USS Cabezon (SS‑334) was a United States Navy Balao‑class diesel‑electric submarine, the second vessel of the Navy to bear the name “Cabezon,” which is derived from a type of flatfish found in the Pacific Ocean.
Design and Construction
- Class & Type: Balao‑class submarine
- Displacement: Approximately 1,525 tons surfaced; 2,424 tons submerged
- Length: 311 ft (94.8 m)
- Beam: 27 ft (8.3 m)
- Propulsion: Four diesel engines driving electric generators; two 1,250 hp electric motors; two propeller shafts
- Speed: 20 kn (37 km/h) surfaced; 9 kn (17 km/h) submerged
- Armament: Ten 21‑inch torpedo tubes (six forward, four aft) with 24 torpedoes; one 5‑inch/25 caliber deck gun; various anti‑aircraft guns.
The keel of USS Cabezon was laid down on 1 May 1944 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. She was launched on 16 August 1944 and commissioned on 12 November 1944, with Commander Charles H. Waller in command.
Service History
World War II (1944–1945)
After shakedown training along the U.S. East Coast, Cabezon transited the Panama Canal and arrived at Pearl Harbor in early 1945. She was assigned to Submarine Division 15, operating in the Pacific theater. Her patrols focused on the Japanese home waters and the East China Sea. None of her patrols recorded confirmed sinkings of enemy vessels, though she engaged several targets and performed lifeguard duties for downed Allied aviators.
Post‑War Operations (1945–1960)
Following Japan’s surrender, USS Cabezon returned to the United States for overhaul at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. In the immediate post‑war period, she participated in training exercises, anti‑submarine warfare (ASW) drills, and fleet maneuvers throughout the Pacific. The submarine underwent a GUPPY (Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program) conversion in 1949, receiving upgraded batteries, a snorkel system, and hull streamlining to improve submerged performance.
During the 1950s, Cabezon operated primarily out of San Diego, California, and later Pearl Harbor, supporting Cold‑War readiness and conducting patrols in the Western Pacific. She also served as a training platform for naval reservists and submarine school trainees.
Decommissioning and Disposal
USS Cabezon was decommissioned on 30 January 1960 and placed in reserve at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 July 1960. The submarine was subsequently sold for scrap; the dismantling process was completed in 1962.
Legacy
While USS Cabezon did not achieve notable combat successes, her service contributed to the United States Navy’s post‑World‑War II submarine force development, particularly through her participation in the GUPPY modernization program. The vessel is occasionally referenced in naval histories that discuss the transition of World War II‑era submarines into the Cold‑War fleet.
References
- Naval History and Heritage Command, Ship History: USS Cabezon (SS‑334).
- Friedman, Norman. U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Naval Institute Press, 1995.
- Jane’s Fighting Ships, 1955‑1960 editions.
All data presented reflects information available from official United States Navy records and recognized reference publications.
