USS Pargo ( SS - 264 ) USS " Pargo " ( SS - 264 ) , a " Gato " - class submarine , was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the pargo , a fish of the genus " Lutjanus " found in the West Indies . The first " Pargo " ( SS - 264 ) was laid down 21 May 1942 by Electric Boat Co . , Groton , CT ; launched 24 January 1943 ; sponsored by Miss Belle Baruch ; and commissioned 26 April 1943 , Lt . Comdr . Ian C . Eddy in command . First and second war patrols , August – December 1943 . Following shakedown and training " Pargo " sailed via the Panama Canal to Pearl Harbor , arriving 23 July 1943 . The first of her eight war patrols began 18 August and took her into the East China Sea where she twice attacked the enemy , inflicting undetermined damage to several ships before returning to Pearl Harbor 6 October . After refitting " Pargo " sailed 30 October in company with and in a wolf - pack . The efforts of the three were well directed against the open sea area northwest of the Marianas where " Pargo " sank two freighters , " Manju Maru " and " Shoko Maru " totaling 7 , 810 tons , on 29 and 30 November . Third , fourth , and fifth war patrols , March – October 1944 . " Pargo " next underwent overhaul and received a new engine at Mare Island Naval Shipyard . On 5 March 1944 she was underway for Pearl Harbor and 25 March began her third war patrol . Her mission , to destroy enemy ships in the Philippine and Celebes Seas areas was carried out with several attacks , one of which sank an ex - net tender . " Pargo " began refitting at Fremantle , Australia 24 May . Underway 13 June for the Celebes Sea , " Pargo " noted fewer ships present in the area . She scored well again , however , damaging several and sinking a 5 , 236 ton cargo ship , " Yamagibu Maru " . " Griffin " ( AS - 13 ) refitted " Pargo " at Fremantle to prepare her for her next patrol . From 3 September to 7 October she ranged the South China Sea , pressing her attacks to damage several Japanese ships and to sink two more , including a minelayer . Sixth and seventh war patrols , October 1944 – March 1945 . On 28 October " Pargo " sailed from western Australian waters in company with for her sixth patrol . From Exmouth Gulf she continued alone into the South China Sea where she found that increased allied air activity had further diminished use of the shipping lanes . She sank tanker " Yuho Maru " off Brunei Bay 26 November . Following this action she received from escorts the worst depth charging of her career , but escaped without serious damage , and returned to Australia 21 December . Replenishment and retraining ensued , and on 15 January 1945 " Pargo " got underway for the Indo - China coast . Six days out she launched a night torpedo attack that damaged several ships . On 10 February she again engaged the enemy and ten days later blew up destroyer " Nokaze " . " Pargo " then sailed via Saipan and Pearl Harbor to Mare Island for a modernization overhaul which lasted from 25 March to 17 June . Eighth war patrol , July – September 1945 . The submarine ’ s eighth and final patrol spanned the 42 - day interval from 14 July to 9 September . Transiting the minefields of Tsushima Straits , she entered the Sea of Japan where she attacked a six - ship convoy . She made her last sinking on 8 August , the passenger - cargo ship " Rashin Maru " , to total nine for the war . After Japanese capitulation , " Pargo " remained in the mine - filled waters until after the peace terms were signed and then sailed for Guam . Returning to Pearl Harbor with the knowledge that she had contributed materially to the victory in the Pacific , Pargo assumed post - war duties as part of the squadron based there . She decommissioned 12 June 1946 and was assigned to train Naval Reservists in the 13th Naval District where she remained until 1 June 1960 when her name was struck from the Navy List . " Pargo " was sold 17 April 1961 . " Pargo " received eight battle star s for World War II service . All eight of her war patrols were designated as " successful " . She is credited with having sunk a total of 27 , 983 tons of enemy shipping . See for other ships of the same name .