The USS Cutlass (SS-478), a Tench-class submarine, was laid down at the Portsmouth Navy Yard on July 10, 1944, and launched on November 5, 1944. Commissioned on March 17, 1945, under Commander Herbert L. Jukes, she was the only U.S. Navy vessel named after the cutlassfish. She measures typical of Tench-class submarines, which generally featured a length of approximately 311 feet, a beam of around 27 feet, and a displacement of roughly 1,590 tons surfaced. Initially serving in the closing months of World War II, Cutlass departed Portsmouth on April 25, 1945, arriving at Pearl Harbor on July 15. Her first war patrol began shortly thereafter, operating near the Kurile Islands, where she conducted observation patrols following Japan's surrender, until August 24. After returning to Pearl Harbor, she traveled to New York, arriving in September, where she served as a visitor ship during Navy Day. Throughout the late 1940s and early 1950s, Cutlass primarily operated along the U.S. East Coast, the Caribbean, and South America, including a notable cruise around Cape Horn to Chile. She underwent overhaul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1949 and served as a test platform for Operation "Rainbow," evaluating submarine livability improvements. Her home port shifted to Norfolk, Virginia, in 1952, and she participated extensively in NATO exercises, Mediterranean deployments, and antisubmarine warfare training, visiting ports across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Decommissioned and struck from the U.S. Naval Vessel Register on April 15, 1973, she was transferred to Taiwan later that year. Renamed ROCS Hai Shih (SS-791), she was retrofitted with improvements to extend her service life. As of 2017, Taiwan announced plans to further modernize her, aiming to keep her in service until at least 2026, making her one of the longest-serving submarines in history. The vessel remains operational, with upgrades to her hull and navigational systems, highlighting her maritime significance as a durable and adaptable submarine with a service history spanning over eight decades.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.