file created: 12/07/02 01:06:58 , last update: 06/02/00
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SS-239 Whale
United States Navy submarine
Class Laid down, Shipyard LaunchedCommissioned Disabled and Why
Gato 1941/06/28
Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, Cal.
1942/03/14 1942/06/01 1960/09/29
scrap
Namesake: velryba - An extremely large, aquatic mammal which is fishlike in form. True air-breathing, warm-blooded mammals, whales are nearing extinction due to man's pursuit for oil and whalebone.
TTD differences from class:
Camouflage:


WW II combat actions:
From Till Operation Force Action Source
42/08/04 42/08/06     sail San Francisco > San Diego escorted by Kilty   81 
42/09/23 42/09/27     sail San Francisco > P.H.   81 
42/09/27 42/10/09     P.H.   81 
42/10/09 42/11/10     patro01: off Kii Suido   81 
42/10/25       patro01: arrived assigned area - lay mines off Honshu at entrance to Inland Sea   81  85 
42/10/26       patro01: sinking large freighter off Seto Saki, damaging 2 another   81 
42/10/27 42/10/29     patro01: Bungo Suido entrance   81 
42/10/30       patro01: damaging freighter off Ichie Saki - attacked by escort   81 
42/11/10 43/01/03     P.H. - refit   81 
43/01/03 43/02/02     patro02: Marshalls   81 
43/01/10 43/01/12     patro02: Wotje & Kwajalein area   81 
43/01/13       patro02: sinking AK Iwashiro Maru (3550 BRT) (09-54N, 167-07E)   81  66  83
43/01/13 43/01/17     patro02: shipping lanes Kwajalein <> Truk   81 
43/01/17       patro02: sinking AP Heijo Maru (9815 BRT) NE of Truk (10-13N, 151-25E)   81  66  85
43/01/17 43/01/24     patro02: off Caroline Islands   81 
43/01/25       patro02: damaging AO Sjojo Maru   81  66 
43/01/26       patro02: attacking steamer   66 
43/01/27       patro02: disabling Shoan Maru (5624 BRT) (14-15N, 153-43E)   66  83  85
43/02/02 43/02/28     Midway - refit, test, drills   81 
43/02/28       patro03: off Saipan   81 
43/03/10       patro03: Saipan area   81 
43/03/20       patro03: sinking AK Mogamigawa Maru   81  66 
43/03/20       patro03: disabling Arizona Maru  
43/03/23       patro03: sinking AK Kenyo Maru 130 nm NW of Saipan (17-16N, 144-56E)   81  66  83
43/03/25       patro03: attacking freighter (dud torpedoes - deep problem)   81 
43/03/28       patro03: attacking small freighter   81 
43/03/31 43/04/06     patro03: sail Saipan > Midway   81 
43/04/06 43/04/07     patro03: Midway - refuel   81 
43/04/07 43/04/11     patro03: sail Midway > P.H.   81 
43/04/11 43/05/05     P.H. - refit, tests, drills   81 
43/05/05 43/06/21     patro04: Saipan area   81 
43/05/09 43/05/10     patro04: Midway - repairs - hydraulic system, air search radar   81 
43/05/15 43/05/16     patro04: 30 miles E of Wake - guide B-24 to strike, lifeguard   81  66 
43/05/20 43/05/24     patro04: shipping lanes Truk<>Japan<>Saipan   81 
43/05/24       patro04: search for reported submarine base on Rota Is.   66 
43/05/26       patro04: sinking AK Shoei Maru (3580 BRT) 17 nm NNW of Rota Is., Marianas (14-17N, 144-53E)   66  83  85
43/06/05       patro04: damaging AV   81 
43/06/05 43/06/08     patro04: off Saipan   81 
43/06/09       patro04: disabling 2 freighters   81 
43/06/17       patro04: Midway > refuel   81 
43/06/21 43/07/20?     P.H. - refit   81 
43/07/20? 43/09/07     patro05: Tokio - Truk shipping lanes   81 
43/08/07       patro05: E of Bonins   81 
43/08/08       patro05: sinking AE Naruto Maru (7149 BRT) NW of Marianas (24-12N, 142-51E), attacked by Asanagi   66  83  85
43/08/09 43/08/19     patro05: Bonins, East China Sea   81 
43/08/20 43/08/23     patro05: caught typhoon   81 
43/08/24       patro05: attacking convoy (2 AK, DE) off Kusaki Shima - damaging AO San Diego M. (31-30N, 128-35E)   81  66  85
43/09/02 43/09/03     patro05: Midway - refuel   81 
43/09/07 43/12/07     PHNY - overhaul   81 
43/12/25       patro06: Tokio-Truk lanes, Marianas, Bonins, Nansei Shoto   66 
44/01/16       patro06: sinking AK Denmark Maru (alerted by Seawolf) 400 nm SE of Okinawa (23-09N, 135-14E)   66  83  85
44/01/16       patro06: finishing AK Tarushima Maru (already damaged by Seawolf) (22-50N, 135-40E)   66  85 
44/01/18 44/01/23     patro06: Marianas, Bonins   66 
44/01/24       patro06: attempt to attack IJN SS   66 
44/01/26       patro06: low of fuel > sail to Midway   66 
44/02/03 44/03/13     Midway, P.H. - refit, repairs   66 
44/03/14       patro07: Bonins (with Pollack)   66 
44/03/23 44/03/25     patro07: off Bonins   66 
44/03/29       patro07: East China Sea - W of Kjushu   66 
44/04/09       patro07: sinking AK Honan Maru (5401 BRT) 90 nm W of NW of Fukuoka, Kjushu (35-50N, 128-01E)   66  83  85
44/05/02 44/05/03     patro07: escorted by Fair into Majuro lagoon   66 
44/05/03 44/05/28     Majuro - refit   66 
44/05/28 44/07/16     patro08: Japan   66 
44/05/28 44/05/29     patro08: escorted by Cassin from Majuro   66 
44/06/07       patro08: damaging APs Shinroku Maru and Sugijama Maru from convoy NNE of Bonins (31-06N, 142-4E)   66  85 
44/06/08       patro08: damaged by depth charges N of Bonins (31-00N, 143-55E)   85 
44/06/12 44/07/04     patro08: S of Japan   66 
44/06/24 44/06/27     patro08: Bungo Suido-awaits IJN forces retreating after x Philippine S   81 
44/07/04 44/07/11     patro08: sail from Japan to Midway   66 
44/07/11 44/07/12     patro08: Midway   66 
44/07/16 44/08/24     P.H. - refit, esercises   66 
44/08/24 44/10/29 Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: W Carolines   66 
44/09/03 44/09/04 Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: Saipan - refuel   66 
44/09/08 44/09/16 Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: 45 miles from Samar Is   66 
44/09/17   Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: patrol SE of Formosa   66 
44/09/26 44/09/29 Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: Bashi Channel   66 
44/09/29   Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: ordered to SW of Formosa   66 
44/10/03   Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: start patrol SW of Formosa   66 
44/10/06   Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: sinking AO Akane Maru, AP Kinugasa Maru from convoy W of Balintang Channel (19-40N,118-05E)   66  83  85
44/10/07   Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: ordered to meet Aspro & Cabrilla   66 
44/10/09 44/10/10 Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: meet Aspro & Cabrilla NW of Luzon   66 
44/10/16   Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: ordered SW of Nansei Shoto   66 
44/10/19 44/10/29 Stale2 17/ZOO/Wilkins' Bears patro09: sail from Nansei Shoto to Midway   66 
44/10/29 44/11/21     Midway - refit   66 
44/11/21 45/01/15     patro10: Rjukjus   66 
44/12/22       patro10: attacking trawlers   66 
44/12/23       patro10: sinking (guns) 4 trawlers   66 
45/01/04 45/01/05     patro10: search for B-29 survivors   66 
45/01/06 45/01/15     patro10: sail from Rjukjus to P.H.   66 
45/01/15       P.H.   66 
45/01/26 45/05     MINY - overhaul   66 
45/06/15 45/08/15     patro11: Japan <> Wake lanes   66 
45/06/21 45/06/22     patro11: Saipan - refuel   66 
45/06/22 45/06/30     patro11: patrol Japan <> Wake lanes   66 
45/07/06 45/07/07     patro11: Guam - refuel   66 
45/07/08 45/07/23     patro11: lifeguard duty - Nanpo Shoto, Marianas, Bungo Suido   66 
45/07/26       patro11: rescued pilots from TF 58 in Bungo Suido   66 
45/07/30       patro11: E of Okino Shima   66 
45/08/04 45/08/08     patro11: off Bungo Suido   66 
45/08/08       patro11: recieved rescued pilot from Dragonet   66 
45/08/09       patro11: recieved 16 aviators from Blackfish   66 
45/08/11       patro11: ordered to Saipan > Midway   66 
45/08/14 45/08/15     Saipan   66 
45/08/15? 45/08/25     sail from Saipan to P.H.   66 
45/08/25 45/08/30     P.H.   66 
45/08/30 45/09/14     sail from P.H. to Panama Canal   66 

Ship status, hull number changes...: 1960/03/01 struck from Navy List
Ship score (awards, enemy ships credited...): 11 Battle Stars, 11 patrols; 9/57716
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