USS Hawkbill (SS-366), a Balao-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the hawksbill, a large sea turtle (the "-s-" was inadvertently dropped at commissioning.). Construction and commissioning Hawkbill (SS-366) was launched by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin,on 9 January 1944, sponsored by Mrs. F. W. Scanland, Jr., and commissioned on 17 May 1944. Operational history Following a period of training on the Great Lakes, Hawksbill departed 1 June 1944 from Manitowoc to begin the long journey down the Illinois River and finally by barge down the Mississippi. She arrived New Orleans 10 June and, after combat loading, sailed 16 June for training based at the submarine base at Balboa, Panama Canal Zone. On 18 June 1944, the 5,433-gross register ton Panamamanian merchant ship mistook her for a German U-boat and opened gunfire on her in the Caribbean Sea about south of Cape San Antonio, Cuba, at , firing six rounds. Hawkbill signaled White Clover to cease firing and suffered no casualties or damage. After completing her training from Balboa, Hawkbill arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 28 July 1944 for final preparations before her first war patrol. First and Second War Patrols Departing 23 August, the submarine steamed via Saipan to her patrol area in the Philippine Islands in company with and . In October Hawkbill shifted patrol to the South China Sea and, while approaching two carriers 7 October, was forced down by violent depth charging by Japanese destroyers. Two days later she attacked a 12-ship convoy with Becuna, damaging several of the ships. Hawkbill transited heavily patrolled Lombok Strait 14 October, and terminated her first patrol at Fremantle, Australia on 17 October. In company with Becuna and , the submarine departed for her second patrol 15 November bound for the area north of the Malay Barrier. She encountered a convoy 15 December and sank destroyer Momo with six well-placed torpedoes during a night attack. Finding few contacts—a testament to the effectiveness of the American submarines—Hawkbill headed once more for Lombok Strait. This time she was sighted by a patrol craft, but cleverly maneuvered into a rain squall. The submarine was then fired-upon by shore batteries before passing out of range. Hawkbill returned to Fremantle 5 January 1945. Third and Fourth War Patrols On her third war patrol beginning 5 February, the submarine returned to Lombok Strait to turn