USS Guardfish (SS-217)

The first Guardfish, a fleet submarine, was launched by the Electric Boat Co. of Groton, Conn., 20 January 1942, sponsored by Mrs. Edward J. Marquart. She commissioned at New London, Conn., 8 May 1942, Lt. Comdr. T. B. Klakring in command.

After conducting shakedown out of New London, Guardfish departed that base 28 June 1942 for Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal, and arrived there 25 July to prepare for her first cruise. Her first war patrol was in the hitherto unpatrolled waters off northeast Honshu. Guardfish departed Pearl Harbor 6 August 1942, sank a trawler 22 August, and 24 August sank 3,114-ton cargo ship Seikai Maru off Kinkasan Harbor. Eva'ding escort vessels, she proceeded up the coast and found a convoy 2 September. Guardfish attacked the next day, sinking 5,253-ton Kaimei Maru and 1,118-ton cargo ship Tenyu Maru. Chita Maru, a 2,376-ton freighter, retreated into the harbor and anchored, but a remarkable long-range shot from Guardfish left her resting in the mud. Guardfish returned to Midway from her spectacularly successful first patrol for refit 15 September 1942.

Guardfish departed Midway on her second war patrol 30 September and headed for the East China Sea. Surviving a violent attack by patrolling aircraft 19 October, Guardfish closed a seven-ship convoy 21 October, sinking a 4,000-ton freighter and 6,362-ton Nichiho Maru north of Formosa as the convoy scattered. After evading pursuing aircraft and surface ships, Guardfish returned to Pearl Harbor 28 November 1942. For her outstanding success on war patrols 1 and 2 Guardfish received a Presidential Unit Citation.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Guardfish I (SS-217)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.