USS Ronquil ( SS - 396 ) USS " Ronquil " ( SS - 396 ) , a " Balao " - class submarine , was the only ship of the United States Navy named for the ronquil , a spiny - finned fish found along the northwest coast of North America . It has a single dorsal fin and a large mouth and resembles the tropical jawfish . " Ronquil " was laid down 9 September 1943 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard , in Kittery , Maine ; launched 27 January 1944 , sponsored by Mrs . C . M . Elder ; and commissioned 22 April 1944 , Lieutenant Commander Henry S . Monroe in command . World War II . After shakedown off the New England coast , " Ronquil " sailed for Hawaii . She arrived at Pearl Harbor on 8 July 1944 ; and , after preparatory training , sailed on her first war patrol ( 31 July – 8 September 1944 ) in the northeastern Formosa - Sakishima Gunto area . On 24 August the submarine sank two attack cargo ships : " Yoshida Maru No . 3 " ( 4 , 646 tons ) and " Fukurei Maru " ( 5 , 969 tons ) . " Ronquil " ’ s second war patrol , from 30 September to 28 November 1944 , was carried out in two phases . She first operated with a coordinated submarine attack group in the Bungo Suido area , and then joined six other submarines to carry out an antipatrol ship sweep off the Bonin Islands . On her third war patrol , from 1 January to 14 February 1945 , " Ronquil " patrolled the Bonins and did lifeguard duty in that area for Army bombers hitting the Japan ese home islands . Her fourth war patrol from 11 March to 23 April 1945 , brought her no worthwhile enemy targets but resulted in the rescue of 10 Army aviators from a B - 29 bomber downed between the Bonins and Japan . The submarine ' s fifth and last patrol from 19 May to 26 July 1945 , took her into the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea . The end of the war in the Pacific found " Ronquil " off Pearl Harbor , training for another war patrol . She returned to San Diego in the fall of 1945 and engaged in training exercises off the California coast . Post - war service . In January 1947 , " Ronquil " departed San Diego for her first peacetime western Pacific deployment . This patrol lasted 114 days and took the submarine to Tahiti , the Carolines , the Marianas , Japan , and the Yellow Sea . On her return to San Diego , she resumed local operations before beginning a 3 - year period of intensive training in offensive and antisubmarine warfare , embodying lessons learned during World War II as well as new postwar developments . " Ronquil " entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard in May 1952 for decommissioning and " Guppy IIA " modernization : Her hull and sail were streamlined for greater submerged speed . She received new , increased - capacity batteries for underwater endurance , and a snorkel which enabled her to use her diesels at periscope depth . New electronics , including improved sonar and fire - control systems , were installed . " Ronquil " was recommissioned on 16 January 1953 , and on 12 June departed for Japan . She arrived at Yokosuka before sailing on to Tokyo on 19 July to take part in the " Black Ship Festival " commemorating Commodore Matthew Perry ' s opening of Japan in 1852 . Throughout August and September , " Ronquil " participated in antisubmarine and other operations in the waters near Japan ; this was to set the pattern for most of her later deployments . On 11 December 1953 " Ronquil " returned to San Diego for a year of overhaul , refresher training , Naval Reserve training , and fleet exercises . She sailed for a second western Pacific tour on 21 March 1955 , returning late in September . The next 2 years were devoted to operations off the west coast of the United States ; on 31 July 1957 , the submarine again deployed to the Far East for 7 months . From 3 July to 7 July 1958 , " Ronquil " took part , with other ships of the fleet , in an observance of the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the " Great White Fleet " at San Francisco . She resumed normal operations , then sailed from San Diego on 6 April 1959 for a 5 - month " WestPac " deployment . During July and August 1960 , she participated in extensive antisubmarine exercises in the eastern Pacific with United States and Canadian forces . In the early fall of 1961 " Ronquil " again sailed for the Far East , returning in March 1962 . After taking part in a demonstration of antisubmarine operations for the national radio and television networks , she began a period of overhaul and local operations . The submarine departed San Diego in November 1963 for duty with the 7th Fleet ; on her return to California , she again resumed operations off the west coast . Late in 1964 " Ronquil " began preparations for deployment to the Vietnam area . In February 1965 she sailed for Southeast Asia and a five - month deployment . In mid - 1966 , " Ronquil " rejoined the 7th Fleet , returning to San Diego in February 1967 for further work off the coast of California . This was interrupted in August , when " Ronquil " played the part of the fictional USS " Tigerfish " ( SSN - 509 ) in the motion picture " Ice Station Zebra " . On 26 December the submarine was again underway for Japan . During this deployment , she took part in exercises with United States , British , Japanese , Australian , and Canadian forces . On 2 July 1968 " Ronquil " returned to the west coast . " Ronquil " departed for the Far East 4 July 1969 , returning to San Diego on Christmas Eve . At the end of January 1970 " Ronquil " began a period of repair and overhaul , followed by training and fleet exercises in the eastern Pacific . August 1970 brought another 7th Fleet deployment , returning to her homeport of San Diego on 5 March 1971 . The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded for this deployment . SPS " Isaac Peral " ( S - 32 ) . On 1 July 1971 , " Ronquil " was decommissioned , struck from the Naval Register , and transferred to Spain , under the Mutual Security Assistance Act . The submarine was commissioned into the Spanish Navy as " Isaac Peral " ( S - 32 ) , named after Spanish submarine pioneer Isaac Peral . Under her new commander Lt . Cmdr . Pedro Soler Yolif , she sailed from San Diego to her new homeport of Cartagena , Spain , arriving 22 August . " Isaac Peral " faced retirement in 1982 , but her service was extended until the commissioning of the new " Siroco " ( S - 72 ) . The Spanish Navy decommissioned " Isaac Peral " on 3 April 1984 . Honors and awards . " Ronquil " earned six battle star s for World War II service .