fight With Deck Guns Firing

On May 1, 1945, Lionfish spotted a three-masted Japanese sailing ship in the Yellow Sea.

Rather than use valuable torpedoes on the small 100-ton boat, Captain Spruance told the submarine to surface for a gun attack.

Lionfish fired her 5-inch deck gun 44 times at the wooden ship. Fifteen direct hits turned the schooner into “a mass of flames” that quickly sank.

The gun battle marked a return to surface combat, something rare for submarines built mainly for sneaky underwater attacks.

Submarine Joins Rescue Team Off China

After sinking the schooner, Lionfish switched jobs off Shanghai, China.

She joined what sailors called the “Lifeguard League,” submarines placed between aircraft carriers and Japanese targets.

Their task: save American pilots shot down during bombing runs. The Navy created this rescue system to save skilled aviators from capture or death in enemy land.

The risky duty put submarines near heavily guarded Japanese spots, often within range of coastal guns and patrol boats.

Ten Airmen Find Safety Underwater

Lionfish saved lives on May 9, 1945. She met with the submarine USS Ray to pick up ten B-29 airmen shot down over Japanese land.

The tight submarine became a safe haven for the thankful pilots. Lionfish carried them safely to Saipan, getting there May 15.

After dropping off her passengers and refueling, the submarine went to Midway for supplies and fixes.

American submarines saved 504 downed airmen during the war.

New Captain Takes Command For Second Combat Trip

Commander B. M. Ganyard took over Lionfish on June 20, 1945, as she got ready for her second war patrol.

The submarine left on June 2, going back to the risky Bungo Suido area near Japan.

With Captain Spruance moved to other duties, Ganyard led a crew now used to combat. Lionfish carried a full load of torpedoes, set to attack Japanese shipping.

Torpedoes Target Japanese Submarine In Bold Attack

Lionfish spotted the Japanese submarine I-162 on the surface on July 10, 1945. Captain Ganyard ordered an attack right away, firing torpedoes at the enemy boat.

The crew heard blasts and watched through their periscope as smoke rose up. “Loud breaking-up noises” made them think they had sunk the Japanese submarine.

They cheered what seemed like a sure kill. But after the war, records showed I-162 somehow got away despite the attack.

Final Missions Before Japan Gives Up

Lionfish used up her torpedo supply in failed attacks on two more Japanese submarines during her second patrol.

She then went back to rescue duty off Nansei Shoto and Honshu until July 18. After loading torpedoes at Saipan on July 21, the submarine took up her position.

She stayed on rescue station through the war’s final weeks as American bombing runs over Japan grew stronger.

War Ends With Submarine Still On Rescue Duty

News of Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945, reached Lionfish while she still watched her rescue station.

The submarine set course for Midway, getting there August 22 before heading to the U.S. West Coast. She arrived at Mare Island Navy Yard on September 11, 1945.

This timing was exactly four years after the Pearl Harbor attack that started America’s war with Japan. The Navy took Lionfish out of service on January 16, 1946, placing her in the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Time Capsule Preserves Authentic Submarine Experience

Unlike most World War II submarines, Lionfish never underwent GUPPY conversion during the Cold War. This preservation of her original configuration made her a floating time capsule.

Other submarines received streamlined hulls, redesigned sails, and doubled battery capacity to match the Soviet threat.

Lionfish remained exactly as she fought in 1945. The Navy recognized her historical value with National Historic Landmark status in 1986.

Today, visitors at Battleship Cove in Massachusetts can walk through a genuine World War II submarine exactly as her crew knew her during those lifesaving Pacific missions.

Visiting The USS Lionfish At Battleship Cove

The USS Lionfish at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts is a real WWII submarine that rescued downed pilots in the Pacific.

You can go inside this Balao-class sub and see how 70 sailors lived underwater.

The sub has original equipment like torpedo tubes, control room panels, and crew bunks. Kids love climbing through the hatches between decks.

The Lionfish is part of a bigger collection with other warships too. Tickets cost $30 for adults and $20 for kids.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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