. . . . "--04-21"^^ . "USS Whale (SS-239), a Gato-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for a whale, an extremely large, aquatic mammal that is fishlike in form. The USS Cachalot (SS-170)(Cachalot, another name for a Sperm Whale)commissioned on 1 December 1933 preceded the Whale. Her keel was laid down on 28 June 1941 by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard of Vallejo, California. She was launched on 14 March 1942 (sponsored by Mrs. A. D. Denny, wife of Captain A. D. Denny, the commanding officer of the shipyard), and commissioned on 1 June 1942, with Lieutenant Commander (Lt. Cmdr.) John B. Azer (Class of 1930) in command. Dock trials and initial shakedown training commenced on 30 July. The submarine\u2014escorted by destroyer Kilty (DD-137)\u2014departed San Francisco, California, on 4 August and arrived at San Diego, California, two days later. Between 30 July and 9 September, she conducted type training in the San Diego and San Francisco areas."@en . "--06-28"^^ . . . . . . . . . . "USS Whale (SS-239), a Gato-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for a whale, an extremely large, aquatic mammal that is fishlike in form. The USS Cachalot (SS-170)(Cachalot, another name for a Sperm Whale)commissioned on 1 December 1933 preceded the Whale."@en . . . . "USS Whale (SS-239)"@en . . . .