USS Scabbardfish (SS-397)

USS Scabbardfish (SS-397)

USS Scabbardfish (SS-397), a Balao-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the scabbarddfish, a long, compressed, silver-colored fish found on European coasts and around New Zealand.

Her keel was laid down on 27 September 1943 by the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine. She was launched on 27 January 1944 sponsored by Ensign Nancy J. Schetky, and commissioned on 29 April 1944 with Lieutenant Commander F. A. Gunn in command.

After completing initial training at Portsmouth, and torpedo trials at Newport, Rhode Island, Scabbardfish reported to the Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic, New London, Connecticut, for advance training and final outfitting. Upon completion thereof, she sailed to Key West, Florida, for ASW duties which began on 21 June 1944. On 1 July, she departed for Panama. Four days later, she transited the Panama Canal en route to the West Coast and Pearl Harbor.

Scabbardfish, as a unit of Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, arrived at Pearl Harbor on 24 July. After completing voyage repairs and final training, she departed for Midway Island on 17 August. After refueling there, she departed on her first war patrol in the Ryukyu Islands area.