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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 98637:  USS Volador underway, circa the mid-1960s.

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

USS Volador (SS-490), 1948-1972

USS Volador, a 1570-ton Tench class submarine, was on the building ways at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine, when her construction was suspended in early 1946. Work resumed in mid-1947 to a revised design that turned her into a much improved "Guppy II" submarine, with streamlined hull and sail, more powerful electric propulsion system and a snorkel, thus greatly increasing her underwater performance. Volador was commissioned in October 1948 and joined the Pacific Fleet early in 1949. Over the next thirteen years she made four deployments to the Western Pacific, including one during the Korean War, and one cruise to Alaskan waters, as well as maintaining a regular program of operations along the U.S. West Coast and in Hawaiian waters.

In 1962-1963 Volador was again modernized under the "Guppy III" program, which lengthened her hull and gave her up-to-date sonar and other electronic equipment. Following completion of this work she deployed four more times to the Far East, three times during the Vietnam War. In mid-1970 Volador was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet and made a cruise to the Mediterranean Sea in 1971. She was decommissioned in August 1972 and loaned (later sold) to Italy. Renamed Gianfranco Gazzana Priaroggia, she served in the Italian Navy until 1981.

This page features all the views we have related to USS Volador (SS-490).


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 98637

USS Volador (SS-490)


Underway circa the mid-1960s, after her "Guppy III" modernization.
This photograph was received by "All Hands" magazine on 12 November 1965.

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

Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 98636

USS Volador (SS-490)


Photographed circa the middle or later 1960s, after her "Guppy III" modernization.

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

Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 500 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 98638-KN (color)

USS Volador (SS-490)

Underway off Guam, circa the middle or later 1960s.
Taken by Heavy Photographic Squadron 61, based at NAS Agana, Guam.

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

Online Image: 62KB; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 72362-KN (Color)

Insignia: USS Volador (SS-490)

Jacket patch featuring an emblem used circa the 1960s.

Courtesy of the Submarine Force Library and Museum, Groton, Connecticut, 1969.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 154KB; 690 x 660 pixels

 


In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold several other views of USS Volador (SS-490). The following list features some of these images:

The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".



The following photographs show Volador in her original "Guppy II" configuration, with a stepped "sail":

  • Photo #: USN 1042957
    USS Volador (SS-490) underway. Photo is dated 1948, but may have been taken somewhat later.
    Port bow surface view.

  • Photo #: USN 1042958
    As USN 1042957, but port bow aerial view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-427721
    USS Volador (SS-490) underway at sea 1 January 1950.
    Port broadside low aerial view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-438059
    USS Volador (SS-490) underway off San Clemente Island, California, May 1950. Photographed by USS Sicily (CVE-118)
    Starboard bow surface view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-438061
    As 80-G-438059, but rather distant starboard quarter surface view.

  • Photo #: USN 1048063
    USS Volador (SS-490) underway, returning to Manila, Philippines, after three days participating in SEATO Exercise "Sea Lion", 4 May 1960.
    Port broadside low aerial view, somewhat toward the stern.

  • Photo #: USN 1048073
    As USN 1048063, but port bow aerial view.


    The following photographs show Volador following her "Guppy III" conversion, with an enlarged "sail" and the triple fins of the "PUFFS" passive sonar system on her deck:

  • Photo #:USN 1067363
    USS Volador (SS-490) in San Francisco Bay, California, February 1963, after her "Guppy III" modernization.
    Surface view from directly ahead.

  • Photo #:USN 1067364
    As USN 1067363, but starboard bow surface view.

  • Photo #:USN 1067365
    As USN 1067363, but starboard broadside surface view.

  • Photo #:USN 1067366
    As USN 1067363, but starboard quarter surface view.

  • Photo #:USN 1067367
    As USN 1067363, but port bow surface view.

  • Photo #:USN 1067368
    As USN 1067363, but port broadside surface view.

  • Photo #:USN 1067369
    As USN 1067363, but port quarter surface view.

  • Photo #:USN 1067370
    As USN 1067363, but surface view from directly astern.


    Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


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


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    Page made 12 August 2003