USS Seahorse (SS-304)

USS Seahorse (SS-304), a Balao-class submarine, was the first submarine and second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the seahorse, a small fish whose head and the fore part of its body suggest the head and neck of a horse.

Fourth war patrol, March – May 1944

Seahorse's fourth war patrol was conducted in the Marianas. She departed Pearl Harbor on 16 March and intercepted a large enemy convoy on 8 April. After nightfall, the submarine fired four torpedoes at overlapping targets, sinking the converted seaplane tender, Aratama Maru. Shortly thereafter, her second spread of torpedoes sank the cargo ship, Kizugawa Maru. Although a counterattack by escorting destroyers drove the submarine from the vicinity, she quickly regained contact and continued the chase into the following day, sinking the cargo ship, Bisaku Maru.

Related Topics:
Marianas - 16 March - 8 April

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Seahorse took up lifeguard station for the carrier airstrikes on Saipan that commenced on 12 April and, while west of Saipan on 20 April, sighted and sank the Japanese submarine, RO-45. In the same vicinity a week later, Seahorse sank the 5,244-ton cargo ship, Akigawa Maru. The submarine departed her lifeguard station on 3 May to refuel at Milne Bay, New Guinea, and arrived at Brisbane, Australia, on 11 May.

Related Topics:
Carrier - Saipan - 12 April - 20 April - ''RO-45'' - Milne Bay - New Guinea - Brisbane - Australia - 11 May

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