Batfish served during World War II. Her war operations spanned a period from 11 December to 26 August , during which she completed seven war patrols.
Batfish received the Presidential Unit Citation for her sixth war patrol during which she sank three Japanese submarines in the South China Sea in four days. She was launched on 5 May , sponsored by Mrs. Nellie W. Merrill in command. Following her commissioning, Batfish underwent an extensive shakedown and training period to instruct the crew in combat procedures for diving, attacking, evading, and damage control.
She arrived there on 26 September and, after voyage repairs, underwent additional training in submarine combat routine. Batfish left New London on 15 October to join the war in the Pacific. While still northeast of the Panama Canal , Batfish sighted another submarine and, believing it to be a German U-boat , fired a torpedo at it. The torpedo missed, and the other submarine disappeared.
Just as Batfish approached the Panama Canal, a U. Navy patrol bomber mistook her for a U-boat and almost dropped its bombload on her. On 1 November , Batfish tied up at Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone for an overnight stop, then transited the canal and spent a week in Balboa on the Pacific end of the canal for minor repairs and rest.
On 8 November , Batfish resumed her journey, making an independent voyage during which her crew conducted daily drills. She arrived in Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , on 19 November After reporting for duty to the Commander, Submarine Force, U. She then carried out intensive training in United States Pacific Fleet procedures. Batfish left Pearl Harbor on 11 December and began her first war patrol, an open-sea patrol south of Honshu , Japan.
