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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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: U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 625 pixels |
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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: U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 10 May 2002
New images added 28 August 2007