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| Click On Image For Full Size Image | Size | Image Description | Source | |||||||||||
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 | 109k | The Croaker (SS-246) was spawned here. | Photo from the Photo Essay How To Build A Submarine at Electric Boat Co. New London, Conn. Photographer: Bernard Hoffman, courtesy of Life. | |||||||||||
 | 17k | Commemorative postal cover marking the Croaker's (SS-246) commissioning, 21 April 1944. | Courtesy of Jack Treutle. | |||||||||||
 | 294k |
1. R-15 (SS-92) is present. 2. S-14 (SS-119) is present. 3. There is a third Government design S-boat at the top of the photo, one that has a stern torpedo tube. The boat is riding a little high, and the tube can just be seen, right at the waterline. 4. The fleet boat is a EB design Mod 3 Gato. Here is what can be reasonably inferred from the facts: 1. The photo was taken during WWII. 2. The photo was probably taken in New London. R-15 and S-14 operated exclusively in the Atlantic during the war, as did all of the Government design S-boats. 3. Assuming New London for a location, R-15 and S-14 were both there starting in April 1944. 4. Using April 1944 for a rough date, that narrows the choices of fleet boats considerably. It would have to be a late construction EB Gato. Only Cavalla (SS-244), Cobia (SS-245), and Croaker (SS-246), all built at the Victory Yard downstream would have been present in April 44. Croaker was actually the last Gato built by EB. All the other EB ways were already cranking out Balaos at this time. In fact, the first three EB Balaos had already been commissioned by this date. 5.S-48 (SS-159) was one of the eight Government design S-boats with a stern torpedo tube. Of the eight, only S-11 (SS-116) to 13 (SS-118), and S-48 were still in existence, the others had all been scrapped prior to the war. S-11, 12, and 13 operated exclusively in the Caribbean at this time. So, to sum up: the photo was taken approximately April 1944 in New London, the fleet boat could be Cavalla, Cobia, or Croaker (and I would lean heavily to Croaker), and the S-boat at the top is probably S-48. | Photo i.d. courtesy of Dave Johnston (USNR), Ric Hedman , John Hummel & Robert Morgan. Text courtesy of Dave Johnston (USNR). US Navy photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com. |
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 | 78k | Port side view of the Croaker (SS-246), underway, circa 1944-45. | US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. | |||||||||||
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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. | |||||||||||
 | 113k | Broadside & starboard quarter view of the Croaker (SSK-246) in 1/192 scale, solid cast resin. | Model & photo courtesy of Mel Douyette & coldwarsubmarines.com
 49k | Port side view of the Croaker (SSK-246), underway, circa mid 50's. | US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. |
 82k | Croaker (SSK-246) in Valletta Harbour, Malta, circa 1956. | Photo by A. & J. Pavia & text from Jane's Fighting Ships, 1956-57 submitted by Robert Hurst. | |
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 | 77k | Croaker (SSK-246), underway, circa mid 1950's, place unknown. | Courtesy of George M. Arnold. | |||||||||||
 | 118k | Croaker (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. | |||||||||||
 | 106k | Croaker (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. | |||||||||||
 | 64k | Croaker (SSK-246), on display as a museum ship at Buffalo, NY, 14 September 2002. | © Dick Leonhardt. | |||||||||||
 | 55k | Croaker (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. | |||||||||||
 | 67k | Croaker (SSK-246), on display as a museum ship at Buffalo, NY, 14 September 2002. After Torpedo Room | © Dick Leonhardt. | |||||||||||
 | 132k | Croaker (SSK-246), on display as a museum ship at Buffalo, NY, 14 September 2002. Forward Torpedo Room | © Dick Leonhardt. | |||||||||||
 | 107k | Croaker (SSK-246), on display as a museum ship at Buffalo, NY, 14 September 2002. Crews Mess | © Dick Leonhardt. | |||||||||||
 | 222k | Croaker (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, 18 September 2003. | Courtesy of Bruce McCausland. | |||||||||||
 | 236k | Croaker (SSK-246), topside, looking forward. | Courtesy of Bruce McCausland. | |||||||||||
 | 194k | Croaker (SSK-246), viewed port aft from the Little Rock (CL-92) / (CLG-4). | Courtesy of Bruce McCausland. | |||||||||||
 | 1.40k | Croaker (SSK-246), on display as a museum ship at Buffalo, NY, April 2012. | Photo courtesy of David Johnston. (USNR). Photo added 05/02/12. |
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 | 588k | David Johnston meets Croaker's (SSK-246) mess. | Photo courtesy of David Johnston. (USNR). Photo added 05/02/12. |
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