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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 51828:  USS S-39 off Olongapo, P.I., 1935

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

USS S-39 (SS-144), 1923-1942

USS S-39, a 1062-ton S-1 class submarine built at San Francisco, California, was commissioned in September 1923. A year after entering service and following exercises off the west coast and in the Caribbean, she deployed to the Asiatic Fleet by way of Pearl Harbor and Guam. For the next decade and a half, S-39 conducted peacetime operations in the Philippines and China areas. She remained in the Far East during the early 1940s, as relations with Japan deteriorated.

When the Pacific War began on 8 December 1942, S-39 undertook combat patrols against Japanese minelaying efforts and logistics ships, but without success. She was sent south to the Dutch East Indies in January 1942 and conducted another war patrol in the South China and Java Seas, sinking the Japanese Navy oiler Erimo on 4 March. S-39 conducted her next two war patrols out of Australian bases, operating in the vicinity of the Luisiade and Solomon Islands. During the night of 13-14 August 1942, while off Rossel Island in the Louisiades, she accidently grounded. Unable to break free and pounded by heavy surf, S-39 had to be abandoned. Her crewmen were all rescued by the Australian minesweeper Katoomba.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS S-39 (SS-144).


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 42149

USS S-39 (SS-144)


Leaving Apra Harbor, Guam, with Submarine Division 17, 29 October 1924.
Taken by a U.S. Marine Corps photographer.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 50199

USS S-39 (SS-144)


Surfacing during short range battle practice off Tsingtao, China, in the summer of 1931.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 565 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 51828

USS S-39 (SS-144)


Off Olongapo, Philippine Islands, 1935.
Photographed by G.J. Freret, Jr.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 585 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 101685

USS Sacramento (PG-19)


Off Tsingtao, China, during the 1920s or 1930s.
Several U.S. Navy submarines are in the foreground, among them USS S-39 (SS-144), the outboard boat in the nest.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 585 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 104940

USS Canopus
(AS-9)

In Apra Harbor, Guam, 29 October 1924, with all six members of Submarine Division 17 alongside.
The division consisted of:
USS S-36 (SS-141);
USS S-37 (SS-142);
USS S-38 (SS-143);
USS S-39 (SS-144);
USS S-40 (SS-145); and
USS S-41 (SS-146).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 625 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 55048

USS Canopus
(AS-9)

In Apra Harbor, Guam, with Submarine Division 17 alongside, 29 October 1924.
Submarine Division 17's members were:
USS S-36 (SS-141);
USS S-37 (SS-142);
USS S-38 (SS-143);
USS S-39 (SS-144);
USS S-40 (SS-145); and
USS S-41 (SS-146).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-1014615

USS Canopus (AS-9)


With the Asiatic Fleet's Submarine Squadron Five alongside, during the 1930s.
The submarines present include (from left to right): S-37 (SS-142); S-40 (SS-145); S-36 (SS-141); S-38 (SS-143); S-41 (SS-146); S-39 (SS-144).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 51832

Submarine Division Seventeen (SubDiv 17)


Boats of SubDiv 17, Asiatic Fleet, moored alongside USS Canopus (AS-9) at Tsingtao, China, circa 1930.
Identifiable submarines present include S-39 (SS-144), S-37 (SS-142) and S-41 (SS-146). The boat closest to the camera is probably S-36 (SS-141).
Note Sailors on deck in various states of relaxation, several Chinese men on board the submarines, SubDiv 17 insignia painted on conning towers, and 4"/50 deck guns.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 545 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 59968

Submarine Division Seventeen (SubDiv 17)


Boats of SubDiv 17, Asiatic Fleet, moored alongside USS Canopus (AS-9) at Tsingtao, China, circa 1930.
Identifiable submarines present include S-36 (SS-141), S-39 (SS-144), S-37 (SS-142) and S-41 (SS-146).
Note Sailors relaxing on deck, Chinese men on board the submarines, and 4"/50 deck guns.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 455 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 80141

USS S-39 (SS-144)


Firing her 4"/50 deck gun during gunnery exercises in Philippine waters, circa 1933-1934. The motor launch in the foreground is from USS Canopus (AS-9).

Courtesy of Captain G.K. Bishop, USAF, 1974.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 540 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 80142

Submarine Squadron Five (SubRon 5)


Boats of SubRon 5 at Olongapo, Philippine Islands, circa 1933-1934.
Submarines present are S-37 (SS-142), S-38 (SS-143), S-39 (SS-144) and S-40 (SS-145).

Courtesy of Captain G.K. Bishop, USAF, 1974.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 470 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-77065

Submarine Squadron FIVE (SubRon 5)


A Chief Torpedoman paints another "hashmark" on the Torpedo Shop scoreboard of Japanese ships claimed sunk by SubRon 5's "S-Boats", operating out of Brisbane, Australia, during April-November 1942.
Photographed on board USS Griffin (AS-13), tender to the squadron. Submarines listed on the scoreboard include S-37 (SS-142), S-38 (SS-143), S-39 (SS-144), S-40 (SS-145), S-41 (SS-146), S-42 (SS-153), S-43 (SS-154), S-44 (SS-155), S-45 (SS-156), S-46 (SS-157), and S-47 (SS-158).
The original caption dates the photo on 7 January 1943, but it may have been taken earlier, as Griffin left Australia in November 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 104KB; 585 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 


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


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Page made 10 May 2002
New images added 28 August 2007