Sterlet Sterlet The sterlet ("Acipenser ruthenus") is a relatively small species of sturgeon from Eurasia native to large rivers that flow into the Black Sea, Azov Sea, and Caspian Sea, as well as rivers in Siberia as far east as Yenisei. Populations migrating between fresh and salt water (anadromous) have been extirpated. Due to overfishing (for its flesh, caviar, and isinglass), pollution, and dams, the sterlet has declined throughout its native range and is considered vulnerable by the IUCN. Restocking projects are ongoing, and it has been introduced to some regions outside its native range, but the latter have generally not
USS Sterlet (SS-392) gun. On 31 October, she made a night surface attack on a tanker previously damaged by and apparently sank it with a spread of six torpedoes. "Sterlet" then joined "Trigger" in escorting the damaged into Saipan. From there, "Sterlet" put to sea on 10 November with six other submarines in a coordinated attack group. On the night of 15 November, she, "Trigger", and engaged in a gun duel with an enemy sub chaser. "Sterlet" completely depleted her supply of five-inch (127 mm) shells in the battle and was forced to sink the enemy craft with torpedoes early the following morning.