USS Tang Memorial, Palatka, Florida
N 29° 38.721 W 081° 37.760
17R E 439086 N 3279653
This is a memorial to the men who died on the US Submarine USS Tang on Oct 24th 1944.
Waymark Code: WM2FTA
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 10/27/2007
Views: 66
The Tang was a Second World War era Balao-class submarine. She was launched in 1943 and had a brief but successful career before being sunk by one of her own faulty torpedoes in 1944.
Tang was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the tang, a surgeonfish, especially the several West Indian species. The contract to build her was awarded to Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 15 December 1941, and her keel was laid down 15 January 1943. She was launched on 17 August sponsored by Mrs. Antonio S. Pitre, and commissioned on 15 October 1943 with Lieutenant Commander Richard H. O'Kane, the extraordinarily effective former executive officer of Wahoo (SS-238), in command, and delivered to the Navy on 30 November 1943.
During her brief career, Tang was officially credited with sinking 24 Japanese ships which totaled 93,824 tons. Tang was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 8 February 1945.
Tang received four battle stars and two Presidential Unit Citations for World War II service. Her commanding officer received the Medal of Honor for Tang’s final action. Tang is credited with sinking 31 ships in her five patrols, totaling 227,800 tons, and damaging two for 4,100 tons. This record is unexcelled among American submarines.
Property Permission: Public
Access instructions: Park at the Palatka Riverfront Parking area and take a short stroll along the riverfront.
Website for Waymark: [Web Link]
Location of waymark:
Palatka, Fla United States
Florida
Commemoration: WWII Submariners
Date of Dedication: Not listed
Access times: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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