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USS Apogon SS-308

The USS Apogon was a Balao-class submarine named for the apogon, a species of saltwater fish found in tropical and subtropical waters. The vessel was launched on March 10, 1943, and commissioned on July 16, 1943.

The USS Apogon in World War II

The USS Apogon arrived at Pearl Harbor on October 11, 1943 and after completing three weeks' training, she began her first war patrol on November 3. For this first patrol she was stationed around Moen Island and the shipping lanes between Kawaialein and Truk, providing support for Operation Galvanic. During this patrol she attacked three targets, and on December 4 sank a Japanese auxiliary vessel, the Daido Maru. The patrol ended on December 18 at Midway.

On December 26, the USS Apogon returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs, and left on January 15, 1944, to begin her second war patrol. Her sole attack of this patrol occurred on February 1, when she opened fire upon a convoy of six ships, sinking two unnamed vessels. Her patrol ended after fifty days at sea, and she returned to Pearl Harbor on March 9.

After undergoing a refit and the installation of two new propellers, the USS Apogon was ready for her third patrol, leaving Pearl Harbor on April 2. This was an uneventful patrol, however, and she completed it without sighting a single enemy ship. The USS Apogon arrived at Majuro on May 22.

After a refit she was underway again on June 8 for her fourth patrol. This time, she was stationed between the Philippines and Formosa with Guardfish, Thresher, and Piranha. Working together, the four vessels were assigned “wolf pack” duty, in which the four would patrol and attack as a coordinated unit rather than as separate vessels. On July 12, the wolf pack sighted a large Japanese convoy of nine ships and six escorts, and prepared to attack. However, the leading Japanese ship, upon sighting the wake of the Apogon's periscope, immediately turned back to attack. The Apogon was struck on her starboard side, and the blow tore off around eight feet of her main periscope, and bent her radar masts enough that they were rendered ineffective. The damage she had taken forced the USS Apogon to end her patrol prematurely, and return to Midway for emergency repairs.

After the completion of the needed repairs the USS Apogon returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving on July 26 to undergo permanent repairs. She was dry-docked while the necessary repairs were made, and while receiving an engine overhaul. On September 12 she was ready for action, and ventured out to begin her fifth patrol. She first made for the Kuril Islands, where she sank Hachirogata Maru, a cargo ship, on September 27. After sinking the ship, she noticed and rescued two Japanese survivors. After a further month of uneventful patrolling, she ended her fifth tour on October 28 at Midway.

The sixth patrol of the USS Apogon began on November 20, and saw her returning to the waters off the Kuril Islands. Apart from attacking and hitting a tanker, however, she saw no action during this patrol. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on January 5, 1945, and after a brief stop she made for the Mare Island Navy Yard in California, where she underwent a major overhaul.

After this was complete, she was ready for more action. During her seventh patrol, the USS Apogon was stationed at the Kuril Islands, in the sea of Okhotsk. On this patrol she attacked a four-ship convoy on June 18, sinking a transport called the Hakuai Maru. On July 2 she severely damaged a chaser before ending her patrol at Midway on July 14.

For the USS Apogon's next patrol she was assigned to tour the waters around Marcus Island, but as the Japanese surrender just a week later on August 15, this final patrol was uneventful.

After the War

After her eighth and final patrol, the USS Apogon returned to Pearl Harbor, arriving on September 2. From there she voyaged to San Diego, and after her arrival was placed in reserve on October 1.

In January 1946, she returned to Pearl Harbor, where she was to be used as a target in atomic bomb testing at Bikini Atoll. She was sunk during the test known as “Baker,” on July 1, 1946. She was removed from the Naval Register on February 25, 1947.

Many United States Navy vessels contained large amounts of asbestos, as the substance was once used extensively as an insulator and fire-proofing material. Many people who served onboard these vessels, or were involved in building, repairing, or outfitting them, have subsequently developed asbestos-related diseases due to asbestos exposure. If you've developed an asbestos-related disease as a result of involvement with Navy vessels, contact us for information about your legal options.

Submarines Index

USS Albacore SS 218 USS AmberJack SS 219 USS Angler SS 240 USS Apogon SS 308 USS Archer-fish SS 311 USS Argonaut-SM-1 USS Argonaut SS 475 USS Aspro SS 309 USS Atule SS 403 USS Balao SS 285 USS Bang SS 385 USS Barbel SS 316 USS Barbero SS 317 USS Barb SS 220 USS Barracuda SS 163 USS Bashaw SS 241 USS Bergall SS 320 USS Besugo SS 321 USS Billfish SS 286 USS Blackfin SS 322 USS Blackfish SS 221 USS Blenny SS 324 USS Blower SS 325 USS Blueback SS 326 USS Bluefish SS 222 USS Bluegill SS 242 USS Boarfish SS 327 USS Bonefish SS 223 USS Bonita SS 165 USS Bowfin SS 287 USS Bream SS 243 USS Brill SS 330 USS Bugara SS 331 USS Bullhead SS 332 USS Bumper SS 333 USS Burrfish SS 312 USS Cabezon SS 334 USS Carbonero SS 337 USS Hake SS 256 USS Hammerhead SS 364 USS Harder SS 257 USS Hardhead SS 365 USS Hawkbill SS 366

USS Herring SS 233 USS Hoe SS 258 USS Icefish SS 367 USS Jack SS 259 USS Jallao SS 368 USS Kete S 369 USS Kingfish SS 234 USS Kraken SS 370 USS Lagarto SS 371 USS Lizardfish SS 373 USS Loggerhead SS 374 USS Macabi SS 375 USS Mackerel-204 USS Manta SS 299 USS Mapiro SS 376 USS Marlin SS 205 USS Mingo SS 261 USS Moray SS 300 USS Muskallunge SS 262 USS Narwhal SS 263 USS Nautilus-ss-0024 USS Paddle SS 167 USS Pampanito SS 383 USS Parche SS 384 USS Pargo SS 264 USS Perch SS 176 USS Permit SS 178 USS Peto SS 265 USS Pickerel SS 177 USS Picuda SS 382 USS Pike SS 173 USS Pilotfish SS 386 USS Pintado SS 387 USS Pipefish SS 388 USS Pirahna SS 389 USS Plaice SS 390 USS Plunger SS 179 USS Pogy SS 266 USS Pollack SS 180 USS Pomfret SS 391 USS Pompano SS 181 USS Pompon SS 267 USS Porpoise SS 172

USS Puffer SS 268 USS Queenfish SS 393 USS Quillback SS 424 USS Rasher SS 269 USS Raton SS 270 USS Ray SS 271 USS Razorback SS 394 USS Redfin SS 272 USS Redfish SS 395 USS Robalo SS 273 USS Rock SS 274 USS Ronquil SS 396 USS Runner SS 275 USS Runner SS 476 USS S-1 SS 105 USS S-20 SS 125 USS S-46 SS 157 USS Sailfish SS 192 USS Salmon SS 182 USS Sand Lance SS 381 USS Sargo SS 188 USS Saury SS 189 USS Sawfish SS 276 USS Scabbardfish SS 397 USS Scamp SS 277 USS Scorpion SS 278 USS Sculpin SS 191 USS Sea Cat SS 399 USS Sea Devil SS 400 USS Sea Dog SS 401 USS Seadragon SS 194 USS Sea Fox SS 402 USS Seahorse SS 304 USS Sealion SS 195 USS Seal SS 183 USS Sea Owl SS 405 USS Sea Poacher SS 406 USS Searaven SS 196 USS Sea Robin SS 407 USS Seawolf SS 197 USS Segundo SS 398 USS Sennet SS 408

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