USS Skate (SS-305) [SEP] vessel class
USS Skate (SS-305)
USS "Skate" (SS-305) was a United States Navy "Balao"-class submarine named for the skate, a type of ray.
"Skate" was laid down at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard of Vallejo, California, 1 August 1942. She was launched on 4 March 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Ethel L. Shamer, wife of Captain George P. Shamer, Supply Officer of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard and commissioned on 15 April with Commander Eugene B. McKinney in command.
First War Patrol
a number of additional assignments on submarines, Executive Officer of "USS Picuda (SS-382)" then as Executive Officer of "USS Skate (SS-305)". Skate was a target ship for the 1946 A-bomb tests at Bikini.
1951-1952, LCDR McWethy was a student at the Naval War College in Newport. From 1952 to 1954,he commanded the submarine USS Piper. His successor as captain, Marmaduke G. Bayne (later a Rear Admiral), remarked in an interview with the Naval Historical Foundation that "