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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Greenling (SS-213)

Radio Call Sign: November - Echo - Golf - Victor

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons


Presidential Unit Citation
Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 12 November 1940, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 20 September 1941; Commissioned USS Greenling (SS-213), 21 January 1942, at New London, CT.; Decommissioned, 16 October 1946, at New London, CT.; Placed in service as a Naval Reserve training vessel at Portsmouth, NH, and Boston, MA; Placed out of service, 18 March 1960, at Boston Naval Shipyard, Boston, MA.; Struck from the Naval Register, (date unknown); Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 16 June 1960, to Minichiello Brothers, Chelsea, MA. Greenling received ten battle stars for World War II service and a Presidential Unit Citation.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 t.; Length 311' 9"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Complement 6 Officers 54 Enlisted; Operating Depth, 300 ft; Submerged Endurance, 48 hrs at 2 kts; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10 kts; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 3"/50 deck gun, two .50 cal. machine guns, two .30 cal. machine guns; Propulsion, diesel electric reduction gear with four General Motors main generator engines, HP 5400, Fuel Capacity, 97,140 gals., four General Electric main motors, HP 2740, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin propellers.
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For Full Size Image		Size Image Description Source
213 75k Launching of the Greenling (SS-213) at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 20 September 1941. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
213 20k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of Greenling's (SS-213) launching at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 20 September 1941. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
213 20k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of Greenling's (SS-213) launching at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 20 September 1941. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
213 45k Commissioning photo of the Greenling (SS-213) at rest at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 21 January 1942. Courtesy of subnet.com
213 20k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of Greenling's (SS-213) commissioning at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 21 January 1942. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
213 49k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of Greenling's (SS-213) commissioning at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 21 January 1942. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
213 231k Greenling (SS-213) profile. US Navy photo, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
213 78k Submarine gun crew in action! Manning a 4-incher, these deep-seamen are duelling on the surface. Hot-shell man removes shell case as the third loader passses up shell.Greenling's (SS-213) gunners staged a similar scene, night in April 1942. Text & photo courtesy of Theodore Roscoe, from his book "U.S. Submarine Operations of WW II", published by USNI.
MINSY 196k Greenling (SS-213) departed on her second war patrol 10 July 1942. One of the first submarines to operate in the Truk area, she now joined in the undersea blockade of that important base, in an attempt to cut its supply lines to Japan. After damaging ships 26 and 29 July Greenling sank transport Brasil Maru off Truk, and just after midnight the same night attacked cargo ship Palau Maru, which she torpedoed and sank. Text courtesy of DANFS.
Photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp.
Photo added 10/03/11.
213 11k Greenling (SS-213), underway, circa 1942-45, location unknown. Courtesy of subnet.com
Grant 161k CDR. James Donald Livingston Grant was the commanding officer of the Greenling (SS-213) from Feb. 1943 to May 1944 taking her out on four was patrols. Photo from the Alaska (CB-1) cruise book & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
MINSY 208k Greenling (SS-213) on 17 May 1943 cleared Brisbane to conduct her sixth war patrol in the Solomons-New Guinea area, long the scene of bitter sea and land fighting. During this patrol she damaged ships 9 June, 10 June, and 27 June, but was unable to record a sinking because of heavy escort activity. She returned to Brisbane 8 July 1943. Text courtesy of DANFS.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo added 10/03/11.
Flounder 62k Greenling (SS-213) & Flounder (SS-251), circa 1944-45.
 Photo courtesy of F.A. Knittle & Tami Murphree.
MINSY 306k This is a Safety Department photo showing the temporary staging used on submarines during their overhauls at the yard. The submarines are Greenling (SS-213) and Raton (SS-270). View looking forward.
Text on photos reads:"Good housekeeping and safety gear aboard subs. Walkways provide access to all portions of the boat." Photo taken on 22 Feb. 1945. 		US Navy Photo # MINSY 1371-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
MINSY 319k This is a Safety Department photo showing the temporary staging used on submarines during their overhauls at the yard. The submarines are Greenling (SS-213) and Raton (SS-270). View looking aft.
Text on photos reads:"Good housekeeping and safety gear aboard subs. Walkways provide access to all portions of the boat." Photo taken on 22 Feb. 1945. 		US Navy Photo # MINSY 1375-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tambor 201k Forward plan view of Tambor (SS-198) at Mare Island on 24 Feb 1945. Shipyard records indicate that Ray (SS-271) and Greenling (SS-213) were berthed immediately aft of Tambor and behind these two boats were Cero (SS-225) and Raton (SS-270).
US Navy Photo # 1398-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
213 246k Stern view of Greenling (SS-213) entering the Mare Island channel on 3 May 45. US Navy Photo # 3267-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
213 225k Broadside view of Greenling (SS-213) off Mare Island on 3 May 45. She was in overhaul at the yard from 20 Feb until 7 May 45. US Navy Photo # 3269-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
213 187k Bow on view of Greenling (SS-213) off Mare Island on 3 May 45. US Navy Photo # 3271-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
213 56k Greenling (SS-213) at Mare Island, CA, 3 May 1945. US Navy Photo # 3270-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
213 645k WW II battleflag of the Greenling (SS-213). USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
213 & 235 76k Greenling (SS-213), and Shad (SS-235), at Boston in 1961 awaiting scrapping. © Richard Leonhardt.
View the Greenling (SS-213)
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
Combat Heritage Greenling (SS 213)
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
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