USS Shark (SS-174)

Shark was a Porpoise class submarine completed in January of 1936 by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, CT.

On her third patrol, Shark was assigned to the Ambon Island area to guard against an expected invasion. She reported making an unsuccessful attack on a destroyer which, in turn, depth charged Shark. On 7 February, Shark reported an unsuccessful attack on a cargo ship that was riding high in the water and likely empty. This last report resulted in a caution from Surabaya against sending too many messages containing little useful information but perhaps giving away her location. No further messages were ever received from Shark.

On 8 February, Shark was ordered to Makassar Strait via the north coast of Celebes. Japanese records report three attacks on American submarines in the area over the next few weeks. An attack on 11 February is deemed the most likely cause of the loss of Shark, but this is not certain. In the report of that attack, the Japanese stated that they heard voices in the water. However, they made no attempt to pick up any survivors.

After commissioning, Shark spent a year and a half in training exercises. In December of 1938, she was transferred to Pearl Harbor. In December of 1940, she was transferred to Manila as part of the U. S. Asiatic Fleet. She departed Manila on 9 December 1941 and was at sea at the outbreak of hostilities. Her first patrol was in Tayabas Bay. She was there for about ten days until recalled to transfer Admiral Thomas Hart, Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. Asiatic Fleet, from Manila to Surabaya, Java. Shark received credit for her second war patrol for this mission. Shortly after completing the mission, Shark reported seeing a torpedo from an enemy submarine miss her.

Shark was lost on her third war patrol. She was not credited with any sinkings.