USS Sea Cat (SS 399)

"Submarine Honor Guard"

USS Sea Cat (SS 399)

Postal Cover for USS Sea Cat's (SS 399) launching, February 21, 1944.

USS Sea Cat (SS 399) was built in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.  This Balao-class submarine was commissioned into the United States navy on May 16, 1944.

USS Sea Cat (SS 399) World War II battle flag.  

On October 28, 1944, Sea Cat began her World War II service in the Pacific Fleet.  She spent three patrols in the South China, East China, and Yellow Seas.  August 1945, the submarine began her fourth war patrol off the Kuril Islands, but upon arrival the crew learned that the war had ended.  Sea Cat was ordered to proceed to the Japanese home islands to participate in the formal surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay.

Subron 5 family photograph in Guam 1945.  From left to right: USS Segundo (SS 398), USS Sea Cat (SS 399), USS Blenny
(SS 324), USS Blower (SS 325), USS Blueback (SS 326), and USS Charr (SS 328). Photograph courtesy of John Hummel.

After the war, Sea Cat served in Guam and San Diego before being overhauled in Mare Island in April of 1946.  The submarine’s overhaul was completed in 3 months.  She then began her first simulated war patrol out of San Diego in August of 1946.  During this patrol Sea Cat visited Hawaii, Canton Islands, Samoa Island, and Shanghai.

After the simulated war patrol in the Pacific Fleet, Sea Cat was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet out of Balboa, Panama, from 1947 to spring of 1949.  The submarine’s home port was changed to Key West in June of 1949.  Later that year, Sea Cat was overhauled and redesignated as an auxiliary submarine (AGSS 399) with experimental changes made to the boat’s design.  The modifications and repairs were made by the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for four months.  She operated out of Key West from 1950 through 1951.

USS Sea Cat (SS 399) circa 1952.  United State Navy photograph.

January of 1952, Sea Cat arrived in Philadelphia again for another overhaul.  This time she was converted to a Fleet Snorkel Submarine and redesignated back to SS 399.  June 26, 1952, the submarine departed Philadelphia and returned to Key West.  The next sixteen years, Sea Cat served out of Key West.  Her patrols were spent in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and once in the Mediterranean in 1966.

"Loading Fish" watercolor by Salvatore Indiviglia, 1960.  Subject was USS Sea Cat (SS 399) and her crew.
United States National Historic Center.

Sea Cat was decommissioned from the United States Navy on December 2, 1968.  She was sold for scrap on May 18, 1973.

USS Sea Cat (SS 399) at Guantanomo Bay in 1968.  Photograph courtesy of John Hummel.

Sea Cat served the United States Navy continuously for twenty-four years, seven months, and seventeen days.  During World War II service she earned three battle stars.

Author: Allison Hiblong

USS Runner (SS 476)

"Submarine Honor Guard"

USS Runner (SS 476)

On July 10, 1944, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard laid the keel to the Tench-class submarine USS Runner (SS 476).  Three months later the submarine was launched and on February 6, 1945, she was commissioned into the United States Navy. 

USS Runner (SS 476), March 1945.  United States Navy photograph.

Runner joined the Pacific Fleet on May 21, 1945.  Her first war patrol’s primary mission was to scout for defensive minefields that guarded the Japanese home islands.  When Runner arrived on station at Honshū, Japan, for her second war patrol peace had come. The submarine, Runner, was given the order to participate in the formal surrender ceremony of the Empire of Japan.

After World War II, Runner served out of various ports. 

·         Balboa, Panama: 1946 to 1949

·         Norfolk, Virginia: 1949 to 1957

·         San Juan, Puerto Rico: 1958 to 1959

·         Norfolk, Virginia: 1959 to 1963

In 1957, the submarine participated in North Atlantic NATO exercises visiting ports in France and England.  While Runner served in Puerto Rico, she served as a Regulus missile guidance submarine.

USS Runner (SS 476) docked at Great Lakes Naval Training Station.  Photograph courtesy of Joe Radigan.

Later in life, Runner served as an educational tool. The summer of 1964, Runner arrived in Great Lakes to serve as a training vessel for the Naval Reservists.  In 1967, she served for educational services for future submariners.  Runner provided services for Underwater Demolition Team school at Little Creek, Virginia, in 1968. Runner did complete one last Mediterranean Sea deployment in April through July of 1968. During the deployment the submarine visited European ports and participating in NATO exercises.

USS Runner (SS 476) in Genoa, Italy, June 29, 1968.  Photograph courtesy of Carlo Martinelli.

January 25, 1969, Runner was decommissioned from the United States Navy.  She was still useful to the Navy as a Naval Reserve Training vessel as an auxiliary submarine (AGSS 476).  Runner was finally stricken from the Naval Register on December 15, 1971. The submarine was sold for scrap on June 19, 1973, to Diamond Scrapyards in Waukegan, Illinois for $108,000.00. 

USS Runner (SS 476) towed to Great Lakes Naval Station, August 12, 1969. Photograph courtesy of Ron Reeves. 

Runner served continuously for the United States Navy for twenty-three years, eleven months, and nineteen days.  After being decommissioned she served for almost two more years.  During her service she did earn one battle star for her World War II service.

Author: Allison Hiblong

USS Hake (SS 256)

"Submarine Honor Guard"

USS Hake (SS 256)

Postal cover to commemorate USS Hake's (SS 256) commissioning, October 30, 1942.  Courtesy of Jack Treutle.

USS Hake's (SS 256) keel was laid November 1, 1941, in Groton, Connecticut.  The Electric Boat Company launched the boat on July 17, 1942 and commissioned her three and a half months later on October 30, 1942.

USS Hake (SS 256) November 1943.  United States Navy photograph.

Hake's first two war patrols were in the Atlantic Fleet on antisubmarine patrol.  From April 3, 1943 through July 17, 1943, her mission was to search and destroy German submarines in the North Atlantic.  She did encounter a few submarines but did not have any kills during these patrols.

USS Hake (SS 256) November 1943.  United States Navy photograph.

The rest of the war, Hake spent in the Pacific Fleet.  She completed seven more war patrols totaling nine war patrols.  During that time she served off the Philippine Islands, Luzon, Mindanao, South China Sea, Mariana Islands, and Panay Island.  Hake witnessed the loss of USS Harder (SS 257) and USS Growler (SS 215).  In November of 1944, the submarine was sent on a special mission to pick up 29 United States aviators that were held by the Filipino guerrillas.  Hake successfully transported these aviators to Australia before she continued on with her war patrols.

USS Hake's (SS 256) officers on deck September 2, 1945.
From left to right: Fred Maier, Lt. jg Ted Snyder, Lt. Charlie Knapp, Lt. Bob Heysinger, CDR Frank Haylor, LCDR Jack Edmands, Lt. jg Dick Metzger.  Photograph courtesy of Henry (Hank) Knebes.

Hake's ninth war patrol began on July 20, 1945.  She served on lifeguard duty for the air strikes on Japan until the surrender was announced.  Hake was one of the twelve submarines that was given the distinction of being able to witness the formal surrender ceremonies in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

USS Hake (SS 256) battle flag.  

Post World War II, Hake returned to New London, Connecticut, and was decommissioned on July 13, 1946.  Ten years later, October 15, 1956, Hake was chosen to serve the Navy as a reserve training ship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Her classification was changed to an auxiliary submarine, AGSS 256.  Hake served as a reserve training ship until November 6, 1962.  The submarine was struck from the Naval Register on March 1, 1967 and sold for scrap on December 5, 1972.

USS Hake (SS 256) circa 1960s.  United States Navy photograph.

Hake actively served the United States Navy for three years, nine months, and fourteen days earning seven battle stars during her service in World War II.  The submarine then served the Navy as a training ship for six years and twenty-two days.

Author: Allison Hiblong

USS Cavalla (SS 244)

"Submarine Honor Guard"

USS Cavalla (SS 244)

USS Cavalla (SS 244) launched on November 14, 1943 in Groton, Connecticut.  Photograph courtesy of National Archives.

USS Cavalla (SS 244) is a Gato-class submarine built by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut.  Her keel was laid March 4, 1943, and commissioned into the United States Navy on February 29, 1944.  This was the first "leap year" boat built by the company.  Three months later Cavalla headed off to action in World War II.  Cavalla saw action in the Philippine, South China, and Java Seas.

During Cavalla's first war patrol, she sank Japanese aircraft carrier Shokaku.  This aircraft carrier was a veteran of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Coral Sea.  Cavalla was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for this action.

Cavalla's battle flag streaming from its mast.  Photograph courtesy of Scott Koen.

On August 15, 1945, Cavalla was serving on lifeguard duty near Japan when the cease fire was given. Later she was invited to the formal surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay.  The day after the ceremony, September 3, 1945, she departed for New London, Connecticut.  March 16, 1946, Cavalla was decommissioned.

Line of decommissioned submarines in Groton, Connecticut, 1947.
Left to right: USS Archerfish (SS 311), USS Flasher (SS 249), USS Cobia (SS 245), USS Croaker (SS 246), USS Drum (SS 228), and USS Cavalla (SS 244).
Photograph courtesy of Jack Treulte.

Cavalla was recommissioned on April 10, 1951, for fleet exercises in the Caribbean and off of Nova Scotia.  The United States Navy decided to convert the submarine to a hunter-killer submarine to meet the Cold War Soviet threat.  Therefore, Cavalla was decommissioned on September 3, 1952, for the conversions and recommissioned USS Cavalla (SSK 244) on July 15, 1953.  She was equipped with new sonar for experimentation.  January 1954, new weapons and equipment was added to the submarine to evaluate them in fleet exercises.  Cavalla took part in NATO exercises in European waters till 1957.

Cavalla September 1, 1953.  United States Navy photograph.

August 15, 1959, Cavalla was reconverted back to SS 244, losing her hunter-killer classification.  

Cavalla, circa 1960.  United States Navy photograph.

In November 1961, the submarine traveled to Puerto Rico to assist a nuclear powered submarine. USS Thresher (SSN 593) suffered a diesel generator failure while the nuclear reactor was shut down. Cavalla provided electrical power and successfully assisted in restarting the reactor.  

Cavalla was reclassified again as an auxiliary submarine (AGSS 244) in July of 1963.  Her service ended with the United States Navy on December 30, 1969, when she was decommissioned and her name struck from the Naval Register.  Over the span of 25 years, Cavalla served for 19 years, 11 months and 24 days.

January 21, 1971, the United States Navy transferred possession of Cavalla to the Texas Submarine Veterans of World War II.  The submarine now resides in Seawolf Park in Galveston, Texas. To learn more about Seawolf Park visit their website: http://www.americanunderseawarfarecenter.com/.

Author: Allison Hiblong