Submarine USS Manta (SS-299) | World War II Database

USS Manta

Country	United States
Ship Class	Balao-class Submarine
Hull Number	SS-299
Builder	Cramp Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Laid Down	15 Jan 1943
Launched	7 Nov 1943
Commissioned	18 Dec 1944
Decommissioned	6 Dec 1955
Sunk	16 Jul 1969
Displacement	1550 tons standard; 2463 tons submerged
Length	312 feet
Beam	27 feet
Draft	17 feet
Machinery	Four Fairbanks-Morse Model 38D8-1/8 9-cylinder engines (5,400shp), four high-speed Elliott electric motors with reduction gears (2,750shp), two 126-cell Sargo batteries, two propellers
Bunkerage	116,000 gallons of oil
Speed	20 knots
Range	11,000nm at 10 knots surfaced, 48 hours at 2 knots submerged
Crew	81
Armament	6x533mm forward torpedo tubes, 4x533mm aft torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1x127mm 25cal deck gun, 1x40mm gun, 2x12.7mm machine guns
Submerged Speed	8.75 knots

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

USS Manta was commissioned in Dec 1944, and did not get underway from the east coast of the United States for the Pacific Ocean until the spring of 1945. She embarked on her first war patrol out of Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii in May 1945, patrolling the Kurile Islands in northern Japan. She was on her second war patrol for a week before the Pacific War ended. She was decommissioned in 1946. In 1949, she was recommissioned, serving largely as a target ship out of Key West, Florida, United States for the development of anti-submarine tactics. She was decommissioned for the second and final time in Dec 1955. In Apr 1960, she began serving as a training submarine for Naval Reserve personnel of the 3rd Naval District. She was sunk as a target for aircraft off Norfolk, Virginia, United States in Jul 1969.

Source: Wikipedia

USS Manta Operational Timeline

15 Jan 1943	The keel for submarine Manta was laid down.
7 Nov 1943	Submarine Manta was launched, sponsored by the wife of Michael J. Bradley.
18 Dec 1944	USS Manta was commissioned into service with Lieutenant Commander Edward P. Madley in command.
27 Mar 1945	USS Manta departed New London, Connecticut, United States.
28 May 1945	USS Manta departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for her first war patrol.
16 Jul 1945	USS Manta arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii, ending her first war patrol.
8 Aug 1945	USS Manta departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for her second war patrol.
10 Sep 1945	USS Manta arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii, ending her second war patrol.
2 Jan 1946	USS Manta departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii for San Francisco, California, United States to prepare for inactivation.
10 Jun 1946	USS Manta was decommissioned from service and was placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet.
2 Aug 1949	USS Manta was recommissioned into service with Lieutenant E. H. Edwards, Jr. in command. Her designation changed from SS-299 to ESS-299.
1 Sep 1949	USS Manta's designation changed from ESS-299 to AGSS-299.
5 Jul 1955	USS Manta departed Key West, Florida, United States for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States to prepare for inactivation.
6 Dec 1955	USS Manta was decommissioned from service and was placed in the Inactive Reserve Fleet.
30 Jun 1967	Submarine Manta was struck from the US Naval Registry.
16 Jul 1969	Submarine Manta was sunk by aircraft as a target off Norfolk, Virginia, United States.