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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Kingfish (SS-234)

Radio Call Sign: November - Bravo - Juliet - Charlie
Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 29 August 1941, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH; Launched, 2 March 1942; Commissioned USS Kingfish (SS-234), 20 May 1942; Decommissioned, 9 March 1946; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 March 1960; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 6 October 1960, to Albert Heller. Kingfish received nine battle stars for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,410 t.; Length 311' 10"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 2"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Complement 6 officers, 54 enlished; 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 Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, 5400 hp, Fuel Capacity, 94,400 gals., four Elliot Motor Co., electric motors, 2740 hp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws.
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Kingfish 21k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the keel laying of the Kingfish (SS-234), 29 August 1941, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Kingfish 22k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the keel laying of the Kingfish (SS-234), 29 August 1941, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH. Courtesy of Jack Treutle. Photo added 11/30/06.
Kingfish 145k The crew of the Kingfish (SS-234) salute the National Ensign as she slides down the launching ways at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH; at 12:40 PM on 2 March 1942. US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
Kingfish 180k The crew of the Kingfish (SS-234) line the rails as she slides down the launching ways at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH; at 12:40 PM on 2 March 1942. US Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
Kingfish 18k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Kingfish's (SS-234) first day in commission, 5 May 1942. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Kingfish 99k Broadside view of the Kingfish (SS-234) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 5 June 1943. She was in overhaul at the yard from 2 April until 16 June 1943. USN / Mare Island photo # 4213-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Kingfish 104k Broadside view of the Kingfish (SS-234) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 5 June 1943. She was in overhaul at the yard from 2 April until 16 June 1943. USN / Mare Island photo # 4215-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Kingfish 138k Wearing overall black paint, the Kingfish (SS-234), is seen here in this June 7, 1943 photo at Mare Island CA., for a refit. At this time, the standard practice was to paint the boats in this measure. Photo and text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
Kingfish 272k Stern view of Kingfish (SS-234) off Mare Island on 3 Sep 1944. The barge YC-293 is to her starboard side. USN / Mare Island photo # 5668-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Kingfish 270k Amidship plan view looking aft of Kingfish (SS-234) off Mare Island on 3 Sep 1944. The barge YC-293 is to her port side. USN / Mare Island photo # 5669-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Kingfish 195k Broadside view of Kingfish (SS-234) off Mare Island on 8 Sep 1944. She was in overhaul from 28 Jun until 13 Sep 1944. USN / Mare Island photo # 5645-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Kingfish 189k Bow on view of Kingfish (SS-234) in the Mare Island channel on 8 Sep 1944. USN / Mare Island photo # 5643-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Kingfish 246k Stern view of Kingfish (SS-234) off Mare Island on 8 Sep 1944. She was in overhaul from 28 Jun until 13 Sep 1944. USN / Mare Island photo # 5647-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Kingfish 18k Kingfish (SS-234), portside view underway, circa WW II. Courtesy of subnet.org.
Kingfish 97k Kingfish (SS-234), port side view, at East Boston in 1961 awaiting scrapping © Richard Leonhardt.
Kingfish 88k Kingfish (SS-234), starboard side view, at Boston in 1961 awaiting scrapping. © Richard Leonhardt.
View the Kingfish (234)
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

USS Kingfish SS 234
Full Fathom Five, U.S. Submarine War Against Japan
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