USS Bashaw (SS-241)

USS Bashaw (SS/SSK/AGSS-241), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the bashaw, a catfish.

Bashaw was laid down on 4 December 1942 by Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn.. She was launched on 25 July 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Norman S. Ives, wife of Captain Ives, and commissioned on 25 October 1943, Lieutenant Commander Richard E. Nichols in command.

World War II
Bashaw arrived at Milne Bay, New Guinea on 3 March 1944. From 10 March 1944-29 April 1945, she completed six war patrols in the Celebes, Philippine, and South China Seas. Bashaw sank three Japanese merchant vessels - totaling 19,269 tons - as well as several small craft.

Bashaw returned to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands on 29 April 1945 and then sailed to Mare Island Navy Yard for an overhaul. Upon completion of the yard period on 13 August 1945, she departed for Pearl Harbor.

Post-War
The war ended while she was en route and she was ordered to return to Mare Island. On 5 September, she arrived there and began her pre-inactivation overhaul, going into commission in reserve there on 24 November 1945. On 20 June 1949, her status was changed to out of commission in reserve; she was laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Bashaw was recommissioned on 3 April 1951 and operated out of San Diego along the West Coast until 10 May 1952, when she went out of commission in reserve. From May 1952-March 1953, she underwent conversion at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard to an anti-submarine "hunter-killer" submarine and was reclassified SSK-241 on 18 February 1953. Bashaw was recommissioned on 28 March 1953 and reported to Submarine Division 33 (SubDiv 33) at San Diego. From March–August 1954, Bashaw made a Far Eastern cruise. During the following year she took part in several type exercises, including one major exercise in the Hawaiian area, before being overhauled at San Francisco. From January–August 1956, Bashaw conducted her second postwar tour of the Far East. On 14 August, she arrived at the Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor. Bashaw reverted to her original designation - SS-241 - in August 1959, and was redesignated AGSS-241 in September 1962. She was finally decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 13 September 1969. Bashaw was sunk as a target on July 1972.

Awards
Bashaw received five battle stars for her World War II service.