USS Sawfish SS-276

Construction began on the USS Sawfish in early 1942, and she was launched the same summer. The USS Sawfish is one of the Gato-class submarines. Gato-class subs were specifically produced for use in World War II, and they were rushed through the production line so that they could join the battle. There were 77 Gato-class submarines built between the years of 1940 and 1944. The Gato-class submarines were known to experience problems with their torpedo firing systems, with some running too deep, while others exploded too early. The USS Sawfish was one of these ships rushed into production. Her shake down cruise led her through the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor, where she was based.

The USS Sawfish began her first military duties off the coast of Japan. She had several hits, although further investigation showed that the ships were Soviet cargo ships, who were not involved in the war. She had a brief break at Midway Island before heading back to the Japanese coast, where she sank a gunboat and attacked another ship, although she did not score a hit on her second target. She then returned to Pearl Harbor. Minor repairs and updates made her ready to head back to sea.

Her break over, the USS Sawfish headed to the East China Sea, where she attacked a convoy of enemy ships, although she was unable to confirm any strikes. Her next attack was more successful. She approached a convoy that included a minelayer. Hitting the group with four torpedoes, the USS Sawfish managed to sink the minelayer. After a return to Pearl Harbor the Sawfish headed out for her next patrol. She had several opportunities for strikes, but, because of problems with her torpedoes, she had little success. Repairs and updates fixed the problems before she headed out for her next mission. On her next patrol she managed to sink a cargo ship. At the end of this patrol she was overhauled at Hunter's Point in San Francisco.

On her following patrol, the USS Sawfish attacked a cargo ship, but could not confirm a hit. She then began her next mission, which was involvement in what was known as a wolfpack.This patrol involved several other submarines. The group, including the Sawfish, the Rock, and the Tilefish headed to the Philippines. On this mission she damaged a tanker and sank an enemy submarine. At the end of the mission the group returned to Pearl Harbor.

When she returned to battle following her layover in Pearl Harblor, it was with another wolfpack. The USS Sawfish, along with the Drum and the Icefish headed for the waters off of Taiwan. Here the submarines attacked a variety of enemy ships. The Sawfish successfully hit and sank a tanker and a seaplane tender. The USS Sawfish was also used as a rescue station when aircraft launched strikes in the area. One rescue credited to the Sawfish was of a airman who had spent four and one half days in the ocean with no shelter or provisions. Her next patrol was in the same area, and she was again used as a rescue vessel. After these duties she returned to Guam for upkeep. Her final wartime patrol was, again, as a rescue vessel for the men flying air strikes on Okinawa. At the completion of her mission she headed to Pearl Harbor and then on to Bethlehem Steel Company's yard in San Francisco. Here she received updates and repairs. She then began the trip back to Hawaii.

Before she could rejoin the war effort, Japan ceased hostilities and the war was over. She headed to Pearl Harbor but soon received orders to go back to the west coast. Once there, the West Coast Fleet Sound School used her as a training vessel. In 1946 she made a short visit to Hawaii, but was then sent back to California, where she was deactivated. She was decommissioned in the summer of 1946. In 1947 she was sent to San Pedro where she was again used as a training ship. She was scrapped in 1960.

During the time she spent in battle during World War II, the USS Sawfish received eight Battle Stars. Many men spent time on the USS Sawfish during the years she was at sea. The men of the United States Navy that served on the USS Sawfish face a danger they may not be aware of even today. The U.S. military encouraged the widespread use of asbestos-containing materials during the Second World War. Asbestos was used in insulation around boilers, pipes and even in ropes. The men who lived on the submarines and ships, as well as those who worked in the yards repairing and overhauling these vessels may have experienced deadly levels of asbestos exposure. For more information, please fill out the form on this page to receive a comprehensive packet in the mail.

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