USS Gudgeon (SS-211)

Gudgeon was launched by the Mare Island Navy Yard 25 January 1941; sponsored by Mrs. William S. Pye; and commissioned 21 April 1941 at Mare Island, Lt. Comdr. Elton W. Grenfell in command.

After shakedown along the California coast, Gudgeon sailed north 28 August, heading for Alaska via Seattle. On her northern jaunt the new submarine inspected Sitka, Kodiak, and Dutch Harbor for suitability as naval bases. Continuing to Hawaii, she moored at the Pearl Harbor submarine base 10 October. Training exercises and local operations filled Gudgeon's time for the next 2 months. When the Japanese struck at Pearl Harbor 7 December, she was at Lahaina Roads on special exercises, but returned to base immediately.

America's Pacific Fleet had been seriously damaged by the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor but powerful strength remained as Gudgeon and her fellow submarine soon offered convincing proof. On 11 December Gudgeon, in company with Plunger, sailed from Pearl Harbor on her, and America's, first submarine offensive patrol of World War II. When she returned some 51 days later, Gudgeon had contributed two more impressive "firsts" to the Pacific submarine fleet. She was the first American submarine to patrol along the Japanese coast itself, as her area took her off Kyushu in the home islands. And on 27 January 1942 Gudgeon became the first U.S. Navy submarine to sink an enemy warship in World War II, submarine I-173. The Japanese submarine had just returned from a patrol which took her well into American waters off the coast of California and Washington.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Gudgeon I (SS-211)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.