USS Corsair (SS-435) was a United States Navy Tench‑class diesel‑electric submarine, the second ship of the Navy to bear the name Corsair. The hull classification symbol SS‑435 identified her as a fleet submarine; she was later reclassified as an auxiliary submarine (AGSS‑435).
Design and construction
- Builder: Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut
- Keel laid: 10 March 1944
- Launched: 19 March 1945, sponsored by Mrs. James L. Huntington
- Commissioned: 30 June 1945, Commander H. R. Heller, USNR, in command
As a Tench‑class vessel, Corsair shared the general characteristics of the class: a length of 311 ft (95 m), a beam of 27 ft (8.2 m), a surface displacement of approximately 1,570 tons, and a submerged displacement of about 2,400 tons. Propulsion was provided by four Fairbanks‑Morse diesel engines driving electric motors, giving a surface speed of 20 kn and a submerged speed of 9 kn. Armament consisted of ten 21‑inch torpedo tubes (six forward, four aft) with a complement of 28 torpedoes, and a 5‑inch/25 caliber deck gun.
Service history
- World War II: Corsair was completed after the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific; consequently she saw no combat operations during World War II.
- Post‑war operations: Following shakedown, the submarine operated primarily along the United States West Coast and in the Pacific Ocean, undertaking training missions, fleet exercises, and occasional goodwill visits. During the early Cold War she participated in antisubmarine warfare (ASW) training, sonar evaluations, and hunter‑killer drills with carrier strike groups.
- Reclassification: In July 1965 the vessel was redesignated AGSS‑435, reflecting a shift toward auxiliary and research tasks, including sonar testing and deep‑water trials.
- Later service: Corsair continued to serve with the Pacific Fleet through the 1960s, supporting training of new submarine crews and providing a platform for various experimental programs.
Decommissioning and disposal
- Decommissioned: 1 December 1970 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
- Stricken: 1 December 1970, removed from the Naval Vessel Register.
- Fate: Sold for scrapping later that year; dismantling was completed in early 1971.
Legacy
USS Corsair (SS‑435) represents the final series of fleet submarines built for the United States Navy during World War II. Although she did not engage in combat, her service contributed to the development of submarine tactics and ASW training during the early Cold War era.
See also
- Tench‑class submarine
- List of United States Navy submarines
References
- Naval History and Heritage Command, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS) entry for USS Corsair (SS‑435).
- Friedman, Norman. U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Naval Institute Press, 1995.
Note: All information presented is derived from established naval reference works and official Navy archives.