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1939: the USS Squalus sinks off the New Hampshire coast. Squalus sank during a test dive on 23 May 1939. She was raised, renamed, and recommissioned on 15 May 1940 as USS Sailfish. Failure of the main induction valve caused the flooding of the aft torpedo room, both engine rooms, and the crew's quarters, drowning 26 men immediately. Quick action by the crew prevented the other compartments from flooding. Squalus bottomed in 243 ft (74 m) of water.
Squalus was initially located by her sister ship, Sculpin. The two submarines were able to communicate using a telephone marker buoy until the cable parted. Divers from the sub rescue ship Falcon began rescue operations under the direction of the salvage and rescue expert Lt Cmdr Momsen, using the new McCann Rescue Chamber. The navy authorities felt it important to raise her as she incorporated a succession of new design features. With a thorough investigation of why she sank, more confidence could be placed in the new construction, or alteration of existing designs could be undertaken when cheapest and most efficient to do so. Furthermore, given similar previous accidents in Sturgeon and Snapper (indeed, in S-5, as far back as 1920), it was necessary to determine a cause. Proving worthy of her salvage as the recommisioned USS Sailfish, she went on to win nine battle stars and a Presidential unit citation in a twelve patrol wartime carrer. Sailors are understanbly superstitious: During the Pacific War, the captain of the renamed ship issued standing orders if any man on the boat said the word "Squalus", he was to be marooned at the next port of call. This led to crew members referring to their vessel as "Squailfish". That went over almost as well; a court martial was threatened for anyone heard using it . Given the numerous arduous depth chargings of a long combat career that she survived, such logic was unassailable. USS Sailfish in drydock after salvage. [wiki]