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

USS Squalus, a 1450-ton Sargo class submarine, was built at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine. Commissioned in March 1939, she was conducting test dives off the New Hampshire coast on 23 May when the main induction valve failed to close, flooding her after compartments. Squalus sank to the sea floor, over 200 feet below the surface. After heroic exertions by Navy divers, led by Commander Charles B. Momsen, her 33 surviving crewmen were rescued on 24 and 25 May 1939. The submarine was salvaged in an equally dramatic effort during the Summer of 1939. Decommissioned, repaired and renamed Sailfish, she was recommissioned in May 1940.

Following initial operations in the Atlantic, Sailfish was tranferred to the Pacific in early 1941, and subsequently went to operate in Asiatic waters. With the outbreak of war with Japan in December 1941, she made three war patrols from the Philippines and Java, then shifted her base to Australia, from which she made four more patrols from March 1942 into January 1943. After an overhaul, Sailfish went to Pearl Harbor, from which she operated for the rest of her combat career. From May 1943 into December 1944, she conducted a further five war patrols. During her twelve patrols, Sailfish sank seven Japanese ships, including the escort carrier Chuyo, totalling over 40,000 tons and was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.

In January 1945, Sailfish returned to the Atlantic, where she performed training duties during the remainder of World War II. She was decommissioned in October 1945 and assigned to be expended as a target. However, she was not used for that purpose and was sold for scrapping in June 1948.

This page features views, or provides links to, of USS Squalus and Sailfish, including images of the rescue of Squalus's crew and of her salvage in 1939.

For additional views relating to USS Squalus, see:

  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Construction, 1937-39;
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Rescue of Crew, May 1939;
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Salvage, May - September 1939; and
  • USS Sailfish (SS-192) -- Additional Views.

    For more information on the sinking of USS Squalus and subsequent events, see:

  • "Frequently Asked Questions -- USS Squalus (SS-192): The Sinking, Rescue of Survivors, and Subsequent Salvage, 1939".

    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 #: 19-N-109858

    USS Squalus (SS-192)


    Fitting out, at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, 5 October 1938.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 595 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 57510

    "USS Squalus (SS-192)"


    1939 vintage photograph, which was widely used to represent Squalus at the time of her sinking in May of that year.
    This is actually a photo of USS Salmon (SS-182), retouched to change Salmon's side number ("S1") to that of Squalus ("S11"). See Photo # NH 63417 for the original, unretouched image.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: 19-N-43269

    USS Sailfish (SS-192)


    Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 13 April 1943.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 600 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 19-N-43270

    USS Sailfish (SS-192)


    Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 13 April 1943.

    Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 625 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 57508

    USS Squalus (SS-192) Rescue Operations, May 1939


    USS Wandank (AT-26), at left, and USS Falcon (ASR-2) moored over the sunken Squalus, during rescue operations, circa 24 May 1939.
    The McCann Rescue Chamber, which brought 33 of the submarine's crewmen to safety, is visible on Falcon's after deck.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 565 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 85832

    USS Squalus (SS-192) Rescue Operations, May 1939

    Squalus' Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Oliver F. Naquin (center, hatless, wearing khaki pants), with other survivors on board the Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane, bound for the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, following their rescue, 25 May 1939.

    Courtesy of Ted Stone, 1977.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    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 1149026

    Salvage of USS Squalus (SS-192), 1939

    Squalus' bow comes to the surface as personnel based on USS Falcon (ASR-2) struggle to refloat the sunken submarine, off the New Hampshire coast during the Summer of 1939.
    This appears to be the 13 July 1939 lift, in which Squalus' bow rose uncontrollably to the surface and then sank. If that is the case, the salvage pontoons nearby would include both bow line pontoons, plus the two upper pontoons on the stern lifting line.
    The ship's hull number ("192") is painted on her bow.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1149026.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-700762

    USS Sailfish (SS-192)


    Crewmembers pose by the after end of the conning tower, while Sailfish was at Naval Submarine Base, New London, Groton, Connecticut, in 1945. Her Presidential Unit Citation flag is flying behind the periscope sheers, in upper center.
    Original photo is dated September 1945.

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

    Online Image: 102KB; 600 x 765 pixels

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

     

    For additional views relating to USS Squalus, see:

  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Construction, 1937-39;
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Rescue of Crew, May 1939;
  • USS Squalus (SS-192) -- Salvage, May - September 1939; and
  • USS Sailfish (SS-192) -- Additional Views.

    For more information on the sinking of USS Squalus and subsequent events, see:

  • "Frequently Asked Questions -- USS Squalus (SS-192): The Sinking, Rescue of Survivors, and Subsequent Salvage, 1939".


    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.

    Updated 9 July 2000