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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch on left contributed Harold F.(Carl) Carlson & submitted by Gary Carlson, on right by Mike Smolinski

Flasher (SS-249)

Radio Call Sign: November - India - Xray - Quebec
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Presidental Unit Citation (3) - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign (6) - World War II Victory Medal
Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 30 September 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 20 June 1943; Commissioned USS Flasher (SS-249), 25 September 1943; Decommissioned, 16 March 1946, at New London, CT; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; Struck from the Naval Register, and sold for scrapping 31 May 1963. Final Dispostion, scrapped. Flasher was awarded 3 Presidential Unit Citations and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Service Ribbon with 6 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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For Full Size Image		Size Image Description Source
Flasher 27k Postal cover marking Flasher's (SS-249) keel laying on 30 September 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. Courtesy of petloveshack.com.
Signs of the times 315k Signs of the times: Logo's for the following boats are emblazoned on the building wall to the right: Dace (SS-247), Dorado (SS-248), Flasher (SS-249), Flier (SS-250), Flounder (SS-251) & Gabilan (SS-252). Photo from the Photo Essay How To Build A Submarine at Electric Boat Co. New London, Conn.
Photographer: Bernard Hoffman, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
Flasher 61k The Flasher (SS-249) slides down the ways at Electric Boat on 20 June 1943. US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Flasher 112k Postal cover marking the launching of the Flasher (SS-249) at Electric Boat on 20 June 1943.
Courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Flasher 27k Postal cover marking Flasher's (SS-249) commissioning on 25 September 1943. Courtesy of petloveshack.com.
Flasher 225k Flasher (SS-249) underway, port side view, 4 November 1943.
 US Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green, Images from "U.S. Warships of World War Two".
Flasher ? 362k I've seen this photo listed as the Flasher (SS-249) in various places online over the years, but I have absolutely no idea if that's correct. The configuration is correct for her as built, but beyond that... A Mod 3 Gato EB design. Photo probably taken early 44.
Photo i.d. courtesy of Dave Johnston (USNR) & Robert Morgan.
US Navy photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo added 08/04/11.
Flasher 105k Flasher (SS-249) underway off Cuba, 23 November 1943.
 US Navy photo courtesy of Ric Hedman TN(SS).
Flasher 137k The Flasher (SS-249) port side view underway, circa 1943-45.
 US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Flasher 1.0k The Flasher (SS-249) prepares to tie up entering Pearl Harbor on way to mainland, on 24 July 1945.
Bound for Guam on a seventh war patrol at the close of the war, Flasher was ordered back to New London, where she was decommissioned and placed in reserve 16 March 1946.		 Text courtesy of DANFS. Photo i.d.courtesy of Ric Hedman.
USN photo # 80g 264326 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert, Webmaster & Editor ModelWarships.com
Flasher 47k Flasher's (SS-249) Battleflag, 1943-45.
 US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Flasher & Finback 117k Flasher (SS-249) & probably Finback (SS-230) most likely from April of 1945 when Flasher was in Pearl Harbor enroute to San Francisco for overhaul.
 US Navy photo courtesy of Ric Hedman TN(SS).
Flasher 1.0m Flasher (SS-249) in 1/178 scale, starboard side view, with measure 32-3SSB paint scheme, with a PDF of her 5th War Patrol report. Model and photo by Ken Hart. PDF courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Flasher 110k Flasher (SS-249) in 1/178 scale, starboard bow oblique view. Model and photo by Ken Hart.
Flasher 274k A dockside Flasher (SS-249) post WW II at New London Sub Base in the mothball fleet. Courtesy of Ric Hedman TN(SS).
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.
Flasher 243k The twenty year old Flasher (SS-249) was towed down river and past Electric Boat about 3 hours before the launch of the new Flasher (SSN-613). Courtesy of Ric Hedman TN(SS).
Flasher 299k A tug boat nudges the twenty year old Flasher (SS-249) down river and past Electric Boat about 3 hours before the launch of the new Flasher (SSN-613). Courtesy of Ric Hedman TN(SS).
Flasher 122k Port stern view of Flasher (SS-249) memorial in Groton, July 1991.
Photo by Ken Hart.
Flasher62k Page 21 of the Flasher's (SSN-613) Inactivation Ceremony Program.
Pictured here is the WW II Flasher (SS-249) underway and her total score card of ships sunk & damaged. 		Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Flasher79k Page 23 of the Flasher's (SSN-613) Inactivation Ceremony Program.
Pictured here is the WW II Flasher (SS-249) and her total score card of ships sunk & damaged. 		Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Flasher94k Page 24 of the Flasher's (SSN-613) Inactivation Ceremony Program.
Pictured here is the Flasher's (SS-249) crew on parade after the war. 		Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
Flasher 43k Flasher (SS-249) last deck-gun on display outside the Subforce Museum in Groton just outside the base main gate. Courtesy of Ric Hedman TN(SS).
View the Flasher (SS-249)
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 Flasher SS 249
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
HISTORIC SUBMARINE DOCUMENTARY AND TRAINING FILMS
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