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

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

USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Salvage, May - September 1939

The salvage of Squalus, which began immediately after the end of the rescue of her survivors was a prolonged and very difficult operation. Hampered by water depths of 240 feet, which led to constant bouts with nitrogen narcosis, Navy divers labored to prepare the sunken submarine for recovery. Their work was so risky that four of the divers were subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor. "Mother Ship" for the salvage was the submarine rescue ship USS Falcon (ASR-2). She was aided by the tugs Wandank (AT-26) and Penacook (YT-6) and Squalus' sister submarine, USS Sculpin (SS-191).

A first effort to raise Squalus ended in near-disaster on 13 July 1939, when the salvors lost control of the lifting pontoons. The submarine burst to the surface bow first, then sank, requiring repair of damaged equipment, clearance of a clutter of lines and hoses and the laborious re-rigging of the lifting gear. On 12 August, a second lift attempt succeeded in bringing Squalus some 70 feet off the sea floor. The tugs then towed her into shallower water, where equipment was repositioned for another lift, to about 100 feet below the surface, which took place on 17 August. Towed further inshore, Squalus was prepared for another lift, which ended with the submarine again rising out of control and sinking back to the bottom, with a heavy list to port. Work continued, interrupted by bad weather, into September, as the Second World War began in Europe. Finally, and not without further problems, on 13 September 1939 Squalus was brought to the surface and towed to the Portsmouth Navy Yard, where work began to return her to service.

For further information on the Squalus salvage operation, see:

  • "Frequently Asked Questions -- USS Squalus (SS-192): Salvage of, 1939;

    This page features, or provides links to, all the views we have relating to the salvage of USS Squalus. Those images presented on this page are undated. Those on linked pages were taken on identified days.

    For other photographs concerning the salvage of USS Squalus, see:

  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Salvage -- Views taken on 30 May 1939;
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Salvage -- Views probably taken on 13 July 1939;
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Salvage -- Views taken on 12 August 1939; and
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- People involved with her loss, salvage and the rescue of her survivors.

    For additional views relating to USS Squalus, see:

  • USS Sailfish (SS-192), 1939-1948. Named Squalus until 1940.

    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 97293

    USS Squalus (SS-192) Salvage, May-September 1939


    "On the Bottom -- A tense moment during salvage operations -- USS Squalus".
    Photographed on the after deck of USS Falcon (ASR-2), with men listening to communications from a diver working on the sunken submarine.

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

    Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: USN 1149022

    Salvage of USS Squalus (SS-192), 1939


    USS Falcon (ASR-2) moored over the sunken Squalus, during salvage operations off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1149022.

     
    Photo #: USN 1149028

    Salvage of USS Squalus (SS-192), 1939


    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.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 145KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1149028.

     
    Photo #: USN 1149032

    Salvage of USS Squalus (SS-192), 1939


    Salvage pontoons near USS Falcon (ASR-2), during salvage operations on the sunken submarine, off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1149032.

     
    Photo #: USN 1149030

    Salvage of USS Squalus (SS-192), 1939


    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.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1149030.

     
    Photo #: USN 1149031

    Salvage of USS Squalus (SS-192), 1939


    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.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 116KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1149031.

     
    Photo #: USN 1149021

    Salvage of USS Squalus (SS-192), 1939


    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).

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1149021.

     

    For other photographs concerning the salvage of USS Squalus, see:

  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Salvage -- Views taken on 30 May 1939;
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Salvage -- Views probably taken on 13 July 1939;
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Salvage -- Views taken on 12 August 1939; and
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- People involved with her loss, salvage and the rescue of her survivors.

    For additional views relating to USS Squalus, see:

  • USS Sailfish (SS-192), 1939-1948. Named Squalus until 1940.


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


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    11 July 2000