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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Sculpin (SS-191)

Radio Call Sign: November - Echo - Lima - Sierra

Sargo Class Submarine: Laid down, 7 September 1937, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH; Launched, 27 July 1938; Commissioned, USS Sculpin (SS-191), 16 January 1939; Lost to enemy action, depth charge attack, 19 November 1943; Struck from the Naval Register, 25 March 1944. Sculpin was awarded eight battle stars for her service in World War II and received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,450 t., Submerged: 2,350 t.; Length 310' ; Beam 27' 1"; Draft 13' 8"; Speed, Surfaced 20 kts, Submerged 7.75 kts; Max Operating Depth, 250'; 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, 90,000 gals. four General Electric Co. electric motors, 2,740 hp, Battery Cells 252, twin propellers.

Size	Image Description	Source
18k	Commemorative postal cover marking the Sculpin's (SS-191) keel and launching on 7 September 1937, & 27 July 1938 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
168k	Starboard side view of the Sculpin (SS-191), probably during her shakedown cruise, summer 1938.	US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
21k	Commemorative postal cover marking the Sculpin's (SS-191) commissioning on 16 January 1939.	Courtesy of petloveshack.com.
138k	Commemorative postal cover marking the Deep Dive of the Sculpin (SS-191) on 18 April, 1939.	Courtesy of Darryl Baker.
291k	Painting of the Sculpin (SS-191) by the artist W.W. Calvert.	Official USN photo courtesy of George & Linda Salava. This photo was from the collection of FC3 Frank Salava who was K.I.A. when the Sculpin (SS-191) was sunk & 62 other crewmen were K.I.A. on 19 November 1943.
24k	Commemorative postal cover marking the Sculpin's (SS-191) part in the rescue of the crew of the Squalus (SS-192), 25 May 1939.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
145k	Falcon (ASR-2) moored over the sunken Squalus (SS-192), during salvage operations off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939. Sculpin (SS-191) is in the right background.	US Navy photo # USN 1149028, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
109k	Men working on salvage pontoons over the sunken Squalus (SS-192), during salvage operations off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939. Falcon (ASR-2) is at left and Sculpin (SS-191) is in the center background.	US Navy photo # USN 1149030, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
116k	Men working on salvage pontoons over the sunken Squalus (SS-192), during salvage operations off the New Hampshire coast in the Summer of 1939. Falcon (ASR-2) is at left and Sculpin (SS-191) is in the center background.	US Navy photo # USN 1149031, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
21k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the submarines Sargo (SS-188), Saury (SS-189), Spearfish (SS-190), Sculpin (SS-191), Squalus (SS-192) & Swordfish (SS-193) honoring Navy Day, 27 October 1939.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
19k	Commemorative postal cover marking the Sculpin's (SS-191) cruise to the West Coast after participating in rescue operations for the Squalus (SS-192), 26 Feb. 1940.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
246k	The Sculpin (SS-191) entering Pearl Harbor sometime between 9 April 1940 - 23 October 1941.	Official USN photo courtesy of George & Linda Salava. This photo was from the collection of FC3 Frank Salava who was K.I.A. when the Sculpin (SS-191) was sunk & 62 other crewmen were K.I.A. on 19 November 1943.
90k	Sculpin (SS-191), in San Francisco Bay, CA., on 1 May 1943, following an overhaul. The San Francisco Bay Bridge is in the background.	US Navy photo # NH 97303, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
73k	Sculpin (SS-191), bow view in San Francisco Bay, California, on 1 May 1943, following an overhaul.	US Navy photo # NH 97302, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
204k	Sculpin (SS-191) off Hunters Point Navy Yard on 1 May 1943.	US Navy photo # 3169-43, from the collections of the Vallejo Naval & Historic Museum & submitted by Darryl Baker.
168k	Sculpin (SS-191), at Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard, San Francisco, CA., 1 May 1943, following an overhaul. This view of her midships area, port side, identifies changes recently made to the ship. Note outlined hull number ("191") on the side of her sail. Among the ships and craft in the background are the small tug *Lucien* (center, middle distance) and Navy barge *YC-826* (right, middle distance).	US Navy photo # NH 97304, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center
113k	Sculpin (SS-191), at Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard, San Francisco, CA.1 May 1943, following an overhaul. This view of the forward end of her sail identifies changes recently made to the ship. Note 20mm and 3"/50 guns; SD and SJ radar antennas.	US Navy photo # NH 97305, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
108k	Sculpin (SS-191), at Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard, San Francisco, CA., 1 May 1943, following an overhaul. This view of the after end of her sail identifies changes recently made to the ship. Note 20mm gun; SD and SJ radar antennas. The Coast Guard lighthouse tender Balsam (WAGL-62) is in the floating drydock in the right background.	US Navy photo # NH 97306, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
93k	Sculpin (SS-191), off San Francisco, CA., 1 May 1943, following an overhaul.	US Navy photo # NH 97309, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
197k	FC3 Frank Salava who was K.I.A. when the Sculpin (SS-191) was sunk 19 November 1943.	Official USN photo courtesy of George & Linda Salava. This photo was from the collection of FC3 Frank Salava who was K.I.A. when the Sculpin (SS-191) was sunk & 62 other crewmen were K.I.A. on 19 November 1943.
121k	Letter from SecNav Forrestal concerning the Bronze Star posthumously awarded FC3 Frank Salava who was K.I.A. when the Sculpin (SS-191) was sunk 19 November 1943.	Official USN photo courtesy of George & Linda Salava. This photo was from the collection of FC3 Frank Salava who was K.I.A. when the Sculpin (SS-191) was sunk & 62 other crewmen were K.I.A. on 19 November 1943.
103k	Photo of Frank Salava with brother Charles (on right). Charles joined the Army and was killed in a training accident in 1943. Letter from Admiral Lockwood awarding the USN Submarine Combat Insignia posthumously to FC3 Frank Salava who was K.I.A. at his post when the Sculpin (SS-191) was sunk 19 November 1943. Also included in the PDF are various letters from the War Dept to his next of kin (mother) concerning what was known of the fate of the *Sculpin* immediately after her sinking and through the end of WW II. Likewise a PDF from the Submarine Force Emergency Welfare Fund concerning the financial help available to their families.	Official USN photo courtesy of George & Linda Salava. This photo was from the collection of FC3 Frank Salava who was K.I.A. when the Sculpin (SS-191) was sunk & 62 other crewmen were K.I.A. on 19 November 1943.
37k	5 November 2005 photo of the Sculpin's (SS-191) original battle flag.	Photo courtesy of Randy Chappell, son of Lt. Commander Lucius H Chappell & Ric Hedman.
62k	Drawing of the Japanese destroyer *Yamagumo, a Asashio class* destroyer, which damaged the Sculpin (SS-191), and caused her crew to scuttle her.	Courtesy of combinedfleet.com.
191k	Google Earth satellite photo of the site and surrounding islands of Sculpin's (SS-191) last approximate position based during post-war debriefings. This position is thought to be the final resting place of the *Sculpin* and her crew.	View courtesy of Google Earth. Photo added 08/10/09.
97k	Lieutenant Commander Fred Connaway, USN photographed circa 1942. On 19 November 1943, while in command of Sculpin (SS-191), he was lost when his ship was sunk. This image was published in the book "United States Submarine Losses in World War II".	US Navy photo # NH 50661, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
81k	Captain John P. Cromwell, USN Photographed circa 1943. He was lost with Sculpin (SS-191) on 19 November 1943 and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at that time. "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commander of a Submarine Coordinated Attack Group with Flag in the *Sculpin, during the Ninth War Patrol of that vessel in enemy-controlled waters off Truk Island, November 19, 1943. Undertaking this patrol prior to the launching of our first large-scale offensive in the Pacific, Captain Cromwell, alone of the entire Task Group, possessed secret intelligence information of our submarine strategy and tactics, scheduled Fleet movements and specific attack plans. Constantly vigilant and precise in carrying out his secret orders, he moved his underseas flotilla inexorably forward despite savage opposition and established a line of submarines to southeastward of the main Japanese stronghold at Truk. Cool and undaunted as the submarine, rocked and battered by Japanese depth-charges, sustained terrific battle damage and sank to an excessive depth, he authorized the Sculpin* to surface and engage the enemy in a gun-fight, thereby providing an opportunity for the crew to abandon ship. Determined to sacrifice himself rather than risk capture and subsequent danger of revealing plans under Japanese torture or use of drugs, he stoically remained aboard the mortally wounded vessel as she plunged to her death. Preserving the security of his mission at the cost of his own life, he had served his country as he had served the Navy, with deep integrity and an uncompromising devotion to duty. His great moral courage in the face of certain death adds new luster to the traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country." This image was published in the book "United States Submarine Losses in World War II". Medal of Honor citation for Captain John P. Cromwell (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 170):	US Navy photo # NH 51733, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
45k	Commemorative photo in honor of the memory of the crew of the Sculpin (SS-191).	Photo courtesy of Tom Kermen. Dante's Prayer courtesy of Loreena McKennitt via quinlanroad.com.
117k	The wife of a World War II U.S. submarine veteran, tosses a flower into a reflecting pool to honor the memory of one of the 52 submarines lost during World War II at the National Submarine Memorial-West on board Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif. On this Veterans Day, the Submarine Veterans of World War II transferred ownership of the memorial to the U.S. Navy. The following text is from The Coming Fury by Bruce Catton., pg. 478. "Major Sullivan Bullen of Illinois was killed in the battle, and just before it he had written to his wife, Sarah, to tell her that he believed he was going to be killed and to express a tremulous faith that could see a gleam of light in the dark: "But O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and float unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you in the gladdest days and in the gloomiest nights, always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your chest it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait, for we shall meet again!"	U.S. Navy photo # N-1159B-021 by Journalist 2nd Class Brian Brannon, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
204k	"There is a port of no return-" Captain John P. Cromwell goes down with the stricken Sculpin (SS-191) to prevent seizure and possible enemy extortion of special information confided to his care. The sea will keep his secret well, and his name will become a naval synonym for valor. "Sailor, rest your oar-" In Memorium: In the Second Book of Shmuel (Samuel), 22nd chapter, 5th through the 20th verses, translated from the original in Hebrew and published by the Koren Publishers of Jerusalem, Israel, 1982, can perhaps aptly describe the fate of the crew and all other U.S. submariners who died defending their county: "When the waves of death compassed me / the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; / the bonds of She'ol encircled me; / the snares of death took me by surprise; / in my distress I called upon the Lord, / and cried to my G-D: / and he heard my voice out of his temple, / and my cry entered into his ears. / Then the earth shook and trembled; /the foundations of heaven moved / and shook because of his anger /...the heavy mass of waters, and thick clouds of the skies /... And the channels of the sea appeared, / the foundations of the world were laid bare, / at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast at the breath of his nostrils. / He sent from above, he took me; / he drew me out of many waters; / he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. / They surprised me in the day of my calamity: / but the Lord was my stay / He brought me forth also into a large place: / he delivered me because he delighted in me./"	Drawing by Lt. Cmdr. Fred Freemen, courtesy of Theodore Roscoe, from his book "U.S. Submarine Operations of WW II", published by USNI.