View source for USS Sailfish (SS-192)

{{Short description|Sargo-class submarine of the US Navy}}
{{Other ships|USS Sailfish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=USS Sailfish;0819202.jpg
|Ship caption=USS ''Sailfish'' (SS-192), off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, 13 April 1943
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1939}}
|Ship name=USS ''Squalus''
|Ship namesake=[[squalus]]
|Ship builder=*[[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard]]
*[[Kittery, Maine]]
|Ship laid down=18 October 1937
|Ship launched=14 September 1938
|Ship sponsor=Mrs. Thomas C. Hart
|Ship commissioned=1 March 1939
|Ship decommissioned=15 November 1939
|Ship fate=Sunk and salvaged
}}
{{Infobox|child=yes
| label1 = Raised
| data1 = 13 September 1939
}}{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=yes
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1945}}
|Ship renamed=USS ''Sailfish'', 9 February 1940
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=yes
|Ship namesake=[[sailfish]]
|Ship commissioned=15 May 1940
|Ship decommissioned=27 October 1945
|Ship struck=30 April 1948
|Ship honors=*nine [[Service star|battle star]]s for [[World War II]]
*[[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]], tenth patrol
|Ship fate=Sold for scrap
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Sargo|submarine|0}} composite [[Diesel locomotive#Diesel-hydraulic|diesel-hydraulic]] and [[diesel-electric]] [[submarine]]<ref name="Register">{{Cite book| last = Bauer | first = K. Jack |author2=Roberts, Stephen S.  | title = Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants | publisher = Greenwood Press | year = 1991 | location = [[Westport, Connecticut]] | pages = 269–270 | isbn = 0-313-26202-0}}</ref>
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|1450|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} standard, surfaced<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs">{{harvp|Friedman|1995|pp=305–311}}</ref>
*{{convert|2350|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship length={{convert|310|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship beam={{convert|26|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship draft={{convert|16|ft|7.5|in|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship power=*{{convert|5500|hp|kW|abbr=on}} surfaced<ref name="Register"/>
*{{convert|2740|hp|kW|abbr=on}} submerged<ref name="Register"/>
|Ship propulsion=*4 × [[Electro-Motive Diesel|General Motors]] Model 16-248 [[V16 engine|V16]] [[diesel engine]]s (two hydraulic-drive, two driving [[electrical generator]]s)<ref name="Register"/><ref name="FriedmanSubs1-composite-drive">{{harvp|Friedman|1995|pp=202–204}}</ref>
*2 × 126-[[Electrochemical cell|cell]] [[USS Sargo (SS-188)#Sargo batteries|''Sargo'']] [[Battery (electricity)|batteries]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
*4 × high-speed [[General Electric]] [[electric motor]]s with [[Reduction drive|reduction gears]]<ref name="Register"/>
*2 × shafts<ref name="Register"/>
|Ship speed=*{{convert|21|kn|mph km/h|lk=in|abbr=on}} surfaced<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
*{{convert|8.75|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}} submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship range={{convert|11000|nmi|mi km|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship endurance=48 hours at {{convert|2|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}} submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship test depth={{convert|250|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship complement=5 officers, 54 enlisted<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
|Ship armament=*8 × [[American 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s (four forward, four aft; 24 [[Mark 14 torpedo|Mark 14]] [[torpedo]]es)<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
*1 × [[3"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}}]]/50 [[Caliber#Caliber as measurement of length|cal]] [[deck gun]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
*4 × machine guns
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''USS ''Sailfish'' (SS-192)''', was a US {{sclass|Sargo|submarine}}, originally named '''''Squalus'''''. As ''Squalus'', the submarine sank off the coast of [[New Hampshire]] during test dives on 23 May 1939. The sinking drowned 26 crew members, but an ensuing rescue operation, using the [[McCann Rescue Chamber]] for the first time, saved the lives of the remaining 33 aboard. ''Squalus'' was salvaged in late 1939 and recommissioned as ''Sailfish'' in May 1940.

As ''Sailfish'', the vessel conducted numerous patrols in the [[Pacific War]] during [[World War II]], earning nine [[battle stars]]. She was decommissioned in October 1945 and later scrapped. Her [[conning tower]] is on display at [[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard]] in [[Kittery, Maine|Kittery]], [[Maine]].

{{TOC limit|3}}

== Construction and commissioning ==
''Squalus''{{'}}s [[keel]] was [[Keel laying|laid]] on 18 October 1937 by the [[Portsmouth Navy Yard]] in [[Kittery, Maine|Kittery]], [[Maine]], the only ship of the [[United States Navy]] named for the [[squalus]], a type of [[shark]]. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 14 September 1938, [[Ship sponsor|sponsored]] by Mrs. Thomas C. Hart, wife of [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[Thomas C. Hart]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31776065/new_submarine_squalus_launched/ |title=New Submarine, Squalus, Launched |agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[The Burlington Free Press]] |location=[[Burlington, Vermont]] |page=1 |date=15 September 1938 |access-date=21 May 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 1 March 1939 with [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]] [[Oliver F. Naquin]] in command.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31776015/sub_squalus_is_commissioned/ |title=Sub Squalus Is Commissioned |newspaper=[[The Portsmouth Herald]] |location=[[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]] |page=6 |date=2 March 1939 |access-date=21 May 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

==Sinking of ''Squalus'' and recommissioning as ''Sailfish''==
[[File:SS-192salvage.jpg|thumbnail|left|SS-192 in drydock after salvage]]

On 12 May 1939, following a yard overhaul, ''Squalus'' began a series of test dives off [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]]. After successfully completing 18 dives, she went down again off the [[Isles of Shoals]] on the morning of 23 May at {{Coord|42|53|N|70|37|W|}}. Failure of the main induction valve (the means of letting in fresh air when on the surface)<ref name="Blair, p. 67">{{harvp|Blair|1975|p=67}}. A repeat of incidents with {{USS|Sturgeon|SS-187|2}} and {{USS|Snapper|SS-185|2}}. After this accident, the more reliable [[Electric Boat]] design was adopted for new Navy-built subs.</ref> caused the flooding of the aft torpedo room, both engine rooms, and the crew's quarters, drowning 26 men immediately.<ref name=USSubCasualties1966>{{Cite book|title=Submarine Casualties Booklet |publisher=U.S. Naval Submarine School |year=1966 |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/100861572/US-Navy-Submarine-Casualties-Booklet-1966}}</ref> Quick action by the crew prevented the other compartments from flooding. ''Squalus'' bottomed in {{convert|243|ft|m|abbr=on}} of water.<ref name="Blair, p. 67"/>

''Squalus'' was initially located by her [[sister ship|sister boat]], {{USS|Sculpin|SS-191|2}}. The two submarines were able to communicate using a [[Rescue buoy (submarine)|telephone marker buoy]] until the cable parted. Divers from the [[submarine rescue ship]] {{USS|Falcon|AM-28|2}} began rescue operations under the direction of the [[Marine salvage|salvage]] and rescue expert [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]] [[Charles Momsen|Charles B. "Swede" Momsen]], using the new [[McCann Rescue Chamber]]. The Senior Medical Officer for the operations was Dr. [[Charles Wesley Shilling]].<ref name=Pressure86>{{Cite journal|title=Dr. Shilling steps down as UMS leader after 13 years |journal=Pressure, Newsletter of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society |volume=15 |issue=2 |year=1992 |pages=1, 6–8 |issn=0889-0242}}</ref> Overseen by researcher [[Albert R. Behnke]], the divers used recently developed [[heliox]] diving schedules and successfully avoided the cognitive impairment symptoms associated with such [[Deep diving|deep dives]], thereby confirming Behnke's theory of [[nitrogen narcosis]].<ref name=dive_hx>{{Cite journal|last=Acott |first=C. |title=A brief history of diving and decompression illness. |journal=South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal |volume=29 |issue=2 |year=1999 |issn=0813-1988 |oclc=16986801 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/6004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080627230124/http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/6004 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=27 June 2008 |access-date=2009-03-17}}</ref> The divers were able to rescue all 33 survivors (32 crew members and a civilian<ref>''Express'', 23 May 2019, p. 53.{{full citation needed|date=November 2023}}</ref>) on board the sunken submarine. Four enlisted divers, Chief Machinist's Mate [[William Badders]], Chief Boatswain's Mate [[Orson L. Crandall]], Chief Metalsmith [[James H. McDonald]] and Chief Torpedoman [[John Mihalowski]], were awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for their work during the rescue and subsequent salvage. The successful rescue of the ''Squalus'' survivors is in marked contrast to the loss of {{HMS|Thetis|N25|6}} in Liverpool Bay in England just a week later, with four survivors from 104 people aboard.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Booth |first1=Tony |title=Thetis Down – The Slow Death of a Submarine |year=2008 |publisher=Pen & Sword Maritime |isbn=978-1-84415-859-1}} On ''Thetis'', 99 of 103 crew, other naval personnel and civilian technical observers died from carbon dioxide poisoning. ''Thetis'' was also recovered and recommissioned.</ref>

The navy authorities felt it important to raise ''Squalus'' as she incorporated a succession of new design features. With a thorough investigation of why she sank, more confidence could be placed in the new construction, or alteration of existing designs could be undertaken when cheapest and most efficient to do so. Furthermore, given similar previous accidents in {{USS|Sturgeon|SS-187|2}} and {{USS|Snapper|SS-185|2}} (indeed, in {{USS|S-5|SS-110|2}}, as far back as 1920), it was necessary to determine a cause.

The ''Squalus'' salvage unit was commanded by Rear Admiral [[Cyrus W. Cole]], Commandant of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, who supervised salvage officer Lieutenant Floyd A. Tusler from the [[Bureau of Construction and Repair|Construction Corps]]. Cole also requested experienced Commander [[Henry Hartley]] as his Technical Aide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq99-7.htm |title=USS Squalus (SS-192): Salvage of, 1939 |date=20 July 2000 |work=Naval History & Heritage Command |publisher=Department of the Navy, Naval Historical Center |access-date=19 January 2011 |location=Washington, D.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205153644/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq99-7.htm |archive-date=5 December 2010 }}</ref> Tusler's plan was to lift the submarine in three stages to prevent it from rising too quickly, out of control, with one end up, in which case there would be a high likelihood of it sinking again.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=12 June 1939|title=The Rescue and Salvage of the Submarine "Squalus"|magazine=Life|publisher=Time Inc.|page=29|quote=Any slip might cause the ''Squalus'' to rise too fast, get out of control, up end and slip to the bottom again.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c0kEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA29}}</ref> For 50 days, divers worked to pass cables underneath the submarine and attach [[Float (nautical)|pontoons]] for buoyancy. On 13 July 1939, the stern was raised successfully, but when the men attempted to free the bow from the hard blue clay, the vessel began to rise far too quickly, slipping its cables. Ascending vertically, the submarine broke the surface, and {{convert|30|ft|-1}} of the bow reached into the air for not more than ten seconds before she sank once again all the way to the bottom.<ref>{{cite book|last=Faber |first=John |title=Great news photos and the stories behind them |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DqwLVaPdDgoC&pg=PA82 |edition=2nd |year=1978 |publisher=Courier Dover Publications |isbn=0-486-23667-6 |pages=82–83 }}</ref> Momsen said of the mishap, "pontoons were smashed, hoses cut and I might add, hearts were broken."<ref name=Momsen1939>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibssg.org/mccann/momsen-account.htm|title=Rescue and Salvage of U.S.S. Squalus|last=Momsen|first=Charles B. |author-link=Charles Momsen|date=6 October 1939|access-date=2011-01-19}}</ref> After 20 more days of preparation, with a radically redesigned pontoon and cable arrangement, the next lift was successful, as were two further operations. ''Squalus'' was towed into Portsmouth on 13 September, and decommissioned on 15 November. A total of 628 dives had been made in rescue and salvage operations.<ref name=Momsen1939/>

==Operational history of ''Sailfish''==
Renamed ''Sailfish'' on 9 February 1940, she became the first boat of the U.S. Navy named for the [[sailfish]]. After reconditioning, repair, and overhaul, she was recommissioned on 15 May 1940 with Lieutenant Commander [[Morton C. Mumma]] Jr. ([[United States Naval Academy|Annapolis]], Class of 1930){{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=902}} in command.

With refit completed in mid-September, ''Sailfish'' departed Portsmouth on 16 January 1941 and headed for the Pacific.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31776153/sailfish_leaves_for_pacific_fleet/ |title=Sailfish Leaves For Pacific Fleet |newspaper=[[The Portsmouth Herald]] |location=[[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]] |page=1 |date=16 January 1941 |access-date=21 May 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Transiting the [[Panama Canal]], she arrived at [[Pearl Harbor]] in early March, after refueling at San Diego. The submarine then sailed west to [[Manila]] where she joined the [[United States Asiatic Fleet|Asiatic Fleet]] until the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]].

During the [[Pacific War]], the captain of the renamed boat issued standing orders if any man on the boat said the word "Squalus", he was to be marooned at the next port of call. This led to crew members referring to their boat as "Squailfish". That went over almost as well; a [[court martial]] was threatened for anyone heard using it.<ref>{{harvp|Blair|1975|p=143}}. No crewmembers are known to have been marooned, however.</ref>

===World War II===
====First five patrols: December 1941 – August 1942====
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, ''Sailfish'' departed Manila on her first war patrol, destined for the west coast of [[Luzon]]. Early on 10 December, she sighted a landing force, supported by [[cruiser]]s and [[destroyer]]s, but could not gain firing position.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=143}} On the night of 13 December, she made contact with two Japanese destroyers and began a submerged attack; the destroyers detected her, dropping several [[depth charge]]s, while ''Sailfish'' fired two torpedoes. Despite a large explosion nearby, no damage was done, and the destroyers counterattacked with 18–20 depth charges.<ref>{{harvp|Blair|1975|p=143}}. The depth charge attack caused Mumma to suffer a breakdown, and he was relieved. {{harvtxt|Holwitt|2009|p=78, fn 74|ps=none}} mistakenly attributes it to "sonar-equipped destroyers".</ref> She returned to Manila on 17 December.

Her second patrol (now under the command of [[Richard George Voge|Richard G. Voge]]<ref>{{harvp|Blair|1975|p=144}}. Former skipper of {{USS|Sealion|SS-195|2}}, he went on to become [[Charles A. Lockwood]]'s Chief of Staff, and a crucial liaison with [[Station Hypo|HYPO]].</ref> begun on 21 December, took the submarine to waters off [[Taiwan|Formosa]]. On the morning of 27 January 1942, off [[Halmahera]], near [[Davao City|Davao]], she sighted a {{sclass|Myōkō|cruiser|2}}, making a daylight submerged attack with four torpedoes, and reporting the target was damaged, for which she got credit.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=165}} However, the damage could not be assessed since the cruiser's two escorts forced ''Sailfish'' to dive deep and run silent. Running at {{convert|260|ft|m|abbr=on}}, the submarine eluded the destroyers and proceeded south toward [[Java (island)|Java]]. She arrived at [[Tjilatjap]] on 14 February for refueling and rearming.

Departing on 19 February for her third patrol, she headed through [[Lombok Strait]] to the [[Java Sea]]. After sighting the [[heavy cruiser]] {{USS|Houston|CA-30|2}} and two escorts heading for [[Sunda Strait]] following the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] defeat in the [[Battle of the Java Sea]], ''Sailfish'' intercepted an enemy destroyer on 2 March. Following an unsuccessful attack, she was forced to dive deep to escape the ensuing depth charge attack from the destroyer and patrol aircraft. That night, near the mouth of Lombok Strait, she spotted what appeared to be the {{convert|38200|LT|t|abbr=on|adj=on}} [[aircraft carrier]] {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Kaga||2}},{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=165}} escorted by four destroyers. ''Sailfish'' fired four torpedoes, scoring two hits. Leaving the target aflame and dead in the water, ''Sailfish'' dove, the escorts delivering forty depth charges in the next 90 minutes.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=165}} She eluded destroyers and aircraft and arrived at [[Fremantle, Western Australia]], on 19 March, to great fanfare, believed to be the first U.S. sub to have sunk an enemy carrier. In reality, the ''Kaga'' was scuttled in June, 1942, after damage sustained during the [[Battle of Midway]], in that vicinity. Postwar, it was revealed ''Kaga'' had been nowhere in the area of Lombok Strait, and the target had in fact been the {{convert|6440|LT|t|abbr=on|adj=on}} [[auxiliary aircraft ferry|aircraft ferry]] ''[[Kamogawa Maru]]'', still a valuable target.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=187}}

The Java Sea and [[Celebes Sea]] were the areas of ''Sailfish''{{'}}s fourth patrol, from 22 March–21 May. After delivering 1,856 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition to "[[Douglas MacArthur|MacArthur]]'s [[guerrilla]]s",{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=165}} she made only one ship contact and was unable to attack the target before returning to Fremantle.

The submarine's fifth patrol—from 13 June through 1 August—was off the coast of [[Indochina]] in the [[South China Sea]]. On 4 July, she intercepted and tracked a large freighter, but discovered the intended target was a [[hospital ship]] and held her fire. On 9 July, she intercepted and torpedoed a Japanese [[Cargo ship|freighter]]. One of a pair of torpedoes struck home and the ship took a 15° [[List (watercraft)|list]]. As ''Sailfish'' went deep, a series of explosions were heard, and no further screw noises were detected. When the submarine surfaced in the area 90 minutes later, no ship was in sight. She was credited during the war with a 7000 ton ship,{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=910}} and although postwar examination of Japanese records confirmed no sinking in the area on that date,<ref name="USS Sailfish record">{{cite web |url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/2928.html |title=Sailfish (SS-192) of the US Navy - American Submarine of the Sargo class - Allied Warships of WWII |website=uboat.net}}</ref> the ''Sailfish'' had damaged the Japanese transport ship ''Aobasan Maru'' (8811 GRT) off the coast of Indochina in position 11°31'N, 109°21'E.<ref name="USS Sailfish record"/>

''Sailfish'' observed only one other enemy vessel before the end of the patrol.

====Sixth and seventh patrols: September 1942 – January 1943====
Shifting her base of operations to [[Brisbane]], ''Sailfish'' (now under the command of [[John R. "Dinty" Moore]]){{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=913}} got underway for her sixth patrol on 13 September and headed for the western [[Solomon Islands]]. On the night of 17–18 September, she encountered eight Japanese destroyers escorting a cruiser, but she was unable to attack. On 19 September, she attacked a [[minelayer]]. The spread of three torpedoes missed, and ''Sailfish'' was forced to dive deep to escape the depth charge counterattack. Eleven well-placed charges went off near the submarine, causing much minor damage. ''Sailfish'' returned to Brisbane on 1 November.

Underway for her seventh patrol on 24 November, ''Sailfish'' proceeded to the area south of [[New Britain]]. Following an unsuccessful attack on a destroyer on 2 December, the submarine made no other contacts until 25 December, when she believed she had scored a hit on a Japanese submarine. Postwar analysis of Japanese records could not confirm a sinking in the area. During the remainder of the patrol, she made unsuccessful attacks on a cargo ship and a destroyer before ending the patrol at Pearl Harbor on 15 January 1943.

====Eighth and ninth patrols: May–September 1943====
After an overhaul at [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]] from 27 January–22 April, ''Sailfish'' returned to Pearl Harbor on 30 April. Departing Hawaii on 17 May for her eighth patrol, she stopped off to fuel at [[Midway Island]] and proceeded to her station off the east coast of [[Honshū]]. Several contacts were made but, because of bad weather, were not attacked. On 15 June, she encountered two freighters off [[Todo Saki]], escorted by three [[subchaser]]s.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=463}} Firing a spread of three stern torpedoes, she observed one hit which stopped the ''maru'' dead in the water. ''Sailfish'' was driven down by the escort, but listened on her sound gear as ''Shinju Maru'' broke up and sank. Ten days later, she found a second [[convoy]], three ships with a subchaser and, unusually, an aircraft, for escort. ''Sailfish'' once more fired three stern tubes, sinking ''Iburi Maru''; in response, the subchaser, the aircraft, and three additional escorts,{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=463}} pinned her down in a gruelling depth charge attack lasting 10 hours and 98 charges but causing only slight damage.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=463}} After shaking loose pursuit, she set course for Midway on 26 June, arriving there on 3 July.<ref>{{harvp|Blair|1975|pp=463 & 930}}. At the time, Moore was not given credit for the sinkings, and was transferred.</ref>

Her ninth patrol (commanded by [[William R. Lefavour]]){{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=932}} lasted from 25 July–16 September and covered the [[Formosa Strait]] and waters off [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]. It produced only two contacts (a 2500 ton steamer at [[Naha, Okinawa]], and a [[Junk (ship)|junk]]),{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=463}} but no worthwhile targets, and ''Sailfish'' thereafter returned to Pearl Harbor.<ref>{{harvp|Blair|1975|p=464}}. On return, Lefavour was transferred to small craft.</ref>

====Tenth patrol: November 1943 – January 1944====
After refit at Pearl Harbor, she departed (under the command of [[Robert E. McC. Ward]])<ref>{{harvp|Blair|1975|pp=527 & 940}}. Not to be confused with [[Norvell G. "Bub" Ward]]. He had an almost entirely new [[wardroom]] after the unfortunate experience with Lefavour.</ref> with a rejuvenated crew, on 17 November for her 10th patrol, which took her south of Honshū. Along the way, she suffered a "[[hot run]]" in tube eight (aft), and (after the skipper himself went over the side to inspect the damage) ejected the torpedo; the tube remained out of commission for the duration of the patrol.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=528}}

After refueling at Midway, she was alerted by [[Ultra (cryptography)|<small>ULTRA</small>]] of a fast convoy of Japanese ships before she arrived on station. Southeast of [[United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka|Yokosuka]], on the night of 3 December, she made [[radar]] contact at {{convert|9000|yd|m|abbr=on}}. The group consisted of the Japanese aircraft carrier {{Ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Chūyō||2}}, a cruiser, and two destroyers. Despite high seas whipped up by [[typhoon]] winds, ''Sailfish'' maneuvered into firing position shortly after midnight on 3–4 December, dived to radar depth (just the radar aerial exposed), and fired four bow torpedoes at the carrier, at a range of {{convert|2100|yd|m|abbr=on}}, scoring two hits. She went deep to escape the escorting destroyers, which dropped 21 depth charges (only two close), reloaded, and at 02:00, surfaced to resume the pursuit. She found a mass of radar contacts, and a slow-moving target, impossible to identify in the miserable visibility. As dawn neared, she fired another spread of three bow "fish" from {{convert|3100|yd|m|abbr=on}}, scoring two more hits on the stricken carrier. Diving to elude the Japanese counter-attack, which was hampered by the raging seas, ''Sailfish'' came to periscope depth, and at 07:58 saw the carrier lying dead in the water, listing to port and down by the stern. Preparations to abandon ship were in progress.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=528}}

Later in the morning, ''Sailfish'' fired another spread of three torpedoes, from only {{convert|1700|yd|m|abbr=on}},<ref>{{harvp|Blair|1975|p=528}}. In that weather, these were of questionable necessity.</ref> scoring two final hits. Loud internal explosions and breaking-up noises were heard while the submarine dived to escape a depth charge attack. Abruptly, a cruiser appeared and, fearing that she would broach the surface, ''Sailfish'' went to {{convert|90|ft|m|abbr=on}}, losing a chance at this new target.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=529}} Shortly afterwards, the carrier ''Chūyō''{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=529}} ({{convert|20000|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}) went to the bottom, the first aircraft carrier sunk by an American submarine in the war,{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=529}} and the only major Japanese warship sunk by enemy action in 1943.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=553}} In an ironic twist, ''Chūyō'' was carrying American prisoners of war from {{USS|Sculpin|SS-191|2}}, the same boat that had helped locate and rescue ''Sailfish''—then ''Squalus''—over four years before. Twenty of the 21 US crew members from ''Sculpin'' were killed. None, however, were of the original rescue crew.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=529}} 1,250 Japanese were also killed.

After escaping a strafing attack by a Japanese fighter on 7 December, she made contact and commenced tracking two cargo ships with two{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=529}} escorts on the morning of 13 December, south of [[Kyūshū]]. That night, she fired a spread of four torpedoes at the two freighters. Two solid explosions were heard, including an internal secondary explosion. ''Sailfish'' heard ''Totai Maru'' ({{GRT|3000}}){{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=529}} break up and sink as the destroyers made a vigorous but inaccurate depth charge attack. When ''Sailfish'' caught up with the other freighter she was dead in the water, but covered by a screen of five destroyers. Rather than face suicidal odds, the submarine quietly left the area. On the night of 20 December, she intercepted an enemy hospital ship, which she left unmolested.

On 21 December, in the approach to [[Bungo Suido]] (Bungo Channel), ''Sailfish'' intercepted six large freighters escorted by three{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=529}} destroyers. With five torpedoes left, she fired a spread of three stern tubes,{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=529}} scoring two hits on the largest target. Diving to escape the approaching destroyers, the submarine detected breaking-up noises as ''Uyo Maru'' (6400 GRT){{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=529}} went to the bottom; destroyers counterattacked with 31 depth charges, "some very close".{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=529}} ''Sailfish'' terminated her tenth patrol at Pearl Harbor on 5 January 1944. She claimed three ships for 35,729 GRT, plus damage to one for 7000 tons, believed to be the most successful patrol by tonnage to date; postwar, it was reduced to two ships and (less ''Uyo Maru'') 29,571 tons.<ref>{{harvp|Blair|1975|pp=529–530}}. It earned Ward a [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]].</ref>

====Eleventh patrol: July–September 1944====
After an extensive overhaul at Mare Island—from 15–17 June—she returned to Hawaii and sailed on 9 July as part of a "[[Wolfpack (naval tactic)|wolfpack]]" ("Moseley's Maulers", commanded by [[Stan Moseley]]),{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=701}} with {{USS|Greenling|SS-213|2}} and {{USS|Billfish|SS-286|2}}, to prey on shipping in the Luzon–Formosa area. On the afternoon of 6 August,<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Waterhouse |first=John W. |date=July 9, 1944 – January 15, 1945 |title=Private Journal of John. W. Waterhouse |journal=Primary Source |at=p. 5 }}</ref> ''Sailfish'' and ''Greenling'' made contact with an enemy convoy. ''Sailfish'' maneuvered into firing position and fired a spread of three torpedoes at a mine layer.<ref name=":0" /> One hit caused the tanker to disintegrate into a column of water, smoke and debris. It was not recorded in the postwar account.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=701}} In fact the ''Sailfish'' had sunk the Japanese ''Kinshu Maru'' (238 GRT) in Luzon Strait in position 20°09'N, 121°19'E.<ref name="USS Sailfish record"/>

The next target was a [[battleship]] escorted by three{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=701}} destroyers, on which she made radar contact{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=701}} shortly after midnight on 18–19 August. At 01:35, after getting as close as she was able, {{convert|3500|yd|m|abbr=on}}, ''Sailfish'' fired all four bow tubes. One of the escorts ran into the path of two fish; the other two missed.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=702}} While the destroyer must have been severely damaged or sunk, there was nothing in [[JANAC]].{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=702}}

On 24 August, south of Formosa, ''Sailfish'' made radar contact with an enemy convoy consisting of four cargo ships escorted by two small patrol craft. Moving into firing position, ''Sailfish'' fired a salvo of four torpedoes, scoring two hits. The cargo ship ''Toan Maru'' (2100 GRT){{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=702}} was enveloped in a cloud of smoke and shortly afterwards broke in two and sank. Surfacing after escaping a depth charge attack, ''Sailfish'' closed on a second cargo ship of the convoy, scoring two hits out of four torpedoes fired. The submarine's crew felt the cargo ship either had been sunk or badly damaged, but the sinking was not confirmed by JANAC postwar.<ref>{{harvp|Blair|1975|p=702}}. Her packmates, ''Greenling'' and ''Billfish'', were similarly denied.</ref> ''Sailfish'' terminated her 11th patrol at Midway on 6 September; her wartime credit was four ships for 13,200 tons, a total reduced to just one of 2100 GRT (''Toan Maru'') postwar.{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=953}}

====Twelfth patrol: September–December 1944====
Her 12th patrol—from 26 September through 11 December—was conducted between Luzon and Formosa, in company with {{USS|Pomfret|SS-391|2}} and {{USS|Parche|SS-384|2}}.

After passing through the edge of a typhoon, ''Sailfish'' arrived on station to perform [[lifeguard]] duty. On 12 October, staying surfaced in full view of enemy attackers,{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=953}} she rescued 12{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=953}} Navy fliers who had ditched their stricken aircraft after strikes against Japanese bases on Formosa. She sank a [[sampan]] and a patrol craft{{sfnp|Blair|1975|p=953}} with her deck gun as the enemy craft tried to capture the downed aviators. The following day, she rescued another flier. The submarines pulled into [[Saipan]], arriving on 24 October, to drop off their temporary passengers, refuel, and make minor repairs.

After returning to the patrol area with the wolf pack, she made an unsuccessful attack on a transport on 3 November. The following day, ''Sailfish'' damaged the Japanese destroyer ''Harukaze'' and Japanese landing ship ''T-111'' (890 tons) in Luzon Strait in position 20°08'N, 121°43'E<ref name="USS Sailfish record"/> but was slightly damaged herself by a bomb from a patrol aircraft. With battle damage under control, ''Sailfish'' eluded her pursuers and cleared the area. After riding out a typhoon on 9–10 November, she intercepted a convoy on the evening of 24 November heading for [[Itbayat]] in the Philippines. After alerting ''Pomfret'' of the convoy's location and course, ''Sailfish'' was moving into an attack position when one of the escorting destroyers headed straight for her. ''Sailfish'' fired a three-torpedo spread "down the throat" and headed toward the main convoy. At least one hit was scored on the destroyer and her pip faded from the radar screen. Suddenly, ''Sailfish'' received an unwelcome surprise when she came under fire from the destroyer that she had believed to be sunk. ''Sailfish'' ran deep after ascertaining there was no hull damage resulting from a near miss from the escort's guns. For the next 4{{frac|1|2}} hours, ''Sailfish'' was forced to run silent and deep as the Japanese kept up an uncomfortably accurate depth-charge attack. Finally, the submarine was able to elude the destroyers and slip away. Shortly, ''Sailfish'' headed for Hawaii, via Midway, and completed her 12th and final war patrol upon arriving at Pearl Harbor on 11 December. ''Sailfish'' had damaged the IJN destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Harukaze|1922|2}}, which had previously sunk {{USS|Shark|SS-314|6}}, and also a landing ship.<ref name="USS Sailfish record"/>

====Return stateside====
Following refit, ''Sailfish'' departed Hawaii on 26 December and arrived at [[Naval Submarine Base New London|New London]], via the Panama Canal, on 22 January 1945. For the next four and one-half months, she aided training out of New London. Next, she operated as a training ship at [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base|Guantanamo Bay]] from 9 June–9 August. After a six-week stay at [[Philadelphia Navy Yard]], she arrived at [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]] on 2 October for deactivation.

===Post war===
[[File:Martin_Dempsey_at_Portsmouth_Naval_Shipyard_2013.jpg|thumb|right|Conning tower of SS-192 on display at [[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard]], seen during a 2013 visit by General [[Martin Dempsey]], then [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]].]]

After being decommissioned on 27 October 1945,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31776246/final_tribute_paid_to_gallant_uss/ |title=Final Tribute Paid to Gallant USS Sailfish |newspaper=[[The Portsmouth Herald]] |location=[[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]] |page=1 |date=29 October 1945 |access-date=21 May 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> efforts by the city of Portsmouth and area residents to have the submarine kept intact as a memorial were not successful.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31776333/sailfish_bridge_conning_tower_may_be/ |title=Sailfish Bridge, Conning Tower May Be Saved |newspaper=[[The Portsmouth Herald]] |location=[[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]] |page=1 |date=14 December 1945 |access-date=21 May 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> Agreement was reached to have her [[conning tower]] saved, which was dedicated in November 1946 on [[Armistice Day]], by [[John L. Sullivan (United States Navy)|John L. Sullivan]], then [[United States Under Secretary of the Navy|Under Secretary of the Navy]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31776556/conning_tower_of_uss_sailfish_made/ |title=Conning Tower of U.S.S. Sailfish made War Memorial |agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[Oakland Tribune]] |location=[[Oakland, California]] |page=2 |date=11 November 1946 |access-date=21 May 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The remainder of the submarine was initially scheduled to be a target in the [[atomic bomb]] tests<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31776394/uss_sailfish_will_be_used_in_tests_of/ |title=USS Sailfish Will Be Used in Tests of Counter-Measures to Atom Bomb |newspaper=[[The Portsmouth Herald]] |location=[[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]] |page=1 |date=16 November 1945 |access-date=21 May 2019 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref> or sunk by conventional ordnance. However, she was placed on sale in March 1948 and stricken from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 30 April 1948. The hulk was sold for scrapping to Luria Brothers of [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], on 18 June 1948. Her conning tower still stands at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery as a memorial to her lost crewmen ({{coord|43|04|55.4|N|70|44|18.7|W|region:US-NH_typelandmark|display=inline}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navalhistory.org/2014/05/23/remembering-the-uss-squalus-75-years-later |title=Remembering the USS Squalus 75 years later |website=navalhistory.org |date=23 May 2014 |access-date=5 April 2018}}</ref>

==Honors and awards==
*[[File:United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|106px]] [[Presidential Unit Citation (United States)|Presidential Unit Citation]] for outstanding performance on her 10th war patrol
*[[File:American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] [[American Defense Service Medal]]
*[[File:American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] [[American Campaign Medal]]
*{{ribbon devices|number=9|type=service-star|ribbon=Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} [[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] with nine [[battle star]]s for [[World War II]] service
*[[File:World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|106px]] [[World War II Victory Medal]]

==In media==
The 2001 [[television movie]] [[docudrama]] ''Submerged'', directed by [[James Keach]] and starring [[Sam Neill]] as Charles B. "Swede" Momsen and [[James B. Sikking]] as Admiral [[Cyrus W. Cole|Cyrus Cole]], depicted the events surrounding the loss of USS ''Squalus'' and the rescue of her 33 survivors. The plot was written to closely follow the events of the sinking.

''Submerged'' used models and sets originally constructed for the 2000 film ''[[U-571 (film)|U-571]]''. The floating set used to in ''Submerged'' to represent both USS ''Squalus'' and USS ''Sculpin'' is the non-diving replica built in [[Malta]] as the "modified" {{USS|S-33|SS-138}} for ''U-571'', which also was shot in Malta. The replica is still{{when|date=February 2023}} afloat, moored in [[Marsa, Malta|Marsa]] in the inner part of the [[Grand Harbour]] ({{coord|35|52|46.00|N|14|29|49.92|E|display=inline}}) at Malta.

In 2006, BBC TV presented a series of programmes entitled ''Voyages of Discovery'' the first of which, called "Hanging by a Thread", told the story of the USS ''Squalus'' rescue mission, as narrated by Paul Rose.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074t6g Voyages of Discovery]</ref>

==See also==
* {{HMS|Thetis|N25}}, a British World War II submarine that sank in [[Liverpool Bay]] with the loss of 99 of 104 hands and was refloated and recommissioned under a new name.

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
* Barrows, Nathaniel A. ''Blow All Ballast! The Story of the Squalus.'' New York: Dodd, Mead & Co, 1940.
* {{Cite book| last = Blair | first = Clay Jr. | author-link = Clay Blair | title = Silent Victory | location = Philadelphia | publisher = Lippincott | year = 1975 | isbn = 978-0-397-01089-9 | oclc = 821363}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman |first=N.|title=U.S. Submarines Through 1945|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1995|isbn=1-55750-263-3}}
* Gray, Edwyn. ''Disasters of the Deep: A Comprehensive Survey of Submarine Accidents and Disasters.'' Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press, 2003.
* {{cite book |last=Holwitt |first=Joel Ira |date=2009 |title="Execute Against Japan" The U.S. Decision to Conduct Unrestricted Subnarine Warfare |publisher=Texas A&M University Press |isbn=9781603440837 }}
* {{Cite video | people=Keach, James | date=2000 | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286996 | title=Submerged | medium=Film | location=New York | publisher=[[NBC]] }} (Television movie. The film does not acknowledge any design flaw and claims the cause is unknown.)
* LaVO, Carl. ''Back from the Deep: The Strange Story of the Sister Subs Squalus and Sculpin.'' Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press, 1994.
* Maas, Peter. ''The Rescuer.'' New York: Harper & Row, 1967.
* {{Cite book | last = Maas | first = Peter | author-link = Peter Maas | title = The Terrible Hours: The Man Behind the Greatest Submarine Rescue in History | location = New York | publisher = HarperCollins Publishers | year = 1999 | isbn = 978-0-06-019480-2 | oclc = 41504915 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/terriblehours00pete_0 }}
* USS ''Squalus'', Ship Source Files, Ships History Branch, Naval Historical Center
* "Oliver Francis Naquin," Obituary, ''The New York Times'', 15 November. 1989
* ''Department's Report on "Squalus" Disaster''. Washington: U.S. G.P.O., 1939.
* Naval Historical Center (U.S.).'' USS Squalus (SS-192) The Sinking, Rescue of Survivors, and Subsequent Salvage, 1939.'' Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, 1998. http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq99-1.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106064527/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq99-1.htm |date=6 January 2015 }}
* Mariners' Museum (Newport News, Va.). ''Salvage of the Squalus: Clippings from Newspapers, 25 May 20 January 1939, 1941''. Newport News, Va: Mariners' Museum, 1942.
* Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (U.S.). ''Technical Report of the Salvage of U.S.S. Squalus.'' Portsmouth, N.H.: U.S. Navy Yard, 1939.
* Falcon (Salvage ship), and Albert R. Behnke. ''Log of Diving During Rescue and Salvage Operations of the USS Squalus: Diving Log of USS Falcon'', 24 May 1939 – 12 September 1939. Kensington, Maryland: Reprinted by Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society, 2001
* ''Diving in the U.S. Navy a brief history.'' http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS88384
{{Refend}}

==References==
* {{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/squalus-ss-192.html}}
* {{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/sailfish-i.html|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/sailfish-ss-192-i.html}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news |url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20190519/squalus-sinking-tragedy-and-triumph |title=Squalus sinking: A tragedy and triumph |first=D. Allan |last=Kerr |publisher=seacoastonline.com |location=[[Portsmouth, New Hampshire]] |date=19 May 2019 |access-date=20 May 2019}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|USS Sailfish (SS-192)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000819041641/http://history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-s/ss192.htm Naval Historical Center, Online Library of Selected Images: USS ''Squalus''/''Sailfish'' (SS-192)]
* {{navsource|08/08192|Sailfish}}
* [http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/submar/ss192.htm hazegray.org: USS ''Sailfish'']
* [http://www.fleetsubmarine.com/ss-192.html fleetsubmarine.com: USS ''Sailfish''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029000431/http://www.fleetsubmarine.com/ss-192.html |date=29 October 2015 }}
* [http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-squalus-192.htm On Eternal Patrol: USS ''Squalus'']
* [http://www.pigboats.com/ww2/sailfish.html Kill record: USS ''Sailfish''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202224524/http://www.pigboats.com/ww2/sailfish.html |date=2 December 2008 }}

{{Sargo class submarine}}
{{May 1939 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sailfish (Ss-192)}}
[[Category:1938 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1939]]
[[Category:Sargo-class submarines]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kittery, Maine]]
<!-- Submarine accident category has been moved to the USS Squalus (SS-192) redirect because the sub was named Squalus at the time of the accident. -->
[[Category:United States submarine accidents]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of the United States]]