USS Hawkbill ( SS - 366 ) USS " Hawkbill " ( SS - 366 ) , a " Balao " - class submarine , was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the hawksbill , a large sea turtle ( the " - s - " was inadvertently dropped at commissioning . ) . " Hawkbill " ( SS - 366 ) was launched by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co . , Manitowoc , Wisc . 9 January 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs . F . W . Scanland , Jr . , and commissioned 17 May 1944 , Lt . Comdr . F . Worth Scanland , Jr . , in command . Following a period of training on the Great Lakes , the submarine departed 1 June 1944 from Manitowoc to begin the long journey down the Illinois River and finally by barge down the Mississippi . She arrived New Orleans 10 June and , after combat loading , sailed 16 June for training out of the submarine base , Balboa , Canal Zone . With this vital training completed , she arrived Pearl Harbor 28 July for final preparations before her first war patrol . First and Second War Patrols . Departing 23 August , the submarine steamed via Saipan to her patrol area in the Philippine Islands in company with and . In October Hawkbill shifted patrol to the South China Sea and , while approaching two carriers 7 October , was forced down by violent depth charging by Japan ese destroyer s . Two days later she attacked a 12 - ship convoy with " Becuna " , damaging several of the ships . " Hawkbill " transited heavily patrolled Lombok Strait 14 October , and terminated her first patrol at Fremantle , Australia on 17 October . In company with " Becuna " and , the submarine departed for her second patrol 15 November bound for the area north of the Malay Barrier . She encountered a convoy 15 December and sank destroyer " Momo " with six well - placed torpedoes during a night attack . Finding few contacts — a testament to the effectiveness of the American submarines — " Hawkbill " headed once more for Lombok Strait . This time she was sighted by a patrol craft , but cleverly maneuvered into a rain squall . The submarine was then fired - upon by shore batteries before passing out of range . Hawkbill returned to Fremantle 5 January 1945 . Third and Fourth War Patrols . On her third war patrol beginning 5 February , the submarine returned to Lombok Strait to turn the tables on her former pursuers . Her torpedoes sank two submarine chasers 14 February , and she added some small craft before turning for the South China Sea . " Hawkbill " detected a convoy 20 February ; after engaging one escort with gunfire , she sank 5 , 400 - ton cargo ship " Daizen Maru " with a spread of torpedoes . The rest of her patrol brought no targets ; she arrived Fremantle 6 April 1945 . Departing on her fourth patrol 5 May , " Hawkbill " served on lifeguard station for a B - 24 strike on the Kangean Islands north of Bali . She arrived 16 May on her patrol station off the coast of Malaya , and soon afterward encountered minelayer " Hatsutaka " heading south along the coast . She attacked and obtained two hits , causing severe damage . The ship was observed next morning being towed to the beach . At a range of almost , Hawkbill fired three more torpedoes into the shallow waters and broke the ship in half , sinking a familiar enemy of submarines operating on the Malayan coast . After further patrol off Malaya and in the Gulf of Siam , she arrived Subic Bay 18 June 1945 . Fifth War Patrol and Japanese Surrender . " Hawkbill " departed for her fifth and last war patrol 12 July . Returning to the coast of Malaya , she attacked a convoy 18 July . Her first torpedoes missed , and an hour later a depth charge attack of unusual accuracy and intensity began . " Hawkbill " was blown partially out of the water by a perfectly placed pattern and damaged considerably ; but by hugging the bottom with all machinery secured , she eluded the attacking destroyers . After a stay at Subic Bay for repairs , she steamed to Borneo to rendezvous with Australian Army officers for a special mission . " Hawkbill " destroyed two radio stations with her deck guns , landed commando s at Terampha Town , and destroyed shore installations . After reconnaissance of the Anambas Islands , also in the South China Sea , the versatile submarine returned to Borneo 13 August . Following the surrender of Japan , Hawkbill sailed to Pearl Harbor , departing 22 September 1945 for San Francisco . She decommissioned at Mare Island 30 September 1946 and joined the Reserve Fleet . " Hawkbill " received six battle star s for World War II service . All five of her war patrols were designated successful , and she received a Navy Unit Commendation for her outstanding performance on patrols 1 , 3 , and 4 . HNLMS " Zeeleeuw " ( S803 ) . Brought out of reserve in 1952 , " Hawkbill " was given a GUPPY IB conversion and loaned to the Netherlands under the Military Assistance Program 21 April 1953 . She was commissioned in the Royal Netherlands Navy as HNLMS " Zeeleeuw " ( S803 ) , the first Dutch naval ship to be named for the sealion . " Zeeleeuw " reached Rotterdam 11 June , in time to participate successfully in NATO summer exercises , ' beating ' the RN as well as the USN . On 24 November 1970 " Zeeleeuw " was sold for scrap .