USS Hammerhead (SS-364)

Last updated

USS Hammerhead;0836412.jpg
Hammerhead (SS-364) slides into the Manitowoc River.
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameHammerhead
Namesake Hammerhead shark
Builder Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin [1]
Laid down5 May 1943 [1]
Launched24 October 1943 [1]
Commissioned1 March 1944 [1]
Decommissioned9 February 1946 [1]
Recommissioned6 February 1952 [1]
Decommissioned21 August 1953 [1]
Recommissioned16 July 1954 [1]
Decommissioned23 October 1954 [1]
Fate
  • Transferred to Turkey 23 October 1954 [2]
  • Sold to Turkey 1 January 1972
Stricken1 January 1972 [2]
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey
NameTCG Cerbe (S 341)
Namesake Battle of Djerba
Acquired23 October 1954
Commissioned23 October 1954
Decommissioned4 May 1972
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Class and type Gato-class diesel-electric submarine [2]
Displacement
  • 1,525  tons (1,549  t) surfaced [2]
  • 2,424 tons (2,460 t) submerged [2]
Length311 ft 9 in (95.02 m) [2]
Beam27 ft 3 in (8.31 m) [2]
Draft17 ft 0 in (5.18 m) maximum [2]
Propulsion
Speed
  • 21 knots (39 km/h) surfaced [3]
  • 9 knots (17 km/h) submerged [3]
Range11,000 nmi (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h) [3]
Endurance
  • 48 hours at 2 knots (4 km/h) submerged [3]
  • 75 days on patrol
Test depth300 ft (90 m) [3]
Complement6 officers, 54 enlisted [3] (peace); 80-85 (war) [4]
Armament

USS Hammerhead (SS-364), a Gato-class [2] submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the hammerhead shark, a shark found in warm seas with a flattened anterior forward of the gill slits, presenting a hammer-like silhouette when viewed from above.

Contents

Construction and commissioning

Hammerhead initially was ordered as a unit of the Balao class, but her builder, the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, did not receive the drawings for the Balao class from the Electric Boat Company in time to build Hammerhead or the submarines USS Golet (SS-361), USS Guavina (SS-362), and USS Guitarro (SS-363) to the new design, so they were built as Gato-class submarines. Thus, in some references, these four submarines are listed as units of the Balao-class. [6]

Hammerhead was launched on 24 October 1943 by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, sponsored by Mrs. R. W Berry, and commissioned on 1 March 1944.

Operational history

After a month's training in Lake Michigan, Hammerhead was placed in a floating drydock and towed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she arrived on 8 April 1944. She subsequently proceeded to Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, for further training, and thence to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

First patrol, June – August 1944

The submarine departed Pearl Harbor on her first war patrol 6 June 1944 in company with Steelhead (SS-280) and Parche (SS-384). Cruising the seas south of Formosa, her first engagement came 9 June when she sank a sampan with gunfire. She then encountered a coastal oiler 29 June and closed for the attack, but the torpedoes failed to strike home and a surprise aerial attack forced the sub down. At the Next day, Hammerhead damaged several ships of a convoy. She made port at Fremantle, Australia 17 August 1944.

Second patrol, September – November 1944

Hammerhead's second war patrol was conducted in the Java and South China Seas. She departed Fremantle 9 September and made her first attack the night of 1 October, when a convoy consisting of four cargo ships, one oiler, and three escorts was detected off Borneo. Hammerhead fired 10 torpedoes, scored a total of 6 hits, and sent 3 of the cargo ships to the bottom (Hiyori Maru, Higane Maru, Kokusei Maru). [7]

The morning of 20 October the submarine found still another six ship convoy, and after evading one of the escorts delivered a six-torpedo attack. Two more cargo ships fell victim to Hammerhead's marksmanship. The submarine returned from this highly successful patrol 2 November 1944, and was later awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for her outstanding performance.

Third and fourth patrols, November 1944 – March 1945

The submarine commenced her third war patrol 25 November, returning to the South China Sea. On this cruise she operated with Lapon (SS-260) and Paddle (SS-263), and although several attacks were made, no sinkings resulted. She returned to Fremantle 17 January 1945.

Hammerhead departed on her fourth war patrol 19 February, in company with Baya (SS-318). Patrolling off Cape Varella, she detected a convoy and two escorts 23 February and while closing the cargo ships obtained a perfect shot on an escort. A spread of four torpedoes sank Japanese frigate Yaku. Due to the illness of her commanding officer, the submarine was forced to end her patrol, and moored at Subic Bay 3 March 1945.

Fifth and sixth patrols, March – May 1945

Beginning her fifth war patrol 10 March 1945, Hammerhead proceeded to the coast of Indochina, where on 29 March she detected a large escorted convoy. Working her way inside the screen, the submarine was able to get a clear shot at an escort vessel, and a single hit broke her in two. After sinking the escort, Hammerhead damaged other members of the group before retiring. She returned from this war patrol 6 April 1945, mooring at Subic Bay, Philippines.

For her sixth war patrol Hammerhead operated in the Gulf of Siam. She arrived 6 May and that night encountered a small tanker and two escorts. After missing with two torpedoes at extreme range the submarine found the mark in a second attack, sinking the tanker Kinrei Maru. Hammerhead attacked other ships of the convoy without success and after a depth charge attack decided to break off. Sighting a cargo carrier 14 May with only an aircraft escort, Hammerhead made a perfect approach and sank the ship with two torpedoes. She returned from this patrol 25 May.

Seventh patrol, June – August 1945

Hammerhead departed Fremantle 21 June on her seventh and last war patrol, also carried out in the Gulf of Siam, in company with three other submarines. Her major attack of this patrol occurred 10 July, when she sank cargo ships Sakura Maru and Nanmei Maru No. 5. The patrol was brought to a close 21 August 1945 at Pearl Harbor.

Decommissioning, 1945

Hammerhead arrived Mare Island, Calif., for decommissioning 20 August 1945 and decommissioned 9 February 1946. She was then placed in the Reserve Fleet at Mare Island.

1952–1953

Hammerhead was brought out of reserve during the Korean War, recommissioned 6 February 1952, and engaged in training duty on the United States West Coast between San Diego and San Francisco, California, until 21 August 1953, when she decommissioned for return to the Reserve Fleet.

July–October 1954

Earmarked for loan under the Military Assistance Program, Hammerhead was converted to a GUPPY submarine at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and recommissioned once more 16 July 1954 to prepare for transfer. She was decommissioned on 23 October 1954 and loaned to Turkey the same day.

TCG Cerbe (S 341)

The submarine was commissioned by the Turkish Navy on 23 October 1954 as TCG Cerbe (S 03), the Turkish name of the island of Djerba. She was the first submarine of that name, a reference to the 1560 Battle of Djerba. She later was redesignated S 341. The United States formally sold Cerbe to Turkey on 1 January 1972. She was decommissioned on 4 May 1972 and subsequently scrapped.

Awards

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Sand Lance</i> (SS-381) Submarine of the United States

USS Sand Lance (SS-381), a Balao-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the sand lance, a member of the family Ammodytidae.

USS <i>Flasher</i> (SS-249) Submarine of the United States

USS Flasher (SS-249) was a Gato-class submarine which served in the Pacific during World War II. She received the Presidential Unit Citation and six battle stars, and sank 21 ships for a total of 100,231 tons of Japanese shipping, making her one of the most successful American submarines of the War. She was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the flasher.

USS <i>Haddo</i> (SS-255) Submarine of the United States

USS Haddo (SS-255), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the haddo.

USS <i>Jack</i> (SS-259) Submarine of the United States

USS Jack (SS-259), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the jack.

USS <i>Peto</i> Submarine of the United States

USS Peto (SS-265), a Gato-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the peto, a sharp-nosed tropical fish of the mackerel family.

USS <i>Pogy</i> (SS-266) Submarine of the United States

USS Pogy (SS-266), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the pogy, or menhaden. She was credited with sinking 16 ships totaling 62,633 gross register tons during World War II.

USS <i>Puffer</i> (SS-268) Submarine of the United States

USS Puffer (SS-268), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the puffer.

USS <i>Rasher</i> Submarine of the United States

USS Rasher (SS/SSR/AGSS/IXSS-269), a Gato-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the rasher, or vermilion rockfish, a fish found along the California coast.

USS <i>Raton</i> Submarine of the United States

USS Raton (SS/SSR/AGSS-270), a Gato-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the raton, a polynemoid fish inhabiting semitropical waters off the Pacific coast of the Americas.

USS <i>Ray</i> (SS-271) Submarine of the United States

USS Ray (SS/SSR-271), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the ray, a fish characterized by a flat body, large pectoral fins, and a whiplike tail.

USS <i>Seahorse</i> (SS-304) Submarine of the United States

USS Seahorse (SS-304), a Balao-class submarine, was the first submarine and second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the seahorse, a small fish whose head and the fore part of its body suggest the head and neck of a horse.

USS <i>Baya</i> Submarine of the United States

USS Baya (SS/AGSS-318), a Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the baya. During World War II, she completed five war patrols in the South China Sea, Gulf of Siam, Java Sea, and Philippine Sea between 23 August 1944 and 25 July 1945. She sank four Japanese vessels totaling 8855 gross register tons, and shared credit with the submarine USS Hawkbill (SS-366) for sinking a Japanese 8,407-gross register ton passenger-cargo ship. After World War II, she saw service as a research submarine during the Cold War and operated off Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

USS <i>Becuna</i> United States Navy submarine

USS Becuna (SS/AGSS-319), a Balao-class submarine in commission from 1944 to 1969, was ship of the United States Navy named for the becuna, a pike-like fish of Europe. During World War II, she conducted five war patrols between August 23, 1944 and July 27, 1945, operating in the Philippine Islands, South China Sea, and Java Sea. She is credited with sinking two Japanese tankers totaling 3,888 gross register tons.

USS <i>Blenny</i> Balao-class submarine

USS Blenny (SS/AGSS-324), a Balao-class submarine in commission from 1944 to 1969, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the blenny, a fish found along the rocky shores of the Atlantic Ocean. During World War II, Blenny conducted four war patrols in the Java Sea and South China Sea between 10 November 1944 and 14 August 1945. She sank eight Japanese vessels totaling 18,262 tons. In addition, she is credited with destroying more than 62 miscellaneous Japanese small craft by gunfire.

USS <i>Parche</i> (SS-384) Submarine of the United States

The first USS Parche (SS-384/AGSS-384) was a United States Navy submarine. She bore the name of a butterfly fish, Chaetodon capistratus. Parche was a Balao-class submarine that operated in World War II.

USS <i>Guavina</i> Submarine of the United States

USS Guavina (SS/SSO/AGSS/AOSS-362), a Gato-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the guavina, a fish which may reach a length of 2 feet (0.6 m) indigenous to the West Indies and the Atlantic coasts of Central America and Mexico.

USS <i>Hardhead</i> (SS-365) Submarine of the United States

USS Hardhead (SS-365), a Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the hardhead, a fish of the croaker family.

USS <i>Spadefish</i> (SS-411) Submarine of the United States

The first USS Spadefish (SS/AGSS-411), a Balao-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the spadefish. Although she was commissioned late in the war and spent only one year in the Pacific war zone, she was able to run up a record of 88,091 tons in 21 ships and numerous trawlers sunk.

USS <i>Hawkbill</i> (SS-366) Submarine of the United States

USS Hawkbill (SS-366), a Balao-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the hawksbill, a large sea turtle.

USS <i>Guitarro</i> (SS-363) Submarine of the United States

USS Guitarro (SS-363), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the guitarro.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Friedman, Norman (1995). U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. pp. 285–304. ISBN   1-55750-263-3.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bauer, K. Jack; Roberts, Stephen S. (1991). Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 271–273. ISBN   0-313-26202-0.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305-311
  4. ↑ Lenton, p.79.
  5. ↑ Lenton, H. T. American Submarines (Doubleday, 1973), p.79.
  6. ↑ Friedman 1995, p. 209
  7. ↑ Hackett, Bob. "KOKUSEI MARU: Tabular Record of Movement". Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.