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| U.S.S. SHARK-II SS 314 |
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| Class: |
Balao, SS-285; Test Depth 400.
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| Displacement: |
1,526 tons (surfaced); 2,391 tons (submerged) |
| Dimensions: |
Length 311.8 feet, Beam 27.2 feet, Draft 15.2 feet |
| Speed: |
20.0 knots (surfaced); 8.7 knots (submerged) |
| Torpedo Armament: |
6 Forward and 4 Aft 21-inch Torpedo Tubes |
| Deck Armament: |
A 5" Deck Gun, 40 and 20 Caliber Mounted Machine Guns |
| Keel laid: |
January 28, 1943, at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT |
| Launched: |
October 17, 1943, Sponsored by Mrs. Albert Thomas |
| Commissioned: |
February 14, 1944, and commanded by Lcdr. Edward N. Blakley |
| Complement: |
Normally; 8 Officers, 60 Enlisted Men |
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The 6th USS Shark,
SS-314, a submarine, and designated as Shark II being the second
submarine to be so named during World War II, went though her shake-down off
of the coast of New London, CT; then was deployed through the Panama Canal
to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where she arrived on April 24, 1944, for final
training.
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Those Listed as Lost at Sea when Shark-II was placed on Eternal Patrol as well as other information
can be found on
Submarine Losses, SS314 from the Navy Department Library.
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Shark II's first patrol began
on May 16, where she joined the USS Pintado (SS-387) and the USS
Pilotfish (SS-386) to begin a coordinated attack in the Marianna
Islands. During her first patrol she sank four Japanese ships in an excess
of 23,000 tons, while successfully evading Japanese counter-attacks. She
sailed to Midway Island and arrived on June 17, for refit and reload.
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Shark II's second patrol began
on July 10, 1944, into the Volcano and Bonin Islands. After suffering
frustrating attacks, but successful evasions, she was assigned to take a
life-guard station off of the coast of Iwo Jima on August 1. On August 4,
she rescued two airmen from a torpedo bomber from the USS Lexington
(CV-16). She terminated her life-guard duties and after a brief stop at
Midway Island she arrived at Pearl Harbor on August, 29.
Shark II's third patrol took
her into the vicinity of Luzon Strait to participate in coordinated attacks
with the USS Seadragon (SS-194) and the USS Blackfish (SS-221).
Her last message was to the Seadragon
on October 24, anticipating an attack on a Japanese freighter. She was never
heard from again and on November 27, 1944, she was presumed lost.
A Japanese report of antisubmarine
attacks, now available, records an attack on a submarine by the Japanese
destroyer Harukaze in the Luzon Strait on October 24, 1944, by depth
charge; almost certainly the demise of the Shark-II.
The USS Shark (SS-314) received
one battle star for World War II service. As she was lost with all souls
onboard she is considered to be on Eternal Patrol. Although she is
not on the active list of ships she has never been decommissioned.
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Lost At Sea October 24, 1944, By Depth Charge.
Struck From the Navy List March 10, 1945.
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