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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 98273:  USS Robalo underway off Panama, 19 November 1943

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Robalo (SS-273), 1943-1944

USS Robalo, a 1525-ton Gato class submarine, was built at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. She went into commission in late September 1943 and transited to the Pacific during the last part of that year. Her first war patrol, during the first months of 1944, began at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It produced no sinkings and terminated at Fremantle, Australia. Robalo left Fremantle in April 1944 to conduct her second patrol, this time targeting Japanese tanker traffic in the South China Sea. Her new Commanding Officer, Manning M. Kimmel, attacked several ships and was credited at the time with sinking one, though postwar review failed to confirm this. In return the submarine was near-missed by enemy bombs that damaged her periscopes. Repaired after returning to Fremantle, she left for another patrol in June, en route back to the South China Sea. On the night of 26 July 1944, while passing through the Balabac Strait, near Palawan, she apparently struck a mine and quickly sank. A few of her men swam ashore and were captured by the Japanese. However, either due to deliberate action by the enemy or through the hazards of war, none of Robalo's crew survived to the end of the conflict.

This page features all the views we have related to USS Robalo (SS-273).


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 98273

USS Robalo (SS-273)


Underway near Panama, 19 November 1943.
Photographed from a Naval Air Station Coco Solo aircraft, flying at an altitude of approximately 550 feet.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 69258

USS Robalo (SS-273)


Is moved over to the waterfront launching position at Manitowoc Shipyards, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, April 1943.
Note the small floating drydock at left.

Courtesy of the Manitowoc Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 1970.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 69259

USS Robalo (SS-273)


Ready for launching, at Manitowoc Shipyards, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 9 May 1943.
Note the christening party on the stand by the submarine's bow.

Courtesy of the Manitowoc Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 1970.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 161KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 69260

USS Robalo (SS-273)


Ready to tip into the water, during her launching at Manitowoc Shipyards, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 9 May 1943.

Courtesy of the Manitowoc Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 1970.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 166KB; 740 x 625 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 69261

USS Robalo (SS-273)


Hits the water with a huge splash, during her launching at Manitowoc Shipyards, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 9 May 1943.
Note the inclination gage mounted on her hull side.

Courtesy of the Manitowoc Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 1970.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 127KB; 740 x 615 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 69262

USS Robalo (SS-273)


Afloat immediately after her launching, at Manitowoc Shipyards, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 9 May 1943.

Courtesy of the Manitowoc Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 1970.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 139KB; 740 x 590 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 68804

USS Robalo (SS-273)


Commissioning ceremonies on the submarine's deck, 28 September 1943.

Courtesy of the Manitowoc Submarine Memorial Association, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 1969.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other view of USS Robalo (SS-273). The following list features this image:

The image listed below is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".



  • Photo #: 80-G-207540
    USS Robalo (SS-273) underway off Panama, 19 November 1943. Photographed from a plane based at Naval Air Station Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone.
    Starboard bow aerial view, taken from an altitude of about 250 feet.


    Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The image listed in this box is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 19 January 2003