USS Pogy (SS-266), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the pogy, or menhaden. She was credited with sinking 16 ships totaling 62,633 gross register tons during World War II. Construction and commissioning Pogy (SS–266) was laid down 15 September 1941 by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, Wisc., launched 23 June 1942; sponsored by Mrs. Julius A. Furer; and commissioned 10 January 1943. Pogy temporarily decommissioned 1 February for a Mississippi cruise on a river barge to New Orleans, LA, and recommissioned upon her arrival 12 February. Operational history World War II First war patrol, April – June 1943 After fitting out, trial runs, and training, Pogy arrived Pearl Harbor 5 April 1943. On 15 April she set out for her patrol area along the eastern coast of Honshū, making her first contact 1 May. Her periscope attack on a convoy of five ships with one escort sank ex-gunboat Keishin Maru, and damaged a small cargo ship. Upon surfacing that night, Pogy attacked a destroyer with three torpedoes, but was unable to observe the results. The next day she destroyed a large sampan by gunfire. On 9 May while making a submerged attack on a convoy of four cargo ships, a bomb close astern forced Pogy to retire. On 11 May, she sank a 100-ton sampan by gunfire. Two torpedo hits sank a small cargo ship 26 May, and on 5 June Pogy retired to Midway. Second war patrol, June – August 1943 She departed Midway on her second war patrol 26 June. Throughout July she covered the Empire-Truk main communication and supply line. While patrolling submerged east of the Pulap Islands 5 July, she attacked two cargo ships with torpedoes, damaging the leading 3,000-ton cargo ship by one hit. Pogy sighted an aircraft ferry steaming for Truk, and sank the 7,497-ton Mongamigawa Maru and her valuable cargo 1 August. The submarine then departed the area, stopping at Johnston Island for fuel on the 14th, and arriving at Pearl Harbor two days later for refit. Third and fourth war patrols, September – December 1943 Pogy departed Pearl Harbor 9 September for her third war patrol, in the Palau area. On 28 September she sighted a five ship convoy. After a two-day chase and one unsuccessful attack, she scored two torpedo hits on the largest cargo ship of the convoy, Maebashi Maru,