USS Bugara (SS-331)

USS Bugara (SS-331), a Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the bugara, a multicolored fish found along the coast of California.

Bugara (SS-331) was launched 2 July 1944 by Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn.; sponsored by Mrs. Lyman S. Perry, wife of Captain Perry; and commissioned 15 November 1944, Commander A. F. Schade in command.

Bugara's war operations extended from 21 February to 17 August 1945 during which she completed three war patrols in the Flores, Java, and South China Seas and the Gulf of Siam.

While the first two patrols of Bugara proved uneventful, her third war patrol might be classified as one of the most colorful to be made during the war. This patrol in the Gulf of Siam was highlighted by a series of excellently conducted gun attacks which disposed of 57 small ships totaling 5284 tons. All except two of these vessels were boarded and their native crews put safely ashore with their personal belongings. One of the many interesting incidents of this patrol was an encounter with a Japanese ship manned by a Chinese crew being attacked by Malay pirates. Bugara rescued the Chinese, sank the Japanese ship, and then disposed of the pirates.

On 17 August 1945 Bugara arrived at Fremantle, Australia, from her last war patrol. After a few days Bugara sailed to Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, and joined the other units of her squadron. For the remainder of 1945 she operated out of Subic Bay. In January 1946 she returned to San Diego via Pearl Harbor. After a rehabilitation period on the west coast she returned to Pearl Harbor in May 1946.

She was overhauled at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in 1946 and during the fall of that year made a training cruise in the Bering Sea and then returned to Pearl Harbor via Seattle and Portland. In late October 1947 Bugara departed Pearl Harbor for California. She underwent a yard period between 20 November 1947 and 19 March 1948, returning to Pearl Harbor 27 March. In July she proceeded to Yokosuka, Japan, via Guam, Melbourne, Buckner Bay, and Tsingtao. She returned to Pearl Harbor 24 August 1948.

On 13 August 1949 she departed Pearl Harbor for overhaul at San Francisco, returning 3 January 1950. She then continued operations out of Pearl Harbor until 7 December 1954. Twice during this period she served in the Far East supporting the Korean operations.

On 7 December 1954 she departed Pearl Harbor for San Diego, where she arrived 15 December. Bugara then operated along the Pacific coast participating in type training and fleet exercises until decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register 1 October 1970. While under tow near Cape Flattery, WA, Bugara swamped and sank accidentally.

Bugara received three battle stars for her World War II service.