Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Gunnel (SS-253)

Radio Call Sign: November - Uniform - Juliet - Sierra

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 21 July 1941, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 17 May 1942; Commissioned USS Gunnel (SS-253), 20 August 1942; Decommissioned, 18 May 1946, at New London, CT; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 August 1958; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping,7-17-59 to Luria Bros., Phila, PA. Removed 8-1-59. Gunnel received 5 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 Hoover, Owens, Rentschler Co. main generator diesel 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
18k	Commemorative post mark from Gunnel's (SS-253) keel launching ceremony on 21 July 1941, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
130k	Gunnel (SS-253) going for her first swim after her launching the previous day, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. 17 May 1942.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
18k	Commemorative post mark from Gunnel's (SS-253) commissioning, 20 August 1942.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
78k	Two of the 6 subs of from Sub Squadron 50: Barb (SS-220), *Blackfish (SS-221), Herring* (SS-233), Shad (SS-235), Gunnel (SS-253), and Gurnard (SS-254) tied up at Rosneath, Scotland, circa 7 December 1942. The sub tender Beaver (AS-5) is in the background.	USN photo courtesy of jmlavelle.com. Photo added 05/05/06.
98k	A 1943 Watercolor by the artist Dwight Clark Shepler entitled "Jerry Hunters, Rosneath, Scotland." portrays the stern view of the sub tender Beaver (AS-5) and 3 of the 6 subs of Sub Squadron 50: Barb (SS-220), Blackfish (SS-221), Herring (SS-233), Shad (SS-235), Gunnel (SS-253), and Gurnard (SS-254).	Painting #87 / 88-199-CK. Courtesy of the USNHC.
11k	Port side view of the Gunnel (SS-253) underway, circa 1942-45.	USN photo courtesy of subnet.com.
134k	Gunnel (SS-253) underway off Mare Island, CA., October 1943.	USN photo 19-N-53972 courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
73k	Bow view of the Gunnel (SS-253) at Mare Island, CA., October 1943.	USN photo # 7411-43, courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
56k	Stern view of the Gunnel (SS-253) at Mare Island, CA., October 1943.	USN photo # 7412-43, courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
141k	Forward plan view of the Gunnel (SS-253) at Mare Island on 31 Oct 1943. She was in overhaul at the shipyard from 2 Aug until 31 Oct 1943.	USN photo # 7417-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
98k	Battleflag of the Gunnel (SS-253), at Mare Island on 31 Oct 1943.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
43k	Starboard side view of the Gunnel (SS-253) underway at Hunters Point, 4 May 1945.	USN photo courtesy of USNI.
140k	Five Atlantic Reserve Fleet subs in mothballs at New London CT., late 1940's: Pompon (SS-267), Gunnel (SS-253), Whale (SS-239), Lapon (SS-260) and unidentified sub.	Text courtesy of Dave Johnston. Photo courtesy of John Hummel.

View the Gunnel (SS-253)
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
Gunnel (SS-253)
Full Fathom Five, U.S. Submarine War Against Japan

Back To The Main Photo Index

Back To the Submarine Index

Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster.