USS Hardhead ( SS - 365 ) USS " Hardhead " ( SS - 365 ) , a " Balao " - class submarine , was a ship of the United States Navy named for the hardhead , a fish of the croaker family . " Hardhead " received six battle star s for World War II service . All six of her combat patrols were " successful " . " Hardhead " was launched by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co . , Manitowoc , Wisc . , 12 December 1943 ; sponsored by Mrs . E . F . McDonald ; and commissioned 18 April 1944 , Commander Fitzhugh McMaster in command . Following shakedown training in Lake Michigan the submarine entered a floating dry dock at Lockport , Ill . , and was towed to New Orleans , where she arrived 16 May 1944 . " Hardhead " got underway from Algiers , La . , 22 May , and arrived Balboa , Canal Zone , 5 days later . There she took part in additional training exercises before her arrival at Pearl Harbor 7 July 1944 . First war patrol , July – September 1944 . " Hardhead " , departed on her first war patrol 27 July and proceeded to her patrol area off the Philippines . Early 18 August she detected Japan ese cruiser " Natori " east of San Bernardino Strait , and closed for a surface attack . The first well - directed salvo stopped the cruiser dead in the water ; a second sent her to the bottom . During the remainder of her first patrol " Hardhead " rendered lifeguard services during strikes by fleet aircraft on the Philippines and operated with a reconnaissance line during the Palaus operation . She arrived Fremantle , Australia , 26 September 1944 . Second war patrol , October – December 1944 . " Hardhead " ' s second patrol began as she departed Fremantle 24 October and set course for the Philippines . While steaming on the surface through the Sulu Sea October she discovered a life raft adrift . In it was Commander Bakutis , fighter squadron commander of , who had been in the water for 6 days after being shot down during America ' s smashing victory in the Battle of Leyte Gulf . Operating in a coordinated group with and , the submarine sighted a large cargo ship with escorts 8 November . After being driven off in one attack , " Hardhead " aggressively gained an ahead position and sank " Manei Maru " . It was during this attack that " Growler " was lost . " Hardhead " performed lifeguard duty off Subic Bay in November and on 25 November came upon an escorted merchant ship . She sank a coast defense vessel , damaged the merchantman , and evaded a retaliatory depth charge attack . Soon afterward , the submarine returned to Fremantle , ending another skillful and effective patrol 5 December . Third and fourth war patrols , December 1944 – May 1945 . Putting to sea again 24 December , " Hardhead " began her third war patrol in the South China Sea . Operating with and , " Hardhead " damaged several ships before sinking " Nanshin Maru " 2 February 1945 . Following lifeguard duty for the B - 29 strikes on Singapore she returned to Fremantle 15 February . " Hardhead " ' s fourth war patrol included a special mine - laying mission . She sailed 20 March 1945 and laid mines off French Indochina during the night of 2 April . The submarine then entered the Gulf of Siam , where after several attacks she sank cargo ship " Araosan Maru " 6 April . Following a visit to Subic Bay to reload 11 April – 15 April she patrolled the South China Sea , but found few contacts . American submarines had by this time reduced Japanese merchant activity to a trickle , effectively destroying the island nation ' s lifeline to the outside world . " Hardhead " returned to Fremantle 16 May . Fifth and sixth war patrols , June – August 1945 . Sailing from Fremantle 18 June , " Hardhead " began her fifth war patrol , to be conducted in the Java Sea . She severely damaged a freighter with her deck guns 22 June , and next day sank four coastal defense craft during an attack on Ambat Roads with . Illness of her Commanding Officer forced " Hardhead " to end her fifth patrol 17 July at Onslow , Australia . The submarine departed Onslow on her sixth and last patrol 18 July , and headed back into the Java Sea . She forced a merchant ship to beach 27 July but found few targets and returned to Subic Bay 10 August . Soon afterward the Pacific war , in which the submarine had played an aggressive and important part , ended . " Hardhead " sailed 31 August and arrived at San Francisco via Pearl Harbor 22 September 1945 . She decommissioned 10 May 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Mare Island . Post - war service , 1952 – 1972 . " Hardhead " was placed in commission in reserve 6 February 1952 and upon her arrival at New London for conversion was placed out of commission . Following her GUPPY IIA conversion , including streamlining , installation of a snorkel breathing apparatus , and larger storage batteries , the submarine recommissioned 24 March 1953 . She joined the Atlantic Fleet for training exercises and tactical drills in the years that followed , operating mainly in the Caribbean and off the East Coast of the United States . She sailed for the Mediterranean 7 September 1956 to strengthen the 6th Fleet during the Suez Crisis . In July 1958 " Hardhead " , joined Submarine Development Group 2 , turning her attention from fleet operations to research and testing of equipment and tactical doctrine . She operated off the East Coast and in the north Atlantic , and by 1961 had won four consecutive " E " awards for her performance . " Hardhead " continued through 1972 to perform this vital work in maintaining the technical superiority and readiness of the fleet . HS " Papanikolis " ( S - 114 ) . " Hardhead " was decommissioned , struck from the Naval Register , and transferred ( sold ) under the terms of the Security Assistance Program to Greece , 26 July 1972 . She was commissioned into the Hellenic Navy as HS " Papanikolis " ( S - 114 ) She was struck from the Greek Naval rolls in 1993 .