USS Pogy (SS-266)

The first Pogy (SS-266) was laid down 15 September 1941 by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wise., launched 23 June 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Julius A. Furer; and commissioned 10 January 1943, Lt. Comdr. G. H. Wales in command. Pogy temporarily decommissioned 1 February for a Mississippi cruise on a river barge to New Orleans, La., and recommissioned upon her arrival 12 February.

After fitting out, trial runs, and training, Pogy arrived Pearl Harbor 5 April 1943. On 15 April she set out for her patrol area along the eastern coast of Honshu, making her first contact 1 May. Her periscope attack on a convoy of five ships with one escort sank ex-gunboat Keishin Maru, and damaged a small freighter. Upon surfacing that night, Pogy attacked a destroyer with three torpedoes, but was unable to observe the results. The next day she destroyed a large sampan by gunfire. On 9 May while making a submerged attack on a convoy of four freighters, a bomb close astern forced Pogy to retire. On the 11th, she sank a 100-ton sampan by gunfire. Two torpedo hits sent a small freighter to the bottom 26 May, and on 5 June Pogy retired to Midway.

She departed Midway on her second war patrol 26 June. Throughout July she covered the Empire-Truk main communication and supply line. While patrolling submerged east of the Pulap Islands 5 July, she attacked two freighters with torpedoes, damaging the leading 3000-ton freighter by one hit.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Pogy I (SS-266)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.