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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Stingray (SS-186)

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Romeo - Papa
Salmon Class Submarine: Laid down, 1 October 1936, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH; Launched, 6 October 1937; Commissioned, USS Stingray (SS-186), 15 March 1938; Decommissioned, 17 October 1945, at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA.; Struck from the Naval Register, 3 July 1946; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping in 1947. Stingray earned twelve 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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For Full Size Image		Size Image Description Source
Stingray21k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the Stingray's (SS-186) keel laying, 1 October 1936, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Stingray343kStingray (SS-186) has an afternoon date with the oceans on 6 October 1937. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo added 01/07/11.
Stingray14k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the launching of the Stingray (SS-186), 6 October 1937. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Stingray45k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of Stingray's (SS-186) commissioning, 15 March 1938. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Stingray27k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of Stingray's (SS-186) first day in commission, 15 March 1938. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Stingray21k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of Mother's Day on the Stingray (SS-186), 8 May 1938. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Stingray173kStarboard side view of the Stingray (SS-186) during her shakedown trials off Portsmouth, N.H., 20 June 1938.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo added 01/07/11.
Stingray22k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the shakedown cruise of the Stingray (SS-186), September 1938. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Seal 60k Commemorative postal cover issued 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). 		US Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Stingray 84k Stingray (SS-186) foreground in port, circa 1939-1940, with two oilers in the background.
US Navy photo courtesy of John Hummel. Text courtesy of U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 94984.
186, 183,182 & 187110k Stingray (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 Photograph # NH 77086, collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired).
186, 183,182 & 187110k Stingray (SS-186) submerging 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 Photograph # NH 77089, collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired).
186, 183,182 & 187107k Stingray (SS-186) submerging 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 Photograph # NH 98985, collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired).
Stingray82k Stingray (SS-186) underway near land, circa 1939-1940. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 77088, collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired).
Fleet Problem XX 43k Commemorative postal cover marking Snapper (SS-185), Stingray (SS-186), Skipjack (SS-184), Plunger (SS-179), Cachalot (SS-170), Salmon (SS-182), Perch (SS-176) & Pollack (SS-180) participating in Fleet Problem XX, 28 January 1939.
Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Stingray94kOn 20 April 1939 the Stingray (SS-186) transited the Panama Canal and arrived at San Diego, Calif., on 11 May for a rigorous schedule of training and maneuvers as a unit of Submarine Squadron 6.
Following Fleet Problem XX, Yorktown (CV-5) returned briefly to Hampton Roads before sailing for the Pacific on 20 April. Transiting the Panama Canal a week later, Yorktown soon commenced a regular routine of operations with the Pacific Fleet.
Both ships are seen here some time immediately during that period. 		Text courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo added 01/07/11.
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). Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 68482, courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute. James C. Fahey Collection. U.S.
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.
 US Navy photo # NH 68481, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center, courtesy of US Naval Institute, James C Fahey Collection.
Stingray77k Stingray (SS-186) port side view, off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 October 1942. Note barrage balloons in the distance. Photograph # NH 19-N-36097, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Stingray77k Stingray (SS-186), port side view, off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 October 1942. Photograph # NH 19-N-36095, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Stingray71k Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 October 1942. Note the two newly installed external torpedo tubes just below Stingray's (SS-186) foredeck, an effort to increase her forward firepower, and the antennas for SJ (lower antenna) and SD (atop the periscope) radars. Photograph # NH 19-N-36098, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Stingray50kStingray (SS-186) off San Francisco, California, on 26 January 1944, following an overhaul. Photograph # NH 19-N-63569, from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
Stingray69k Stingray (SS-186) off San Francisco, California, on 26 January 1944, following an overhaul. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # NH 98986, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Stingray65k Stingray (SS-186) off San Francisco, California, following overhaul, 26 January 1944. Note that the two external torpedo tubes fitted in 1942, just below deck level forward, have been removed. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, # NH 98987, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Stingray45k Stingray (SS-186) stern view off San Francisco, California, following overhaul, 26 January 1944. Note heavy smoke made by her diesel engines. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # NH 98988, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Stingray58k Stingray (SS-186) stern view off San Francisco, California, following overhaul, 26 January 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph.
Stingray130k Plan view amidships, looking forward, taken at San Francisco, California, on 29 January 1944. Stingray (SS-186) loading simulated torpedos for the testing of the tubes after yard overhaul. Note that this submarine retains a 3"/50 deck gun, mounted forward of her conning tower. White outlines mark recent alterations. Text courtesy of John Hummel. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # NH 98989, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Stingray106k Plan view amidships, looking aft, taken at San Francisco, California, on 29 January 1944. Stingray (SS-186) loading simulated torpedos for the testing of the tubes after yard overhaul. Note that this submarine retains a 3"/50 deck gun, mounted forward of her conning tower. White outlines mark recent alterations. Official U.S. Navy Photograph # NH 98990, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Text courtesy of John Hummel.
View the Stingray (SS-186)
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
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
Through the Looking Glass, a Historic Look at Submarines
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