USS Menhaden (SS-377)

The USS Menhaden (SS-377) was a Balao-class submarine of the United States Navy, named after the menhaden, a fish found along the Atlantic coast of North America. She was commissioned in 1945, shortly before the end of World War II, and therefore did not see combat service during that conflict.

Following World War II, the Menhaden participated in various training exercises and fleet operations, contributing to the Navy's readiness. She underwent a conversion to a Guppy IIA configuration in the late 1940s, enhancing her underwater performance with improved streamlining, a snorkel, and increased battery capacity. These modifications significantly improved her submerged endurance and speed.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the Menhaden continued to serve in the Atlantic Fleet, participating in Cold War-era operations. Her duties included anti-submarine warfare exercises, fleet support, and training cruises. She also played a role in testing new sonar technologies and tactics.

The USS Menhaden was decommissioned in 1971 and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register. She was later sold for scrap. While she did not engage in direct combat, her long service life and contributions to submarine development and training were significant to the U.S. Navy's submarine force during the mid-20th century. Her Guppy IIA conversion represents a notable technological advancement in submarine design of that era.