USS Bonefish (SS-223)

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Career
Launched:	7 May 1943
Commissioned:	31 May 1943
Fate:	lost, probably sunk by Japanese
General Characteristics
Displacement:	1526 tons
Length:	311 feet 9 inches
Beam:	27 feet 3 inches
Draft:	17 feet
Speed:	20.3 knots
Complement:	60 officers and men
Armament:	one four-inch gun, ten 21-inch torpedo tubes

USS Bonefish (SS-223), a Gato-class submarine, was the first submarine of the United States Navy to be named for the bonefish, which is a name for the ladyfish, dogfish, and sturgeon. Her keel was laid down by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut. She was launched 7 May 1943 sponsored by Mrs. F. A. Daubin, wife of Rear Admiral Daubin, commissioned on 31 May 1943, Commander T. W. Hogan in command, and reported to the Pacific Fleet.

Bonefish arrived at Brisbane, Australia, on 30 August 1943. Between 15 September 1943 and June 1945 she completed seven war patrols in the South China Sea, East China Sea, Java Sea, Celebes Sea, Sulu Sea, and Sibuyan Sea. Bonefish sank 12 Japanese vessels totaling 61,345 tons, including the Japanese destroyer Inazuma on 14 May 1944.

Bonefish departed Guam on 28 May 1945 for her eighth patrol as part of a submarine group under Commander G. W. Price for operations in the Sea of Japan. On the morning of 18 June Bonefish received permission to conduct a patrol of Toyama Wan, Honshu. She was never heard from again. Bonefish was probably the submarine attacked by the Japanese on 18 June.

Bonefish received the Navy Unit Commendation for her first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth war patrols as well as seven battle stars during World War II.

See USS Bonefish for other ships of the same name.

References

This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.