The Balao (SS-285)-class submarine USS Trumpetfish (SS-425) was commissioned into service with the U.S. Navy on 29 January 1946. Though she missed the end of World War II by a matter of months, the Trumpetfish would go on to a long and exciting career in the Cold War Navy.
The Trumpetfish sailed for Hawaii in 1946, where she took part in training exercises that included the torpedoing of the captured Japanese submarine I-400. She soon returned to the East Coast and was converted to a Guppy II submarine in 1947. The conversion added a snorkel system, increased her battery capacity, and streamlined her hull to increase submerged speed. She then deployed to Europe and the Middle East as part of a hunter-killer group. In 1956, during the Suez Crisis, she was sent to Suda Bay and joined the Sixth Fleet. When hostilities ceased, she resumed operations in the Mediterranean.
In 1959 the Trumpetfish was assigned to her new home port of Charleston, South Carolina. It was at Charleston in 1961 that she was converted to the Guppy III configuration, which increased the length of her hull, thereby providing improved weapons and electronics capabilities in addition to giving her greater range. In 1962, she took part in operations related to the Cuban Missile Crisis and then continued with her training and exercises in the Mediterranean and Caribbean throughout the 1960s.
The Trumpetfish began supporting antisubmarine warfare forces by the start of 1970. The following year, she operated for a week with the West German destroyer Lütjens. She continued taking part in antisubmarine and mine warfare tests and exercises and in July 1971 sailed for the waters off South America to join the UNITAS XII operation. She united with Task Force 86 and transited the Panama Canal in August. The Trumpetfish made port calls throughout South America. She rejoined Task Force 86, sailing to Charleston, where she arrived in December 1971.
She conducted torpedo tests off Newport, Rhode Island, and off Puerto Rico she exercised with the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal in early 1973. On 15 October 1973 the Trumpetfish was decommissioned and struck from the Navy list. She was acquired by the Brazilian Navy, where she served until 1990 as the Goias (S-15).
USS Trumpetfish (SS-425)
By Eric Wertheim
—Eric Wertheim