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USS Hawkbill SS-366

USS Hawkbill was a 312 foot long United States Navy Balao-class submarine, which earned six Battle Stars and a Navy Unit Commendation for her actions during World War II service. She carried a complement of 81 sailors and an armament consisting of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 5-inch / 25 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns. She could endure 48 hours at 2 knots and 400 feet, as well as 75 days on patrol, yet reach top speeds of 20 knots per hour surfaced and 9 when submerged. Hawkbill had a range of 11,000 nautical miles surfaced at 10 knots, which was made possible by 4 x 10-cylinder opposed piston diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, 4 x high-speed electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers.

Perseverance Pays Off

Hawkbill was built, and her keel laid down, by Wisconsin's Manitowoc Shipbuilding; she 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 first to the submarine base at Balboa in the Canal Zone, and then to Pearl Harbor for final war preparations. On August 23, USS Hawkbill set sail for a patrol mission in the Philippine Islands, after which she moved into the South China Sea in October. Within days, she attacked a 12-ship convoy with sister ship USS Becuna; they damaged several of the enemy vessels. Partnered next with Becuna and USS Flasher, Hawkbill embarked on another patrol in November, this time near the Malay Barrier. While there, she claimed success in sinking enemy destroyer Momo on December 15, and days later, evaded patrol craft and shore batteries on her way back to Fremantle. Hawkbill's next task wasn't until February, 1945; while in Lombok Strait, she sank two submarine chasers on Valentine's Day, 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, Hawkbill broke the enemy mine layer Hatsutaka in half before returning to Subic Bay in June. The next month saw her initiating an attack on a Japanese convoy, which delivered retaliatory depth charges that caused 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, Hawkbill landed commandos at Terampha Town and destroyed two radio stations and shore installations.

Home in Another Country

When the war hostilities ceased, she returned to San Francisco. Her decommissioning took place at Mare Island on September 20, 1946, at which time 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 thus set sail for Rotterdam. She arrived on June 11, 1953, and immediately took part in NATO exercises. The former USS Hawkbill was sold for scrap in 1970.

The crew of Hawkbill had much of which to be proud-strikes, evasions, rescues, and transport success. Her distinguished retirement in another country further emphasized that she had been well taken care of, even after receiving enemy gunfire. She was quite fortunate to not incur severe damage from the many depth charge attacks leveled at her; many vessels were not as lucky. But, as skillful as Hawkbill's sailors were, the men faced the same dangers when it came to other onboard accidents and mishaps. One that was unknown concerned the threat of asbestos exposure. 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 would have seemed ideal for the small and awkward spaces of submarines. Fire was probably feared as much as the enemy-given a ship's limited resources and escape routes-and the Navy would have wanted to eliminate the occurrence of fire as much as possible. However, months of repeated diving and depth charge explosions may have caused damage to the asbestos sealant, and if that happened, tiny asbestos fibers may have escaped. Once airborne, they could have drifted anywhere on board within the ship's contained air system, and been inhaled or swallowed. It's been discovered that asbestos has remained in human bodies for several decades, all the while creating irritation that can cause serious medical conditions and even malignancies. That is why it's very important that former sailors consult a physician at the first sign of unusual physical symptoms, and then contact us for additional information.

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 168 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 Piranha 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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