Keel laid down by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, WI 27 January 1943;
Launched: 1 August 1943; Sponsored by Mrs. Alexander Wiley;
Commissioned 30 November 1943; Cdr. James M. Clement in command. USS GOLET (SS-361) departed Manitowoc 19 December 1943 via the Mississippi River for New Orleans, arriving the 28th.

After shakedown training at Panama and final battle practice in Hawaiian waters, she departed Pearl Harbor 18 March 1944 for her maiden war patrol off the Kurile Island chain, Southern Hokkaido and Eastern Honshu, Japan. Severe combinations of fog, rain and ice were encountered and only one ship worth a torpedo came into view. This enemy proved too fast for GOLET to gain torpedo range; she returned to Midway, 3 May 1944.

Lt. James S. Clark took command of GOLET and departed Midway 28 May 1944 to patrol off northern Honshu, Japan. A door of silence closed behind her and GOLET was never heard from again. GOLET was scheduled to depart her area on 5 July 1944, and was expected at Midway about 12 or 13 July. On 9 July 1944, she was sent a message which required an acknowledgement, but none came. On 11 July, a sharp lookout was posted at Midway for a submarine coming in without being able to transmit. By 26 July 1944, the boat had not returned, and it was reported as presumed lost.

In the reports covering Japanese antisubmarine attacks, made since the war’s end, one is recorded as having been made on 14 June 1944, at 41!-04′N;141!-30′E. This attack is considered to explain GOLET’s loss, since the enemy, in his report, states, “On the spot of fighting we later discovered corks, raft, etc., and a heavy oil pool of 50 by 5,200 meters.” Eighty- two gallant men perished with GOLET.

Compiled by SUBNET from “Dictionary of American Fighting Ships”
and “U.S. NAVAL SUBMARINE FORCE INFORMATION BOOK ‘97″ — J. Christley

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Base/7660/lost_boats/pages/GOLET.htm