USS Hardhead (SS-365), a submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the hardhead, a fish of the croaker family. Hardhead received six battle stars for World War II service. All six of her combat patrols were "successful". Construction and commissioning Hardhead was launched by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company at Manitowoc, Wisconsin on 12 December 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Inez Riddle McDonald, wife of Lieutenant Commander Eugene F. McDonald (Retired), President of Zenith Radio Corporation, and commissioned on 18 April 1944. Service history Following shakedown training in Lake Michigan Hardhead entered a floating dry dock at Lockport, Illinois, and was towed to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she arrived o 16 May 1944. She got underway from Algiers, Louisiana, on 22 May1944, and arrived at Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, five days later. There she took part in additional training exercises before her arrival at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 7 July 1944. First war patrol, July – September 1944 Hardhead, departed on her first war patrol 27 July and proceeded to her patrol area off the Philippines. Early 18 August she detected the east of San Bernardino Strait, and closed for a surface attack. The first well-directed salvo stopped the cruiser dead in the water; a second sent her to the bottom. During the remainder of her first patrol Hardhead rendered lifeguard services during strikes by fleet aircraft on the Philippines and operated with a reconnaissance line during the Palaus operation. She arrived Fremantle, Australia, 26 September 1944. Second war patrol, October – December 1944 Hardheads second patrol began as she departed Fremantle 24 October and set course for the Philippines. While steaming on the surface through the Sulu Sea October she discovered a life raft adrift. In it was Commander Bakutis, commander of a fighter squadron (VF-20) from the aircraft carrier , who had been in the water for six days after being shot down during America's victory in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Operating in a coordinated group with and , the submarine sighted a large cargo ship with escorts 8 November. After being driven off in one attack, Hardhead aggressively gained an ahead position and sank Manei Maru. It was during this attack that Growler was lost. Hardhead performed lifeguard duty off Subic Bay in November and on 25 November came upon an escorted merchant ship. She sank a coast defense vessel, damaged the merchantman, and