World War 2 In Review: submarine rescue ship Falcon

USS Sailfish (SS-192) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, 13 April 1943. (Naval History and Heritage Command 19-N-43269)

USS Sailfish (SS-192), was a US Sargo-class submarine, originally named Squalus, known for her tour of duty in the Pacific War during World War II.

Her keel was laid on 18 October 1937 by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, as Squalus, the only ship of the United States Navy named for the squalus. She was launched on 14 September 1938 sponsored by Mrs. Thomas C. Hart (wife of the Admiral), and commissioned on 1 March 1939, with Lieutenant Oliver F. Naquin in command. Due to mechanical failure, Squalus sank during a test dive on 23 May 1939. She was raised, renamed, and recommissioned on 15 May 1940 as Sailfish.

On 12 May 1939, following a yard overhaul, Squalus began a series of test dives off Portsmouth, New Hampshire. After successfully completing 18 dives, she went down again off the Isles of Shoals on the morning of 23 May at 42°53′N 70°37′W. Failure of the main induction valve caused the flooding of the aft torpedo room, both engine rooms, and the crew's quarters, drowning 26 men immediately. Quick action by the crew prevented the other compartments from flooding. Squalus bottomed in 243 ft (74 m) of water.

Squalus was initially located by her sister ship, Sculpin. The two submarines were able to communicate using a telephone marker buoy until the cable parted. Divers from the submarine rescue ship Falcon began rescue operations under the direction of the salvage and rescue expert Lieutenant Commander Charles B. "Swede" Momsen, using the new McCann Rescue Chamber. The Senior Medical Officer for the operations was Dr. Charles Wesley Shilling. Overseen by researcher Albert R. Behnke, the divers used recently developed heliox diving schedules and successfully avoided the cognitive impairment symptoms associated with such deep dives, thereby confirming Behnke's theory of nitrogen narcosis. The divers were able to rescue all 33 surviving crew members from the sunken submarine. Four enlisted divers, Chief Machinist's Mate William Badders, Chief Boatswain's Mate Orson L. Crandall, Chief Metalsmith James H. McDonald and Chief Torpedoman John Mihalowski, were awarded the Medal of Honor for their work during the rescue and subsequent salvage. (The successful rescue of Squalus survivors is in marked contrast to the loss of Thetis in Liverpool Bay just a week later.)

The navy authorities felt it important to raise her as she incorporated a succession of new design features. With a thorough investigation of why she sank, more confidence could be placed in the new construction, or alteration of existing designs could be undertaken when cheapest and most efficient to do so. Furthermore, given similar previous accidents in Sturgeon and Snapper (indeed, in S-5, as far back as 1920), it was necessary to determine a cause.

The salvage of Squalus was commanded by Rear Admiral Cyrus W. Cole, Commander of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, who supervised salvage officer Lieutenant Floyd A. Tusler from the Construction Corps. Tusler's plan was to lift the submarine in three stages to prevent it from rising too quickly, out of control, with one end up, in which case there would be a high likelihood of it sinking again. For 50 days, divers worked to pass cables underneath the submarine and attach pontoons for buoyancy. On 13 July 1939, the stern was raised successfully, but when the men attempted to free the bow from the hard blue clay, the vessel began to rise far too quickly, slipping its cables. Ascending vertically, the submarine broke the surface, and 30 feet (10 m) of the bow reached into the air for not more than ten seconds before the vessel sank once again all the way to the bottom. Momsen said of the mishap, "pontoons were smashed, hoses cut and I might add, hearts were broken." After 20 more days of preparation, with a radically redesigned pontoon and cable arrangement, the next lift was successful, as were two further operations. Squalus was towed into Portsmouth on 13 September, and decommissioned on 15 November. A total of 628 dives had been made in rescue and salvage operations.

Renamed Sailfish on 9 February 1940, she became the first ship of the U.S. Navy named for the sailfish. After reconditioning, repair, and overhaul, she was recommissioned on 15 May 1940 with Lieutenant Commander Morton C. Mumma, Jr. (Annapolis, Class of 1930) in command.

With refit completed in mid-September, Sailfish departed Portsmouth on 16 January 1941 and headed for the Pacific. Transiting the Panama Canal, she arrived at Pearl Harbor in early March, after refueling at San Diego. The submarine then sailed west to Manila where she joined the Asiatic Fleet until the attack on Pearl Harbor.

During the Pacific War, the captain of the renamed ship issued standing orders if any man on the boat said the word "Squalus", he was to be marooned at the next port of call. This led to crew members referring to their vessel as "Squailfish". That went over almost as well; a court martial was threatened for anyone heard using it.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Sailfish departed Manila on her first war patrol, destined for the west coast of Luzon. Early on 10 December, she sighted a landing force, supported by cruisers and destroyers, but could not gain firing position. On the night of 13 December, she made contact with two Japanese destroyers and began a submerged attack; the destroyers detected her, dropping several depth charges, while Sailfish fired two torpedoes. Despite a large explosion nearby, no damage was done, and the destroyers counterattacked with 18–20 depth charges. She returned to Manila on 17 December.

Her second patrol (now under the command of Richard G. Voge, USNA Class of 1925) begun on 21 December, took the submarine to waters off Formosa. On the morning of 27 January 1942, off Halmahera, near Davao, she sighted a Myōkō-class cruiser, making a daylight submerged attack with four torpedoes, and reporting the target was damaged, for which she got credit. However, the damage could not be assessed since the cruiser's two escorts forced Sailfish to dive deep and run silent. Running at 260 ft (79 m), the submarine eluded the destroyers and proceeded south toward Java. She arrived at Tjilatjap on 14 February for refueling and rearming.

Departing on 19 February for her third patrol, she headed through Lombok Strait to the Java Sea. After sighting the heavy cruiser Houston and two escorts heading for Sunda Strait following the Allied defeat in the Battle of the Java Sea, Sailfish intercepted an enemy destroyer on 2 March. Following an unsuccessful attack, she was forced to dive deep to escape the ensuing depth charge attack from the destroyer and patrol aircraft. That night, near the mouth of Lombok Strait, she spotted what appeared to be the 38,200 long tons (38,800 t) aircraft carrier Kaga, escorted by four destroyers. Sailfish fired four torpedoes, scoring two hits. Leaving the target aflame and dead in the water, Sailfish dove, the escorts delivering forty depth charges in the next 90 minutes. She eluded destroyers and aircraft and arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on 19 March, to great fanfare, believed to be the first U.S. sub to have sunk an enemy carrier; postwar, it was revealed Kaga had been nowhere in the area, and the target had in fact been the 6,440 long tons (6,540 t) aircraft ferry Kamogawa Maru, still a valuable target.

The Java Sea and Celebes Sea were the areas of Sailfish's fourth patrol, from 22 March-21 May. After delivering 1,856 rounds of anti-aircraft ammunition to "MacArthur's guerrillas", she made only one ship contact and was unable to attack the target before returning to Fremantle.

The submarine's fifth patrol – from 13 June through 1 August – was off the coast of Indochina in the South China Sea. On 4 July, she intercepted and tracked a large cargo-type vessel but discovered the intended target was a hospital ship and held her fire. On 9 July, she intercepted and torpedoed a Japanese freighter. One of a pair of torpedoes struck home and the ship took a 15° list. As Sailfish went deep, a series of explosions were heard, and no further screw noises were detected. When the submarine surfaced in the area 90 minutes later, no ship was in sight. Though she was credited during the war with a 7,000 long tons (7,100 t) ship, postwar examination of Japanese records confirmed no sinking in the area on that date. Sailfish observed only one other enemy vessel before the end of the patrol.

Shifting her base of operations to Brisbane, Sailfish (now under the command of John R. "Dinty" Moore, Class of 1929) got underway for her sixth patrol on 13 September and headed for the western Solomon Islands. On the night of 17–18 September, she encountered eight Japanese destroyers escorting a cruiser, but she was unable to attack. On 19 September, she attacked a minelayer. The spread of three torpedoes missed, and Sailfish was forced to dive deep to escape the depth charge counterattack. Eleven well-placed charges went off near the submarine, causing much minor damage. Sailfish returned to Brisbane on 1 November.

Underway for her seventh patrol on 24 November, Sailfish proceeded to the area south of New Britain. Following an unsuccessful attack on a destroyer on 2 December, the submarine made no other contacts until 25 December, when she believed she had scored a hit on a Japanese submarine. Postwar analysis of Japanese records could not confirm a sinking in the area. During the remainder of the patrol, she made unsuccessful attacks on a cargo ship and a destroyer before ending the patrol at Pearl Harbor on 15 January 1943.

After an overhaul at Mare Island Naval Shipyard from 27 January – 22 April, Sailfish returned to Pearl Harbor on 30 April. Departing Hawaii on 17 May for her eighth patrol, she stopped off to fuel at Midway Island and proceeded to her station off the east coast of Honshū. Several contacts were made but, because of bad weather, were not attacked. On 15 June, she encountered two freighters off Todo Saki, escorted by three subchasers. Firing a spread of three stern torpedoes, she observed one hit which stopped the maru dead in the water. Sailfish was driven down by the escort, but listened on her sound gear as Shinju Maru broke up and sank. Ten days later, she found a second convoy, three ships with a subchaser and, unusually, an aircraft, for escort. Sailfish once more fired three stern tubes, sinking Iburi Maru; in response, the subchaser, aircraft, and three additional escorts, pinned her down in a grueling depth charge attack lasting 10 hours and 98 charges but causing only slight damage. After shaking loose pursuit, she set course for Midway on 26 June, arriving there on 3 July.

Her ninth patrol (commanded by William R. Lefavour, Class of 1931) lasted from 25 July – 16 September and covered the Formosa Strait and waters off Okinawa. It produced only two contacts (a 2,500 long tons (2,500 t) steamer at Naha, Okinawa, and a junk), but no worthwhile targets, and Sailfish thereafter returned to Pearl Harbor.

After refit at Pearl Harbor, she departed (under the command of Robert E. McC. Ward, Class of 1935), with newly rejuvenated spirits, on 17 November for her 10th patrol, which took her south of Honshū. Along the way, she suffered a "hot run" in tube eight (aft), and (after the skipper himself went over the side to inspect the damage) ejected the torpedo; the tube remained out of commission for the duration of the patrol.

After refueling at Midway, she was alerted by ULTRA of a fast convoy of Japanese ships before she arrived on station. About 240 mi (390 km) southeast of Yokosuka, on the night of 3 December, she made radar contact at 9,000 yd (8,200 m). The group consisted of the Japanese aircraft carrier Chuyo, a cruiser, and two destroyers. Despite high seas whipped up by typhoon winds, Sailfish maneuvered into firing position shortly after midnight on 3–4 December, dived to radar depth (just the radar aerial exposed), and fired four bow torpedoes at the carrier, at a range of 2,100 yd (1,900 m), scoring two hits. She went deep to escape the escorting destroyers, which dropped 21 depth charges (only two close), reloaded, and at 02:00, surfaced to resume the pursuit. She found a mass of radar contacts, and a slow-moving target, impossible to identify in the miserable visibility. As dawn neared, she fired another spread of three bow "fish" from 3,100 yd (2,800 m), scoring two more hits on the stricken carrier. Diving to elude the Japanese counterattack, which was hampered by the raging seas, Sailfish came to periscope depth, and at 07:58 saw the carrier lying dead in the water, listing to port and down by the stern. Preparations to abandon ship were in progress.

Later in the morning, Sailfish fired another spread of three torpedoes, from only 1,700 yd (1,600 m), scoring two final hits. Loud internal explosions and breaking-up noises were heard while the submarine dived to escape a depth charge attack. Abruptly, a cruiser appeared and, fearing that she would broach the surface, Sailfish went to 90 ft (27 m), losing a chance at this new target. Shortly afterwards, the carrier Chuyo (20,000 long tons (20,000 t)) went to the bottom, the first aircraft carrier sunk by an American submarine in the war, and the only major Japanese man-of-war in 1943. In an ironic twist, Chuyo was carrying American prisoners of war from Sculpin, the same boat that had helped locate and rescue Sailfish — then Squalus — over four years before. Twenty of the 21 US crew members from Sculpin were killed. None, however, were of the original rescue crew. 1,250 Japanese were also killed.

After escaping a strafing attack by a Japanese fighter on 7 December, she made contact and commenced tracking two cargo ships with two escorts on the morning of 13 December, south of Kyūshū. That night, she fired a spread of four torpedoes at the two freighters. Two solid explosions were heard, including an internal secondary explosion. Sailfish heard Totai Maru (3,000 long tons (3,000 t)) break up and sink as the destroyers made a vigorous but inaccurate depth charge attack. When Sailfish caught up with the other freighter she was dead in the water, but covered by a screen of five destroyers. Rather than face suicidal odds, the submarine quietly left the area. On the night of 20 December, she intercepted an enemy hospital ship, which she left unmolested.

On 21 December, in the approach to Bungo Suido, Sailfish intercepted six large freighters escorted by three destroyers. With five torpedoes left, she fired a spread of three stern tubes, scoring two hits on the largest target. Diving to escape the approaching destroyers, the submarine detected breaking-up noises as Uyo Maru (6,400 long tons (6,500 t)) went to the bottom; destroyers counterattacked with 31 depth charges, "some very close". Sailfish terminated her tenth patrol at Pearl Harbor on 5 January 1944. She claimed three ships for 35,729 long tons (36,302 t), plus damage to one for 7,000 long tons (7,100 t), believed to be the most successful patrol by tonnage to date; postwar, it was reduced to two ships and (less the Uyo Maru) 29,571 long tons (30,046 t).

After an extensive overhaul at Mare Island — from 15–17 June — she returned to Hawaii and sailed on 9 July as part of a "wolfpack" ("Moseley's Maulers", commanded by Stan Moseley), with Greenling and Billfish, to prey on shipping in the Luzon–Formosa area. On the afternoon of 7 August, Sailfish and Greenling made contact with an enemy convoy. Sailfish maneuvered into firing position and fired a spread of three torpedoes at a medium tanker. One hit caused the tanker to disintegrate into a column of water, smoke and debris. It was not recorded in the postwar account.

The next target was a battleship escorted by three destroyers, on which she made radar contact shortly after midnight on 18–19 August. At 01:35, after getting as close as she was able, 3,500 yd (3,200 m), Sailfish fired all four bow tubes. One of the escorts ran into the path of two fish; the other two missed. While the destroyer must have been severely damaged or sunk, there was nothing in JANAC.

On 24 August, south of Formosa, Sailfish made radar contact with an enemy convoy consisting of four cargo ships escorted by two small patrol craft. Moving into firing position, Sailfish fired a salvo of four torpedoes, scoring two hits. The cargo ship Toan Maru (2,100 long tons (2,100 t)) was enveloped in a cloud of smoke and shortly afterwards broke in two and sank. Surfacing after escaping a depth charge attack, Sailfish closed on a second cargo ship of the convoy, scoring two hits out of four torpedoes fired. The submarine's crew felt the cargo ship either had been sunk or badly damaged, but the sinking was not confirmed by JANAC postwar. Sailfish terminated her 11th patrol at Midway on 6 September; her wartime credit was four ships for 13,200 long tons (13,400 t), a total reduced to just one of 2,100 long tons (2,100 t) (Toan Maru) postwar.

Her 12th patrol — from 26 September through 11 December — was conducted between Luzon and Formosa, in company with Pomfret and Parche.

After passing through the edge of a typhoon, Sailfish arrived on station to perform lifeguard duty. On 12 October, staying surfaced in full view of enemy attackers, she rescued 12 Navy fliers who had ditched their stricken aircraft after strikes against Japanese bases on Formosa. She sank a sampan and a patrol craft with her deck gun as the enemy craft tried to capture the downed aviators. The following day, she rescued another flier. The submarines pulled into Saipan, arriving on 24 October, to drop off their temporary passengers, refuel, and make minor repairs.

After returning to the patrol area with the wolf pack, she made an unsuccessful attack on a transport on 3 November. The following day, Sailfish damaged two destroyers but was slightly damaged herself by a bomb from a patrol aircraft. With battle damage under control, Sailfish eluded her pursuers and cleared the area. After riding out a typhoon on 9–10 November, she intercepted a convoy on the evening of 24 November heading for Itbayat in the Philippines. After alerting Pomfret of the convoy's location and course, Sailfish was moving into an attack position when one of the escorting destroyers headed straight for her. Sailfish fired a three-torpedo spread "down the throat" and headed toward the main convoy. At least one hit was scored on the destroyer and her pip faded from the radar screen. Suddenly, Sailfish received an unwelcome surprise when she came under fire from the destroyer that she had believed to be sunk. Sailfish ran deep after ascertaining there was no hull damage resulting from a near miss from the escort's guns. For the next 4½ hours, Sailfish was forced to run silent and deep as the Japanese kept up an uncomfortably accurate depth charge attack. Finally, the submarine was able to elude the destroyers and slip away. Shortly, Sailfish headed for Hawaii, via Midway, and completed her 12th and final war patrol upon arriving at Pearl Harbor on 11 December. Sailfish had damaged the IJN Japanese destroyer Harukaze (1922) and a landing ship, which had previously sunk USS Shark (SS-314).

Following refit, Sailfish departed Hawaii on 26 December and arrived at New London, via the Panama Canal, on 22 January 1945. For the next four and one-half months, she aided training out of New London. Next, she operated as a training ship at Guantanamo Bay from 9 June – 9 August. After a six-week stay at Philadelphia Navy Yard, she arrived at Portsmouth, New Hampshire on 2 October for deactivation.

Decommissioned on 27 October 1945, she was initially scheduled to be a target ship in the atomic bomb tests or sunk by conventional ordnance. However, she was placed on sale in March 1948 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 30 April 1948. The hulk was sold for scrapping to Luria Brothers of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 18 June 1948. Her conning tower stands at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery as a memorial to her lost crewmen.

Sailfish was awarded nine battle stars for service in the Pacific and the Presidential Unit Citation for outstanding performance on her 10th patrol.

Name: USS Squalus

Namesake: squalus

Builder: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine

Laid down: 18 October 1937

Launched: 14 September 1938

Sponsored by: Mrs. Thomas C. Hart

Commissioned: 1 March 1939

Decommissioned: 15 November 1939

Fate: Sunk and salvaged

Raised: 13 September 1939

Renamed: USS Sailfish, 9 February 1940

Namesake: sailfish

Commissioned: 15 May 1940

Decommissioned: 27 October 1945

Struck: 30 April 1948

Honors and awards:

nine battle stars for World War II

Presidential Unit Citation, tenth patrol

Fate: Sold for scrap

Class and type: Sargo-class composite diesel-hydraulic and diesel-electric submarine

Displacement:

1,450 long tons (1,470 t) standard, surfaced

2,350 long tons (2,390 t) submerged

Length: 310 ft 6 in (94.64 m)

Beam: 26 ft 10 in (8.18 m)

Draft: 16 ft 7.5 in (5.067 m)

Installed power:

5,500 hp (4,100 kW) surfaced

2,740 hp (2,040 kW) submerged

Propulsion:

4 × General Motors Model 16-248 V16 diesel engines (two hydraulic-drive, two driving electrical generators)

2 × 126-cell Sargo batteries

4 × high-speed General Electric electric motors with reduction gears

2 × shafts

Speed:

21 kn (24 mph; 39 km/h) surfaced

8.75 kn (10.07 mph; 16.21 km/h) submerged

Range: 11,000 nmi (13,000 mi; 20,000 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h)

Endurance: 48 hours at 2 kn (2.3 mph; 3.7 km/h) submerged

Test depth: 250 ft (76 m)

Complement: 5 officers, 54 enlisted

Armament:

8 × 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes (four forward, four aft; 24 torpedoes)

1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 cal deck gun

4 × machine guns

Awards

Presidential Unit Citation

American Defense Service Medal

American Campaign Medal

Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with nine battle stars

World War II Victory Medal

Squalus Crew Members Lost

The following men were lost while serving on USS Squalus (SS-192) when she sank off the New England coast. All the men who survived the sinking were rescued. The submarine was later raised, renamed Sailfish, and returned to service.

James Andrew Aitken

John James Batick

Joshua Casey

John Allan Chesnutt

Robert Lyle Coffey

Elvin Leon Deal

Lionel Hugh Fletcher

Kenneth Ross Garrison

Robert Franklin Gibbs

John Plesent Hathaway

Eugene Arthur Hoffman

Alexander Biggs Keegan

John Joseph Marino

Huie King McAfee

Joseph Hester Patterson

Alfred Charles Priester

Frank Henry Schulte

Bascom Slemp Scyphers

Sherman Luther Shirley

Don Smith (civilian)

Jack John Strong

John Laurise Thomala

Robert Preson Thompson

Marion Lawrence Ward

Robert Ross Weld

Charles Myron Woods (civilian)

Squalus Crew Members Rescued

The following USS Squalus crew members survived the sinking.

Roland Blanchard

Jutson T. Bland

Arthur L. Booth

William D. Boulton

Allen C. Bryson

Roy H. Campbell

Gavin J. Coyne

Eugene D. Cravens

William T. Doyle, Jr.

Feliciano Elvina

William J. Fitzpatrick

Lawrence J. Gainor

Basilio Galvan

William Isaacs

Theodore Jacobs

Charles S. Kuney

Lloyd Bronzia Maness

Gerald C. McLees

Leonard de Medeiros

Francis Murphy, Jr.

Oliver Francis Naquin (Commanding Officer)

John C. Nichols

Raymond F. O'Hara

Donato Persico

Carol N. Pierce

Carlton B. Powell

Charles Allane Powell

Harold C. Preble (civilian)

Alfred G. Prien

Robert N. Robertson

Warren W. Smith, Jr.

Robert L. Washburn

Charles Yuhas

"Submerged"

'Submerged' was a 2001 TV movie docudrama directed by James Keach, starring Sam Neill as Charles B. "Swede" Momsen and James B. Sikking as Admiral Cyrus Cole, and depicted the events surrounding the loss of the USS Squalus and the recovery of the 33 survivors from the sunken submarine. The plot was written to closely follow the events of the sinking.

Models and sets were used that had been originally constructed for the film U571; the floating set that was used to represent both the USS Squalus and the USS Sculpin is the non-diving replica built in Malta as the 'modified' S-33 for the film "U-571", also shot in Malta. The replica is still afloat, moored in Marsa in the inner part of the Grand Harbour.

Diagram showing the salvage gear used to raise the submarine USS Squalus (SS-192) up from the sea bottom. Squalus sank during a test dive on 23 May 1939. For 50 days, divers worked to pass cables underneath the submarine and attach pontoons for buoyancy. On 13 July 1939, the stern was raised successfully, but when the men attempted to free the bow from the hard blue clay, the vessel began to rise far too quickly, slipping its cables. Ascending vertically, the submarine broke the surface, and 30 feet (10 m) of the bow reached into the air for not more than ten seconds before the vessel sank once again all the way to the bottom. After 20 more days of preparation, with a radically redesigned ponton and cable arrangement, the next lift was successful, as were two further operations. Squalus was towed into Portsmouth, Rhode Island, on 13 September, and decommissioned on 15 November. A total of 628 dives had been made in rescue and salvage operations. Renamed Sailfish on 9 February 1940, she was recommissioned on 15 May 1940.

Vignette giving details on why Torpedoman John Mihalowski, USN, received the Medal of Honor for actions taken during the salvage of USS SQUALUS on 23 May 1939. Artist: Mario DeMarco. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 86990)

Vignette giving details on why Chief Boatswain's Mate Orson L. Crandall, USN, received the Medal of Honor for actions taken during the salvage of USS SQUALUS on 23 May 1939. Artist: Mario DeMarco. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 86985)

Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the keel laying of the Squalus (SS-192), 18 October 1937, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine.

USS Squalus (SS-192) under construction on the building ways at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, 7 January 1938. View looks aft, showing typical cross section of pressure hull and side tanks. Frame 41 lower structure is in the foreground, with Frame 46 upper hull structure beyond. (Naval History and Heritage Command 19-N-109864)

Squalus (SS-192), under construction on the building ways at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, 7 January 1938. View looks forward, showing typical cross section of pressure hull and side tanks. Frame 155 lower structure is in the foreground, with Frame 145 upper hull structure beyond and Bulkhead 134 visible within the hull. (Naval History and Heritage Command 19-N-109863)

Squalus (SS-192), under construction on the building ways at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, 7 April 1938. View looks aft, with forward torpedo tube supporting structure in the foreground. (Naval History and Heritage Command 19-N-109861)

Squalus (SS-192), under construction on the building ways at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, 5 July 1938. View looks aft with forward torpedo tube supporting structure in the lower foreground. (Naval History and Heritage Command 19-N-109865)

Squalus (SS-192), under construction on the building ways at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, 5 July 1938. View looks forward from over the stern. (Naval History and Heritage Command 19-N-109866)

Launching ramp and platform for the Squalus (SS-192), 14 September 1938.

General view of the Squalus (SS-192) looking forward, prior to launching on the building ways at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, on 14 September 1938.

Squalus pre-launch, 14 September 1938.

The launching of the Squalus (SS-192), at 3:15 PM on 14 September 1938.

Squalus (SS-192) gets ready for a push following launching on 14 September 1938.

Tugs maneuvering the Squalus (SS-192) for docking at berth #1 after launch on 14 September 1938.

Tugs maneuvering the Squalus (SS-192) for docking at berth # 1after launch on 14 September 1938.

Launching of submarine Squalus (SS-192), tugs secured to ship, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, September 14, 1938. (Naval History and Heritage Command UA 58.04.01)

Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the launching of the Squalus (SS-192), 14 September 1938.

Squalus (SS-192), fitting out, at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, 5 October 1938. This view looks forward from off the starboard quarter, with propeller guard and stern torpedo tube doors at left. YO-13 is in the left background. (Naval History and Heritage Command 19-N-109859)

Squalus (SS-192), fitting out, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, 5 October 1938. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 79463)

Squalus (SS-192), fitting out, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, 7 January 1939. (Naval History and Heritage Command 19-N-109860)

Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the commissioning of the Squalus (SS-192), 1 March 1939.

USS Squalus (SS-192). 1939 vintage photograph, which was widely used to represent Squalus at the time of her sinking in May of that year. This is actually a photo of USS Salmon (SS-182), retouched to change Salmon’s side number (“S1”) to that of Squalus (“S11”). Note: The retouching was done by the Naval Historical Center. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57510)

Squalus (SS-192) Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Oliver F. Naquin. Squalus's Christmas tree was green when she dived.

Ensign Joseph Hester Patterson, USN. Photograph taken 13 October 1937, while he was serving in Louisville (CA-28). Ensign Patterson was lost in the accidental sinking of Squalus (SS-192) on 23 May 1939. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 47425)

The Squalus (SS-192) hits the bottom of the ocean stern first off the coast of Portsmouth New Hampshire to rest in 240 feet of water. Thirty-three of the 59 crew members survived in the forward chambers of the submarine. This picture depicts the control room of the submarine and crew members desperately closing off water leaks. (Naval History and Heritage Command 88-161-QS)

Squalus (SS-192) crewmembers huddle around a lamp in the forward torpedo room awaiting rescue in cold conditions which resulted in some survivors suffering from exposure. However, no permanent adverse health effects were noted in survivors after the rescue. (Naval History and Heritage Command 88-161-QT)

The rescue divers were indispensable in the rescue and subsequent salvage operation of the Squalus (SS-192), making a total of 648 deep-water tethered dives. They dived first to the wreck, where they anchored guide wires for the rescue bell to the escape hatch on the submarine. When the rescue bell became fouled on the 4th rescue trip, they attempted to unfoul the lines and get it to the surface. Each dive entailed considerable risk for the divers due to risk from the bends and "narcosis of the deep," a hallucinatory condition. (Naval History and Heritage Command 88-161-QV)

On the 4th rescue dive of the McCann diving bell, the steel wire used to raise the bell to the surface became fouled. The bell was lowered to the ocean floor and divers sent down in an unsuccessful attempt to unfoul the wire. The bell was subsequently raised through the manipulation of buoyancy in the ballast tanks, and manual hauling to the surface. (Naval History and Heritage Command 88-161-QY)

USS Falcon (ASR-2) moored over the sunken Squalus, during salvage operations off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939. USS Sculpin (SS-191) is in the right background. (Naval History and Heritage Command USN 1149028) Sargo-class submarine USS Sculpin (SS-191) was commissioned on 16 January 1939, and while on her initial shakedown cruise, was diverted to assist in the search for submarine Squalus. Upon arrival to the sunken submarine, Sculpin sighted a red smoke bomb and a buoy from Squalus. Personnel from Sculpin established communication first by phone and then by Morse code. Sculpin stood by as minesweeper Falcon (ASR-2) lowered the newly developed McCann rescue chamber—a revised version of a diving bell invented by Commander Charles B. Momsen—and, over the next 13 hours, rescued 33 survivors from the stricken submarine.

Men working on salvage pontoons over the sunken Squalus, during salvage operations off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939. USS Falcon (ASR-2) is at left and USS Sculpin (SS-191) is in the center background. (Naval History and Heritage Command USN 1149030)

Men working on salvage pontoons, during the effort to raise Squalus from the sea bottom off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939. USS Falcon (ASR-2) is at left and USS Sculpin (SS-191) is in the center distance. (Naval History and Heritage Command USN 1149031)

Men from the submarine rescue ship Falcon (ASR-2) working on salvage pontoons, during the effort to raise Squalus from the sea bottom off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939. The larger of the two tugs at right is USS Wandank (AT-26). (Naval History and Heritage Command USN 1149021)

Squalus rescue operations, May 1939. USS Wandank (AT-26), at left, and USS Falcon (ASR-2) moored over the sunken Squalus, during rescue operations, circa 24 May 1939. The McCann Rescue Chamber, which brought 33 of the submarine’s crewmen to safety, is visible on Falcon’s after deck. The submarine sank when the main induction valve in the engine room stuck in the open position, flooding her after compartments when she submerged. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57508)

U.S. Navy submarine rescue ship USS Falcon (ARS-2) moored over the sunken submarine USS Squalus (SS-192), during salvage operations off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939. (Naval History and Heritage Command USN 1149022)

Squalus rescue operations, May 1939. Squalus’ Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Oliver F. Naquin (center, hatless, wearing khaki pants), with other survivors on board the Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane, bound for the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, following their rescue, 25 May 1939. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 85832)

Airplane view of the salvage tug Falcon (ASR-2) on its way to rescue the crew of the sunken Squalus (SS-192).

Salvage tug Falcon (ASR-2) to the rescue of crew of the sunken sub Squalus (SS-192).

Rescue chamber on the salvage tug Falcon (ASR-2) to be used to rescue crew from sunken Squalus (SS-192).

Rescue chamber on the salvage tug Falcon (ASR-2) to be used to rescue crew from sunken Squalus (SS-192). A diver descends from the Falcon. (Boston Public Library 08_06_023271)

Stern view of the Falcon (ASR-2) with the McCann Rescue chamber Squalus (SS-192). (Boston Public Library 08_06_023271)

Squalus (SS-192) salvage pontoons near Falcon (ASR-2), during salvage operations on the sunken submarine, off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939. (Naval History and Heritage Command USN 1149032)

Squalus rescue operations, May 1939. McCann Rescue Chamber in the water alongside Falcon. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 97292)

McCann Rescue Chamber. Cutaway drawing of the device used to rescue 33 crewmen from the sunken submarine Squalus in May 1939. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 97291)

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane landing the first nine Squalus survivors at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, on 24 May 1939. Some of the survivors are visible in center, wrapped in blankets. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57505)

On the bottom, a tense moment during salvage operations. Photographed on the after deck of Falcon, with men listening to communications from a diver working on the sunken submarine. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 97293)

Scene on the after deck of Falcon during the early stages of the salvage operations, 30 May 1939, showing congested conditions. View looks forward and to port, with diving stage in left center background. Officer leaning against rope in left center appears to be Commander Allan R. McCann. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57500)

Scene on the after deck of Falcon during the early stages of the salvage operations, 30 May 1939, showing congested conditions. View looks to port, with men assisting a diver toward the left. Officer behind them, in center, appears to be Commander Allan R. McCann. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57501)

Scene on the after deck of Falcon during the early stages of the salvage operations, 30 May 1939, showing congested conditions. View looks aft and to starboard, with officers and men in foreground gathered near the diver communications unit (in lower left). (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57504)

A diving bell on the after deck of Falcon during the early stages of the salvage operations, 30 May 1939. This is not a McCann Rescue Chamber, but is a smaller unit. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57503)

Percolating water rises from the salvage pontoons during salvage operations on the sunken submarine, off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939. (US Navy)

A salvage pontoon surfaces during an attempt to lift Squalus from the sea bottom off the New Hampshire coast, in the Summer of 1939. USS Falcon (ASR-2) is at the left. This appears to be the 13 July 1939 lift, in which Squalus' bow rose uncontrollably to the surface and then sank. If that is the case, the pontoon visible here is probably one of the two pontoons of the lifting lines attached to the sunken submarine's bow. (Naval History and Heritage Command USN 1149023)

A salvage pontoon surfaces during an attempt to lift Squalus (SS-192) from the sea bottom off the New Hampshire coast, in the Summer of 1939. The bow of Falcon (ASR-2) is at the extreme left. This appears to be the 13 July 1939 lift, in which Squalus' bow rose uncontrollably to the surface and then sank. If that is the case, the pontoon visible here is probably the upper pontoon of the lifting lines attached to the sunken submarine's bow. (Naval History and Heritage Command USN 1149024)

Squalus' (SS-192) bow comes to the surface, during an attempt to lift her from the sea bottom off the New Hampshire coast, in the Summer of 1939. This appears to be the 13 July 1939 lift, in which Squalus' bow rose uncontrollably to the surface and then sank. If that is the case, the four salvage pontoons visible here are probably the two pontoons of the lifting lines attached to the submarine's bow, and the upper two pontoons of the stern lifting lines. (Naval History and Heritage Command USN 1149029)

Squalus' (SS-192) bow comes to the surface as personnel based on Falcon (ASR-2) struggle to refloat the sunken submarine, off the New Hampshire coast during the Summer of 1939. This appears to be the 13 July 1939 lift, in which Squalus' bow rose uncontrollably to the surface and then sank. If that is the case, the salvage pontoons nearby would include both bow line pontoons, plus the two upper pontoons on the stern lifting line. The ship's hull number ("192") is painted on her bow. (Naval History and Heritage Command USN 1149026)

Raising the sub Squalus (SS-192) after accident. (Boston Public Library 08_06_023265)

Blowing of salvage pontoons to lift Squalus' (SS-192) off the sea bottom, 12 August 1939. Photographed by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine. Original photo is misidentified as showing salvage of Sculpin (SS-191), which was present to support the operations, but was not the object of them. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 42382)

Air comes to the surface during blowing of salvage pontoons to lift Squalus (SS-192) off the sea bottom, 12 August 1939. There were separate groups of pontoons supporting the sunken submarine's bow and stern. Three pontoons were located at the top of the lift line in each location and surfaced during the 12 August lift. One more pontoon remained underwater on the bow line and three more on the stern line when this lift was completed. Photographed by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57898)

Salvage pontoons surfacing as they lift Squalus (SS-192) off the sea bottom, 12 August 1939. There were separate groups of pontoons supporting the sunken submarine's bow and stern. Three pontoons were located at the top of the lift line in each location and surfaced during the 12 August lift. One more pontoon remained underwater on the bow line and three more on the stern line when this lift was completed. Photographed by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57899)

Divers closing valves in salvage pontoons after Squalus (SS-192) had been lifted off the sea bottom, 12 August 1939. There were separate groups of pontoons supporting the sunken submarine's bow and stern. Three pontoons were located at the top of the lift line in each location, and came to the surface during the 12 August lift. One of these groups is seen here. After this lift, one more pontoon remained underwater on the bow line and three more on the stern line. Photographed by the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57897)

View taken from Falcon on 12 August 1939, after Squalus had been lifted off the sea bottom and was being towed to shallower water, supported by salvage pontoons. Wandank and a smaller tug (probably USS Penacook, YT-6) are towing, while Falcon acted as restraining ship. There are groups of three pontoons each visible on the surface at the submerged submarine’s bow and stern. One more pontoon was underwater at the bow and three more at the stern. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57509)

The Squalus (SS-192) and her pontoon make way to Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine on 12 August 1939.

Newsmen covering the sinking from the newsroom of the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 23-24 May 1939. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57506)

Lieutenant Commander Longstaff reads a Navy Bulletin on the progress of rescue work to waiting newsmen, in the newsroom of the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on 23-24 May 1939. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57507)

Acting Secretary of the Navy Charles Edison (left) reading Letter of Commendation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to several members of the USS Squalus (SS-192) salvage unit, in his Navy Department offices, 16 September 1939. The others present are (from left to right): Commander Charles B. Momsen, USN; Chief Metalsmith J.H. McDonald, USN; Chief Torpedoman W.H. Squire, USN; Ship Fitter First Class H.H. Frye, USN; Torpedoman First Class J.W. Thompson, USN; Lieutenant Karl R. Wheland, USN; Commander Henry Hartly, USN, and Commander Allan R. McCann, USN. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57333)

Acting Secretary of the Navy Charles Edison (center) reads a Letter of Commendation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to members of the USS Squalus (SS-192) salvage unit, in his Navy Department offices, 16 September 1939. Looking on are Commander Allan R. McCann, USN, (left) and Commander Charles B. Momsen, USN (right). (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57334)

Secretary of the Navy Charles Edison presents Medals of Honor to four men for heroism during rescue and salvage operations following the accidental sinking of Squalus on 23 May 1939. The ceremonies took place at the Navy Department on 19 January 1940. The men are (from left to right): Chief Machinist’s Mate William Badders; Chief Torpedoman John Mihalowski; Chief Boatswain’s Mate Orson L. Crandall; and Chief Metalsmith James Harper McDonald. All were qualified as Divers. The Diver’s distinguishing mark is visible on the Mihalowski’s and Crandall’s jacket sleeves. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57887)

Another view of Secretary of the Navy Charles Edison presenting Medals of Honor to four men for heroism during rescue and salvage operations following the accidental sinking of Squalus on 23 May 1939. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57888)

Chief Machinist's Mate William Badders, USN, photographed on 19 January 1940, just after being presented with the Medal of Honor for heroism during rescue and salvage operations on USS Squalus (SS-192), following her accidental sinking on 23 May 1939. He was Senior Member of the rescue chamber crew during the rescue of Squalus survivors on 24-25 May 1939 and served as a diver during the salvage effort. Among his other medals are (from left): the Navy Cross, awarded for service during the salvage of USS S-51 in 1926; the World War I Victory Medal; and a Yangtse River Patrol Service Medal. (Naval History and Heritage Command H 57891)

Chief Torpedoman John Mihalowski, USN, photographed on 19 January 1940, just after being presented with the Medal of Honor for heroism during rescue and salvage operations on USS Squalus (SS-192), following her accidental sinking on 23 May 1939. He was a member of the rescue chamber during the rescue of Squalus survivors on 24-25 May 1939 and served as a diver during the salvage effort. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57896)

Chief Boatswain's Mate Orson L. Crandall, USN, photographed on 19 January 1940, just after being presented with the Medal of Honor for heroism during rescue and salvage operations on USS Squalus (SS-192), following her accidental sinking on 23 May 1939. He was Master Diver on board USS Falcon (ASR-2) during that time. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57889)

Chief Metalsmith James Harper McDonald, USN, photographed on 19 January 1940, just after being presented with the Medal of Honor for heroism during rescue and salvage operations on USS Squalus (SS-192), following her accidental sinking on 23 May 1939. He was a Master Diver at that time. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 57893)

Envelope commemorating the rescue of the USS Squalus crew and salvage of the submarine in 1939. Thirty-two crew members and one civilian were rescued from the forward sections of the boat using the newly developed McCann rescue chamber.

Photo entitled "Survivors of Squalus (SS-192) Sunk May 23, 1939." Note that she does not have limber holes at all. The date of the photo would have to be between 1 March 1939 (original commissioning) and 23 May 1939 (date of sinking) and most likely was taken in the Piscataqua River while she was headed out or returning from her initial sea trials. (US Navy)

An unsigned version of the same photo.

The salvage pontoons proceed the sunken submarine to drydock.

Squalus at Berth 6 for pumping out, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The front of the conning tower shows damage caused by lifting pontoons.

Another view of the same scene as in the previous photo.

Squalus at Berth 6 for pumping out at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The front of the conning tower shows damage caused by lifting pontoons hitting the front during the lifting process. This photo was taken a little later than the one above. The pontoon in front of the sub is missing. This snap-shop, greatly enlarged, was taken looking across the deck of another submarine, quite possibly the Sculpin. The after torpedo loading hatch and aft rescue buoy are seen.

Squalus (SS-192) safe in dry dock at Portsmouth Navy Yard, 15 September 1939.

Squalus in dry dock after pumping out. The sub has been positioned and the water is being pumped out of the dock.

The pumping down process is still underway. The boat is resting on her keel blocks and workmen are already at work on opening the boat and inspectors are hard at work trying to find what had gone wrong.

Squalus (SS-192) damaged conning tower and pontoons, 15 September 1939.

Damage to conning tower by lifting pontoons. Sub is still being pumped out.

Squalus (SS-192) crew and salvage workers pumping out last of the water in Portsmouth Navy Yard after the sub was rinsed.

After 113 days of salvage work, the sub Squalus (SS-192) is moored at Pier 6 at the Portsmouth Navy Yard on 15 September 1939.

Squalus (SS-192) at the Portsmouth Navy Yard.

Untangling the ropes around the conning tower of the Squalus (SS-192) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, 15 September 1939.

Squalus (SS-192) in Portsmouth Navy Yard showing pontoons keeping her afloat, 15 September 1939.

Night falls on the Squalus (SS-192) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, 15 September 1939.

Squalus (SS-192) completely afloat at Portsmouth Navy Yard, 15 September 1939.

Squalus (SS-192) floats on even keel at Portsmouth Navy Yard after removal of bodies, 15 September 1939. Note the position of the bow planes and the condition of the fairwater. The damage caused by the salvage chains and pontoons is evident but hard to make out clearly. You can see how the bridge was crushed.

Squalus (SS-192) conning tower dismantled at Portsmouth Navy Yard to get at bodies of the crew, 15 September 1939.

Squalus (SS-192) tilted at awkward angle at Portsmouth Navy Yard, 15 September 1939.

Lost in thought on deck of the Squalus (SS-192) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, 15 September 1939.

Forward torpedo room of the Squalus (SS-192) after raising 15 September 1939.

Squalus Forward Torpedo Room condition post salvage. View is looking forward. Photo taken 15 September 1939.

Officers Wardroom, USS Squalus, 15 September 1939. View is looking aft and to port.

Caption says this is the forward battery compartment though this looks to be the crew’s berthing space which would make it the after battery. The plank shown just left of center in the photo is spanning a hole cut in the deck to remove a body of a crewman that was trapped below decks. View is looking aft. Photo taken 15 September 1939.

Condition of the Squalus Control Room after the boat was salvaged. View is looking forward and to port. The ships helm is on the right. The two large wheels, left, are the stern and bow plane controllers. The levers in the middle are for the main ballast tank vents and Kingstons. The duct work at the top is temporary and providing air for drying the boat out from topside fans. It may also be for venting gases from the battery wells since sulfuric acid and salt water form poisonous chlorine gas. Photo taken 15 September 1939.

Squalus control room looking aft. Better view of temporary ductwork for drying and ventilating the boat. Photo taken 15 September 1939.

Squalus control room looking aft port side. Stern planes control wheel shown.

Caption has this as the Squalus "Galley" looking forward. It is of the crew’s mess/galley space. Two thwart ship tables can be seen in this photo. Through the doorway just right of center can be seen the bunks of the crews berthing space or after battery berthing. Photo taken 15 September 1939.

Squalus engine room looking aft. Again, the caption seems to misidentify the compartment by stating this is the After Battery Room which should have been the same compartment the crews berthing and messing spaces were in. Since the diesel engines shown here take up all the space in the compartment above and below decks there would have been no room for the huge batteries in this same compartment. Photo taken 15 September 1939.

Salvage work continues. A large crane has been brought in to remove heavy items, probably battery cells. Lockers and other debris from the interior can be seen on deck. The after rescue messenger buoy, (seen in the left foreground), which sadly was not released because nobody had time to release it before they drowned. That makes the room the dockworkers above the engine room. The conning tower fairwater can just be seen in back of the large block from the crane. The American flag still fly's from the flag staff.

Patch cut out of hull for salvage work. Duct work can be seen leading into the boat to vent gases or dry the interior.

USS Squalus salvaged in drydock, 1939 or 1940.

Salvaging of the Squalus (SS-192) in dry-dock showing the general condition of the boat. Notice that at this point in her life there were no limber holes in the superstructure aft of the bow planes. Therefore, any photos of the boat without limber holes present had to have been taken prior to her sinking on 23 May 1939.

Squalus in dry dock post salvage.

Squalus in dry dock, post salvage, 16 September 1939. Note lifting chain draped over port propeller shaft just forward of the screw. Salvage pontoons flank the stern.

Salvaging of the Squalus (SS-192) at dockside.

Damage to hull caused by the lifting chains.

Deflections and rupture to hull plating made during lifting process.

Damage to bilge keels by lifting chains.

Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the submarines Sargo (SS-188), Saury (SS-189), Spearfish (SS-190), Sculpin (SS-191), Squalus (SS-192) and Swordfish (SS-193) honoring Navy Day, 27 October 1939.

Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the de-commissioning of the Squalus (SS-192), 15 November 1939.

One year commemorative postal cover dedicated to the memory of the crew of the Squalus (SS-192) who died at their posts when the boat sank by mechanical failure, 23 May 1939.

Admiral Morton C. Mumma, USN was the World War II submarine commanding officer of USS Sailfish, and later a PT boat squadron commander.

The scene on the deck of the ill-fated U. S. Navy submarine Squalus (SS-192), 15 May 1940 as it was re-commissioned under a new name—Sailfish—at the Portsmouth, N. H. Navy Yard today, 15 May. Lieutenant Commander John B. Longstaf, Aide to the Commandant at the Yard, read the orders of the Navy Department placing the submarine in commission and naming her Commander Lieut. Comm. Morton C. Mumma. The Squalus sank last 23 May off the Isles of Shoals, N. H., with a loss of 26 lives. Some of the survivors serve on the renamed sub.

The scene on the deck of the ill-fated U. S. Navy submarine Squalus (SS-192), 15 May 1940 as it was re commissioned under a new name—Sailfish, at the Portsmouth, N. H. Navy Yard. Notice that she now carries a single row of small circular limber holes in the superstructure aft of the bow planes. Any photo of the Sailfish that shows the row of small holes was taken sometime between her recommissioning on 15 May 1940 and a refit that she went through in September 1940. It is believed that the post sea trials refit that she had that September to be the most logical time that the small holes were replaced with the large ones, obviously an effort to decrease dive times.

Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the re-commissioning of the Sailfish (SS-192), 15 May 1940.

Re-introducing the Squalus (SS-192), on the occasion of her re-commissioning on 15 May 1940.

Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the Sailfish's (SS-192) first submergence, 29 June 1940.

Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Squalus (SS-192) shakedown cruise with Lt. Comdr. Morton C. Mumma commanding on 18 November 1940.

Pre-war photo of the Sailfish (SS-192) underway, probably taken during her post re-commissioning sea trials sometime in the summer of 1940, definitely prior to the refit that ended in September. She still has the row of small holes. It is believed this to be the Cape Cod Canal, Massachusetts. Any photo of the Sailfish in her original configuration with the large limber holes present would have to be dated after September 1940 and the start of the war.

Sailfish (SS-192) in New York City harbor, with the Porto Rico (that's how it is spelled in the photo) terminal buildings behind her, probably taken after her departure from Portsmouth, and during her transit south for Panama and the Pacific, most likely in January 1941. Probably a publicity stop of the famous boat and a chance for one last liberty call prior to leaving the east coast for good. She now carries a single row of large semi-circular limber holes.

Commander Richard George Voge served a four-month tour of duty as commissioning executive officer of Rowan (DD-405) from late September 1939 to late January 1940. In mid-February Comdr. Voge returned to the Asiatic Fleet and assumed command of Sealion (SS-195), based at Cavite in the Philippines, and commanded that submarine until the opening day of American participation in World War II. At the outbreak of hostilities on 8 December 1941 (West Longitude Time), Voge suffered the double ignominy of having his command caught in overhaul and, three days later, of losing her to enemy bombs while still at Cavite Navy Yard. Voge, however, quickly recovered from that blow, assumed command of Sailfish (SS-192) on 17 December 1941.

Sailfish (SS-192) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, 13 April 1943. (Naval History and Heritage Command 19-N-43270)

Sailfish (SS-192) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, 13 April 1943, following an overhaul. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 97307)

Sailfish (SS-192) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, 13 April 1943, following an overhaul. (Naval History and Heritage Command NH 97308)

Sailfish (SS-192) at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, 13 April 1943, following an overhaul. Circles on the photograph identify recent alternations to the ship. Gilmore (DE-18) is in the left background. (Naval History and Heritage Command 19-N-43274)

Broadside view of the Sailfish (SS-192) off Mare Island on 13 April 1943.

Sailfish (SS-192) at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, 13 April 1943, following an overhaul. Circles on the photograph identify recent alternations to the ship. Note men in rowboat inspecting her limber holes, by the stubs of her removed propeller guards. Barges YF-200 and YF-190 are in the center background. (Naval History and Heritage Command 19-N-43273)

After refit at Pearl Harbor, she departed on 17 November 1944 for her tenth patrol, which took her south of Honshu. Prior to arriving on station, after refueling at Midway, she intercepted a fast convoy of Japanese ships on the night of 3 December about 240 miles southeast of Yokosuka. The group consisted of a carrier, a cruiser, and two destroyers. Despite high seas whipped up by typhoon winds, shortly after midnight of the 4th, Sailfish (SS-192) maneuvered into firing position and fired a spread of three torpedoes at the carrier, scoring two hits. She went deep to escape the escorting destroyers, but resurfaced within a few hours to resume the attack. Before dawn, she fired another spread of three "fish," scoring two more hits on the stricken carrier. Eluding the Japanese ASW attack, which was hampered by the raging seas, Sailfish came to periscope depth at dawn and saw the carrier dead in the water, with a list to port and down by the stern. Preparations to abandon ship were in progress. Later in the morning, Sailfish fired another spread of three torpedoes, scoring two final hits. Loud internal explosions and breaking-up noises were heard, while the submarine went to test depth to escape a depth charge attack. Shortly afterwards, the carrier, Chuyo, went to the bottom.

Sailfish (SS-192), oil painting, unknown artist, circa 1943/45.

Aft plan view of the S-43 (SS-154) at Bethlehem Shipbuilding in San Francisco on 26 January 1944. The scaffolding belongs to the Sailfish (SS-192) to the right; Shad (SS-235) is forward of S-43 (SS-154), and unknown covered barge is berthed between Shad and Sailfish.

Sailfish (SS-192) crew members pose by the after end of the conning tower, while Sailfish was at Naval Submarine Base, New London, Groton, Connecticut, in 1945. Her Presidential Unit Citation flag is behind the periscope sheers, in upper center. Original photo is dated September 1945. "The man kneeling on the left is Ray Bunt holding shell of a sea turtle he caught and the crew ate. Other crew shown are Joe McGrievy, in the Navy chief's hat, (left to right) Gail Lusk, Bob Kempf, and Troy Ray. The man standing on the smoking deck to the left of the flag staff is William J. Dillon (known as "Skippy" on the Sailfish since he was the radioman, radarman, sonarman on board)". (Naval History and Heritage Command 80-G-700762)

Sailfish making her last dive dockside before decommissioning. 27 October 1945, Portsmouth, New Hampshire Shipyard.

Sailfish making her last dive dockside before decommissioning.

Crowds line the shore 27 October 1945 at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The Sailfish (SS-192) was making one last pier side dive prior to decommissioning.

Navy Day, 27 October 1945. Lowering the flag on the deck of Sailfish (SS-192) during Navy Day decommissioning ceremony at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, marks the final chapter in the life of the famous submarine.

Memorial plaque at Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia PA, July 2006 for the crews of United States submarines lost during peace time accidents: F-1 (SS-20), F-4 (SS-23), G-2 (SS-27), H-1 (SS-28), O-5 (SS-66), O-9 (SS-70), S-4 (SS-109), S-51 (SS-162), Squalus (SS-192), Scorpion (SSN-589) & Thresher (SSN-593).

The sail of the Sailfish (SS-192) preserved as a memorial to its crew, at the US Navy's Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine.

This 2010 photo shows the gun access hatch in the after CT bulkhead, located inside the dog house of the Sailfish (SS-192).

This photo shows the hatch leading down to the conning tower from the bridge.

This is looking down and forward from the bridge. On the lower left the hatch to the conning tower below is visible, and on the right is the open door to the forward gun deck.

The after cigarette desk sloping down, with a couple of ready service lockers below the raised aft TDC platform.

Submarine USS Squalus/Sailfish (SS-192)