USS Sunfish (SS-281)

USS "Sunfish" (SS-281), a "Gato"-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the ocean sunfish, "Mola Mola", a plectognath marine fish, having a deep body truncated behind, and high dorsal and anal fins.

The first "Sunfish" (SS-281) was laid down on 25 September 1941 by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, Calif.; launched on 2 May 1942; sponsored by Mrs. J. W. Fowler; and commissioned on 15 July 1942, Comdr. R. W. Peterson in command.

"Sunfish" held her shakedown in the San Diego Bay area and returned to San Francisco for post-shakedown availability. On 26 October, she stood out to sea en route to the Pacific war zone.

First and second war patrols, November 1942 – April 1943

She arrived at Pearl Harbor, T.H., on 1 November, and departed on her first war patrol on 23 November. Her assigned patrol area was off the coasts of Honshū and Hokkaidō, Japan. The submarine laid a minefield at the entrance to Iseno Imi on the night of 16 December – 17 December. On 18 December, she fired a spread of torpedoes at a transport "Kyowa Maru" and damaged her.
* [http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/2364 USS Sunfish SS-281 web site]