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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Permit (SS-178)

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Sierra - Delta

Perch Class Submarine: Laid down, 6 June 1935, at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.; Launched, 5 October 1936; Commissioned, USS Permit (SS-178), 17 March 1937; Decommissioned, 15 November 1945; Placed in service, in reserve, 24 January 1947, at Philadelphia Navy Yard Reserve Basin, for service as dockside training submarine for Submarine Naval Reservists at Philadelphia Navy Yard; Struck from the Naval Register, 26 July 1956; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 28 June 1958, for$162,850, to A. G. Schoonmaker, Inc., New York City, NY. Permit earned ten battle stars for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,330 t., Submerged: 1,997 t.; Length 300' 7" ; Beam 21' 5"; Draft 13' 10"; Speed, Surfaced 21 kts, Submerged 9 kts; Maximum Operating Depth, 250'; Complement 5 Officers, 45 Enlisted; Armament, six 21" torpedo tubes, 18 torpedoes, one 3"/50 deck gun, two .50 cal. machine guns, four .30 cal. machine guns; Propulsion, diesel-electric, Winton diesel engines, HP 4300, Fuel Capacity, 92,801 gals.; GE motors, HP 2368, 240 battery cells, twin screws.

Size	Image Description	Source
88k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the laying of the keel of the Permit (SS-178), originally named *Pinna*, 6 June 1935.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
20k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the laying of the keel of the Permit (SS-178), originally named *Pinna*, 6 June 1935.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
66k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the Permit's (SS-178) first anniversary, 17 March 1936.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
67k	View of the fore poppet in place, as Permit (SS-178) was being prepared for launching at the Electric Boat Company shipyard, Groton, Connecticut, 4 October 1936. Note the flooding holes in *Permit's* hull.	US Navy photo # NH 99629, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photographed by the Electric Boat Company, courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Collection of Vice Admiral Harold G. Bowen, Sr., USN.
90k	View of the Permit's (SS-178) stern, as she was being prepared for launching at the Electric Boat Company shipyard, Groton, Connecticut, 4 October 1936. Note *Permit's* starboard propeller, rudder, after torpedo tube door and propeller guard.	US Navy photo # NH 99630, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photographed by the Electric Boat Company, courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Collection of Vice Admiral Harold G. Bowen, Sr., USN.
88k	Permit (SS-178) launching, at the Electric Boat Company shipyard, Groton, Connecticut, at 12:15 PM on 5 October 1936.	US Navy photo # NH 99628, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photographed by the Electric Boat Company.Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Collection of Vice Admiral Harold G. Bowen, Sr., USN.
52k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the launching of the Permit (SS-178), 5 October 1936.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
61k	Permit (SS-178) underway on 11 August 1937, during her shakedown period.	US Navy photo # NH 42701, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
61k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the commissioning of the Permit (SS-178), 17 March 1937.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
67k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the shakedown cruise of the Permit (SS-178), 23 June 1937.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
67k	Permit (SS-178) underway soon after completion, circa 1937.	US Navy photo # NH 44003, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
54k	Permit (SS-178) underway, circa 1937.	Official U.S. Navy Photograph # NH 99627, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
21k	Commemorative postal cover marking the boats of the P-class (SS-176/81) first Navy Day, 27 October 1937; Perch (SS-176), Pickerel (SS-177), Permit (SS-178), Plunger (SS-179), Pollack (SS-180) & Pompano (SS-181).	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
81k	Photo entitled "Weekly Inspection, Permit* (SS-178).* The Pollack (SS-180) and the Plunger (SS-179) flank the *Permit.*" Naval Recruiting Dept, New York, circa late 1937.	US Navy photo, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
171k	Bow view of the S-34 (SS-139) tied up to wharf, taken in the mid to late 30's, probably in Pearl Harbor. The sub is getting a new battery. The new cells are loaded on the railcars to the right. The photo was dated by looking at the sub moored behind it. It is a fleet boat, and probably a *Pike/Permit* class. It is painted black, so that puts it in the later 1930's. Also, the *S-34's* skeg has been cut away as part of a safety and maintenance mod, and that was done in April, 1932. The *S-34* was stationed almost exclusively in the P.I. and Pearl until 1941. The mountainous background looks a lot like Pearl (although it may be Subic or Cavite).	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. Photo i.d. courtesy of David Johnston (USNR), Darryl Baker & John Hummel. Text i.d. courtesy of David Johnston (USNR) & Darryl Baker. Photo added 03/17/07.
69k	Permit (SS-178) alongside another submarine, circa 1939-1941. Probably seen from Canopus (AS-9) in Manila Bay, Philippines.	US Navy photo # NH 99671, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Collection of Jack L. Wheat, who served in *Canopus*.
97k	Six U.S. Navy submarines nested together, circa 1939-1941. Probably seen from Canopus (AS-9) in Manila Bay, Philippines. The inboard submarine is not identified. The others are (from left to right): Pike (SS-173); Tarpon (SS-175); Porpoise (SS-172); Perch (SS-176); and Permit (SS-178).	US Navy photo # NH 99672, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Collection of Jack L. Wheat, who served in *Canopus*.
103k	Submarines in San Diego harbor, California, 1940 Moored alongside Holland (AS-3), from which the photograph was taken, the submarines are (from left to right): Salmon (SS-182); Seal (SS-183); Pickerel (SS-177); Plunger (SS-179); Snapper (SS-185) and Permit (SS-178). Note the small motor boats, of the type carried by fleet submarines prior to World War II. One of the men standing on Salmon's (SS-182) deck is Yeoman Clayton Johnson, who in 1969 was a Commander serving at the Naval History Division. Enterprise (CV-6) is in the distance, tied up at Naval Air Station, North Island.	US Navy photo # NH 68479, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute. James C. Fahey Collection.
82k	Permit (SS-178) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 12 January 1943.	US Navy photo # NH 44004, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
133k	Plan view of the Permit (SS-178) looking forward along her starboard side, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 12 January 1943, following overhaul. Note radar antennas for SJ surface search radar (by the periscope at left) and SD aircraft detection radar (bar atop the pole in center). White outlines mark recent alterations. Barges *YF-239* (outboard) and *YF-200* are in the right distance.	US Navy photo # 19-N-40140, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
120k	Plan view of the Permit (SS-178) looking aft along her starboard side, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 12 January 1943, following overhaul. Note crewmembers unpacking provisions at right, among them a crate of "Sunkist" oranges. Barge< b>YF-239 is alongside *Permit*.	US Navy photo # 19-N-40141, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
73k	Permit (SS-178) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 13 January 1943, following overhaul. Note that she has been refitted with an external torpedo tube on each side of her bow.	US Navy photo # 19-N-40145, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
80k	Permit (SS-178) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 13 January 1943, following overhaul.	US Navy photo # 19-N-40139, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
63k	Oil on canvas painting by the artist Jim Christley entitled "Off To War". Although mismanaged and crippled with defective torpedoes, the boats such as this one of the Perch-class (SS-176/81) headed out to do battle with the Imperial Japanese Navy.	Photo & text courtesy of subart.net.
50k	Permit (SS-178), at South Boston Navy Yard, circa 15 Nov 1945 to 4 Feb 1946. This conning tower photo shows *Permit's* war record of enemy vessels sunk.	Photo by Vincent Grobbel, BM1, USCG, USS Davenport (PF-69), courtesy of Mike Grobbel.
124k	Permit (SS-178), at South Boston Navy Yard, circa 15 Nov 1945 to 4 Feb 1946. This conning tower photo shows *Permit's* war record of enemy vessels sunk.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
113k	Artwork of an insignia and battle flag used during the later part of World War II. (Photo #NH 93519-KN)	US Naval Historical Center
100k	World War II battle flag. (Photo #NH 93518-KN)	US Naval Historical Center