USS Paddle (SS-263)

USS "Paddle" (SS-263), a "Gato"-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the paddle, a large ganoid fish of the Mississippi and its larger tributaries. "Paddle" was laid down 1 May 1942 by Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT; launched 30 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. William M. Fechteler, wife of later Chief of Naval Operations Admiral William M. Fechteler; and commissioned at New London 29 March 1943, Lt. Comdr. R. H. Rice in command.

After trials and training, "Paddle" left New London 8 June 1943 for the Panama Canal and Pearl Harbor, arriving 5 July. She based at Pearl Harbor during her first two war patrols, between which she trained destroyers in antisubmarine warfare and received meteorological equipment.

First and second war patrols, July – November 1943

"Paddle"'s first patrol, 20 July – 12 September, was conducted south of Japan. She scored a hit on a large freighter in her first attack 13 August, but alert escorts forced her down with a 13-hour depth charge attack. Enemy search planes damaged her slightly 19 August with 7 bombs dropped as she patrolled submerged off the coast of Japan, but she repaired damage quickly and struck back, sinking passenger-cargo ship "Ataka Maru" 23 August.

During her second war patrol, 17 October – 9 November, "Paddle" took station off Nauru to provide continuous weather reporting for the carrier task force attacking the Gilberts and Marshalls to cover the Tarawa landings. She also guided, by radio, Army bombers in to raid Tarawa and attacked tanker "Nippon Maru"cite book | url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/| title = The official chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II | chapter = Chapter V: 1943 | chapterurl = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Chron/USN-Chron-1943.html | first = Robert | last = Cressman | location = Annapolis, Maryland | publisher = Naval Institute Press | year = 2000 | isbn = 9781557501493 | oclc = 41977179 | accessdate = 2007-11-29 ] off Eniwetok, though escorting destroyers forced her down before she could observe the damage inflicted on the tanker.

Third and fourth war patrols, March – July 1944

After West Coast overhaul, "Paddle" sailed for her third war patrol from Pearl Harbor 19 March 1944, bound for the Dutch East Indies and the southern Philippines. In a brilliant night attack 16 April she sank two of a three-ship convoy guarded by four escorts, torpedoing "Mito Maru" and "Hino Maru No. 1". Breaking off to reload her tubes, "Paddle" returned to attack a tanker, which had joined the group, and engaged escorting destroyers and aircraft. She ended her patrol at Fremantle, Australia, 12 May.

"Paddle"'s fourth war patrol, 5 June – 29 July, began with reconnaissance of the eastern approaches to Davao Gulf guarding against a Japanese sortie during the U.S. landings on Saipan. Damaged by bombs in the Celebes Sea 30 June, "Paddle" repaired quickly and 6 July attacked a small convoy, twice hitting a large freighter, and sinking destroyer "Hokaze" before being forced down by other escorts.

Fifth, sixth, and seventh war patrols, August 1944 – January 1945

After refit at Fremantle, "Paddle" made her fifth patrol 22 August – 25 September, encountering few contacts in her assigned area in the Sulu Sea. On 7 September 1944 she sent the cargo ship "Shinyo Maru" to the bottom and damaged another of her convoy. The Japanese cargo ship, "Shinyo Maru", unmarked as a POW carrier and unknown to the "Paddle" was carrying 750+ Allied POWs from the P.I. to Japan when sunk by the "Paddle". The Japanese crew and patrol boats killed all but 83 of the "Shinyo Maru"'s POWs before they could reach shore. One survivor died on shore, one elected to remain in the P.I. and 81 returned home via Australia. As of 2006, seventeen "Survivors of the "Shinyo Maru" remain alive in the U.S.

She prepared for her next patrol in Mios Woendi Lagoon, sailing 3 October for lifeguard off Balikpapan. During brief offensive periods she sank two oil-laden sea trucks and a schooner by gunfire, then returned to Fremantle 1 November.

Her 7th war patrol began at Fremantle 25 November and ended at Pearl Harbor 18 January 1945. Operating mainly in the South China Sea and west of Luzon, "Paddle" fought through heavy weather to join "Hammerhead" in sinking tanker "Shoei Maru" and damaging an enemy destroyer.

Eighth war patrol, May – August 1944

After overhaul at San Francisco, "Paddle" trained at Pearl Harbor whence she sailed on her 8th and last war patrol 15 May. Prowling the Yellow and East China Seas she found few substantial targets, she and her sisters having by this time almost annihilated the Japanese merchant marine. She turned her attention to sinking floating mines with gunfire, and sank eight schooners and picket boats.

Returning to Guam 18 July, "Paddle" sailed 13 August for lifeguard duty off southern Honshū. With the war's end, she sailed for Midway Atoll 17 August. The long voyage home via Hawaii and the Panama Canal ended at Staten Island 30 September.

"Riacheulo"

Placed in reserve at New London, she decommissioned 1 February 1946. She recommissioned 31 August 1956 to prepare for transfer to Brazil under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program. Decommissioned and transferred 18 January 1957, she was simultaneously commissioned in the Brazilian Navy as "Riachuelo" (S-15). "Paddle" received eight battle stars for World War II service; her first seven war patrols were designated successful.

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