USS Seahorse (SS-304)

• Commissioning and Class: USS Seahorse (SS-304) was a Balao-class submarine commissioned on 31 March 1943, becoming one of the most successful American submarines of World War II. • Origin of Name: The submarine was named after the seahorse, a marine creature, continuing the U.S. Navy tradition of naming submarines after sea animals. • War Patrols: USS Seahorse completed eight war patrols in the Pacific Theater, earning a reputation for aggressiveness and skill in anti-shipping operations. • Ton of Enemy Shipping Sunk: The submarine was credited with sinking over 71,000 tons of Japanese shipping, making her one of the top-scoring U.S. submarines of the war. • Famous Skipper: Commander Slade Cutter, one of the Navy's top submarine aces, commanded Seahorse during several of her most successful patrols. • Surviving a Depth Charge Barrage: During her fourth war patrol, Seahorse survived a massive depth charge attack by Japanese escorts after sinking multiple ships in a convoy. • Rescue Operations: In addition to offensive operations, Seahorse rescued several downed American aviators during her patrols, saving lives behind enemy lines. • Presidential Unit Citation: The submarine received the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces. • Postwar Fate: After World War II, Seahorse was placed in reserve and eventually struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1960, then sold for scrap. • Legacy: USS Seahorse’s legacy lives on in naval history as an example of U.S. submarine prowess, and her battle flag is preserved at the Submarine Force Library and Museum in Connecticut.