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USS Hoe SS-258

USS Hoe was a United States Navy Gato-class submarine which was awarded seven Battle Stars for her actions during World War II. She was 311 feet long and powered by 4 x diesel engines driving electrical generators, 2 x 126-cell batteries, 4 x high-speed electric motors with reduction gears, and two propellers. Her complement totaled 60 sailors, and she could endure 48 hours when submerged to 300 feet at 2 knots, or 75 patrol days. Hoe had a range of 11,000 nautical miles if surfaced at 10 knots, but could reach top speeds of 21 knots per hour while surfaced and 9 knots when underwater. USS Hoe's armament consisted of 10 x 21-inch torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, 1 x 3-inch / 50 caliber deck gun, and four machine guns.

Success, Even with Engine Problems

Hoe's keel was laid down on the second day of 1942 by the Electric Boat Company of Connecticut. Her launch date was September 17, 1942 and she was commissioned three months later. It took four more months for Hoe to be completely fitted out and complete her shakedown exercises, but she was finally ready for her maiden voyage in April of 1943. She set sail for the Panama Canal, and then continued to Pearl Harbor. After final war preparations, she embarked on combat war patrol at the end of May in the waters near Guam and Palau. Within just a few weeks, Hoe had attacked and damaged two enemy freighters. She finished that patrol in July and departed the area for Hawaii, with stops in Ulithi and Midway Atoll. Her luck was not so good during her next mission near Truk; Hoe incurred substantial difficulties with her engine equipment. Yet, they weren't enough to keep USS Hoe from doing her job-she damaged an enemy tanker while dodging depth charge attacks in late summer. In October, Hoe was ordered to search for downed pilots in the waters near Wake Island before returning for repairs, which took until the following January. Assigned to the vicinities around Mindanao and Halmahera, she damaged another ship within weeks before conducting patrol duties during the better part of that year. However, in the fall, she avoided enemy convoy escort vessels and managed to sink the Japanese tanker Nissho Maru. By March of 1944, USS Hoe needed a refit, for which she sailed to Fremantle, Australia. Departing a month later, Hoe voyaged to the South China Sea, where she attacked another convoy and damaged several freighters while again evading depth charge attacks. She was directed to remain in that area until the end of the year, when she was given the role of leader of a coordinated attack group. While she and her team were southwest of Lingayen Gulf, they were responsible for the sinking of passenger-cargo ship Kohoko Maru, as well as 38,000 tons of Japanese shipping.

Perseverance after an Unusual Accident

In early 1945, at a depth of 60 feet, Hoe hit an object, but there was only minor damage. It was later discovered that she had actually collided with sister ship and patrol partner USS Flounder, which was an unusual military occurrence. But, a few days later in the South China Sea, Hoe sank the escort, Shinan. Upon entering Apra Harbor on her way to the Western Pacific, she heard that the war was over, so she returned to New York. One year later, USS Hoe was decommissioned at New London, Connecticut, and she thus joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. But, ten years later found Hoe out of reserve in the capacity of a Naval Reserve Training Ship. As a member of the 3rd Naval District, she was held a noncommissioned status, and she remained in this designation until 1960. At that time, she was struck from the Navy Registry and sold for scrapping.

Stories about a ship and crew's determination amidst problems always generates pride in the Navy and its fighting men, and in its ability to construct dependable equipment that will get them to the next repair station. The Navy took its ships' performance and the safety of sailors very seriously, and made sure that there were plenty of safeguards in place. Many ships had the misfortune of accidents, mishaps, and onboard surprises that had the potential to cause loss of life. Luckily, that did not occur in the case of USS Hoe, but it did happen on other vessels. In some cases, accidents resulted in onboard fires, which were something every crew feared almost as much as enemy attacks. It would not have been unusual for the Navy to have added asbestos to its insulation, as the material was heavily utilized during the mid-twentieth century in almost every kind of construction. It was lightweight, flexible, easily available, and fairly inexpensive. As an excellent retardant against heat and flame, it would have seemed ideal for the small spaces on ships that had constant threat of fires, yet had limited escape routes or resources. But, if the protective sealant around the asbestos became worn or damaged due to numerous depth charge explosions, repeated diving, or overhauls, tiny asbestos fibers may have escaped. Within a ship's contained air system, they could have been inhaled or swallowed by anyone, and become trapped in their bodies for decades. It is now known that such long term irritation has caused serious diseases and even malignancies. Therefore, any former crew member of the USS Hoe who experiences unusual physical symptoms should see a doctor immediately 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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