USS Sealion (SS-315)

The second Sealion (SS-315) was laid down on 25 February 1943 by the Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn.; launched on 31 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Emory Land; and commissioned on 8 March 1944, Lt. Comdr. Eli T. Reich in command.

Following the shakedown, Sealion, assigned to Submarine Division (SubDiv) 222, sailed for the Pacific and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 17 May. Further training occupied the next three weeks; and, on 8 June, she headed west on her first war patrol. Sailing with Tang (SS-306), she stopped off at Midway on the 12th; glanced off a whale on the 15th; and, on the 22d, transited Tokara Strait to enter the East China Sea. On the 23d, she and Tang took up stations in the Osumi Gunto, an island group to the south of Kyushu. That afternoon, Sealion unsuccessfully conducted her first attack; then underwent her first depth charging.

On the 24th, Tinosa (SS-283) joined the two submarines; and the group moved northward to patrol the approaches to Sasebo. Patrolling in adjacent lanes, the submarines contacted a convoy on the 25th, but Sealion lost depth control on reaching attack position and was unable to fire.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Sealion II (SS-315)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.