USS Hardhead SS-365

The USS Hardhead was a United States Navy Balao-class submarine that was awarded six Battle Stars for her service during World War II, and four consecutive "E" awards for post-war performance. The 312 foot vessel carried a complement of 81 sailors as well as an armament of ten 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, one 5-inch / 25 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. Her range was 11,000 nautical miles surfaced at 10 knots, and she could endure 48 hours submerged to 400 feet at two knots or 75 days on patrol. The USS Hardhead could reach top speeds of 20 knots per hour when surfaced and nine knots underwater. The vessel's propulsion system consisted of four 10-cylinder opposed piston diesel engines driving electrical generators, two126-cell batteries, four high-speed electric motors with reduction gears and two propellers.

Timely and Commendable Assignment Execution

After her keel was laid down by Wisconsin's Manitowoc Shipbuilding, the USS Hardhead was launched in 1943 and commissioned in April 1944. Her shakedown trials took place close to home in Lake Michigan, but the USS Hardhead was towed to New Orleans on a floating dry dock. She then stood out for the Canal Zone and underwent additional maneuvers and preparatory training prior to departing from Pearl Harbor on July 7, 1944. Arriving in the waters off the Philippines in late July, the USS Hardhead's patrol became immediately successful she sank the Japanese cruiser Natori on August 18. The submarine then completed lifeguard duty during fleet aircraft strikes and operational services in the Palaus vicinity.

In October, the USS Hardhead embarked on her next mission and discovered a life raft while passing through the Sulu Sea. The vessel rescued Commander Bakutis, the fighter squadron commander of the Enterprise who had been shot down during the Battle of Leyte Gulf and had been adrift for six days. As part of a coordinated attack group, the USS Hardhead took part in the sinking of Manei Maru. Sadly, during the battle, the USS Growler, was tragically lost.

Assigned to Subic Bay in November, the USS Hardhead sank a coast defense vessel, damaged a merchantman and dodged retaliatory depth charges. USS Hardhead's then set sail December 24 to the South China Sea, where she was responsible for the sinking of the Nanshin Maru and the damaging of other enemy vessels. After lifeguard duty for B-29 strikes on Singapore, the USS Hardhead returned to her base in Fremantle, Australia, in February. On her next war patrol, the USS Hardhead was given the job of laying special mines near French Indochina. Once complete, she departed for the Gulf of Siam and sank cargo ship Araosan Maru on April 6. This was followed by a patrol in the Java Sea where the USS Hardhead not only damaged a freighter, but also sank four coastal defense crafts. In July, she forced an enemy merchant ship to the beach during her last notable success before the war ended on August 15, 1945.

Post-War Contributions

USS Hardhead arrived in San Francisco on September 22, and was decommissioned eight months later. Although a member of the Pacific Reserve Fleet, the USS Hardhead was placed in commission in reserve six years later and sent to New London, Connecticut for GUPPY IIA conversion. When done, she was re-commissioned in March 1953. Teaming with the Atlantic Fleet for exercises and drills, the USS Hardhead traversed the U.S. Eastern seaboard and the Caribbean, and assisted the 6th Fleet during the Suez Crisis in the Mediterranean Sea. Her post-war career changed again in1958, when the USS Hardhead joined Submarine Development Group 2 to begin the research and testing of equipment and tactical doctrine. Fourteen years later, she was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register before being transferred to Greece on July 26, 1972. The former USS Hardhead was commissioned into the Hellenic Navy as HS Papanikolis, and served there for 21 years before being struck from the Greek Naval registry.

The USS Hardhead's performance during the war was commendable, and her crew was obviously well-trained and responsive. The ship fortunately never incurred catastrophic loss of life, and there is no documentation regarding even minor accidents or mishaps. Though the USS Hardhead was lucky in that regard, the vessel did contain dangers aboard the submarine. Asbestos was commonly found in materials used during the construction of ships and vessels in the mid-20th century. It was common practice to rely heavily on asbestos as additional security against fire, heat, and electricity. For ships' small spaces and limitations, its lightweight and flexible properties seemed ideal. Unfortunately if asbestos fibers are disturbed, becoming airborne, the fibers can be inhaled or ingested into the body where they can become lodged in organs, causing inflammation or infection. Overtime this can cause asbestos-related disease and even malignancies. Click here to receive a complimentary packet with information about asbestos-related illnesses and treatment and legal options.

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