From: Dictionary of American Fighting Ships

An edible fish inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea and waters off the coast of California.

(SS - 288: dp. 1,526; l. 311'9"; b. 27'3"; dr. 15'3"; s.20 k.; cpl. 66; a. 1 4", 10 21" tt.; cl. Gato)

Cabrilla (SS-288) was launched 24 December 1942 by Portsmouth Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs. L. B. Combs; commissioned 24 May 1943, Commander D. T. Hammond in command; and reported to the Pacific Fleet.

Cabrilla arrived at Pearl Harbor 30 August 1943, and on 12 September cleared on the first of eight war patrols. After a daring exploit in which four Filipino guerrillas were taken off Negros Island, Cabrilla completed her patrol at Fremantle, Australia, her base for the next five patrols. During her second patrol, Cabrilla laid mines in the Gulf of Siam, and sank her first Japanese merchantman, then returned to Fremantle to prepare for her third patrol, a reconnaissance of Sunda Strait. Her fourth and fifth patrols, off Makassar, and in the Celebes and Sulu Seas, found her again striking with telling results against Japanese merchant shipping. Most successful of her patrols was the sixth, in the South China Sea and off Luzon from 13 September to 25 October 1944. During this period, she sank a total of 24,557 tons of shipping, including a 10,059-ton tanker. Cabrilla made her seventh war patrol in vicious weather in the Kuriles of northern Japan, and her last patrol found her on lifeguard duty for aviators downed at sea while carrying out attacks on Japan.

Homeward-bound after 2 arduous years, Cabrilla cleared Fremantle 31 August 1945 for the States. Following overhaul at Philadelphia, she sailed for the Canal Zone for exercises (19 February - 17 March 1946), then underwent preinactivation overhaul at Philadelphia. Cabrilla was placed out of commission in reserve 7 August 1946.

Cabrilla received six battle stars for World War II service. Of her eight patrols, six were designated as "Successful War Patrols." She is credited with having sunk a total of 38,767 tons of shipping.