| Navy | The US Navy |
| Type | Submarine |
| Class | Balao |
| Pennant | 411 |
| Built by | Mare Island Navy Yard (Vallejo, California, U.S.A.) |
| Ordered | 8 Jun 1942 |
| Laid down | 27 May 1943 |
| Launched | 8 Jan 1944 |
| Commissioned | 9 Mar 1944 |
| End service | 3 May 1946 |
| History | Decommissioned 3 May 1946. |
Commands listed for USS Spadefish (411)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | T/Cdr. Gordon Waite Underwood, USN | 9 Mar 1944 | 26 Feb 1945 |
| 2 | T/Cdr. William Joseph Germershausen, Jr., USN | 26 Feb 1945 | 4 Jul 1945 |
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Notable events involving Spadefish include:
14 Jun 1944
With her trials and initial training completed USS Spadefish (Cdr. Gordon Waite Underwood) departed from San Francisco for Pearl Harbor.
22 Jun 1944
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) arrived at Pearl Harbor.
2 Jul 1944
During 2 July 1944, USS Sailfish (T/Cdr. R.E.M. Ward, USN) and USS Croaker (T/Cdr. J.E. Lee, USN) conducted exercises off Pearl Harbour with USS Le Hardy (Lt.Cdr. E.L. Holtz, USNR), USS Harold C. Thomas (Lt.Cdr. E.J. Haddon, USNR) and USS Charles R. Greer (Lt.Cdr. W.T. Denton, USNR).
On completion of the day exercises USS Croaker and USS Harold C. Thomas returned to Pearl Harbour.
The remaining ships remained out for night exercises and were joined for exercises on the 3rd by USS Spadefish (T/Cdr. G.W. Underwood, USN) and USS Harold C. Thomas. (1)
23 Jul 1944
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea north-west of Luzon, Philippines.
19 Aug 1944
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) torpedoed and sank the Japanese landing craft depot and repair ship Tamatsu Maru (9589 GRT) west of Luzon, Philippines in position 18°48'N, 119°47'E.
22 Aug 1944
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) torpedoed and damaged the Japanese tanker Hakko Maru No.2 (10023 GRT) in Luzon Strait in position 18°48'N, 120°46'E. The tanker takes limps to Passeleng Bay where efforts to salvage fail and she broke up in heavy weather on 18 September 1944. Spadefish now set course to Saipan to resupply and then resume her 1st war patrol in the waters east of Formosa.
8 Sep 1944
While operating east of Formosa USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) torpedoed and sank the Japanese troop transport Shokei Maru (2557 GRT) and the Japanese army cargo ship Shinten Maru (1254 GRT) in position 24°39'N, 123°31'E and the Japanese merchant cargo ships Nichiman Maru (1922 GRT) and Nichian Maru (6197 GRT) in position 24°45'N, 123°26'E.
24 Sep 1944
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) ended her 1st war patrol at Pearl Harbor.
23 Oct 1944
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) departed from Pearl Harbor for her 2nd war patrol, She was ordered to patrol in the East China and Yellow Seas.
14 Nov 1944
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Gyokuyo Maru (5396 GRT) in position 31°04'N, 123°56'E.
17 Nov 1944
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) torpedoed and sank the Japanese escort carrier Shinyo (17500 tons, offsite link) and torpedoed and damaged the Japanese landing ship Shinshu Maru about 140 nautical miles northeast of Shanghai, China, in position 32°59'N, 123°38'E.
18 Nov 1944
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) torpedoed and damaged the Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 156 (130 tons) in the East China Sea in position 33°07'N, 123°19'E.
29 Nov 1944
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Daiboshi Maru No.6 (3925 GRT) in the Yellow Sea off the west coast of Korea in position 37°17'N, 125°11'E.
12 Dec 1944
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) ended her 2nd war patrol at Majuro.
6 Jan 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) departed from Majuro for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Yellow Sea.
15 Jan 1945
Around 1100K/15, USS Devilfish (T/Cdr. E.C. Stephan, USN), USS Bang (T/Cdr. A.R. Gallaher, USN), USS Atule (T/Cdr. J.H. Maurer, USN) and USS Spadefish (T/Cdr. G.W. Underwood, USN) all departed Saipan for their patrol areas. They were escorted out until around 1720K/15 by USS PC-1126 (Lt. J.F Carrere, USNR).
28 Jan 1945
While operating in the Yellow Sea USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) torpedoed and sank the Japanese frigate Kume (940 tons, offsite link) in position 33°50'N, 122°55'E and the Japanese troop transport Sanuki Maru (7158 GRT, offsite link) in position 34°02'N, 123°00'E.
4 Feb 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Tairai Maru (4273 GRT) in the Yellow Sea off the west coast of Korea in position 37°18'N, 125°22'E.
6 Feb 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. G.W. Underwood) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant passenger/cargo ship Shohei Maru (1092 GRT) off Port Arthur, Korea in position 38°46'N, 121°28'E.
13 Feb 1945
Around 0445K/13, the submarine USS Spadefish (T/Cdr. G.W. Underwood, USN) made contact with USS Roe (T/Cdr. J.P. Craft, Jr., USN) which was to escort her to Guam.
Around 0630K/13, the submarine USS Devilfish (T/Cdr. E.C. Stephan, USN) also joined and course was then set for Apra Harbour, Guam.
They arrived at Guam between 1000K/13 and 1030K/13 thus ending the 1st war patrol of USS Devilfish and the 3rd war patrol off USS Spadefish.
At Guam, USS Devilfish and USS Spadefish were both taken in hand for repairs by the submarine tender USS Proteus (T/Capt. C.N. Day, USN).
8 Mar 1945
USS Devilfish (T/Lt.Cdr. S.S. Mann, Jr., USN) and USS Spadefish (T/Cdr. W.J. Germershausen, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Guam with USS Alvin C. Cockrell (T/Lt.Cdr. M.M. Sanford, USN) and USS PC-1082 (Lt. N.P. Bard, USNR).
9 Mar 1945
During 9/10 March 1945, USS Devilfish (T/Lt.Cdr. S.S. Mann, Jr., USN) and USS Spadefish (T/Cdr. W.J. Germershausen, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Guam with USS Baron (Lt.Cdr. W.M. Dickerson, USNR). These included night exercises.
In the morning of 10 March 1945, USS PC-824 (Lt. J.D. Ludwig, USNR), USS PC-1082 (Lt. N.P. Bard, USNR) and USS ATR-50 (Lt. A.P. Woronick, USN) joined for more exercises.
11 Mar 1945
During 11/12 March 1945, USS Devilfish (T/Lt.Cdr. S.S. Mann, Jr., USN) and USS Spadefish (T/Cdr. W.J. Germershausen, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Guam with USS Baron (Lt.Cdr. W.M. Dickerson, USNR), USS Raby (Lt. J.L. Slade, USNR) and USS PC-824 (Lt. J.D. Ludwig, USNR). These included night exercises.
15 Mar 1945
USS Spadefish (Cmdr William Joseph Germershausen, JR.) departed from Guam for her 3rd war patrol, and was ordered to patrol in the East China and Yellow Seas.
15 Mar 1945
Around 0600K/15, USS Devilfish (T/Lt.Cdr. S.S. Mann, Jr., USN) and USS Spadefish (T/Cdr. W.J. Germershausen, Jr., USN) departed Guam for Saipan where they arrived around 1745K/15. During this passage they were escorted. [We have been unable to find out which ship was the escort.]
23 Mar 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) torpedoed and sank the Japanese troop transport Doryu Maru (2274 GRT) about 120 nautical miles north-north-west of Amami O Shima in position 29°38'N, 127°36'E.
1 Apr 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) sank a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire south of Korea in position 34°23'N, 128°08'E.
7 Apr 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) sank a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire in the Yellow Sea in position 36°01'N, 124°52'E.
8 Apr 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Ritsu Go (1834 GRT) off the west coast of Korea in position 37°21'N, 125°08'E.
11 Apr 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) torpedoed and sank the Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Hinode Maru No.17 (235 GRT) off Tokckok-Kundo in position 37°13'N, 125°11'E.
21 Apr 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) ended her 4th war patrol at Guam.
27 May 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) departed from Guam for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Sea of Japan.
10 Jun 1945
While operating west of Hokkaido in the Sea of Japan USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Daigen Maru No.2 (1999 GRT) off Otaru in position 43°23'N, 140°39'E, the Japanese troop transport Unkai Maru No.8 (1293 GRT) off Shakotan Mizaki in position 43°55'N, 141°13'E and the Japanese army cargo ship Jintsu Maru (985 GRT) in position 43°28'N, 140°28'E.
12 Jun 1945
While operating in the Sea of Japan west of Hokkaido USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) sank a Japanese sampan with gunfire in position 44°11'N, 140°31'E, a Japanese trawler with gunfire in position 44°58'N, 141°05'E, the Japanese guard boat Daido Maru (69 GRT) with gunfire in position 45°08'N, 141°10'E and finally another Japanese trawler with gunfire in position 44°50'N, 141°18'E.
13 Jun 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) mistakenly torpedoed and sank the Russian passenger ship Transbalt (11439 GRT) west of the La-Perouse Strait in position 45°44'N, 140°48'E.
14 Jun 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Seizan Maru (2018 GRT) off western Sakhalin in position 47°03'N, 142°01'E.
17 Jun 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) torpedoed and sank the auxiliary minelayer Eijo Maru (2274 GRT) off Matsuta Misaki, Hokkaido, Japan in position 42°38'N, 139°49'E.
4 Jul 1945
USS Spadefish (Cdr. W.J. Germershausen) ended her 5th war patrol at Pearl Harbor.
Media links
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Sources
- War diary 14th Naval District for July 1944 + War diary USS Le Hardy for July 1944 + War diary USS Harold C. Thomas for July 1944 + War diary USS Charles R. Greer for July 1944
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