USS Pilotfish ( SS - 386 ) USS " Pilotfish " ( SS - 386 ) , a " Balao " - class submarine , was a ship of the United States Navy named for the pilot fish , a carangoid fish , often seen in warm latitudes in company with sharks . " Pilotfish " was laid down by the Portsmouth Navy Yard , in Kittery , Maine , 15 May 1943 ; launched 30 August 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . Martha Szolmeczka Scheutz ; and commissioned 16 December 1943 , Lieutenant Commander Robert H . Close in command . After underway trials , training , and shakedown in the Portsmouth area , " Pilotfish " departed New London 29 March 1944 for the Pacific via the Panama Canal . She reported to Commander in Chief , Pacific Fleet 10 April and joined Submarine Division 202 , Submarine Squadron 20 . On 16 May , " Pilotfish " departed on her first patrol in company with and . This patrol was begun in the area west of the Mariana Islands . After a week the group sailed to an area south of Formosa and patrolled across a probable route of reinforcement or retirement of the Japan ese forced engaged in the Battle of the Philippine Sea . This proved fruitless and " Pilotfish " set course for Majuro Atoll , Marshall Islands , arriving 4 July . " Pilotfish " departed on her second war patrol in the Bonin Islands area 27 July . She performed lifeguard duty in addition to offensive patrol . She returned via Midway to Pearl Harbor , 14 September . " Pilotfish " departed 14 October via Midway Island on her third war patrol , again in the Bonins area . On 31 October she torpedoed and damaged a 4 , 000 - ton cargo ship . On 2 November " Pilotfish " proceeded to the Nansei Shoto area for the balance of the patrol . After 57 days of patrol , she returned to Midway Island , arriving 10 December . On 20 January 1945 " Pilotfish " departed on her fourth war patrol , in company with and . The group proceeded via Saipan to the East China Sea area , where a long patrol brought no contacts but a hospital ship and small craft . " Pilotfish " returned to Pearl Harbor , 25 March . On 21 May " Pilotfish " departed for her fifth patrol . She spent fifteen days on lifeguard duty off Marcus Island , then proceeded to Tanapag Harbor , Saipan . On 20 June " Pilotfish " left for the second half of her lifeguard patrol in the vicinity of the Japanese Home Islands . " Pilotfish " arrived Apra Harbor , Guam , 14 July . On 9 August " Pilotfish " departed on her sixth patrol , again to lifeguard duty . Only two days had been spent in the patrol area , southeast of Japan , when on 15 August the “ Cease Firing ” order arrived . " Pilotfish " remained on station off Kii Suido for continued lifeguard duty , and neutrality patrol . On 31 August " Pilotfish " rendezvoused with other ships and proceeded to Tokyo Kaiwan in order to participate in the initial occupation of Japan and the formal surrender ceremonies . The afternoon of 31 August all submarines of the formation moored alongside in Yokosuka Naval Basin . On 3 September , " Pilotfish " got underway for Pearl Harbor and San Francisco . By directive dated 1 July 1946 " Pilotfish " was to be disposed of by use as a target for the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb test at Bikini Atoll . She decommissioned 29 August 1946 and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 25 February 1947 . " Pilotfish " received five battle star s for World War II service .