- USS Pargo (SS-264)
USS "Pargo" (SS-264), a "Gato"-class
submarine , was the first ship of theUnited States Navy to be named for thepargo , a fish of the genus "Lutjanus " found in the West Indies.The first "Pargo" (SS-264) was laid down
21 May 1942 by Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT; launched24 January 1943 ; sponsored by Miss Belle Baruch; and commissioned26 April 1943 , Lt. Comdr. Ian C. Eddy in command.First and second war patrols, August – December 1943
Following shakedown and training "Pargo" sailed via the
Panama Canal toPearl Harbor , arriving23 July 1943 . The first of her eight war patrols began18 August and took her into theEast China Sea where she twice attacked the enemy, inflicting undetermined damage to several ships before returning to Pearl Harbor6 October .After refitting "Pargo" sailed
30 October in company with USS|Snook|SS-279|2 and USS|Harder|SS-257|2 in a wolf-pack. The efforts of the three were well directed against the open sea area northwest of the Marianas where "Pargo" sank two freighters, "Manju Maru" and "Shoko Maru" totaling 7,810 tons, on29 November and30 November .Third, fourth, and fifth war patrols, March – October 1944
"Pargo" next underwent overhaul and received a new engine at
Mare Island Naval Shipyard . On5 March 1944 she was underway for Pearl Harbor and25 March began her third war patrol. Her mission, to destroy enemy ships in the Philippine andCelebes Sea s areas was carried out with several attacks, one of which sank an ex-net tender. "Pargo" began refitting atFremantle, Australia 24 May .Underway
13 June for the Celebes Sea, "Pargo" noted fewer ships present in the area. She scored well again, however, damaging several and sinking a 5,236 ton cargo ship, "Yamagibu Maru"."Griffin" (AS-13) refitted "Pargo" at Fremantle to prepare her for her next patrol. From
3 September to7 October she ranged theSouth China Sea , pressing her attacks to damage severalJapan ese ships and to sink two more, including aminelayer .Sixth and seventh war patrols, October 1944 – March 1945
On
28 October "Pargo" sailed from westernAustralia n waters in company with USS|Haddo|SS-255|2 for her sixth patrol. FromExmouth Gulf she continued alone into the South China Sea where she found that increased allied air activity had further diminished use of the shipping lanes. She sank tanker "Yuho Maru" offBrunei Bay 26 November . Following this action she received from escorts the worst depth charging of her career, but escaped without serious damage, and returned to Australia21 December .Replenishment and retraining ensued, and on
15 January 1945 "Pargo" got underway for theIndo-China coast. Six days out she launched a nighttorpedo attack that damaged several ships. On10 February she again engaged the enemy and ten days later blew updestroyer "Nokaze". "Pargo" then sailed viaSaipan and Pearl Harbor to Mare Island for a modernization overhaul which lasted from25 March to17 June .Eighth war patrol, July – September 1945
The submarine’s eighth and final patrol spanned the 42-day interval from
14 July to9 September . Transiting the minefields ofTsushima Straits , she entered theSea of Japan where she attacked a six-ship convoy. She made her last sinking on8 August , the passenger-cargo ship "Rashin Maru", to total nine for the war. After Japanese capitulation, "Pargo" remained in the mine-filled waters until after the peace terms were signed and then sailed forGuam .Returning to Pearl Harbor with the knowledge that she had contributed materially to the victory in the Pacific, Pargo assumed post-war duties as part of the squadron based there. She decommissioned
12 June 1946 and was assigned to train Naval Reservists in the 13th Naval District where she remained until1 June 1960 when her name was struck from the Navy List. "Pargo" was sold17 April 1961 ."Pargo" received eight
battle star s forWorld War II service. All eight of her war patrols were designated as "successful". She is credited with having sunk a total of 27,983 tons of enemy shipping.See USS|Pargo for other ships of the same name.
References
External links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/08/08264.htm navsource.org: USS "Pargo"]
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