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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch courtesy of
Don McGrogan BMCS, USN (ret.)

Seal (SS-183)

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Quebec - Xray
Salmon Class Submarine: Laid down, 25 May 1936, at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.; Launched, 25 April 1937; Commissioned, USS Seal (SS-183), 30 April 1938; Decommissioned, 15 November 1945; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; Placed In service, 19 June 1947 at Boston, MA. as a Naval Reserve Training Ship; Placed Out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1956, at Portsmouth, NH; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 7 May 1956. Seal earned ten battle stars for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,449 t., Submerged: 2,198 t.; Length 308' ; Beam 26' 1"; Draft 14' 2"; Speed, Surfaced 21 kts, Submerged 9 kts; Complement 5 Officers 50 Enlisted; Armament, eight 21" torpedo tubes, 24 torpedoes, one 3"/50 deck gun, two .50 caliber machine guns, two .30 caliber machine guns; Propulsion, diesel-electric, four Hoover, Owens, Rentschler Co. diesel engines, (replaced in 1943-1944 with four General Motors 278A diesel engines), 5,500 hp, Fuel Capacity, 96,025 gals. four Elliot Motor Co. electric motors, 3,300 hp, Battery Cells 252, twin propellers.
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Pomfret
0818332		 812k Seal (SS-183) Booklet of General Plans - Main Deck, Bridge Deck, & Top of Pilot House / Outboard Profile, 1 February 38. Record Group 19: Series: Alphabetical Series of Ship Engineering Drawings, 1789 - 1967
File Unit:Drawings for Seal (SS-183).
National Archives Identifier: 120547062
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
Seal 21k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the keel laying of the Seal (SS-183), 25 May 1936, at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Seal 17k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the Seal's (SS-183) launching, 25 April 1937. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Seal2.00kView of Navy personnel and civilians standing on and by the Seal's (SS-183) fairwater, as she was delivered to the Naval Submarine Base, New London, by her builders, the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut, circa April 1937. Note that she is painted S-2. USNHC photograph # NH 103421.
Seal 101k Starboard broadside view of the Seal (SS-183), most likely off Provincetown, Massachusetts, during her trials, 5 March 1938. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
Seal58kFull length broadside view of the Seal (SS-183) off Provincetown, Massachusetts, during her trials, 5 March 1938. Photograph # 19-N-19022 from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Seal59kFull length stern view of the Seal (SS-183) off Provincetown, Massachusetts, during her trials, 5 March 1938. Photograph # 19-N-19021 from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Seal 58k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Seal's (SS-183) commissioning, 30 April 1938. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Seal 37k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Seal's (SS-183) commissioning, 30 April 1938. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Seal53kSeal (SS-183) photographed when first completed, circa mid-1938. USNHC photograph # NH 91833, courtesy of the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut.
Seal190kMontage of photographs by Robertson & Fresh, Tampa Florida, 20 July 1938, showing the Seal (SS-183), her officers and her crew. Among the officers seen in the upper left are Seal's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Karl G. Hensel, and Ensigns B.C. Hills and F.E. Brown.USNHC photograph # NH 83625, courtesy of the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut.
Seal 64k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Seal's (SS-183) shakedown cruise, 28 June 1938 and postmarked from Columbia, South America. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Seal 2.71k Washington Navy Yard – The Seal (SS-183), the Navy’s newest submarine, visits the Washington Navy Yard 26 July 1938. She was placed in commission on 30 April. The Seal, built by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut, is on her shakedown cruise and arrived in Washington from Tampa, Florida. Much of the sub's equipment is secret and visitors are denied permission to go below decks. From Washington the sub will visit Baltimore, Maryland. USN photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
Seal 17k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Seal's (SS-183) shakedown cruise, 30 July 1938 and postmarked from Baltimore, Maryland. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Seal 60k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Navy Day 1938 honoring the six Salmon-class (SS-182-187) submarines:
Salmon (SS-182)
Seal (SS-183),
Skipjack (SS-184)
Snapper (SS-185)
Stingray (SS-186) &
Sturgeon (SS-187). 		USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
186, 183,182 & 187110kStingray (SS-186) foreground operating in formation with other submarines, during Battle Force exercises, circa 1939. The other three submarines are (from left to right): Seal (SS-183); Salmon (SS-182) and Sturgeon (SS-187). U.S. Naval Historical Center photo # NH 77086. Collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired).
186, 183,182 & 187110k Stingray (SS-186) surfacing in formation with other submarines, during Battle Force exercises, circa 1939. Sturgeon (SS-187) is immediately beyond Stingray (SS-186), with the wakes further in the distance probably belonging to Seal (SS-183) and Salmon (SS-182). U.S. Naval Historical Center photo # NH 77089.Collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired).
186, 183,182 & 187107k Stingray (SS-186) surfacing in formation with other submarines, during Battle Force exercises, circa 1939. The other three submarines are (from left to right): Seal (SS-183); Salmon (SS-182) and Sturgeon (SS-187). U.S. Naval Historical Center photo # NH 98985. Collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired).
AS 3 59k Panoramic photograph of Holland (AS-3) moored at Buoy 19, San Diego, CA, 1940, with eleven submarines alongside. Submarines are (from left to right):
Salmon (SS-182);
Seal (SS-183);
Stingray (SS-186);
Perch (SS-176);
Pollack (SS-180);
Cachalot (SS-170);
Cuttlefish (SS-171);
Skipjack (SS-184);
Sturgeon (SS-187);
Snapper (SS-185)
and Sargo (SS-188).
SS-182 through SS-187 were members of Submarine Division 15, commanded by R.W. Christie. Richmond (CL-9), flagship of the Commander Submarine Force, Pacific, is in the right distance.		 USN photo # NH 68481, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, courtesy of US Naval Institute, James C Fahey Collection.
Plunger104kPlunger (P6) (SS-179) backing clear of a nest of submarines, alongside their tender in San Diego harbor, California, in 1940. Other identifiable submarines present are: Salmon (SS-182); Seal (SS-183); and Stingray (SS-186). USNHC photograph # NH 68482. courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, James C. Fahey Collection.
SS 182 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. U.S. Naval Historical Center photo # NH 68479, courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute. James C. Fahey Collection.
Seal 156k Stern of the Seal (SS-183) at Mare Island on 21 March 1943. Shipyard workers are conducting an inclining experiment. Modifications made by the shipyard during her refit are circled. USN / Mare Island photo # 1866-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Seal 175k Bow of the Seal (SS-183) at Mare Island on 21 March 1943. Shipyard workers are conducting an inclining experiment. Modifications made by the shipyard during her refit are circled. USN / Mare Island photo # 1867-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Seal 147k Stern of the Seal (SS-183) at Mare Island on 21 March 1943. Shipyard workers are conducting an inclining experiment. USN / Mare Island photo # 1886-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Seal 144k Plan view of the Seal (SS-183) at Mare Island on 21 March 1943. Shipyard workers are conducting an inclining experiment. USN / Mare Island photo # 1887-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Seal 106k Stern view of the Seal (SS-183) off Mare Island on 24 March 1943. USN / Mare Island photo # 2015-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Seal 102k Broadside view of the Seal (SS-183) off Mare Island on 24 March 1943. USN / Mare Island photo # 2017-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Seal 99k Bow view of the Seal (SS-183) off Mare Island on 24 March 1943. USN / Mare Island photo # 2019-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Turner 99k Lieutenant Commander John Henderson Turner was the commanding officer of the Seal (SS-183) from June 1944 to December 1944. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker via Bill Gonyo.
Seal 60k Seal (SS-183) underway off Mare Island, on 2 June 1944. Note Seal's fully extended after periscope. USN photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired). Partial text courtesy of USNHC photo # 19-N-69043.
Seal 139k Seal (SS-183) off Mare Island on 22 June 1944 after overhaul at the yard. Photo from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum. USN / Mare Island photo # 3787-44, from the collection of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Seal 127k Bow on view of Seal (SS-183) in Mare Island channel on 22 June 1944. She was in overhaul at the yard from 3 April until 5 July 1944. USN / Mare Island photo # 3757-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Seal 192k Stern view of Seal (SS-183) in Mare Island channel on 22 June 1944. She was in overhaul at the yard from 3 April until 5 July 1944. USN / Mare Island photo # 3777-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Seal 161k Forward plan view of the Seal (SS-183) in Mare Island channel on 22 June 1944. She was in overhaul at the yard from 3 April until 5 July 1944. The barge tied up to her starboard side is YF-557. USN / Mare Island photo # 3888-44, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Partial text courtesy of USNHC photo # NH 103426.
Seal 131k Plan view of the Seal (SS-183),amidships looking forward, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 June 1944. The barge tied up to her starboard side is YF-557. White outlines mark recent alterations to Seal. Official USN photo # NH 103427, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Seal 107k Plan view of the Seal (SS-183),amidships looking aft, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 26 June 1944. The barge tied up to her starboard side is YF-557. White outlines mark recent alterations to Seal. Official USN photo # NH 103426, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Seal336kSeal (SS-183) open for business in this post war photo, most likely after 19 June 1947 at Boston, MA. when she was a Naval Reserve Training Ship. She has her war record and number painted on the conning tower. Note the civilians on the 20mm guns. USN photo courtesy of David Buell.
Fremantle 365k This plaque was unveiled 20 March 1995 by His Excellency Major General P.M. Jeffery OA MC, Governor of Western Australia to commemorate the sacrifices made by Allied submarines that operated out of Fremantle, Western Australia during WW II. Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
Seal348kTwo boys race over the Seal's (SS-183) deck trying to catch up to other members of a group of civillians in this post war photo, most likely after 19 June 1947 at Boston, MA. when she was a Naval Reserve Training Ship. Note the civilians going below into the hatch. USN photo courtesy of David Buell.
Seal 1.82k Four photo PDF of the Seal (SS-183). Photos courtesy of Mel Douyette @ coldwarsubmarines.com
View the Seal (SS-183)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
PigBoats.COM TM, a Historic Look at Submarines
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
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