USS Hawkbill (SS-366)

	Hawkbill (SS-366), launches sideways into the Manitowoc River, 9 January 1944.
History
United States
Name	USS Hawkbill (SS-366)
Builder	Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Laid down	7 August 1943
Launched	9 January 1944
Commissioned	17 May 1944
Decommissioned	20 September 1946
Recommissioned	1953
Decommissioned	21 April 1953
Fate	Transferred to the Netherlands, 21 April 1953, sold to the Netherlands, 20 February 1970
Stricken	20 February 1970
Netherlands
Name	HNLMS Zeeleeuw (S803)
Acquired	21 April 1953
Fate	Sold for scrap, 24 November 1970
General characteristics
Class and type	Balao class diesel-electric submarine
Displacement	1,526 tons (1,550 t) surfaced; 2,424 tons (2,463 t) submerged;
Length	311 ft 9 in (95.02 m)
Beam	27 ft 3 in (8.31 m)
Draft	16 ft 10 in (5.13 m) maximum
Propulsion	4 × Fairbanks-Morse Model 38D8-⅛ 10-cylinder opposed piston diesel engines driving electrical generators ; 2 × 126-cell Sargo batteries ; 4 × high-speed Elliott electric motors with reduction gears ; two propellers ; 5,400 shp (4.0 MW) surfaced; 2,740 shp (2.0 MW) submerged;
Speed	20.25 knots (38 km/h) surfaced; 8.75 knots (16 km/h) submerged;
Range	11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h)
Endurance	48 hours at 2 knots (3.7 km/h) submerged; 75 days on patrol;
Test depth	400 ft (120 m)
Complement	10 officers, 70–71 enlisted
Armament	10 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes; 6 forward, 4 aft; 24 torpedoes; 1 × 5-inch (127 mm) / 25 caliber deck gun ; Bofors 40 mm and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon;

Last updated October 19, 2024

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 (the "-s-" was inadvertently dropped at commissioning.).

Construction and commissioning

Hawkbill (SS-366) was launched by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, on 9 January 1944, sponsored by Mrs. F. W. Scanland, Jr., and commissioned on 17 May 1944.

Operational history

Following a period of training on the Great Lakes, Hawkbill departed 1 June 1944 from Manitowoc to begin the long journey down the Illinois River and finally by barge down the Mississippi. She arrived New Orleans 10 June and, after combat loading, sailed 16 June for training based at the submarine base at Balboa, Panama Canal Zone. On 18 June 1944, the 5,433-gross register ton Panamamanian merchant ship SS White Clover mistook her for a German U-boat and opened gunfire on her in the Caribbean Sea about 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) south of Cape San Antonio, Cuba, at 21°31′N085°04′W / 21.517°N 85.067°W / 21.517; -85.067 , firing six rounds.^[7]Hawkbill signaled White Clover to cease firing and suffered no casualties or damage.^[7]

After completing her training from Balboa, Hawkbill arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 28 July 1944 for final preparations before her first war patrol.

First and Second War Patrols

Departing 23 August, the submarine steamed via Saipan to her patrol area in the Philippine Islands in company with Baya and Becuna. In October Hawkbill shifted patrol to the South China Sea and, while approaching two carriers 7 October, was forced down by violent depth charging by Japanese destroyers. Two days later she attacked a 12-ship convoy with Becuna, damaging several of the ships. Hawkbill transited heavily patrolled Lombok Strait 14 October, and terminated her first patrol at Fremantle, Australia on 17 October.

In company with Becuna and Flasher (SS-249), the submarine departed for her second patrol 15 November bound for the area north of the Malay Barrier. She encountered a convoy 15 December and sank destroyer Momo with six well-placed torpedoes during a night attack. Finding few contacts—a testament to the effectiveness of the American submarines—Hawkbill headed once more for Lombok Strait. This time she was sighted by a patrol craft, but cleverly maneuvered into a rain squall. The submarine was then fired-upon by shore batteries before passing out of range. Hawkbill returned to Fremantle 5 January 1945.

Third and Fourth War Patrols

On her third war patrol beginning 5 February, the submarine returned to Lombok Strait to turn the tables on her former pursuers. Her torpedoes sank two submarine chasers 14 February, and she added some small craft before turning for the South China Sea. Hawkbill detected a convoy 20 February; after engaging one escort with gunfire, she sank 5,400-ton cargo ship Daizen Maru with a spread of torpedoes. The rest of her patrol brought no targets; she arrived Fremantle 6 April 1945.

Departing on her fourth patrol 5 May, Hawkbill served on lifeguard station for a B-24 strike on the Kangean Islands north of Bali. She arrived 16 May on her patrol station off the coast of Malaya, and soon afterward encountered minelayer Hatsutaka heading south along the coast. She attacked and obtained two hits, causing severe damage. The ship was observed next morning being towed to the beach. At a range of almost 5,000 yards (4,600 m), Hawkbill fired three more torpedoes into the shallow waters and broke the ship in half, sinking a familiar enemy of submarines operating on the Malayan coast. After further patrol off Malaya and in the Gulf of Siam, she arrived Subic Bay 18 June 1945.

Fifth War Patrol and Japanese Surrender

Hawkbill departed for her fifth and last war patrol 12 July. Returning to the coast of Malaya, she attacked a convoy 18 July. Her first torpedoes missed, and an hour later a depth charge attack of unusual accuracy and intensity began from the destroyer Kamikaze. Hawkbill was blown partially out of the water by a perfectly placed pattern and damaged considerably; but by hugging the bottom with all machinery secured, she eluded the attacking destroyer. After a stay at Subic Bay for repairs, she steamed to Borneo to rendezvous with Australian Army officers for a special mission. Hawkbill destroyed two radio stations with her deck guns, landed commandos at Terampha Town, and destroyed shore installations. After reconnaissance of the Anambas Islands, also in the South China Sea, the versatile submarine returned to Borneo 13 August.

Following the surrender of Japan, Hawkbill sailed to Pearl Harbor, departing 22 September 1945 for San Francisco. She decommissioned at Mare Island 30 September 1946 and joined the Reserve Fleet. Brought out of reserve in 1952, Hawkbill was given a GUPPY IB conversion and loaned to the Netherlands under the Military Assistance Program 21 April 1953.

HNLMS Zeeleeuw (S803)

The submarine was commissioned in the Royal Netherlands Navy as HNLMS Zeeleeuw (S803), the first Dutch naval ship to be named for the sealion. Zeeleeuw reached Rotterdam 11 June, in time to participate successfully in NATO summer exercises, 'beating' the Royal Navy as well as the U.S. Navy. On 24 November 1970, Zeeleeuw was sold for scrap.

Honors and awards

Hawkbill received six battle stars for World War II service. All five of her war patrols were designated "successful," and she received a Navy Unit Commendation for her outstanding performance on patrols 1, 3, and 4.

Related Research Articles

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USS Bonefish (SS-223) was a Gato-class submarine, the first United States Navy ship to be named for the bonefish.

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USS Flier (SS-250) was a Gato-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the flier.

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USS Rock (SS/SSR/AGSS-274), a Gato-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the rockfish, a striped bass found in the Chesapeake Bay region and elsewhere along the United States East Coast.

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 Becuna (SS/AGSS-319), a Balao-class submarine in commission from 1944 to 1969, was a submarine 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 Guitarro (SS-363), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the guitarro.

USS Hammerhead (SS-364), a Gato-class 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.

References

Citations

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 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.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bauer, K. Jack; Roberts, Stephen S. (1991). Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 275–280. ISBN 0-313-26202-0.
1 2 3 4 5 Bauer, K. Jack; Roberts, Stephen S. (1991). Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 275–280. ISBN 978-0-313-26202-9.
↑ U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 261–263
1 2 3 U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305–311
1 2 3 4 5 6 U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305-311
1 2 Hinman & Campbell, p. 104.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entries can be found here and here.

Bibliography

Hinman, Charles R., and Douglas E. Campbell. The Submarine Has No Friends: Friendly Fire Incidents Involving U.S. Submarines During World War II. Syneca Research Group, Inc., 2019. ISBN 978-0-359-76906-3.

External links

Photo gallery of Hawkbill at NavSource Naval History
http://www.usshawkbill.com/366/index.htm
http://dutchsubmarines.com/boats/boat_zeeleeuw1.htm
http://www.zeeleeuw-1962.nl/index.htm Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine

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.

[FriedmanSubs1-dates-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 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.

[Register-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bauer, K. Jack; Roberts, Stephen S. (1991). Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 275–280. ISBN 0-313-26202-0.

[Register_275–280-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Bauer, K. Jack; Roberts, Stephen S. (1991). Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 275–280. ISBN 978-0-313-26202-9.

[FriedmanSubs1-engines_261–263-4] U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 261–263

[FriedmanSubs1-specs_305–311-5] 1 2 3 U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305–311

[FriedmanSubs1-specs-6] 1 2 3 4 5 6 U.S. Submarines Through 1945 pp. 305-311

[hinmanp104-7] 1 2 Hinman & Campbell, p. 104.

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v t e The Manitowoc Company
Subsidiaries	Enodis Manitowoc Cranes Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company
Products	USS Golet USS Guavina USS Guitarro USS Hammerhead USS Hardhead USS Hawkbill USS Icefish USS Jallao USS Kete USS Kraken USS Lagarto USS Lamprey USS Lizardfish USS Loggerhead USS Macabi USS Mapiro USS Menhaden USS Mero USS Peto USS Pogy USS Pompon USS Potomac USS Puffer USS Rasher USS Raton USS Ray USS Redfin USS Robalo USS Rock

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in June 1944
Shipwrecks	1 Jun: USS Herring 3 Jun: U-477, WBS 2 Coburg 5 Jun: V 622 Almuth, USS Osprey 6 Jun: USS Corry, USS LCI(L)-93, Minazuki, USS PC-1261, HNoMS Svenner, V 421 Rauzan, HMS Wrestler 7 Jun: HMS Centurion, Empire Defiance , Hayanami, USS Susan B. Anthony, USS Tide, U-629, U-955 8 Jun: Audacious, Harusame, James Iredell, Kazagumo, HMS Lawford, USS Rich, U-373, U-441, U-970, West Grama 9 Jun: Courbet, Dover Hill, HMS Durban, Empire Bunting, Empire Flamingo , Matsukaze, USS Meredith, HNLMS Sumatra, Tanikaze, Z32, ZH1 10 Jun: USS Glennon, Innsbruck , Mistral, Ro-111, U-821 11 Jun: USS Partridge, Ro-42, U-980 12 Jun: Kainan Maru, HMS Sickle, U-490, V 206 Otto Bröhan, V 212 Friedrich Busse 13 Jun: HMS Boadicea, I-33, Ro-36, U-715 14 Jun: USS Golet 15 Jun: HMS Blackwood, M 507 , PA 1, PA 2, Shiratsuyu, U-860, U-987, V 202 Franz Westermann 16 Jun: I-6, Ro-44, U-998 17 Jun: Ro-114, Ro-117 18 Jun: Albert C. Field, U-767 19 Jun: I-184, Shōkaku, Taihō 20 Jun: Hiyō, HMAS Matafele 21 Jun: Bolzano, HMS Fury 22 Jun: Eurydice, I-185, Sirène 24 Jun: Derrycunihy, I-52, U-971, U-1225 25 Jun: U-269 26 Jun: Aquileia, U-317, U-719, Harugiku Maru 27 Jun: Kizugawa Maru 28 Jun: V 213 Claus Bolten, Kondor , Nerissa 29 Jun: Toyama Maru , Tsugaru, U-988, USS Valor 30 Jun: SS Nikkin Maru , U-478, V 422 Kergroise Unknown date: Bosna , USS LCT-209, U-740
Other incidents	7 Jun: USS Meredith 11 Jun: HMS Halsted 16 Jun: U-998 18 Jun: USS Hawkbill 23 Jun: HMS Scylla 25 Jun: HMS Glasgow, HMS Goodson 26 Jun: Gorizia Unknown date: HMS Sickle, Sonderburg
1943 1944 1945 May 1944 July 1944

History
Hawkbill (SS-366), launches sideways into the Manitowoc River, 9 January 1944.
United States
Name	USS Hawkbill (SS-366)
Builder	Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin ^[1]
Laid down	7 August 1943^[1]
Launched	9 January 1944^[1]
Commissioned	17 May 1944^[1]
Decommissioned	20 September 1946^[1]
Recommissioned	1953^[1]
Decommissioned	21 April 1953^[1]
Fate	Transferred to the Netherlands, 21 April 1953,^[2] sold to the Netherlands, 20 February 1970^[1]
Stricken	20 February 1970^[2]
Netherlands
Name	HNLMS Zeeleeuw (S803)
Acquired	21 April 1953
Fate	Sold for scrap, 24 November 1970
General characteristics
Class and type	Balao class diesel-electric submarine ^[2]
Displacement	1,526 tons (1,550 t) surfaced^[2] 2,424 tons (2,463 t) submerged^[2]
Length	311 ft 9 in (95.02 m)^[2]
Beam	27 ft 3 in (8.31 m)^[2]
Draft	16 ft 10 in (5.13 m) maximum^[2]
Propulsion	4 × Fairbanks-Morse Model 38D8-⅛ 10-cylinder opposed piston diesel engines driving electrical generators ^[3]^[4] 2 × 126-cell Sargo batteries ^[5] 4 × high-speed Elliott electric motors with reduction gears ^[3] two propellers ^[3] 5,400 shp (4.0 MW) surfaced^[3] 2,740 shp (2.0 MW) submerged^[3]
Speed	20.25 knots (38 km/h) surfaced^[6] 8.75 knots (16 km/h) submerged^[6]
Range	11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h)^[6]
Endurance	48 hours at 2 knots (3.7 km/h) submerged^[6] 75 days on patrol
Test depth	400 ft (120 m)^[6]
Complement	10 officers, 70–71 enlisted^[6]
Armament	10 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes 6 forward, 4 aft 24 torpedoes^[5] 1 × 5-inch (127 mm) / 25 caliber deck gun ^[5] Bofors 40 mm and Oerlikon 20 mm cannon