, a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the guardfish. Construction and commissioning Guardfish was laid down by the Electric Boat Company at Groton, Connecticut. She was launched there on 20 January 1942, sponsored by Mrs. Edward J. Marquart, and commissioned at Naval Submarine Base New London New London, Connecticut, on 8 May 1942, Lieutenant Commander Thomas B. Klakring in command. First and second war patrols, August – November 1942 After conducting shakedown out of New London, Guardfish left that base on 28 June 1942 for Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal, and arrived there on 25 July to prepare for her first cruise. Her first war patrol was in previously unpatrolled waters off northeast Honshū. Guardfish left Pearl Harbor on 6 August 1942, sank a trawler on 22 August, and two days later sank 3,114 ton cargo ship Seikai Maru off Kinkasan Harbor. Evading escort vessels, she proceeded up the coast and found a convoy on 2 September. Guardfish attacked the next day, sinking 5,253 ton Kaimei Maru and 1,118 ton cargo ship Tenyu Maru. Chita Maru, a 2,376 ton freighter, retreated into the harbor and anchored, but a long-range shot from Guardfish left her beached in the mud. Guardfish returned from her successful first patrol to Midway for refit on 15 September 1942. Guardfish left Midway on her second war patrol on 30 September and headed for the East China Sea. Surviving an attack by patrolling aircraft on 19 October, Guardfish closed a seven-ship convoy 21 October, sinking a 4,000-ton freighter and 6,362 ton Nichiho Maru north of Formosa as the convoy scattered. After evading pursuing aircraft and surface ships, Guardfish returned to Pearl Harbor on 28 November 1942. For her success on these first two patrols, Guardfish received a Presidential Unit Citation. Third, fourth, and fifth war patrols, January – August 1943 Moving her base of operations to the Truk area, Guardfish left Pearl Harbor on 2 January 1943 to patrol off the Japanese stronghold. She sank Japanese patrol Boat No.1 (the former destroyer ) on 12 January west of Kavieng, and a 1,300 ton cargo ship the next day. Attacked by the destroyer on 23 January, Guardfish sank her with a well-placed torpedo. Moving south toward Rabaul, she attacked a large convoy near Simpson Harbor, but was driven off by concentrated shore fire and escort attacks. Guardfish