USS Shark was lead ship of a class of two 1316-ton submarines, and the Navy's first submarine to feature all-welded construction. Built at Groton, Connecticut, she was commissioned in January 1936 and performed her initial service in the North Atlantic and Caribbean areas. During the first part of 1937 Shark transferred to the Pacific, with her new base located at San Diego, California. After nearly two years there, during which she participated in exercises and training, in December 1938 the submarine was sent to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and two years later went on to Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
Soon after war began with Japan in December 1941 Shark patrolled briefly to the south of Luzon, then returned to Manila where in late December she embarked Asiatic Fleet commander Admiral Thomas C. Hart and transported him to Surabaya, Java. She began her second war patrol in early January, assigned to take part in the defense of the Dutch East Indies. On 2 February 1942 Shark made a fruitless torpedo attack and escaped a depth charging, and on 5 February made another radio report. Nothing more was heard from her and she was ultimately given up as lost, with her entire crew of nearly sixty officers and men. Postwar Japanese records provided no solid information on her fate, though it is possible that she was sunk by depth charges off Menado, Celebes, on 11 February.
This page features all the views we have related to USS Shark (SS-174).
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 #: 80-G-456140 USS Shark (SS-174) Plows through the waves, circa the later 1930s. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 3036 Submarines alongside USS Holland (AS-3), circa 1936-1939 These "boats" are, from left to right: USS Nautilus (SS-168); USS Narwhal (SS-167); USS Shark (SS-174), marked "P3"; USS Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1"; USS Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1"; USS Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and USS Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 500 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 3037 USS Holland (AS-3) With seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right: USS Nautilus (SS-168); USS Narwhal (SS-167); USS Shark (SS-174), marked "P3"; USS Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1"; USS Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1"; USS Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and USS Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 510 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 3038 USS Holland (AS-3) With seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right: USS Nautilus (SS-168); USS Narwhal (SS-167); USS Shark (SS-174), marked "P3"; USS Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1"; USS Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1"; USS Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and USS Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 485 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 3039 USS Holland (AS-3) With seven submarines alongside, circa 1936-1939. These "boats" are, from left to right: USS Nautilus (SS-168); USS Narwhal (SS-167); USS Shark (SS-174), marked "P3"; USS Dolphin (SS-169), marked "D1"; USS Porpoise (SS-172), marked "P1"; USS Pike (SS-173), marked "P2"; and USS Tarpon (SS-175), marked "P4". U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 520 pixels |
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Photo #: 19-N-16690 USS Shark (SS-174) Nearly ready for launching, at the the Electric Boat Company shipyard, Groton, Connecticut, 20 May 1935. She was launched on the following day. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 112KB; 600 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 42075 USS Shark (SS-174) Immediately after launching by the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut, 21 May 1935. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: 19-N-16680 USS Shark (SS-174) Official model, photographed circa 1938 by her builder, the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 595 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 30 March 2003