USS Marlin (SS-205)

USS Marlin (SS-205), a Mackerel-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the marlin, a large game fish.

Her keel was laid down by Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine, on 23 May 1940. She was launched on 29 January 1941 sponsored by Mrs. John D. Wainwright, and commissioned on 1 August 1941 with Lieutenant George A. Sharp in command.

After service in the Atlantic Fleet off New London, Connecticut, for half a year, Marlin departed New London 21 March for Casco Bay, Maine. She arrived the next day for duty with TG 27.1, training new escort vessels in antisubmarine warfare. She returned to New London 18 April, and operated in Long Island Sound through 1942. Unsubstantiated reports claim that in February of that year, Marlin and her sister ship, USS Mackerel (SS-204), engaged and sank the giant Free French Navy submarine, Surcouf, after discovering her in the Sound refueling a German U-boat, which was also sunk.

On 7 January 1943 the submarine arrived in Casco Bay for further duty with TG 27.1 until 16 January. She then spent the next 2½ years patrolling and training ships off New London and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. On 26 July 1944, while making a submerged practice approach on USS Chaffee (DE-230), she collided with SC-642 with slight damage to both ships. In September Marlin kept company with USS Chetco (AT-99) on one of her trips from Portsmouth, reaching New London 10 September.

On 20 October Marlin departed New London with USS Skipjack (SS-184) for Bridgeport, Connecticut, arriving that day. Five days later she continued on to Boston, Mass, arriving 31 October. She decommissioned at the Boston Navy Yard 9 November. Marlin was sold 29 March 1946 to the Boston Metal Company of Baltimore, Maryland, for scrapping.