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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORY AND HERITAGE COMMAND
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 44551:  USS O-5 off Provincetown, Mass., 14 April 1918

Online Library of Selected Images:
U.S. NAVY SHIPS -- Listed by Hull Number

SS -- Submarines.
Includes SS, SSA, SSAG, SSBN, SSG, SSGN, SSN, SSO, SSP, SSR, AGSS, AOSS, ASSA, ASSP and IXSS; plus most SSK
Does not include SF, SM, SST and some SSK.

Until July 1920, U.S. Navy Submarines did not officially have "SS" series hull numbers. They were, however, referred to by "Submarine Number" (or, more properly, "Submarine Torpedo Boat Number"), with that number corresponding to the "SS" number formally assigned in July 1920, or which would have been assigned if the "boat" had still been on the Navy list. For convenience, all of these submarines are listed below under the appropriate numbers in the "SS" series.

Beginning in the later 1940s, submariness converted or built for several specialized functions received modified designations, including SSA (cargo submarine), SSAG (miscellaneous auxiliary submarine), SSBN (ballistic missile submarine, nuclear powered), SSG (guided missile submarine), SSGN (guided missile submarine, nuclear powered), SSK (antisubmarine submarine), SSN (submarine, nuclear powered), SSO (submarine oiler), SSP (submarine transport), SSR (radar picket submarine), SSRN (radar picket submarine, nuclear powered), AGSS(miscellaneous auxiliary submarine), AOSS (submarine oiler), ASSA (cargo submarine), ASSP (transport, submarine) and IXSS (unclassified, submarine). With a few exceptions, submarines with these expanded designations were numbered in the original SS series. Many of the special-purpose submarines were redesignated after a few years.

Before, during and after World War II, other submarines were given designations that were based on specialized functions within the submarine ("S-") type, but were numbered separately from the SS series and will be treated on other Online Library pages. These included SF (fleet submarine); SM (mine laying submarine); SST (target and training submarine); some SSK (antisubmarine submarine) and a few SSN (submarine, nuclear powered).

This page, and those linked from it, provide the hull numbers of all U.S. Navy submarines numbered in the SS series, with links to those "boats" with photos available in the Online Library. It also lists in chronological sequence the one submarine that did not have a number.

This page covers submarine hull numbers from SS-1 through SS-199. For coverage of higher "SS" series numbers, see:

  • SS -- Submarines, numbered from SS 200 through SS-399;
  • SS -- Submarines, numbered from SS 400 through SSBN-599; and
  • SS -- Submarines, numbered from SSBN 600 through SSN-777. (Page not yet prepared)


    See the list below to locate photographs of individual submarines.

    If the submarine you want does not have an active link on this page, contact the Photographic Section concerning other research options.


    Left Column -- Unnumbered
    Submarines and
    Submarines numbered
    SS-1 through SS-77:

    Right Column --
    Destroyers numbered
    SS-78 through SS-199:

    This page covers submarine hull numbers from SS-1 through SS-199. For coverage of higher "SS" series numbers, see:

  • SS -- Submarines, numbered from SS 200 through SS-399;
  • SS -- Submarines, numbered from SS 400 through SSBN-599; and
  • SS -- Submarines, numbered from SSBN 600 through SSN-777. (Page not yet prepared)


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the Online Library's pictures are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 27 October 2002
    New ships added 15 December 2010