USS SILVERSIDES

was commissioned into the U.S. Navy on December 15, 1941, just eight days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. She left for the first of her 14 war patrols on April 30, 1942.

SILVERSIDES served with the Pacific Fleet in the Empire waters along Japan's coasts and in the East China Sea as well as through key enemy shipping routes around the Marianas, Carolinas, Bismarck, Archipelago and along the Solomon Islands to Guadalcanal. Her mission was to stop raw materials and supplies like oil, bauxite, rubber, coal, food and iron ore from reaching Japan.

WAR RECORD

SILVERSIDES sank 30 ships and damaged 14 ships. She ranks third highest among all World War II U.S. submarines in ships sunk, totaling 90,080 tons. None of the boats scoring more sinkings or tonnage sunk exists today leaving SILVERSIDES as the nation's most famous surviving WWII submarine.

For outstanding and aggressive performance SILVERSIDES was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for four patrols, the highest ward given to Navy Ships, and twelve Combat Insignia Battle Stars for successful patrol runs.

THE LUCKY BOAT

SILVERSIDES was named the "Lucky Boat" because of her exceptional survival record. In honor of the one man lost in action aboard SILVERSIDES, a bronze plaque was placed on the deck to commemorate Mike Harbin, Torpedoman Third Class.

THE OPERATION

The war's most publicized operation was performed on board SILVERSIDES. Pharmacist Mate Thomas Moore successfully removed a gangrenous appendix from crewmember George Platter. Moore had never performed an operation before, but armed with makeshift instruments and a volunteer surgical team, he performed the operation successfully. The patient recovered admirably and was standing regular watch duties just six days later. The operation was reenacted in the movie Destination Tokyo.

Click here for a virtual tour of the USS Silversides.