USS Silversides

USS Silversides (SS/AGSS-236) is a Gato-class submarine. Her keel was laid down on 4 November 1940 by the Mare Island Navy Yard in Vallejo, California. She was launched on 26 August 1941, and commissioned on 15 December 1941. Silversides received twelve battle stars for World War II service and was awarded one Presidential Unit Citation for cumulative action over four patrols. She is credited with sinking 23 ships, the third-most of any allied World War II submarine, behind only the USS Tang and USS Tautog. The tonnage of the ships sunk by Silversides amounted to 90,080 tons, second only to Tang's total. Judged by such standards, Silversides has the most prolific combat record of any still-extant American submarine.


USCGC McLane

USCGC McLane (WSC-146) was built for the Coast Guard by American Brown Boveri Electric Corp., Camden, New Jersey, and commissioned 8 April 1927 as a patrol craft of the 125-foot class. Her duties included breaking ice on the Chesapeake Bay during the winter months.  In 1940 she was transferred to Morehead City, North Carolina. In accordance with Executive Order No. 8929 of 1 November 1941, McLane began to operate as part of the Navy, serving on the Bering Sea Patrol out of Ketchikan, Alaska, under the command of the Northwestern Sea Frontier.  At one point she was converted to a buoy tender on a temporary basis, along with other 125-foot cutters but with the coming of the war and the shortage of patrol craft, she was converted back to her original configuration and additional armament was added. On 9 July 1942 the McLane and USS YP-251 reported attacking a submarine off the coast of Ketchikan after receiving a message from a patrol aircraft that it had attacked a submarine.  Upon reaching the area, the McLane picked up a sound contact and attacked.  During this attack, the commanding officer of the McLane saw a torpedo pass underneath his cutter's bow.   Both vessels continued to drop depth charges in the area.  The crewmen reported seeing large air bubbles as well as oil come to the surface. The Coast Guard District Officer gave them credit for sinking a submarine in the area soon after this attack.