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USS Icefish (SS-367)
Encyclopedia
USS Icefish (SS-367), a Balao-class
submarine
, was a ship of the United States Navy
named for the icefish
, any member of the family Salangidae
, small smeltlike fishes of China
and Japan
. Also known as whitebait
.
Icefish (SS-367) was launched 20 February 1944 by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wisc.; sponsored by Mrs. Stanley P. Mosely, wife of Captain Mosely; and commissioned 10 June 1944, Commander Richard W. Peterson in command.
, voyages down the Mississippi
, and shakedown out of New Orleans
, Icefish joined the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor
22 August. Assigned to Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood
's Task Force 17 (Supporting Submarines Pacific Fleet), she joined "Banister's Beagle's" (consisting of Comdr. Alan B. Banister in and ) and departed 9 September on her first war patrol which took her into Luzon Strait
s and the South China Sea
.
October 1944 was a peak month in the war of U.S. submarines on Japanese shipping: 322,265 tons were sunk, and almost one-third of that total consisted of tanker
s. In October Icefish and Drum together sank 26,901 tons of enemy shipping in "Convoy College", code name for the area extending across the East China Sea
from Luzon Strait to Formosa
and the coast of China. Icefish sank a 4,000-ton cargo vessel on 23 October and on 26 October she was credited with sinking a transport of 10,000 tons. She terminated her first war patrol at Majuro
, Marshall Islands
, 13 November.
The third war patrol began 20 February when she departed Pearl Harbor with Sawfish and . This patrol was also conducted in the East China Sea, northeast and east of Formosa. As the war was coming to an end and Japan
ese shipping had dwindled away largely due to the "Silent Service", Icefishs third war patrol terminated after 60 days at Apra Harbor
, Guam
.
, Hong Kong
, Formosa, Siam Gulf
, and Java Sea
areas. This patrol lasted 46 days with no contacts. Japan's sea arteries had withered away under the relentless attack of the U.S. Navy, and with it her dreams of empire and victory.
Instead Icefish carried out another very useful function of our submarines. On 7 June with a PBY Catalina
for air cover, she rescued six Army aviators off the coast of Formosa. Icefish arrived Fremantle
4 July for refit by Clytie
and sailed 29 July for her fifth war patrol. En route to station 7 August a small diesel lugger
of 15 tons was intercepted. The crew consisted of two Japanese, two Eurasians, and five Chinese. One Japanese jumped overboard rather than be captured; the rest were taken on board Icefish. The lugger was sunk by gunfire.
Icefish arrived Tanapag Harbor
, Saipan
, 22 August 1945, thus ending her fifth and last war patrol. She departed Saipan 1 September arriving San Francisco 18 September. Icefish decommissioned at Mare Island
21 June 1946 and jointed the Reserve Fleet
.
Icefish received four battle stars for World War II
service.
and arrived Groton, Conn., 14 July. She decommissioned there 29 July 1952 and received a GUPPY IB conversion. Recommissioned 10 December 1952 at Groton, she remained in that area conducting various tests until 21 February 1953 when she was decommissioned and transferred to the Netherlands
. She was commissioned in the Royal Netherlands Navy
as HNLMS Walrus (S802), the first of that name
.
Formally returned to US Navy custody, she was struck from the US Naval Register, 15 July 1971, and sold for scrapping, 15 August 1971.
Balao class submarine
The Balao class was a successful design of United States Navy submarine used during World War II, and with 122 units built, the largest class of submarines in the United States Navy. An improvement on the earlier Gato class, the boats had slight internal differences...
submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
, was a ship of the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
named for the icefish
Icefish
Icefish may mean:* Notothenioidei, a suborder of mostly bottom-dwelling fish of the Southern Ocean* Salangidae, a family of smaller freshwater or anadromous fishes, most often found in East Asia and the northwestern Pacific Ocean...
, any member of the family Salangidae
Salangidae
Icefishes or noodlefishes are a family, the Salangidae, of osmeriform fish, related to the smelts. They are found in freshwater environments in Southeast Asia, although a few species are anadromous, spending most of their life in coastal waters, and only visiting fresh water to spawn.They have...
, small smeltlike fishes of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Also known as whitebait
Whitebait
Whitebait is a collective term for the immature fry of fish, typically between 25 and 50 millimetres long. Such young fish often travel together in schools along the coast, and move into estuaries and sometimes up rivers where they can be easily caught with fine meshed fishing nets...
.
Icefish (SS-367) was launched 20 February 1944 by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wisc.; sponsored by Mrs. Stanley P. Mosely, wife of Captain Mosely; and commissioned 10 June 1944, Commander Richard W. Peterson in command.
First patrol, September – November 1944
After trials and diving tests in Lake MichiganLake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
, voyages down the Mississippi
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
, and shakedown out of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, Icefish joined the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
22 August. Assigned to Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood
Charles A. Lockwood
Charles Andrews Lockwood was an admiral of the United States Navy. He is known in submarine history as the legendary commander of Submarine Force Pacific Fleet during World War II...
's Task Force 17 (Supporting Submarines Pacific Fleet), she joined "Banister's Beagle's" (consisting of Comdr. Alan B. Banister in and ) and departed 9 September on her first war patrol which took her into Luzon Strait
Luzon Strait
The Luzon Strait is the strait between the island country of Taiwan and Luzon island of the Philippines. The strait thereby connects the Philippine Sea to the South China Sea in the western Pacific Ocean....
s and the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
.
October 1944 was a peak month in the war of U.S. submarines on Japanese shipping: 322,265 tons were sunk, and almost one-third of that total consisted of tanker
Tanker (ship)
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...
s. In October Icefish and Drum together sank 26,901 tons of enemy shipping in "Convoy College", code name for the area extending across the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
from Luzon Strait to Formosa
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and the coast of China. Icefish sank a 4,000-ton cargo vessel on 23 October and on 26 October she was credited with sinking a transport of 10,000 tons. She terminated her first war patrol at Majuro
Majuro
Majuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
, Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
, 13 November.
Second and third patrols, December 1944 – April 1945
Icefish departed Majuro 8 December on her second war patrol in company with and . This patrol lasted 43 days with no results and she was forced to return to Pearl Harbor 20 January 1945 due to materiel difficulties.The third war patrol began 20 February when she departed Pearl Harbor with Sawfish and . This patrol was also conducted in the East China Sea, northeast and east of Formosa. As the war was coming to an end and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese shipping had dwindled away largely due to the "Silent Service", Icefishs third war patrol terminated after 60 days at Apra Harbor
Apra Harbor
Apra Harbor is a deep-water port on the western side of Guam in the Mariana Islands. The harbor is formed by Orote Peninsula in the south and Cabras Island in the north. To the south, the harbor narrows and then widens again to form an inner harbor. The southern end of the harbor is the location...
, Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
.
Fourth and fifth patrols, May – August 1945
Her fourth war patrol was conducted in the HainanHainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Formosa, Siam Gulf
Gulf of Thailand
The Gulf of Thailand , also known in to Malays as Teluk Siam literally meant Gulf of Siam, is a shallow arm of the South China Sea.-Geography:...
, and Java Sea
Java Sea
The Java Sea is a large shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf. It was formed as sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age. The Java Sea lies between the Indonesian islands of Borneo to the north, Java to the south; Sumatra to the west, and Sulawesi to the east...
areas. This patrol lasted 46 days with no contacts. Japan's sea arteries had withered away under the relentless attack of the U.S. Navy, and with it her dreams of empire and victory.
Instead Icefish carried out another very useful function of our submarines. On 7 June with a PBY Catalina
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
for air cover, she rescued six Army aviators off the coast of Formosa. Icefish arrived Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
4 July for refit by Clytie
Clytie
In Greek mythology, the name Clytie or Clytia may refer to:*Clytie , known for her unrequited love for Helios....
and sailed 29 July for her fifth war patrol. En route to station 7 August a small diesel lugger
Lugger
A lugger is a class of boats, widely used as traditional fishing boats, particularly off the coasts of France, Scotland and England. It is a small sailing vessel with lugsails set on two or more masts and perhaps lug topsails.-Defining the rig:...
of 15 tons was intercepted. The crew consisted of two Japanese, two Eurasians, and five Chinese. One Japanese jumped overboard rather than be captured; the rest were taken on board Icefish. The lugger was sunk by gunfire.
Icefish arrived Tanapag Harbor
Tanapag Harbor
Tanapag Harbor is the primary harbor of Saipan, and is located on the western side of the island. It is separated from the Philippine Sea by a barrier reef,located about 3 km off the shore. This reef forms the Saipan Lagoon....
, Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
, 22 August 1945, thus ending her fifth and last war patrol. She departed Saipan 1 September arriving San Francisco 18 September. Icefish decommissioned at Mare Island
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
The Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first United States Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean. It is located 25 miles northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo, California. The Napa River goes through the Mare Island Strait and separates the peninsula shipyard from the main portion of the...
21 June 1946 and jointed the Reserve Fleet
Reserve fleet
A reserve fleet is a collection of naval vessels of all types that are fully equipped for service but are not currently needed, and thus partially or fully decommissioned. A reserve fleet is informally said to be "in mothballs" or "mothballed"; an equivalent expression in unofficial modern U.S....
.
Icefish received four battle stars for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
service.
HNLMS Walrus (S802)
Recommissioned at Mare Island 5 June 1952, Icefish transited the Canal ZonePanama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
and arrived Groton, Conn., 14 July. She decommissioned there 29 July 1952 and received a GUPPY IB conversion. Recommissioned 10 December 1952 at Groton, she remained in that area conducting various tests until 21 February 1953 when she was decommissioned and transferred to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. She was commissioned in the Royal Netherlands Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
as HNLMS Walrus (S802), the first of that name
HNLMS Walrus
Two submarines of the Royal Netherlands Navy have borne the name HNLMS Walrus , in honor of the Walrus.* HNLMS Walrus was originally USS Icefish , a U.S. Navy Balao-class submarine, launched in 1944 and decommissioned in 1946. The ship was loaned to the Netherlands in 1953; she was commissioned in...
.
Formally returned to US Navy custody, she was struck from the US Naval Register, 15 July 1971, and sold for scrapping, 15 August 1971.