USS Sea Devil (SS-400)

The first Sea Devil (SS-400) was laid down on 18 November 1943 at the Portsmouth (N.H.) Navy Yard; launched on 28 February 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Sherman K. Kennedy; and commissioned on 24 May 1944, Comdr. Ralph E. Styles in command.

Completing shakedown training at New London, Sea Devil departed that port on 11 July 1944 and arrived at her home port, Pearl Harbor, on 9 August to join Submarine Division (SubDiv) 281 and prepare for her first war patrol. On 3 September, she sailed west. By the 15th, she was 500 miles off Honshu, and, during the early morning darkness, made contact with her first enemy ships, two sampan-type patrol vessels. Rough seas, however, precluded an attack; and she continued on to patrol in the shipping lanes to Japan's major ports: Yokohama, Kobe, and Osaka.

On the 16th, at 0432, Sea Devil made her second contact; submerged; and commenced closing the target. At 0538, the enemy, a cargo submarine, was sighted. At 0545, Sea Devil made her first attack. Four torpedoes were fired. Two exploded against the target. Sea Devil lost depth control. A minute later, periscope depth was regained. Brown smoke marked the enemy's previous location. Seven underwater explosions followed. By 0553, a large oil slick covered the site where I-364 had gone down.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Sea Devil I (SS-400)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.