USS Hawkbill SS-366

USS Hawkbill was a 312 foot long United States Navy Balao-class submarine that earned six Battle Stars and a Navy Unit Commendation for her service during World War II. The vessel's complement consisted of 81 sailors and her armament included 10 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, one 5-inch / 25 caliber deck gun and four machine guns. The submarine could reach top speeds of 20 knots per hour surfaced and nine knots submerged and could endure 48 hours at two knots at 400 feet, as well as 75 days on patrol. The USS Hawkbill had a range of 11,000 nautical miles surfaced at 10 knots. Her propulsion system included 10 cylinder opposed piston diesel engines driving electrical generators, two 126-cell batteries, four high-speed electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers.

Early Years

The USS Hawkbill was built by Wisconsin's Manitowoc Shipbuilding and the vessel was launched and commissioned in 1944. Her initial trials took place close to home on the Great Lakes. Following her shakedown, she embarked on a voyage down the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers by barge. After combat loading at New Orleans, her maiden voyage took her to the submarine base at Balboa in the Canal Zone before heading to Pearl Harbor for final war preparations. On August 23, the USS Hawkbill set sail for a patrol mission in the Philippine Islands, subsequently moving into the South China Sea in October. Within days, she attacked a 12-ship convoy with sister ship, the USS Becuna, damaging several of the enemy vessels.

Partnered next with the USS Becuna and USS Flasher, the USS Hawkbill embarked on another patrol in November near the Malay Barrier. While there, she sank enemy destroyer Momo on December 15, and days later, evaded patrol craft and shore batteries on her way back to Fremantle, Australia. The USS Hawkbill's next was completed in February 1945 in the Lombok Strait. She sank two submarine chasers on February 14, and the 5,400-ton cargo ship, Daizen Maru, six days later. By May, she was performing lifeguard duty for B-24 strikes near Bali. Close to Malaya, the USS Hawkbill broke the enemy mine layer Hatsutaka in half before returning to Subic Bay in June. The next month she initiated an attack on a Japanese convoy, which delivered retaliatory depth charges that caused the USS Hawkbill to be blown partially out of the water. Although considerably damaged, she evaded enemy destroyers and made it back to Subic Bay for repairs. Next directed to Borneo for a special mission with Australian Army officers, the USS Hawkbill destroyed two radio stations and shore installations.

HNLMS Zeeleeuw

When the war hostilities ceased, the vessel returned to San Francisco, California. Her decommissioning took place at Mare Island on September 20, 1946, and she became part of the Reserve Fleet. Seven years later, after a conversion to GUPPY IB, she was loaned to the Netherlands and commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy. Her new name was HNLMS Zeeleeuw and she set sail for Rotterdam arriving June 11, 1953, immediately participating in NATO exercises. The former USS Hawkbill was sold for scrap in 1970.

Asbestos Hazards

The USS Hawkbill fortunately did not incur severe damage from the many depth charge attacks. However, as skillful as the USS Hawkbill's sailors were, the men faced the same dangers aboard the vessel that other sailors faced when it came to onboard accidents and mishaps. The threat of asbestos exposure was very prevalent aboard submarines utilized during World War II. At the time of World War II ship construction, asbestos was widely regarded as an excellent fire retardant, and with its lightweight and flexible composition, it was ideal for the small and awkward spaces of submarines. Months of repeated diving and depth charge explosions may have caused damage to the asbestos-contaminated materials allowing tiny asbestos fibers to escape and become airborne. Once airborne, the fibers can be inhaled or ingested. Once in the body, asbestos can cause irritation that can cause serious medical conditions and even malignancies. If you served aboard the USS Hawkbill or worked in a shipyard and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, Asbestos.com offers a complimentary packet with additional information about treatment and legal options that may be of interest. Click here for your copy of the informational packet.

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