USS Hammerhead ( SS - 364 ) USS " Hammerhead " ( SS - 364 ) , a " Balao " - class submarine , was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the hammerhead shark ; a shark found in warm seas with a flattened anterior forward of the gill slits , presenting a hammer - like silhouette when viewed from above . The first " Hammerhead " was launched 24 October 1943 by Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co . of Manitowoc , Wisc . ; sponsored by Mrs . R . W . Berry ; and commissioned 1 March 1944 , Commander J . C . Martin in command . After a month ' s training in Lake Michigan " Hammerhead " was placed in a floating drydock and towed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans , La . , where she arrived 8 April 1944 . She subsequently proceeded to Balboa , Canal Zone , for further training , and thence to Pearl Harbor , Hawaii . First patrol , June – August 1944 . The submarine departed Pearl Harbor on her first war patrol 6 June 1944 in company with and . Cruising the seas south of Formosa , her first engagement came 9 June when she sank a sampan with gunfire . She then encountered a coastal oiler 29 June and closed for the attack , but the topedoes failed to strike home and a surprise aerial attack forced the sub down . Next day " Hammerhead " damaged several ships of a convoy . She made port at Fremantle , Australia 17 August 1944 . Second patrol , September – November 1944 . " Hammerhead " ' s second war patrol was conducted in the Java and South China Seas . She departed Fremantle 9 September and made her first attack the night of 1 October , when a convoy consisting of four cargo ships , one oiler , and three escorts was detected off Borneo . " Hammerhead " fired 10 torpedoes , scored a total of 6 hits , and sent 3 of the cargo ships to the bottom . The morning of 20 October the submarine found still another six ship convoy , and after evading one of the escorts delivered a six - torpedo attack . Two more cargo ships fell victim to " Hammerhead " ' s marksmanship . The submarine returned from this highly successful patrol 2 November 1944 , and was later awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for her outstanding performance . Third and fourth patrols , November 1944 – March 1945 . The submarine commenced her third war patrol 25 November , returning to the South China Sea . On this cruise she operated with and , and although several attacks were made , no sinkings resulted . She returned to Fremantle 17 January 1945 . " Hammerhead " departed on her fourth war patrol 19 February , in company with . Patrolling off Cape Varella , she detected a convoy and two escorts 23 February and while closing the cargo ships obtained a perfect shot on an escort . A spread of four torpedoes sank Japan ese frigate " Yaku " . Due to the illness of her commanding officer , the submarine was forced to end her patrol , and moored at Subic Bay 3 March 1945 . Fifth and sixth patrols , March – May 1945 . Beginning her fifth war patrol 10 March 1945 , " Hammerhead " proceeded to the coast of Indochina , where on 29 March she detected a large escorted convoy . Working her way inside the screen , the submarine was able to get a clear shot at an escort vessel , and a single hit broke her in two . After sinking the escort , " Hammerhead " damaged other members of the group before retiring . She returned from this war patrol 6 April 1945 , mooring at Subic Bay , Philippines . For her sixth war patrol " Hammerhead " operated in the Gulf of Siam . She arrived 6 May and that night encountered a small tanker and two escorts . After missing with two torpedoes at extreme range the submarine found the mark in a second attack , sinking the tanker " Kinrei Maru " . " Hammerhead " attacked other ships of the convoy without success and after a depth charge attack decided to break off . Sighting a cargo carrier 14 May with only an aircraft escort , " Hammerhead " made a perfect approach and sank the ship with two torpedoes . She returned from this patrol 25 May . Seventh patrol , June – August 1945 . " Hammerhead " departed Fremantle 21 June on her seventh and last war patrol , also carried out in the Gulf of Siam , in company with three other submarines . Her major attack of this patrol occurred 10 July , when she sank cargo ships " Sakura Maru " and " Nanmei Maru No . 5 " . The patrol was brought to a close 21 August 1945 at Pearl Harbor . Decommissioning , 1945 . " Hammerhead " arrived Mare Island , Calif . , for decommissioning 20 August 1945 and decommissioned 9 February 1946 . She was then placed in the Reserve Fleet at Mare Island . Second period in commission , 1952 - 1953 . " Hammerhead " was brought out of reserve during the Korean War , recommissioned 6 February 1952 , and engaged in training duty on the West Coast between San Diego and San Francisco , Calif . , until 21 August 1953 . when she decommissioned for return to the Reserve Fleet . TCG " Cerbe " ( S 341 ) . Earmarked for loan under the Military Assistance Program , the veteran submarine was converted to a GUPPY submarine at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and recommissioned once more 16 July 1954 to prepare for transfer . Decommissioned and loaned to Turkey 23 October 1954 , she was recommissioned by the Turkish Navy as TCG " Cerbe " ( S 341 ) , the first submarine of that name . Initially designated S 03 , she was later redesignated S 341 . The submarine was formally sold to Turkey 1 January 1972 , and subsequently scrapped . Awards . " Hammerhead " received seven battle star s and a Navy Unit Commendation for World War II service . All seven of her war patrols were designated successful .