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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Growler (SS-215)

Radio Call Sign: November - Charlie - Bravo - Papa

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 10 February 1941, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 22 November 1941; Commissioned USS Growler (SS-215), 20 March 1942; Reported lost to enemy action , 8 November 1944; Growler received eight battle stars for her service in World War II.

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.

Size	Image Description	Contributed By/ Source
300k	Letter by the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, to Mrs. Robert L. Ghormley, asking her to be the Growler's (SS-215) sponsor at her launching, 22 November 1941 at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.	Photo courtesy of three generations of Ghormley's: Mrs. Robert L. Ghormley (wife of Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley) who commissioned the submarine. She passed it to her son, Cdr. Robert L. Ghormley, Jr. (USNA, class of '48, retired), who in turn passed his daughter, Louise Ghormley Lamb. Submitted by TR Lamb.
186k	The Sponsor of the Growler (SS-215), Mrs. Robert L. Ghormley stands next to Admiral Charles A. Dunn on 22 November 1941 at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.	USN - Electric Boat photo courtesy of three generations of Ghormley's: Mrs. Robert L. Ghormley (wife of Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley) who commissioned the submarine. She passed it to her son, Cdr. Robert L. Ghormley, Jr. (USNA, class of '48, retired), who in turn passed his daughter, Louise Ghormley Lamb. Submitted by TR Lamb.
339k	Copy of the bottle used by Mrs. Robert L. Ghormley, Growler's (SS-215) sponsor at her launching, 22 November 1941 at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.	Photo courtesy of three generations of Ghormley's: Mrs. Robert L. Ghormley (wife of Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley) who commissioned the submarine. She passed it to her son, Cdr. Robert L. Ghormley, Jr. (USNA, class of '48, retired), who in turn passed his daughter, Louise Ghormley Lamb. Submitted by TR Lamb.
339k	Growler's (SS-215) data plaque at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.	Photo courtesy of three generations of Ghormley's: Mrs. Robert L. Ghormley (wife of Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley) who commissioned the submarine. She passed it to her son, Cdr. Robert L. Ghormley, Jr. (USNA, class of '48, retired), who in turn passed his daughter, Louise Ghormley Lamb. Submitted by TR Lamb.
1.1mb	The Growler (SS-215) slides down the ways on 22 November 1941 at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.	USN - Electric Boat photo courtesy of three generations of Ghormley's: Mrs. Robert L. Ghormley (wife of Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley) who commissioned the submarine. She passed it to her son, Cdr. Robert L. Ghormley, Jr. (USNA, class of '48, retired), who in turn passed his daughter, Louise Ghormley Lamb. Submitted by TR Lamb.
615k	The Growler (SS-215) is towed to dock by the tug *Aogtoncik* (?)on 22 November 1941 at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.	USN - Electric Boat photo courtesy of three generations of Ghormley's: Mrs. Robert L. Ghormley (wife of Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley) who commissioned the submarine. She passed it to her son, Cdr. Robert L. Ghormley, Jr. (USNA, class of '48, retired), who in turn passed his daughter, Louise Ghormley Lamb. Submitted by TR Lamb.
69k	Growler (SS-215) being towed to dock by tugs immediately following her launching on 22 November 1941 at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.	Courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org. / Electric Boat.
91k	Growler (SS-215) in post launch yard fitout at Electric Boat (EB) some time late '41 or early '42. What appears to be shore line in the background is the construction shed over the ways at EB	Courtesy of MMCM (SS) Greg Peterman, USN Retired, & Ric Hedmen.
62k	U.S. Naval Submarine Base, New London, Groton, Connecticut: Members of the 4th Command Class at the Submarine Base, February 1942. Those present are, bottom row left to right: Lieutenant Commander Mannert L. Abele; first command would be the Grunion (SS-216). He would be K.I.A. while commmanding the *Grunion, 30 July 1942. Lieutenant Commander Thomas B. Klakring; first command would be the Guardfish* (SS-217), Commander Karl G. Hensel, Officer in Charge; Lieutenant Commander George W. Patterson, Jr., Senior Assistant; and Lieutenant Commander Jesse L. Hull; first command would be the Finback (SS-230). Top row, left to right: Lieutenant Commander Howard W. Gilmore; first command would be the Growler (SS-215). He was postumously awarded the Medal of Honor after he was K.I.A. on the bridge of the *Growler, 7 February 1943. Lieutenant Commander Philip H. Ross; first command would be the Halibut* (SS-232), Lieutenant Commander Arthur H. Taylor; first command would be the Haddock (SS-231), Lieutenant Commander Albert C. Burrows; first command would be the Swordfish (SS-193) and Lieutenant Commander Leonard S. Mewhinney; first command would be the Saury (SS-189).	Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-88577, now in the collections of the National Archives. Courtesy of the USNHC. Photo added 10/01/07.
57k	Growler (SS-215) off Groton CT, 21 February 1942.	US Navy photo from DANFS, courtesy of Joe Radigan, MACM, USN Ret.
28k	Commemorative postal cover marking the Growler's (SS-215) commissioning at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, 20 March 1942.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
21k	Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. Vertical aerial view of the drydock area, 28 July 1942. Floating drydock *YFD-2* is at left, with Alywin (DD-355) inside. Small drydock in center holds Growler (SS-215) and Nautilus (SS-168). Litchfield (DD-336) and an ARD floating drydock are in Drydock # 2, in right center. Drydock # 1, at right, contains West Virginia (BB-48). Submarines partially visible alongside 1010 Dock, in the extreme upper right, are Trout (SS-202) and Pollack (SS-180). Note anti-torpedo nets and booms protecting this area.	Official U.S. Navy Photograph, # NH 83998, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of The Honorable James V. Forrestal.
22k	Growler (SS-215) underway, May, 1943. Note 3" gun mounted forward.	US Navy photo. Images from "U.S. Warships of World War Two", courtesy of Mike Green.
37k	Growler's (SS-215) Commander H.W. Gilmore, who was postumously awarded the Medal of Honor.	Courtesy of Theodore Roscoe, from his book "U.S. Submarine Operations of WW II", published by USNI.
231k	"Take her down!" Commander H.W. Gilmore, wounded on Growler's (SS-215) bridge, makes heroic sacrifice by ordering an immeadiate dive. The submarine, badly damaged by collision by the 900 ton Japanese cargo ship *Hayasaki* bearing down on the upper left side of the drawing, was saved. In giving up his life for his ship, Commander Gilmore followed the highest traditions of naval service.	Drawing by Lt. Cmdr. Fred Freemen, Courtesy of Theodore Roscoe, from his book "U.S. Submarine Operations of WW II", published by USNI.
58k	At the Submarine Base at New Farm, the Growler's (SS-215) main hull is pointed towards the CSR Sugar Refinery across the Brisbane River but her battered bow is pointing towards Hawthorne.	Courtesy of home.st.net.au.
49k	Growler (SS-215) at Brisbane after ramming the 900 ton Japanese cargo ship *Hayasaki, The front 25 feet of the bow was bent over in the collision, but the pressure hull was not damaged. While being riddled with machine gun fire, the wounded Capt Gilmore ordered the Growler* to dive. "Take her down," were his orders to his crew. They dove with him and several others who had been killed still on the bridge. Gilmore was awarded the Medal of Honor for this action.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman (TN)SS.
52k	The Growler (SS-215) at the submarine base in Brisbane showing officers and repairmen discussing just where to slice away the boat's bow.	Photo from War Under The Pacific, by K.Wheeler, and submitted courtesy of Robert Hurst.
61k	Growler (SS-215) gets a new bow in Brisbane. Heroic work by Cdr. Schade and crew got battered submarine home. Miraculos job by repair forces put *Growler* once more in action.	Courtesy of Theodore Roscoe, from his book "U.S. Submarine Operations of WW II", published by USNI.
61k	Oil on canvas by the artist McClelland Barclay entitled Growler (SS-215)May 1943. This painting was presented to the U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum in Groton, Connecticut after the War by Commodore James Fife where it remains on display today. The inscription in the lower right reads: "For Captain J. Fife, USN and his shipmates with my admiration and gratitude for their many kindnesses- McClelland Barclay USNR Southwest Pacific 1943". "When the Australians replaced our damaged bow they put two little kangaroos there - as a sort of figure-head. It is now our most prized distinctive marking." Quoted by LCDR Arnold F. Schade	Text & Photo # 2004-71-1 courtesy of the U.S. Naval Historical Center.
61k	Growler (SS-215) Citation for Commander Gilmore.	Courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
161k	The battleflag of the Growler (SS-215) showing her tally score of ship's kills.	Courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
42k	In memory of the Growler (SS-215).	Photo courtesy of Tom Kermen.
33k	Map area showing the general location around Mindoro where the Growler (SS-215) was believed to be at the time of her loss.	Photo courtesy of sailwx.info.
62k	Drawing of the Japanese *Shiratsuyu class* destroyer *Shigure, which, along with the escort vessel Chiburi, and Coast Defense Vessel No. 19, sank the Growler* (SS-215).	Courtesy of combinedfleet.com.
27k	Thomas Benjamin Oakley, Jr.,Commander (Commanding Officer) of the Growler (SS-215) at the time of her loss.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of oneternalpatrol.com.
184k	N.Y. Times article from 2 Feb. 1945 on the loss of the Growler (SS-215).	Photo courtesy of three generations of Ghormley's: Mrs. Robert L. Ghormley (wife of Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley) who commissioned the submarine. She passed it to her son, Cdr. Robert L. Ghormley, Jr. (USNA, class of '48, retired), who in turn passed his daughter, Louise Ghormley Lamb. Submitted by TR Lamb.
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.
275k	Robert Helmes, a Pearl Harbor Survivor, places a lei on the Growler (SS-215) plaque during a Veterans' Day service held at the Naval Submarine Memorial on 11 Nov. 2004.	U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 2nd Class Corwin Colbert, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
31k	Growler (SS-215) off Hunter's Point, near San Francisco, CA., 1 Feb. 1944. In about 9 months her entire crew would be M.I.A. 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./"	Courtesy of Hyperwar in WW II.