USS Apogon SS-308

The USS Apogon was a Balao-class submarine named for the apogon, a species of saltwater fish found in tropical and subtropical waters. The vessel was launched on March 10, 1943 and commissioned on July 16, 1943.

The USS Apogon arrived at Pearl Harbor on October 11, 1943. After completing three weeks' training, she began her first war patrol on November 3. For this first patrol she was stationed around Moen Island and the shipping lanes between Kawaialein and Truk, providing support for Operation Galvanic. During this patrol she attacked three targets, and on December 4 sank a Japanese auxiliary vessel, the Daido Maru. The patrol ended on December 18 at Midway.

On December 26, the USS Apogon returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs and left on January 15, 1944 to begin her second war patrol. Her sole attack of this patrol occurred on February 1 when she opened fire upon a convoy of six ships, sinking two unnamed vessels. Her patrol ended after 50 days at sea, and she returned to Pearl Harbor on March 9.

On December 26, the USS Apogon returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs, and left on January 15, 1944, to begin her second war patrol. Her sole attack of this patrol occurred on February 1, when she opened fire upon a convoy of six ships, sinking two unnamed vessels. Her patrol ended after fifty days at sea, and she returned to Pearl Harbor on March 9.

After undergoing a refit and the installation of two new propellers, the USS Apogon was ready for her third patrol, leaving Pearl Harbor on April 2. This was an uneventful patrol, however, and she completed it without sighting a single enemy ship. The USS Apogon arrived at Majuro on May 22.

After a refit she was underway again on June 8 for her fourth patrol. This time, she was stationed between the Philippines and Formosa with Guardfish, Thresher, and Piranha. Working together, the four vessels were assigned “wolf pack” duty, in which the four would patrol and attack as a coordinated unit rather than as separate vessels.

On July 12, the wolf pack sighted a large Japanese convoy of nine ships and six escorts, and prepared to attack. However, the leading Japanese ship, upon sighting the wake of the Apogon's periscope, immediately turned back to attack. The Apogon was struck on her starboard side, and the blow tore off around eight feet of her main periscope, and bent her radar masts enough that they were rendered ineffective. The damage forced the USS Apogon to end her patrol prematurely and she returned to Midway for emergency repairs.

After the completion of the needed repairs, the USS Apogon returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving on July 26 to undergo permanent repairs. She was dry-docked while the necessary repairs were made, and while receiving an engine overhaul. On September 12 she was ready for action, and ventured out to begin her fifth patrol. She first made for the Kuril Islands, where she sank Hachirogata Maru, a cargo ship, on September 27. After sinking the ship, she noticed and rescued two Japanese survivors. After a further month of uneventful patrolling, she ended her fifth tour on October 28 at Midway.

The sixth patrol of the USS Apogon began on November 20, and saw her returning to the waters off the Kuril Islands. Apart from attacking and hitting a tanker, however, she saw no action during this patrol. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on January 5, 1945, and after a brief stop she made for the Mare Island Navy Yard in California, where she underwent a major overhaul.

After this was complete, she was ready for more action. During her seventh patrol, the USS Apogon was stationed at the Kuril Islands, in the sea of Okhotsk. On this patrol she attacked a four-ship convoy on June 18, sinking a transport called the Hakuai Maru. On July 2, she severely damaged a chaser before ending her patrol at Midway on July 14.

For the USS Apogon's next patrolm, she was assigned to tour the waters around Marcus Island, but as the Japanese surrender was just a week later on August 15, this final patrol was uneventful.

After the War

After her eighth and final patrol, the USS Apogon returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving on September 2. From there she voyaged to San Diego, and after her arrival was placed in reserve on October 1. In January 1946, she returned to Pearl Harbor where she was used as a target in atomic bomb testing at Bikini Atoll. She was sunk during the test known as “Baker,” on July 1, 1946. She was removed from the Naval Register on February 25, 1947.

Many United States Navy vessels contained large amounts of asbestos as the substance was commonly used as an insulator and fireproofing material. Many people who served on board these vessels, or were involved in building, repairing, or outfitting them, have subsequently developed asbestos-related diseases due to asbestos exposure. If you have developed an asbestos-related disease as a result of involvement with asbestos, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a free informational packet.

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