USS Gato (SS-212) was the lead ship of her class of submarine in the United States Navy. She was the first Navy ship named for the gato, a species of small catshark found in waters along the west coast of Mexico. Her keel was laid down 5 October 1940, by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut. She was launched 21 August 1941 sponsored by Mrs. Royal E. Ingersoll, and commissioned 31 December 1941 with Lieutenant Commander William Girard Myers (Class of 1926) in command.