USS Gurnard (SS-254), a Gato-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the gurnard, a trigloid fish having three free pectoral rays, a food fish of the genus Trigla. The striped gurnard inhabits the South Atlantic. Her keel was laid down by the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut on 2 September 1941. She was launched 1 June 1942 (sponsored by Miss Suzanne Slingluff), and commissioned 18 September 1942, Lieutenant Commander Charles. H. Andrews (Class of 1930) in command.