The USS Plaice (SS-390) was a Balao-class submarine constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. Laid down on July 14, 1943, at the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine, she was launched on November 15, 1943, and commissioned on February 12, 1944. The vessel featured the typical design of Balao-class submarines, known for their durability and effectiveness in wartime operations. Following shakedown and training, Plaice departed for the Pacific Theater, arriving at Pearl Harbor in May 1944. Her combat service included six war patrols in various strategic areas such as the Bonin Islands, Nansei Shoto, and the Luzon Straits. During her first patrol, she sank multiple enemy vessels, including Hyakufuku Maru, Kogi Maru, and Submarine Chaser No. 50. Her subsequent patrols involved engaging Japanese shipping lanes, damaging and sinking several vessels, including transports, a battleship, and smaller coastal craft. Notably, during her fifth patrol in the Kuril Islands-Okhotsk Sea area, she engaged enemy sea trucks and fishing boats, sinking four sea trucks and damaging two luggers. Her patrols demonstrated her capabilities in offensive undersea warfare, despite facing significant enemy anti-submarine measures. Plaice's service record earned her six battle stars, reflecting her active participation in the Pacific War. After the war, she operated in the Pacific until she was placed out of commission in reserve at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in November 1947. Reactivated in 1963 under the Military Assistance Program, she was transferred to Brazil and renamed Bahia (S-12). Brazilian modifications improved her hydrodynamics and underwater performance. Bahia participated in NATO exercises, including UNITAS, and conducted surveillance operations during the Cold War, logging over 140,000 nautical miles and nearly 3,000 hours submerged. Decommissioned in January 1973, Bahia was intended to become a museum ship but was ultimately scrapped in March 1973. Throughout her service life, USS Plaice exemplified the versatility and endurance of Balao-class submarines, contributing significantly to Allied naval efforts during World War II and later serving as a symbol of Cold War maritime cooperation.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.