High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! USS Pickerel (SS-524), a Tench-class submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for a young or small pike. The contract to build her was awarded to the Boston Naval Shipyard and her keel was laid down on 8 February 1944. She was launched without a christening ceremony on 15 December 1944. After being towed to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine for completion, she was simultaneously christened and commissioned on 4 April 1949 sponsored by Mrs. John R. Moore and commanded by Lieutenant Commander Paul R. Schratz.