Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Whale (SS-239)

Radio Call Sign: November - India - Tango - Bravo

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 28 June 1941, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 14 March 1942; Commissioned USS Whale (SS-239), 1 June 1942; Decommissioned in January 1947, at New London, CT.; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, New London; Recommissioned, 22 January 1957, at New Orleans, LA.; Decommissioned in September 1957; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 March 1960; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 29 September 1960, at New Orleans, LA. Whale earned 11 battle stars for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 t.; Length 311' 10"; Beam 27' 4"; Draft 15' 2"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Complement 6 Officers 54 Enlisted; Maximum Operating Depth, 300 ft; Submerged Endurance, 48 hrs at 2 kts; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10 kts; Fuel Capacity, 97,140 gal.; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 3"/50 dual purpose deck gun, two .50 cal machine guns, two .30 cal machine guns; Propulsion, four GM diesel, 5,400hp, electric reduction gear with four main GE generator engines, 2,740shp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws.

Size	Image Description	Source
212k	Keel laying ceremony of the Whale (SS-239) being placed on the blocks at Mare Island Navy Yard, 28 Jun 1941.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. Text courtesy of Darryl Baker.
206k	The keel of the Whale (SS-239) is shown being laid at Mare Island Navy Yard on 28 Jun 1941. The keel of the Wahoo (SS-238) had been laid on the same ways minutes before. The *Wahoo* and *Whale* were the first two ships to built on the new Building Ways Number 3 at Mare Island.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
96k	View of the Ballard's (AVD-10) after portion, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 5 January 1942. Note motor launch stowed above the main deck between the smokestack and the after deckhouse, with life rafts nearby; 3"/50 dual-purpose gun atop the after deckhouse; large propeller guards at her stern. Two submarines under construction in the background are probably Wahoo (SS-238) and Whale (SS-239).	Photograph # 19-N-26638 from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.
169k	The Wahoo (SS-238) is ready for her launching at Mare Island on 14 Feb 1942. The Whale (SS-239) is on the building ways to the right.	USN photo # 771-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
489k	The Wahoo (SS-238) is ready for launching at Mare Island Navy Yard on 14 Feb 1942. The Whale (SS-239) is on the building ways on the left and a hull section for Tinosa (SS-283) is just visible on the lower left corner of the photo. Her keel would be laid on the same ways on 21 Feb 1942. The large building in the rear of the photo is the Naval Hospital. Note: RADM Richard O'Kane has autographed the photo in the upper left corner.	USN photo # 764-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
451k	The stern of Wahoo (SS-238) is entering the water during her launching at Mare Island Navy Yard on 14 Feb 1942. The Whale (SS-239) is on the building ways on the left.	USN photo # 772-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
118k	Commandant's Order N0. 9-42 for the launching of the Whale (SS-239) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 14 Mar 1942.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
147k	Distinguished guest at the launching of Whale (SS-239) at Mare Island on 14 Mar 1942. From left to right: Capt. E. V. Reed, MC, USN; Mrs. E. V. Reed; Capt. R. A. White, USN (Ret); Mrs. R. A. White (Matron of Honor); Mrs. Charles Chillingworth; Capt. A. D. Denney, USN; Mrs. A. D. Denney (Sponsor); RADM W. L. Friedell, USN (Shipyard Commandant); Mrs., J. J. Hogan; Mrs. W. L. Friedell; Mr. Earl Warren (Attorney General of California); Mrs. Earl Warren; Major F. Stewart (Vallejo); Mrs. F. Stewart; Capt. F. G. Crisp, USN; Mrs. F. G. Crisp; Col. M. E. Shearer, USMC.	USN photo # 1357-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
170k	Mrs. R. A. White (Matron of Honor) and Mrs. A. D. Denney (Sponsor) are pictured prior to the launching of Whale (SS-239) at Mare Island on 14 Mar 1942.	USN photo # 1359-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
108k	Mrs. A. D. Denney (Sponsor) christens the Whale (SS-239) at Mare Island on 14 Mar 1942.	USN photo # 1370-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
99k	News clipping of the launching of the Whale (SS-239) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 14 Mar 1942. She was launched 11 months ahead of schedule.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
108k	Whale (SS-239) at the end of way during her launching at Mare Island on 14 Mar 1942.	USN photo # 1376-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
158k	The Whale (SS-239) is waterborne after her launching at Mare Island on 14 Mar 1942.	USN photo # 1346-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
93k	Signal flags all a flutter are wrapped around the Whale's (SS-239) fore and aft rigging as she is waterborne after her launching at Mare Island on 14 Mar 1942.	USN photo # 1362-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
23k	Commemorative postal cover marking the Whale's (SS-239) launching, 14 March 1942.	Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
20k	Commemorative postal cover marking the Whale's (SS-239) commissioning, 1 June 1942.	Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
55k	Whale (SS-239) with a modified coning tower at NAS Alameda CA., 30 July 1942.	USN Archives photo and text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, Fleet Subs of WW II", by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
243k	Commissioning ceremonies aboard Tunny (SS-282) at Mare Island on 1 Sep 42. Sunfish (SS-281) is to the right and Whale (SS-239) is in front of the *Tunny* .	USN photo # 5215-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
81k	A bow view of Whale (SS-239) off Mare Island on 21 Apr 1945. She was under going repairs at Mare Island from 26 Jan and 26 Apr 1945.	USN photo # 2879-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker and John Hummel.
35k	Starboard view of the Whale (SS-239) underway, circa 1944-45.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
130k	Port side view of the Whale (SS-239) possibly off of Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo Calif., on 26 January 1945 for an overhaul.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
213k	Stern view of Whale (SS-239) off Mare Island on 21 April 1945.	USN photo # 2877-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
209k	Bow on view of Whale (SS-239) off Mare Island on 21 April 1945.	USN photo # 2880-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
259k	Broadside view of Whale (SS-239) off Mare Island on 21 April 1945. She was in overhaul at the shipyard from 26 January until 26 April 1945.	USN photo # 2881-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
189k	Mascot of Whale (SS-239) on the shoulders of Murray Dreyus F2/c.	USN photo # 1957-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
140k	Five Atlantic Reserve Fleet subs in mothballs at New London CT., late 1940's: Pompon (SS-267), Gunnel (SS-253), Whale (SS-239), Lapon (SS-260) and unidentified sub.	Text courtesy of Dave Johnston. Photo courtesy of John Hummel.