Pike II SS-173

Pike I

The first Pike (SS-6), commissioned 28 May 1903, was renamed A-6 (q.v.), 17 November 1911.

Pike II

(SS-173: dp. 1,310 (surf.), 1,934 (subm.) 1. 301', b. 24'11" dr. 13'1"; s. 19 k. (surf.), 8 k. (subm.j; cpl. 50; a. 1 3", 6 21" tt.; cl. Porpoi~e)

Pike (SS-173) was laid down 20 December 1933 by Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., Iaunched 12 September 1935; sponsored by Miss Jane Logan Snyder, and commissioned 2 December 1935, Lt. Heber H. McLean in command.

After shakedown in the Atlantic, Pike departed Newoort, R.I., 10 February 1937, and proceeded via the Panama Canal to San Diego, Calif. During 1937 and 1938, she participated in maneuvers near Hawaii. Entering Manila Bay 1 December 1939, she served with Submarine Squadron 5 out of Cavite P.I. Departing 20 June 1940, she cruised along the coast of China from Shanghai to Tsingtao. Returning to Cavite 24 August, she voyaged in the Philippines.

In response to the Japanese attack upon Pearl Harbor, she put to sea 8 December to guard sea lanes between Manila and Hong Kong. Sailing from Manila, she moored at Port Darwin, Australia, 24 January 1942. On her third war patrol 5 February to 28 March, she detected the enemy off the Alor Islands 20 and 24 February, and off Lombok Strait on the 28th. On her fourth war patrol, she sailed from Fremantle, Australia, 19 April, and patrolled north of the Palau Islands and off Wake, before reaching Honolulu 25 May. From 30 May to 9 June, she patrolled north of Oahu. Overhauled at Mare Island, Calif., she guided bombers to Wake Island in December, and escaped from a severe depthcharging 14 January 1943 during an attempted attack off Japan. Departing Pearl Harbor 31 March, she fired torpedoes at targets

off Truk 12 to 14 April, and shelled Satawan Island on the

Getting under way from Pearl Harbor 22 July, Pi.ke sank 2,022-ton Japanese cargo ship Shoju Maru near Marcus Island 5 August. Sailing from Pearl Harbor 28 September, she arrived at New London, Conn., 3 November. During the remainder of World War II, she trained submarine crews at New London.

Decommissioned 15 November 1945 at Boston, she became a Naval Reserve training ship at Baltimore, Md., in September 1946. Upon completion of this duty, she was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 17 February 1956, and sold for scrapping 14 January 1957 to A. G. Schoonmaker Co., Inc., New York, N,Y,

Pike received four battle stars for World War II service.