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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Cavalla (SS-244) (SSK-244) (AGSS-244)

Radio Call Sign: November - Bravo - Papa - Sierra

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons


Presidential Unit Citation
Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 4 March 1943, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 14 November 1943; Commissioned USS Cavalla (SS-244), 29 February 1944; Decommissioned, 16 March 1946, at New London, CT.; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, New London Group; Recommissioned, 10 April 1951; Decommissioned, 3 September 1952; Redesignated Hunter-Killer Submarine (SSK-244), 18 February 1953; Recommissioned, 15 July 1953; Redesignated (SS-244), 15 August 1959; Reclassified Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS-244) in July 1963; Decommissioned, and struck from the Naval Register, 30 December 1969; Final Disposition, donated, 21 January 1971, for display as a permanent submarine museum at Seawolf Park, Galveston, TX.. Cavalla was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and four battle stars for World War II service.

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, 5,400HP, Fuel Capacity, 97,140 gal., four General Electric main motors, 2,740HP, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws.
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Barbel 321k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the twin launching of the Barbel (SS-316) & Cavalla (SS-244) 14 November 1943 at Electric Boat Co, Groton, Connecticut, at Electric Boat Co, Groton, Connecticut.Photo courtesy of usmilitariaforum.com.
Photo added 04/14/13.
Cavalla98kThe start of a long journey for the Cavalla (SS-244), as she slides down the lauching ways at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 14 November 1943. US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Cavalla149kWith her wake streaming behind, the Cavalla (SS-244), heads into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, circa 1945. US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Cavalla117k Cavalla (SS-244), makes her way into port, circa 1945. US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Cavalla821kWar patrol history, flags streaming from Cavalla's (SS-244) mast. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Cavalla13kCavalla (SS-244), underway, circa 1945.Courtesy of Lester Palifka.
Archerfish 95k Proteus (AS-19) with submarines of Submarine Squadron 20 alongside in Tokyo Bay, on VJ-Day, 2 September 1945. Names of the submarines present, their commanding officers and the commanding officers of SubRon20 and Proteus are printed at the bottom of the image:
Archerfish (SS-311),
Cavalla (SS-244),
Gato (SS-212),
Haddo (SS-255),
Muskallunge (SS-262),
Pilotfish (SS-386),
Razorback (SS-394),
Runner (SS-476),
Segundo (SS-398),
Sea Cat (SS-399),
and Tigrone (SS-419).
 Courtesy of Captain Joseph F. Enright, USN(Retired), 1979. US Navy photo # NH 95019, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Cavalla53kCavalla (SS-244), at extreme right of a line of submarines at rest at their base in New London, Connecticut, in 1946. Periscopes and propellers have been removed and stored. The engines preserved, and the electrolyte has been drained from the batteries. dehumidifiers have been set up to keep the interior of the boats tight and dry. Note the familiar light metal ("Igloos") covering the deck 5" deck gun of Cavalla and her sisters.Text i.d. courtesy of John Hummel.
USN photo from The American Submarine, by Norman Polmar, submitted by Robert Hurst.
Archerfish 279k Line up of decommissioned subs at Groton, CT., circa 1947. From left to right:Archerfish (SS-311), Flasher (SS-249), Cobia (SS-245), Croaker (SS-246), Drum (SS-228) & what looks like the Cavalla (SS-244). U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Jack Treutle. Photo i.d. courtesy of Ric Hedman.
Cavalla107kCavalla (SSK-244) as SSK 1 September 1953. Photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Cavalla788kBow view of the Cavalla (AGSS-244) as she appeared on 1 September 1953. USN photo # 80g 199164 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Cavalla2.07kSix page Welcome Aboard PDF of the Cavalla (AGSS-244). Photos courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Grouper299kNothing like going on a vacation to Bermuda. The Blenny (SS-324), Grouper (SS-214) & Cavalla (SS-244) appear here sometime after 1953. Photo courtesy of John Hummell.
Cavalla117kCavalla (SS-244), portside view underway, circa post 50's.Courtesy of John Hummel.
Groton 226k Busy piers at lower base in Groton shows a few SSKs, 1957.
From left to right, unidentifed sub,
Toro (SS-422),
Irex (SS-482),
unidentifed sub,
Trout (SS-566),
Bergall (SS-320),
Sea Owl (SS-405),
Cavalla (SS-244),
& Sea Robin (SS-407), & Piper (SS-409).
The rest of the subs are too far away for positive identification. 		Text courtesy of Dave Johnston.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Mike Brood. USN photo courtesy of Submarine Force Library, courtesy of Ken Hart.
Cavalla59kCavalla (AGSS-244), underway in Hampton Roads( Norfolk) for the 1957 fleet review.Courtesy of Lester Palifka.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Norris ETC(SS) Retired.
Cavalla205kCavalla (SS-244) goes out on an op some time in 1960.US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Chuck Norris ETC(SS) Retired.
Cavalla29kCavalla (SS-244), on permanent display at Seawolf Park, Galveston, TX.© Richard Leonhardt, 23 May 2002
Cavalla109k View of the Cavalla (SS-244) in the control room looking from fwd port to aft stbd at an IC switchboard and the high and low pressure air manifolds across the top of the chart table wit the gyro compass binacle under it. The ladder to the conning tower can be seen on the right. Text courtesy of Ric Hedman TN(SS), Webmaster. Photo courtesy © Richard Leonhardt, 23 May 2002.
Cavalla47kCavalla (SS-244), on permanent display at Seawolf Park, Galveston, TX.Courtesy of Lester Palifka.
Hurricane Ike359kThe aftermath on Seawolf Park [location of Stewart (DE-238) and Cavalla (SS-244)] from Hurricane Ike. The Stewart was partially refloated from her dry berth by the storm surge and was left in her current, listing position. It also appears that Cavalla was partially refloated out of her dry berth as well (since the waterline is far more exposed than before), and the sail from Tautog (SSN-639) was tipped over.U.S. Navy photo # N-6575H-603 by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Chris Hoffpauir & submitted by Douglas Brown.
Hurricane Ike26kBow on view of Hurricane Ike's visit.Courtesy of images.chron.com.
Cavalla5.09kNinety one page PDF of the Cavalla (SS-244) as she appears at Seawolf Park, Galveston, TX. Photos courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
View the Cavalla (SS / SSK / AGSS-244)
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
Navsource Submarine Cavalla (SS-244) Special Feature
USS Cavalla
Historic Naval Ships Visitors Guide - USS Cavalla (SS-244)
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
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