USS Runner ( SS - 476 ) USS " Runner " ( SS / AGSS - 476 ) , a " Tench " - class submarine , was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the runner , an amberfish inhabiting subtropical waters . Her keel was laid down on 10 July 1944 by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard of Kittery , Maine . She was launched on 17 October 1944 sponsored by Mrs . R . H . Bass , the wife of the prospective commanding officer , and commissioned on 6 February 1945 with Commander R . H . Bass in command . World War II service . After shakedown and preliminary training off the Atlantic coast , she departed New London 5 April 1945 , and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 21 May 1945 , after intensive training at Key West , Florida , and Balboa , Panama . Her first war patrol was off the east coast of Honshū , Japan , where her primary mission was to scout for the presence of defensive minefields guarding the Japanese home islands . On 10 July while on patrol in the Sea of Japan , she intercepted two worthwhile targets , a tanker and a minesweeper . The tanker and her two escorts escaped the spread of torpedo es fired at them , but Japanese minesweeper W - 27 was splintered by three of " Runner " ' s torpedoes . Before departing station , " Runner " received 16 downed aviators from and for transfer to Guam , where she arrived on 24 July . Her second patrol began a week prior to the Japanese capitulation and by the time " Runner " arrived on station off the east coast of Honshū , peace had come . " Runner " , with ten other US submarines entered Tokyo Bay on 31 August and represented the US submarine service at the formal surrender ceremonies . " Runner " and her sister submarines departed Japan on 3 September , arriving Pearl Harbor on 12 September . She continued east until reaching New London , Connecticut , on 6 October . A few weeks later , in company with other vessels of Submarine Squadron 6 , " Runner " proceeded south arriving for duty at Balboa , Panama , on 14 February 1946 . For the next three years , " Runner " was based at Panama and participated in annual fleet exercises in the Caribbean Sea . Post World War II service . In June 1949 , she was reassigned to Norfolk , Virginia , her base for the next seven years . In the autumn of 1957 , " Runner " participated in North Atlantic NATO exercises , visiting ports in France and England . Homeported in San Juan , Puerto Rico , from July 1958 to July 1959 , she operated in the Caribbean Sea as a Regulus missile guidance submarine . Returning to Norfolk , Virginia , in July 1959 , " Runner " operated with the fleet along the Atlantic coast for the next three years . She deployed to the Mediterranean Sea from January to early May 1962 , operating with United States and NATO units . The remainder of 1962 was taken up with local ASW exercises and overhaul . Throughout 1963 and 1964 , she engaged in various antisubmarine warfare exercises in the western Atlantic . The summer of 1964 was spent in the Great Lakes , training Naval Reservists . After operating with the fleet in the spring of 1965 , she entered Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul . In 1966 , operations included services for ASW exercises , type training , and participation in Exercise Springboard in the early spring . " Runner " deployed to the Mediterranean Sea with the Sixth Fleet from 8 July to 28 October 1966 . School services for future submariners occupied most of 1967 . The year 1968 commenced with " Runner " providing services for Underwater Demolition Team school at Little Creek , Virginia , and ASW training off the East Coast . On 4 April 1968 , " Runner " departed on her last Mediterranean Sea deployment . She returned to Norfolk , Virginia , on 31 July having visited ports in Spain and Portugal , and participating in NATO Exercise Dawn Patrol . On 25 January 1969 , " Runner " was decommissioned at the Boston Naval Shipyard , and towed to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station , where she was redesignated AGSS - 476 and served as a Naval Reserve Training vessel until stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 December 1971 . " Runner " received one battle star for World War II service .