USS Guitarro (SS-363)

Guitarro (SS-363) was launched 26 September 1943 by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. of Manitowoc, Wis.; sponsored by Mrs. Ross T. McIntire, wife of the Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery; and commissioned at Manitowoc 26 January 1944, Lt. Comdr. E. D. Haskins in command.

Guitarro departed Manitowoc for Chicago 13 February, and there she was place in a floating drydock. Steamer Minnesota towed the drydock to New Orleans, arriving 22 February, and there Guitarro prepared for sea. Steaming from New Orleans 1 March, she operated out of Balboa, Canal Zone, for several weeks and departed for Pearl Harbor 2 April 1944.

Arriving at Pearl Harbor 17 April, Guitarro prepared for her first war patrol off Formosa. She got underway on this duty 7 May 1944. On the night of 30 May the submarine encountered heavily escorted cargo vessel Shisen Man, and scoring two hits sent her to the bottom. She evaded counter-attacks by the screen ships and headed south for rendezvous with a wolf pack of four submarines under the command of Comdr. F. W. Fenno. On the night of 2 June Guitarro made a moonlight periscope approach and fired two torpedoes at frigate Awaii, sinking her immediately. The submarine was then forced down to avoid depth charge, torpedo, and aircraft attacks. She returned to Darwin, Australia, 19 June, and 2 days later sailed for Fremantle, arriving 27 June 1944.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Guitarro (SS-363)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.