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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Plaice (SS-390)
Decommissioning & Brazilian Service

Radio Call Sign: November - Juliet - Whiskey - Oscar
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Keel Laying - WW II Service
 WW II Patrols

Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 14 July 1943, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.; Launched, 15 November 1943; Commissioned USS Plaice (SS-390), 12 February 1944; Decommissioned late 1947, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Reactivated 18 May 1963 in preparation for transfer to Brazil, under the Military Assistance Program, 7 September 1963; Commissioned in the Brazilian Navy as Bahia (S-12); Sold to Brazil in 1972; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 April 1973; Final Disposition; Original plan was to make the sub a Museum, but it was sold for scrapping in 1978 because The Brazilian Museum of Naval Technology had financial problems and had to cancel the program. Plaice received six battle stars for World War II service.
Update courtesy of Valdo Novaes.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced 1,526 t., Submerged 2,391 t.; Length 311' 9"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10 kts; Submerged Endurance, 48 hours at 2 kts; Operating Depth, 400 ft; Complement 6 Officers 60 Enlisted; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 5"/25 deck gun, one single 40mm gun mount, one single 20mm gun mount, two .50 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear, four Fairbanks Morse diesel engines, 5,400 HP, Fuel Capacity, 116,000 gal., four Elliot Motor Co. electric main motors with 2,740 shp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
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For Full Size Image		Size Image Description Source
Plaice 173k Decommissioning ceremonies for Plaice (SS-390) at Mare Island on 30 April 1948. CDR Thos. Bullard Dabney, Commanding Officer of Plaice, is to the left and Capt H. C. Fish, Commander, Mare Island Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet is behind CDR Babney.
 USN photo # 697-4-48, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.)
Plaice 139k Starboard bow view of the Plaice (SS-390) possibly in the late 1950's, when she was placed out of commission, in reserve, at Mare Island, Calif.
USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. Partial text i.d. courtesy of Alan Paramore.
Plaice & Medregal 138k Plaice (SS-390) & Medregal (SS-480) at Pearl Harbor, circa early 1960's.
 USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Plaice 79k A de-deck gunned Plaice (SS-390) underway off Hawaii in 1963.
USN photo.
Plaice 96k Plaice (SS-390), off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, 1-7-63.
 US Navy photo by PH1 Lonnel Wall, courtesy of John Hummel, USN Ret.
Sand Lance & Plaice106kThe crews of the Sand Lance (SS-381), & Plaice (SS-390) stand at attention as the boats are decommissioned, 7 September 1963. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Sand Lance & Plaice109kThe crews of the Sand Lance (SS-381), & Plaice (SS-390) stand at attention as the boats are decommissioned, 7 September 1963. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Sand Lance & Plaice101kStern view of the Sand Lance (SS-381), & Plaice (SS-390) as the boats are decommissioned, 7 September 1963. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Bahia (S-12)
Muskallunge62kex Muskallunge (SS-262) as the Brazilan Humanita (S-14), off the coast of Brazil, October 1966 transferring cargo to the ex-Plaice (SS-390), Brazilian Bahia (S-12).
Brazilian Navy photo by Revista O Cruzeiro, courtesy of naviosdeguerrabrasileiros.hpg.ig.com.br.
Photo submitted by Valdo Novaes.
Muskallunge & Plaice48kex Muskallunge (SS-262) as the Brazilan Humanita (S-14), port side, off the coast of Brazil, October 1966 transferring cargo to the ex-Plaice (SS-390), Brazilian Bahia (S-12).
Brazilian Navy photo by Revista O Cruzeiro, courtesy of naviosdeguerrabrasileiros.hpg.ig.com.br.
Photo submitted by Valdo Novaes.
Plaice 75k Bahia (S-12) underway inside Rios' Guanabara Bay. Photo courtesy of Robert Hurst. Photo added 03/10/10.
Plaice 101k The ex-Plaice (SS-390), now the Brazilian Bahia (S-12), underway circa 1968.
 Photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Plaice 101k The ex-Plaice (SS-390), now the Brazilian Bahia (S-12), entering the harbor at São Paulo, Brazil, circa 1977-78.
 Brazilian Navy photo courtesy of museutec.org.br, submitted by Valdo Novaes.
Plaice 81k Decommissioning photo and newspaper article (in Portuguese, of course!) of the ex-Plaice (SS-390), Brazilian Bahia (S-12), 23 March 1973.
Brazilian Navy photo courtesy of museutec.org.br, submitted by Valdo Novaes.
View the Plaice (SS-390)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
USS Plaice (SS-390) - Submarines of the United States Navy
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