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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Cero (SS-225)

Radio Call Sign: November - Bravo - Mike - Juliet
Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 24 August 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 4 April 1943; Commissioned USS Cero (SS-225), 04 July 1943; Decommissioned, 8 June 1946, at New London, CT.; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; Recommissioned, 4 February 1952, at New London; Decommissioned, 23 December 1953; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; Struck from the Naval Register, 30 June 1967; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 30 June 1967. Cero received seven battle stars for her World War II service. Partial Data i.d courtesy of Charles Robertson a.k.a. Stephen Atkins.

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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Cero 26k The Cero Mackerel Scomberomorus regalis. Photo courtesy of fishsouthwestflorida.com.
Cero 114k Postal cover marking the keel laying of the Cero (SS-225). (Note post mark on 23 Aug 1942) at Electric Boat, Groton, CT.
Courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Bonefish 288k Topside looking forward of the Bonefish (SS-223), on the building ways at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 7 March 1943.
Also under construction from right to left are the Cod (SS-224), Cero (SS-225), & at extreme right Corvina (SS-226).
Directly under the photographer would have been the #1 way at the Old North Yard, which on 7 March would have been occupied by the keel of Sealion (SS-315).		 Electric Boat Co / US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org. Text i.d. courtesy of Dave Johnston.
Cero 126k Cero (SS-225) sliding down the launching ways at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 4 April 1943.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Cero 130k Postal cover marking the launching of the Cero (SS-225) on 4 April 1943 at Electric Boat, Groton, CT.
Courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Cero 32k Commemorative postal cover marking the Cero's (SS-225) commissioning on 4 July 1943.
 Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Cero 27k Commemorative postal cover marking the Cero's (SS-225) first day in commission, 4 July 1943.
 Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Cero 47k Portside bow view of the Cero (SS-225), during her shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Cero 197k Commissioning party of the Cero's (SS-225) crew, family and friends at Polly's Inn, off West Norwich Road, Montville, CT., 4 July 1943.
Photo courtesy of Stephen Atkins.
Cero 75k Crewmen relaxing on folding bunks in one of the Cero's (SS-225) torpedo rooms, while she was at New London, Connecticut, in August 1943. Photographed by Lieutenant Commander Charles Fenno Jacobs, USNR.
Official US Navy photo, # 80-G-415497, now in the collections of the National Archives.
Cero 198k Forward torpedo tubes of the Cero (SS-225), during a simulated torpedo attack, while at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base in August 1943. Photographed by a member of Edward Steichen's unit.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Cero 91k Commander David C. White, the submarine's Commanding Officer, on the bridge during Cero's (SS-225) shakedown period, August 1943. Photographed in the New London, Connecticut, area by Commander Edward Steichen, USNR.
Official US Navy photo, # 80-G-468715, now in the collections of the National Archives.
Cero 143k Commander David C. White, the submarine's Commanding Officer, on the bridge during Cero's (SS-225) shakedown period, August 1943. Photographed in the New London, Connecticut, area by Commander Edward Steichen, USNR.
 US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Cero 78k Scene in the conning tower during a simulated torpedo attack, while at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base in August 1943.Photographed by a member of Edward Steichen's unit. Commander David C. White, the Cero's (SS-225) Commanding Officer is at the periscope (right). In the center is the Executive Officer, Lieutenant Commander David H. McClintock.
Official US Navy photo, # 80-G-K-16012, now in the collections of the National Archives.
Cero 398k Conning tower scene of a U.S. submarine, quite possibly the Cero (SS-225), August 1943. NARA FILE #: 080-G-468524, photographed by Comdr. Edward J. Steichen. Photo # HD-SN-99-02605, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil, Defense Visual Information Center.
Cero 97k Officers eating in the submarine's Wardroom, served by their Stewards, during Cero's (SS-225) shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base. Photographed by Charles Fenno Jacobs. Officers present are (from left to right): Lieutenant Commander David H. McClintock; Commander David C. White, Commanding Officer; Lieutenant Charles D. Nace.
Official US Navy photo, # 80-G-K-15541, now in the collections of the National Archives.
Cero 44k Lookouts on the bridge of the Cero (SS-225), and her 4"/50 deck gun, during her shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Cero 153k View of the bridge of the Cero (SS-225), and her 4"/50 deck gun, during her shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Cero 1.m Cero's (SS-225) officers pour over a map during her shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base. USN photo # 80g-468689 by Cdr. Edward J. Steichen, from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert, Webmaster & Editor ModelWarships.com
Photo added 03/13/11.
Cero 766k Let the compass be your guide on Cero (SS-225), during her shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base. USN photo # 80g-468691 by Cdr. Edward J. Steichen, from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert, Webmaster & Editor ModelWarships.com
Photo added 03/13/11.
Cero 47k Port side view of the Cero (SS-225), during her shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Cero 45k Officers & lookouts on the bridge of the Cero (SS-225), during her shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Cero 185k Cero (SS-225), helmsmen, during her shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Cero 216k Bow planesman on the Cero (SS-225), during her shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Cero 85k Planesmen on the Cero (SS-225), during her shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org
Cero 134k Relaying commands to quick firing 20mm gun crew aboard the Cero (SS-225), during her shakedown period, circa July-August 1943, at the Groton, Connecticut, Submarine Base.
US Navy photo, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil, Defense Visual Information Center.
Cero 181k Bow on view of Cero (SS-225), in the Mare Island channel on 13 Feb 1945.
US Navy Photo # 1107-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Cero 219k Broadside view of Cero (SS-225) off Mare Island on 13 Feb 1945. Official shipyard records state that Cero was in overhaul at the yard from 5 Dec 44 until 26 Feb 45.
US Navy Photo # 1110-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Cero 194k Stern view of Cero (SS-225) departing Mare Island on 13 Feb 1945.
US Navy Photo # 1112-45, 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.
Sand Lance245k Bow on view of Sand Lance (SS-381) off Mare Island on 26 Feb 1945.
In the background is a stern view of either Snapper (SS-185), Cero (SS-225), & Raton (SS-270). All were out in the bay that day. 		USN photo # 1445-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Cero 160k Portside view of the Cero (SS-225), taken in 1945. Most likely pulling in to top off her tanks at Midway.
US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org. Text info courtesy of Tom Horn (son of Clarence Durwood "Durwood" Horn, 1925-1961).
Cero 46k The Cero's (SS-225) battle flag is painted on the conning tower. It consists of the:
Cero Fish with a torpedo in its mouth exploding into the hull of an enemy ship:
4 Jap warship flags sunk or damaged.
16 Jap merchant vessels flags sunk or damaged.
The five Japanese flags with just the meatball are for Merchant ships sunk by torpedo fire. [This was also what JANAC lists for Cero.]
The 11 other jap flags with the meatball and the black line are for other Jap merchant vessels that were hit by torpedo fire and presumed to be either sunk or heavily damaged. These were not visually confirmed as on many of Cero's attacks she had no time to confirm due to depth charge counterattack.
Air force wing symbol for 5 airmen rescued.
The 7 black round symbols are for floating mines destroyed by machine gun or 20 MM AA gun.
A lighthouse, for the Sheria Saki Lighthouse costal radar station that Cero shelled with her 5” deck gun on the final 8th patrol.
The conning tower photo was taken in New Orleans or Pearl. The contributor, Thomas M.Quatrale is the one 4th from left under number 5. He was aboard Cero for her 2nd thru 8th and final war patrol serving as Electricians mate 2nd class. 		US Navy photo & text courtesy of Thomas M.Quatrale via his son, Jim Quatrale. Photo courtesy of Japanese Coast Guard via unc.edu.
Cero 73k Starboard side view of the Cero (SSG-225), taken at Belle Isle in Detroit, where she was a training vessel, circa early- to mid-60s. She had been reclassed SSG before that. When she was a training boat, she never left the dock; she was re-fitted with some kind of weatherized structure just aft of the sail (which you can see in the photo), she got all of her power from land lines, and I think that most of what the crews did aboard her then were simulated dives, simulated torpedo firings, etc.
 US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org Text info courtesy of Tom Horn (son of Clarence Durwood "Durwood" Horn, 1925-1961).
View the Cero (SS-225)
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
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