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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch on left courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org., other patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Croaker (SS-246) (SSK-246) (AGSS-246) (IXSS-246)

Radio Call Sign: November - Foxtrot - Alpha - Golf
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 1 April 1943, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 19 December 1943; Commissioned USS Croaker (SS-246), 21 April 1944; Decommissioned, 15 May 1946, at New London, CT.; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, New London; Recommissioned, 7 May 1951; Decommissioned, 18 March 1953, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, NH, for conversion to a Hunter-Killer Submarine; Recommissioned, USS Croaker (SSK-246), 11 December 1953; Reclassified (SS-246) in August 1959; Reclassified Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS-246) in May 1967; Decommissioned, 2 April 1968; Struck from the Naval Register, 20 December 1971; Final Disposition, Reclassified Miscellaneous Unclassified Submarine (IXSS-246) in December 1971, serving as a museum ship at Buffalo NY. Croaker was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation, and received three battle stars for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,1526 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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For Full Size Image		SizeImage DescriptionSource
Croaker17kCommemorative postal cover marking the Croaker's (SS-246) commissioning, 21 April 1944.Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Croaker78kPort side view of the Croaker (SS-246), underway, circa 1944-45.US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
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.
Croaker49kPort side view of the Croaker (SSK-246), underway, circa mid 50's.US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Croaker77kCroaker (SSK-246), underway, circa mid 1950's, place unknown.Courtesy of George M. Arnold.
Croaker118kCroaker (SSK-246), stern view taken off the coast of Block Island from the stern of the yacht DeDe II while participating in NATO exercises, August 1957.Photo by Helen Wilkins, courtesy of Ron Wilkins, USCG 1966-1970.
Croaker106kCroaker (SSK-246), bow view taken off the coast of Block Island from the stern of the yacht DeDe II while participating in NATO exercises, August 1957.Photo by Helen Wilkins, courtesy of Ron Wilkins, USCG 1966-1970.
Croaker32kCroaker (SSK-246),in its new berth at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, NY. Courtesy of Historic Naval Ships Association (hnsa.org)
Croaker64kCroaker (SSK-246), on display as a museum ship at Buffalo, NY, 14 September 2002.© Dick Leonhardt.
Croaker39kCroaker (SSK-246), on display as a museum ship at Buffalo, NY, 14 September 2002.© Dick Leonhardt.
Croaker55kCroaker (SSK-246), on display as a museum ship at Buffalo, NY, 14 September 2002. Wreath was laid by the US Submarine Veterans WWII.© Dick Leonhardt.
Croaker67kCroaker (SSK-246), on display as a museum ship at Buffalo, NY, 14 September 2002. After Torpedo Room© Dick Leonhardt.
Croaker132kCroaker (SSK-246), on display as a museum ship at Buffalo, NY, 14 September 2002. Forward Torpedo Room© Dick Leonhardt.
Croaker107kCroaker (SSK-246), on display as a museum ship at Buffalo, NY, 14 September 2002. Crews Mess© Dick Leonhardt.
Croaker222kCroaker (SSK-246), forward, starboard view, in its new berth at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park in Buffalo, NY. Location is new as of this past year when it was moved twice, most recently this past summer. This will be its permanent berth. She sits with The Sulliavns DDG-68 aft, and the Little Rock CL-92 / CLG-4 to port. The following 4 photos were taken on 18 September 2003.Courtesy of Bruce McCausland.
Croaker186kCroaker (SSK-246), starboard aft view.Courtesy of Bruce McCausland.
Croaker236kCroaker (SSK-246), topside, looking forward.Courtesy of Bruce McCausland.
Croaker194kCroaker (SSK-246), viewed port aft from the Little Rock CL-92 / CLG-4.Courtesy of Bruce McCausland.
View the Croaker (SS-246 / SSK-246)
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 Croaker (SS/SSK-246)
Historic Naval Ships Guide - USS Croaker (SS-246 later SSK-246)
Buffalo Naval Park - USS Croaker (SS-246, Later SSK-246)
Full Fathom Five, U.S. Submarine War Against Japan
Back To The Main Photo IndexBack To the Submarine Index

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