USS Hawkbill (SS-366)
History of the USS Hawkbill Submarine
The USS Hawkbill (SS-366) was ordered for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her keel was laid down by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company of Wisconsin on August 7, 1943. She was launched on January 9, 1944 and commissioned on May 17, 1944 under the command of Lieutenant Commander F. Worth Scanland, Jr.
The USS Hawkbill arrived at Pearl Harbor on July 28, 1944. She began her first war patrol on August 23 in the Philippines and the South China Sea. The submarine sank the Japanese transport Kinugasa Maru on October 7. Two days later, she teamed up with the USS Becuna to sink the merchant tanker Tokuwa Maru. Her patrol ended on October 17 at Fremantle.
After a month of refitting at Fremantle, she departed on November 15 to patrol the South China Sea. Exactly one month later, her torpedoes sank the Japanese destroyer Momo. She sank the merchant lighter No. 130 on December 29 with her gunfire. The submarine pulled in at Fremantle on January 5, 1945.
One month later, the USS Hawkbill began her third war patrol in the South China Sea. The next week was a very successful one; she sank the Japanese cargo ship Kisaragi Maru on February 12, the submarine chasers Cha 4 and Cha 114 two days later, and another small Japanese vessel two days after that. On February 20, her torpedoes sank the merchant cargo ship Daizen Maru. She ended her patrol at Fremantle on April 6.
The USS Hawkbill departed Fremantle on May 5 to patrol the South China Sea. She sank the minelayer Hatsutaka on May 16 and another small vessel on May 29. Her patrol ended on June 18 at Subic Bay.
On July 12, the USS Hawkbill began her fifth and final war patrol off the east coast of Malaya. Five days later, she sank a small Japanese vessel with gunfire. The next day, she was blown partially out of the water by depth charges, causing considerable damage that forced her to terminate her patrol. On her return to port, she sank a small Japanese vessel on July 20 and two more vessels the following day. She pulled in at Subic Bay for repairs.
When repair work was complete, the USS Hawkbill rendezvoused with the Australian Army to land commandos at Terampha Town, destroy shore installations, and perform reconnaissance of Anambas Island before returning to Borneo on August 13.
After World War II, the USS Hawkbill was decommissioned on September 30, 1946. She was converted to a GUPPY IB submarine and loaned to the Royal Netherlands Navy on April 21, 1953 under the Military Assistance Program. She served the Netherlands as HNLMS Zeeleeuw (S803), participating in NATO exercises for several years. The submarine was formally sold to the Netherlands and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on February 20, 1970. She was sold for scrap on November 24, 1970. The USS Hawkbill was awarded six battle stars and three Navy Unit Commendations for her service in World War II.
The use of asbestos was common in shipbuilding components for much of the 20th Century because of its resistance to heat, fire, water and corrosion. Because of their asbestos exposure onboard ship and in the shipyards, seaman, shipyard workers and longshoreman are at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.
Sources include:
Asbestos and Ship-Building: Fatal Consequences, by John Hedley-Whyte and Debra R Milamed
