USS Wahoo (SS-238)

USS Wahoo (SS-238)

USS Wahoo (SS-238) was a Gato-class submarine, the first United States Navy ship to be named for the wahoo, a dark blue food fish of Florida and the West Indies.

Her keel was laid down 28 June 1941 at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California. She was launched on 14 February 1942 (sponsored by Mrs. William C. Barker, Jr.), and commissioned on 15 May 1942 with Lieutenant Commander (Lt. Cmdr.) Marvin G. "Pinky" Kennedy (Class of 1929) in command.

Following fitting out and initial training along the California coast (which took her as far south as San Diego), Wahoo departed Mare Island on 12 August for Hawaii. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 18 August and underwent exercise training until 21 August.

Read more about USS Wahoo (SS-238):  First Patrol, August – October 1942, Second Patrol, November – December 1942, Third Patrol, January – February 1943, Fourth Patrol, February – April 1943, Fifth Patrol, April – May 1943, Sixth Patrol, August 1943, Seventh Patrol, September – October 1943, The Search For and Locating of Wahoo, Sailors Lost On Wahoo