View source for USS Croaker

{{short description|Submarine of the United States}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 |image=USS Croaker;0824616.jpg
 |image_caption=''Croaker'' (SS-246), underway, c. 1944–45.
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=
 |country=United States
 |flag={{USN flag|1968}}
 |name=Croaker
 |namesake=[[Sciaenidae|Croaker, Fish]]
 |ordered=
 |builder=[[General Dynamics Electric Boat]], [[Groton, Connecticut]]<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates">{{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History|publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]]|year=1995|location=[[Annapolis, Maryland]]|pages=285–304|isbn=1-55750-263-3}}</ref>
 |laid_down=1 April 1943<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |launched=19 December 1943<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
|Sponsored by=Mrs. W. H. P. Blandy
 |acquired=
 |commissioned=21 April 1944<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |decommissioned=15 June 1946<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=yes
 |recommissioned=7 May 1951<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |decommissioned=18 March 1953<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=yes
 |recommissioned=11 December 1953<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |decommissioned=2 April 1968<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |struck=20 December 1971<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |status= [[Museum ship]] at Groton, Connecticut on 27 June 1976,<ref name="Register">{{cite book |last=Bauer|first=K. Jack |author-link= K. Jack Bauer |author2=Roberts, Stephen S.  |title=Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775–1990: Major Combatants |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=1991 |location=[[Westport, Connecticut]] |pages=271–273 |isbn=0-313-26202-0}}</ref> then to [[Buffalo, New York]] since 1988.<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-dates"/>
 |badge=[[Image:USS Croaker SSK-246 Badge.jpg|180px]]
 }}

|section5={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption=
 |class=[[Gato class submarine|''Gato''-class]] [[diesel-electric]] [[submarine]]<ref name="Register"/>
 |displacement=1,525 [[long ton|ton]]s (1,549 [[tonne|t]]) surfaced,<ref name="Register"/> 2,424 tons (2,460 t) submerged<ref name="Register"/>
 |length={{convert|311|ft|9|in|abbr=on}}<ref name="Register"/>
 |beam={{convert|27|ft|3|in|abbr=on}}<ref name="Register"/>
 |draft={{convert|17|ft|abbr=on}} maximum<ref name="Register"/>
 |propulsion={{Fleet-boat-propulsion-early-GM-4-GE}}
 |speed={{convert|21|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} surfaced,<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs">''U.S. Submarines Through 1945'' pp. 305–311</ref> {{convert|9|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} submerged<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 |range={{convert|11000|nmi|km|abbr=on}} surfaced @ {{convert|10|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 |endurance=48 hours @ {{convert|2|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} submerged,<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/> 75 days on patrol
 |test_depth={{convert|300|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 |complement=6 officers, 54 enlisted<ref name="FriedmanSubs1-specs"/>
 |sensors=
 |EW=
 |armament={{Fleet-boat-armament-3-inch}}
 }}

|section6={{Infobox NRHP |embed=yes
 |name=USS ''Croaker''
 |nrhp_type=
 |image=
 |caption=
 |coordinates = {{coord|42.8782|-78.8817|region:US_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 |locmapin=New York
 |location=[[Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park]], Buffalo, New York
 |nearest_city=
 |area=
 |built=
 |architect=
 |architecture=
 |designated=
 |added=12 September 2008<ref name="newlisting">[https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/upload/weekly-list-2008-national-register-of-historic-places.pdf new NRHP listings, week of 9/19/2008]</ref>
 |established=
 |refnum=08000863
 |mpsub=
 |governing=
 }}
}}
'''USS ''Croaker'' (SS/SSK/AGSS/IXSS-246)''', a [[Gato class submarine|''Gato''-class]] [[submarine]], was the first ship of the [[United States Navy]] to be named for the [[Sciaenidae|croaker]], any of various fishes which make throbbing or drumming noises.

==Construction and commissioning==
''Croaker''′s [[keel]] was [[Keel-laying|laid down]] on 1 April 1943 by [[Electric Boat]] Company in [[Groton, Connecticut]]. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching#United States|launched]] on 19 December 1943, sponsored by the wife of [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[William H. P. Blandy]], and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 21 April 1944, with [[Commander (United States)|Commander]] John E. Lee in command.<ref name=nrhpdoc>{{cite report|type=none|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75317731 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: New York SP USS CROAKER (submarine)|publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |author= Mark Peckham and Bob Dromerhauser|date=April 2008 | access-date=October 21, 2025 }} ({{NationalArchivesNote}})</ref>

==Service history==

===World War II===
[[File:Nagara Sinking.jpg|thumb|left|Periscope view from ''Croaker'' of ''Nagara'' sinking, 7 August 1944]]
''Croaker'' arrived at [[Pearl Harbor Naval Base|Pearl Harbor]] from [[Naval Submarine Base New London|New London]] on 26 June 1944, and on 19 July put to sea on her first war patrol, sailing to the [[East China Sea|East China]] and [[Yellow Sea]]s. In a series of brilliantly successful attacks which won her the [[Navy Unit Commendation]], she sank the [[cruiser]] [[Japanese cruiser Nagara|''Nagara'']] on 7 August, an auxiliary minesweeper, ''[[Taito Maru]]'', on 16 August, and two freighters, ''[[Daigen Maru No. 7]]'' on 14 August and ''[[Yamateru Maru]]'' on 17 August. During this patrol, she served as lifeguard during air strikes on the [[Bonin Islands]]. She refitted at [[Midway Atoll]] from 31 August to 23 September, when she sailed in a [[wolf pack (submarines)|coordinated attack group]] for the same area on her second war patrol. Again successful, she sank the freighters ''[[Shinki Maru]]'' on 9 October, and ''[[Hakuran Maru]]'' on 23 October. She shadowed a convoy on 23–24 October, sank the freighter ''[[Mikage Maru]]'', and damaged ''[[Gassan Maru]]'' with her last [[torpedo]]. Tubes empty, she returned to Midway to fuel, and pushed on to Pearl Harbor, arriving for refit on 10 November.

''Croaker''{{'}}s third war patrol, in the [[Luzon Strait]]s and [[South China Sea]] from 13 December 1944 to 12 February 1945, found her making no contacts with enemy shipping, but providing essential lifeguard service during strikes on [[Luzon]] preparatory to the invasion landings in [[Lingayen Gulf]]. She refitted at [[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle]], Australia, and on 12 March sailed for a patrol off the coast of [[Indo-China]] twice interrupted by the need to return to [[Australia]] for repairs. She refitted at [[Subic Bay]], Philippines from 22 April to 15 May, then sailed for her fifth war patrol, in the [[Java Sea]]. On 30 May, she attacked a convoy of three small oilers guarded by an escort, with unconfirmed results, and on 5 June returned to Fremantle. Her final war patrol – from 1 July to 13 August – found her assigned to lifeguard duties in the South China Sea and off [[Hong Kong]] as the final series of air attacks on [[Japan]] were carried out.

Returning to Subic Bay, ''Croaker'' sailed for [[Saipan]] and continued on to [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston, Tex.]], and New London, where she was then decommissioned and placed in reserve 15 May 1946 in the [[Atlantic Reserve Fleet]].

===Post-War===
[[Image:USS Croaker;0824617.jpg|290px|thumb|left|''Croaker'' (SSK-246) underway in [[hunter-killer submarine|hunter-killer]] configuration, c. mid-1950s.]]
Recommissioned on 7 May 1951, she served as schoolship out of New London until 18 March 1953, when she was again decommissioned at [[Portsmouth Naval Shipyard]] for conversion to a [[hunter-killer submarine]]. She was reclassified '''SSK-246''' on 9 April 1953, and was recommissioned on 11 December 1953. Returning to active duty in February 1954, she operated along the East Coast and in the [[Caribbean]], visiting ports in [[England]] while taking part in [[NATO]] exercises in 1957 and 1958.

''Croaker'' was reclassified '''SS-246''' again in August 1959. Special submarine exercises took her to England once more in February 1960, after which she resumed local operations out of New London. In September 1960, ''Croaker'' departed on a cruise which saw her sailing through the [[Mediterranean]] and [[Suez Canal]] to call at various Near Eastern ports and [[Karachi]], Pakistan. She returned to New London in mid-December, retracing her outward track.

She was reclassified Auxiliary Submarine '''AGSS-246''' in May 1967. Decommissioned for the last time on 2 April 1968, ''Croaker'' was struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 20 December 1971 and reclassified Miscellaneous Unclassified Submarine '''IXSS-246''' in December 1971. From 1977 to 1987, ''Croaker'' was displayed as a private attraction in [[Groton, Connecticut]] by the Submarine Memorial Association until the Navy revoked its agreement with the group citing a requirement for historical preservation of the vessel. Since 1988, ''Croaker'' has served as a museum ship at the [[Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park]] in [[Buffalo, New York]].

<gallery>
Image:U.S.S._Croaker.jpg|U.S.S. Croaker at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
Image:U.S.S._Croaker_3.1.jpg|
Image:U.S.S._Croaker_5.jpg|
Image:U.S.S. Croaker 6.jpg|
File:USS CROAKER (submarine) 2013-09-22 07-34-59.jpg|
File:USS CROAKER (submarine) 2013-09-22 07-41-50.jpg|
</gallery>

==Awards==
*[[Navy Unit Commendation]]
*[[American Campaign Medal]]
*[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] with three [[battle stars]]
*[[World War II Victory Medal]]
*[[National Defense Service Medal]] with star

Along with the [[Navy Unit Commendation]], ''Croaker'' received three [[battle star]]s for those of her war patrols designated as "successful": the first, second, and fifth of her six. She is credited with having sunk 19,710&nbsp;tons of shipping.

''Croaker'' was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on 12 September 2008.<ref name="newlisting"/>

==See also==
* [[Gato-class submarine#Hunter-killer]] - details of SSK conversion
* [[Attack submarine]] - discusses origins of SSK program

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c15/croaker.htm}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|USS Croaker (SS-246)|USS ''Croaker'' (SS-246)}}
*{{navsource|08/08246}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120616190738/http://www.buffalonavalpark.org/USSCroaker.html Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park]
*{{hnsa|uss-croaker-ss-246}}
* [http://www.williammaloney.com/Aviation/USSCroaker/index.htm USS ''Croaker''] Photos on board the Submarine USS ''Croaker'' in Buffalo, NY

{{Gato class submarine}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in New York}}
{{clear}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Croaker (Ss-246)}}
[[Category:Gato-class submarines]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of the United States]]
[[Category:Cold War submarines of the United States]]
[[Category:Museum ships in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Ships on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Ships built in Groton, Connecticut]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:Museums in Buffalo, New York]]
[[Category:Military and war museums in New York (state)]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Buffalo, New York]]