USS Blackfish (SS-221)

USS Blackfish (SS-221), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the blackfish, any one of several small, toothed whales.

She was launched on 18 April 1942 by Electric Boat Corporation, Groton, Connecticut (sponsored by the wife of Captain Henry de F. Mel), and commissioned on 22 July 1942, Commander Raymond W. Johnson in command.

World War II
Blackfish was assigned to Submarine Squadron 50 (SubRon 50), United States Naval Forces in Europe. On 15 October 1942, now under the command of Lieutenant Commander J. F. Davidson, she departed Montauk Point, New York on her first war patrol in support of Operation Torch. From October 1942-July 1943, Blackfish completed five war patrols in waters extending from Dakar, West Africa, to the north of Iceland. She is credited with having sunk a German anti-submarine trawler, Patrol Boat No. 408 with two torpedoes off the north coast of Spain on 19 February 1943. She was damaged by a second German vessel and had to return to port early for repairs.

She returned to the United States in July 1943, and after refitting, proceeded to the Southwest Pacific. From 19 October 1943-14 August 1945, she completed seven war patrols in an area including the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, South China Sea, East China Sea, and the Yellow Sea. Blackfish sank one Japanese cargo vessel of 2,087 tons during her Pacific patrols.

She completed her 12th and last war patrol on 14 August 1945. While no targets worthy of torpedo fire were encountered during this patrol, on 5 August she rescued six Army fliers, and on 8 August effectively bombarded shore installations on Kusakaki Shima.

Post-War
Blackfish departed Guam on 27 August 1945 for the East Coast of the United States. After visiting New York, New York and Camden, New Jersey, she proceeded to the Naval Submarine Base New London, where she was placed in inactive status. On 11 May 1946, Blackfish was placed out of commission in reserve, and on 5 May 1949 she reported to the Naval Reserve Training Center, St. Petersburg, Florida, to be used in reserve training. She returned to New London on 2 February 1954.

Awards
Blackfish received eight battle stars for her World War II service.