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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Flounder (SS-251)

Radio Call Sign: November - India - Zulu - Bravo

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 5 December 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 22 August 1943; Commissioned USS Flounder (SS-251), 29 November 1943; Decommissioned, 12 February 1947, at New London, CT; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; Struck from the Naval Register, and sold for scrapping 1 June 1959. Final Dispostion; Sold 12-22-59 to Western Contracting Co., Sioux City, IA for $ 68K. Removed 2-2-60. Flounder received 2 battle stars for World War II service.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.)

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.

Size	Image Description	Source
15k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the Flounder's (SS-251) keel being laid at the Victory Yard, 5 December 1942 at Electric Boat.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
21k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the Flounder's (SS-251) keel being laid at the Victory Yard, 5 December 1942 at Electric Boat.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
74k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the launching of the Flounder (SS-251) on 22 Aug 1943 at Electric Boat.	Courtesy of Darryl Baker.
72k	Officers and crew of the Flounder (SS-251), circa 1944-45.	Photo courtesy of F.A. Knittle & Tami Murphree.
51k	Kamaaina card of F.A. Knittle, QM 2/c, dated May 3, 1945, signed by J.E. Stevens, Cmd USN, Flounder (SS-251), circa 1944-45.	Photo courtesy of F.A. Knittle & Tami Murphree.
43k	The Submarine Combat Insignia card of Francis A. Knittle, QM 2c for completion of 2 successful patrols on the Flounder (SS-251), awarded 1 gold star, dated Dec. 27, 1944, signed by C.C. Burlingame, Comdr., circa 1944-45.	Photo courtesy of F.A. Knittle & Tami Murphree.
43k	Imperium Neptuni Regis certificate, dated 27 Jan 1944 to F.A. Knittle, signed by J.E. Stevens Cmdr of the Flounder (SS-251), circa 1944-45.	Photo courtesy of F.A. Knittle & Tami Murphree.
62k	Greenling (SS-213) & Flounder (SS-251), circa 1944-45.	Photo courtesy of F.A. Knittle & Tami Murphree.
56k	Flounder (SS-251) logo, circa 1944-45.	Photo courtesy of F.A. Knittle & Tami Murphree.
56k	View from the bridge of the Flounder (SS-251), and unidentified sub pass as they under the Golden Gate Bridge, circa 1944-45.	Photo courtesy of F.A. Knittle & Tami Murphree.
43k	Sacred Order of the Golden Dragon certificate, dated 30 April 1945 to F.A. Knittle, signed by J.E. Stevens Cmdr Flounder (SS-251).	Photo courtesy of F.A. Knittle & Tami Murphree.
65k	WW II Battleflag of the Flounder (SS-251).	Photo courtesy of F.A. Knittle & Tami Murphree.
109k	The Flounder (SS-251) off Mare Island on 24 July 1945.	US Navy photo courtesy of David Buell. Photo added 10/29/07.
74k	Flounder (SS-251), underway off Mare Island, California, on 24 July 1945.	US Navy photo # 19-N-87653 courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
105k	Flounder (SS-251), underway off Mare Island, California, on 24 July 1945.	US Navy photo courtesy of John Hummel.
188k	Bow on view of Flounder (SS-251), departing Mare Island on 24 July 1945. She was in overhaul at the yard from 14 May until 6 Aug 1945.	US Navy photo # 5424-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
179k	Stern view of Flounder (SS-251), departing Mare Island on 24 July 1945. She was in overhaul at the yard from 14 May until 6 Aug 1945.	US Navy photo # 5428-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
233k	Stern view of Gurnard (SS-254), departing Mare Island on 26 July 1945. The other submarine in the background (right of *Gurnard) is either Sunfish* (SS-281) or Flounder (SS-251).	US Navy photo # 5462-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.