History of the name Seaowl
The Seaowl was named after a WWII Submarine
of the Balao Class, which was virtually identical to the Gatos, with just slight
internal differences. The Balaos were the first of the "thick skinned" subs.
Higher strength steel used in the pressure hull increased their test depth to
400 feet.
USS SEA OWL (SS-405)
Keel laid down by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME 7FEB44;
Launched: on 7MAY44; Sponsored by Mrs. Thomas L. Gatch;
Commissioned: 17JUL44 with LCdr Carter L. Bennett in command;
Decommissioned and struck from the Navy list 15NOV69;
Sold for scrapping 3JUN71.
USS SEA OWL (SS-405) transited the Panama Canal and arrived at Pearl Harbor on 23 October 1944. Her first war patrol commenced on 19 November and was conducted in the East China Sea where SEA OWL sank her initial victim -- a Japanese escort destroyer. The submarine put into Guam on 15 January 1945. For her second war patrol, SEA OWL joined USS PIRANHA (SS-389) and USS PUFFER (SS-268) in patrolling in Luzon Strait and the South China Sea. She was off Wake Island early on the morning of 18 April and sent a Japanese submarine of the RO-35 class to the bottom. Her second patrol ended at Midway on 21 April. SEA OWL got underway for her third and final war patrol on 20 May in concert with PUFFER and USS TIRANTE (SS-420). This patrol was concentrated in the Yellow and East China seas and was devoted to both lifeguard duties and offensive patrol. After 19 days, two Japanese destroyers were contacted and six torpedoes were fired from a perfect set-up. The first torpedo hit one of the destroyers in her magazine amidships, blowing her up in the water and allowing the other torpedoes to pass under the target and miss. The other destroyer joined forces with two patrol craft and vengefully dropped 84 depth charges during the following 14 hours. On 2 July, SEA OWL rescued six downed aviators.
When the Japanese surrendered on 15 August, SEA OWL was in Pearl Harbor preparing for her fourth war patrol. Upon returning to the United States in September, SEA OWL was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. She underwent overhaul at the Philadelphia Navy Yard from September 1947 to January 1948. She resumed her duties at Balboa on 12 January. On 27 June 1949, SEA OWL arrived at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. In March 1952 she departed for her first tour of duty with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean and in operation "Keystone" and visiting France, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Turkey in a three-month tour. Returning to New London in August 1954, SEA OWL spent the next two years in Atlantic and Caribbean waters training submarine school students. 1 September she departed to engage in NATO exercises "Fishplay" and "Strikeback" in the northern Atlantic. In April and May 1958, SEA OWL participated in NATO exercise "New Broom" and returned to New London.
SEA OWL commenced 1961 with an extended upkeep period. After the 1962 Christmas holidays, SEA OWL departed for the Caribbean. In April 1963, she participated in exercise "New Broom XI". On 8 February 1964, SEA OWL commenced a five-week availability at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. On 7 July 1965, SEA OWL put to sea for a four-month deployment to the Mediterranean. SEA OWL spent 1966 providing services for the Submarine School and Operational Test and Evaluation Force in New London. During 1967, she participated in various fleet and training exercises. Operations of the year 1968 included various fleet exercises, including antisubmarine warfare operations.
On 30 June 1969, SEA OWL was reclassified as an auxiliary submarine (AGSS) and on 7 July departed New London for her final deployment to the Mediterranean. On 15 November, after more than 25 years of dedicated service, SEA OWL was decommissioned and struck from the Navy list.
SEA OWL received five battle stars for World War II service.