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USS ''Grouper'' (SS/SSK/AGSS-214), a ''Gato''-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the grouper, a saltwater fish noted as a gamefish and for its food values. ''Grouper'' was launched by the Electric Boat Co., Groton, Conn. on 27 October 1941 (sponsored by Mrs. Albert F. Church), and commissioned at New London on 12 February 1942, Lieutenant Commander C. E. Duke in command. == 1942 == After shakedown in Long Island Sound, ''Grouper'' sailed for Pearl Harbor on 30 March 1942 to join the Pacific Submarine Force, which was to play havoc on Japanese shipping. Before departing for her first war patrol, ''Grouper'' was assigned to the submarine screen which ringed the area as the American and Japanese fleets clashed in the decisive Battle of Midway. Patrolling the fringe of the fighting on 4 June, ''Grouper'' sighted two burning enemy aircraft carriers, but could not close for attack because of heavy air cover. On that day, she was strafed by fighter planes and driven deep in a series of aircraft and destroyer attacks which saw over 170 depth charges and bombs dropped on the novice submarine. The next day, as the battle still raged, ''Grouper'' crash-dived to avoid heavy bombers. She then put in at Midway for three days for fuel and provisions before sailing on her first war patrol on 12 June. She torpedoed and damaged two Japanese ''maru'' (civilian) ships before returning to Pearl Harbor on 30 July. On her second patrol (28 August – 9 October), ''Grouper'' sank two freighters, ''Tone Maru'' on 21 September and ''Lisbon Maru'' on 1 October. It was later learned that ''Lisbon Maru'' was carrying 1800 British POWs from Hong Kong; over 800 died in the sinking. On her third patrol (12 November – 31 December) to Brisbane, Australia, on 17 December, she encountered and sank ''Bandoeng Maru'', a passenger-freighter headed for the Solomon Islands with troop reinforcements. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USS Grouper (SS-214)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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