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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Hake (SS-256) (AGSS-256)

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Charlie - Juliet
Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 1 November 1941, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 17 July 1942; Commissioned USS Hake (SS-256), 30 October 1942; Decommissioned, 13 July 1946, at New London, CT.; Placed in service as a Naval Reserve Training Vessel at Philadelphia, PA. 15 October 1956; Reclassified Auxiliary Research Submarine (AGSS-256), 1 December 1962; Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 19 April 1968; Final Disposition; Used as test ship at Little Creek, VA 1968-1972 by COMSERVLANT as a moored diving target in Plantation Flats area of Virginia's Eastern Shore for SUBSALVEX's. Sold 12-5-72 to Gural Marine salvage Co., Rahway, NJ for $ 18,067.00. Removed in early 1973.Hake received 7 battle stars for World War II service.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves (of blessed memory) & Yves Hubert.

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.
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Hake 18k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the Hake's (SS-256) keel laying, 1 November 1941. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Hake465kBroadside & port photos of Hake's (SS-256) sponsor, Mrs. F. J. Fletcher, wife of Rear Admiral Fletcher.Electric Boat photo courtesy of Wendy S. Gulley, Archivist, Submarine Force Museum, Naval Submarine Base NLON, Groton CT.
Hake 261k Another submarine, the Hake (SS-256), is launched at Groton CT., to join Uncle Sam's fleet on 17 July 1942. A.P. Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory)
Hake 191k The Hake (SS-256) is moved to dock after being launched at Groton CT., 17 July 1942. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Hake 20k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the Hake's (SS-256) commissioning, 30 October 1942. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Hake400kHake (SS-256) commissioning party, 30 October 1942.Photo courtesy of Richard W. Ingersoll via his son Wayne Ingersoll.
Dick Ingersoll served onboard the Hake from commissioning through the remainder of the war and made all 9 war patrols. He made Chief of the Boat late in the war.
Dragonet 881k Hake (SS-256) departed New London 25 August 1943 for San Diego, via the Panama Canal. Text courtesy of DANFS.
US National Archives photo # 80G-450202 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Hake 268k Starboard side view of the Hake (SS-256) under way after undergoing overhaul at Mare Island, CA., 26 November 1943. USN photo # 7869-43 courtesy of Ed Zajkowski.
Hake 240k Starboard side view of the Hake (SS-256) under way after undergoing overhaul at Mare Island, CA., 26 November 1943. USN photo # 7954-43 courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Hake 273k Plan view forwards and amidships of the of the Hake (SS-256) after undergoing overhaul at Mare Island, CA., 30 November, 1943. Note the Hake's bell. USN photo # 7955-45 courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Hake 66k Bow view of the Hake (SS-256) at Mare Island, CA., November 1943. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Hake 75k Stern view of the Hake (SS-256) at Mare Island, CA., November 1943. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Hake 110k Stern view of Hake (SS-256) off Mare Island on 26 November 1943. USN photo # 7867-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Hake 105k Bow on view of Hake (SS-256) off Mare Island on 26 November 1943. She was in overhaul at the yard from 1 October to 6 December 1943. USN photo # 7871-43, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Hake 193k Stern view of Hake (SS-256) off Mare Island on 29 May 1945. USN photo # 4103-45, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Hake 177k Broadside view of Hake (SS-256) off Mare Island on 29 May 1945. She was in overhaul at the shipyard from 23 March until 7 June 1945. USN photo # 4105-45, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Hake 323k Hake (SS-256) underway, starboard broadside view off Mare Island, California, 29 May, 1945. USN photo # 4104-45, courtesy of Ed Zajkowski.
Hake 296k Plan view forwards and amidships of the of the Hake (SS-256) after undergoing overhaul at Mare Island, CA., 30 May, 1945. USN photo # 4113-45 courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Hake 371k Submarines also sprouted radar detectors. Hake (SS-256) is shown here at the end of a Mare Island refit, 30 May 1945. Several short ESM whip antennas are visible: one facing forward on the periscope shears, one facing up among the shears, one angled aft alongside the bridge structure; and another mounted on the rail forward of the twin 20-mm cannon.
New ammunition passing scuttles have been cut to serve the forward 5in/25 gun, and the deck has been sponsoned out aft for a second such weapon. As in many other submarines at this time, a new mast has been provided for the SD air search radar. It cleared the conning tower, thus considerably reducing congestion within.		 Text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press.
USN photo # 4112-45 courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Hake 44k Officers on the deck of the Hake (SS-256) while in Tokyo Bay during the surrender ceremonies. From L to R: LT Fred Maier USNR - #3
LTjg Ted Snyder USN - #6
LT Charlie Knapp USNR - #4
LT Bob Heysinger USNR - #5
CDR Frank Haylor USN - Commanding
LCDR Jack Edmands USNR - Executive Officer
LTjg Dick Metzger USNR - #7 with a beard of seven weeks growth which was removed enroute the USA.

Dick had more fleet boat war patrol experience than any one else in the photo. He had just completed seven consecutive war patrols of which five were deemed successful for the submarine combat insignia. After six patrols he had finally moved up from #8 to #7. After five patrols, Ted had finally moved up from #7 to #6 - he was senior to Dick by seven days.		 Contributed by Henry (Hank) Knebes, former crewmember, submitted by Kenn McCarty.
Hake 209k Hake (SS-256) Crew on Deck in Tokyo Bay. Photo courtesy of Richard W. Ingersoll via his son Wayne Ingersoll.
Dick Ingersoll served onboard the Hake from commissioning through the remainder of the war and made all 9 war patrols. He made Chief of the Boat late in the war.
Hake 120k Battleflag of the Hake (SS-256), 1945. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Hake 365k Hake (SS-256) departed Fremantle for her eighth war patrol 12 January 1945. After searching the South China Sea (now almost denuded of targets) for almost a month, she headed for San Francisco, arriving 13 March. After overhaul she departed San Francisco some 2 months later and began her ninth war patrol in the Pacific 20 July 1945.
Hake appears here underway, starboard view, on 7 June 1945, viewed by the airship ZP-32 at 500 feet off San Francisco.		 Text courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo # 80-G-326343 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Hake 400k Two for the view.
Hake (SS-256) appears here underway, port bow, on 7 June 1945, viewed by the airship ZP-32 at 350 feet & here at 500 feet off San Francisco.		 USN photo # 80-G-326344 & (insert 326342) from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Croaker2.55k25 page PDF of the History & Welcome Aboard the Hake (SS-256). USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Hake541k"Memorial service highlights submarine day ceremonies", 11 April 1960.
"Lieutenant Thomas J. Keefe, officer in charge of the Hake (SS-256), speaks from the deck of the undersea craft at the Philadelphia Naval Base during a service for submarine crewmen who died in World War II." 		Photo courtesy of the George D. McDowell Philadelphia Evening Bulletin Photographs @ digital.library.temple.edu
Hake593kHake (SS-256) tied up pierside at Philadelphia, May 1964. Note the Tarawa CV-40 on the other side of pier. Photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Photo courtesy of 1966/67 Edition of Jane's Fighting Ships courtesy of Dr Ian S Pearsall via Robert Hurst.
Hake 461k Portside view of the Hake (SS-256), probably in the Delaware Bay as a Reserve Training Ship for 4th Naval District at Philadelphia, PA, circa 1950's, early 60's. Note that all her deck guns have been removed. Text courtesy of John Hummel & subnet.com.
USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Hake419kHake (SS-256) with the McLanahan (DD-615) in the background, 1967. Photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp.
Hake2.55kFour page Welcome Aboard PDF of the Hake (SS-256), 20 May 1967. Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory)
Angler & Hake 362k Angler (AGSS-240) & Hake (SS-256) & Melvin R. Nawman (DE-416) at the Phila. Navy Yard, May 1968. Photo courtesy of Joe Garrett TMCM(SS) via Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
Angler363kAngler (AGSS-240) & Hake (SS-256) & Melvin R. Nawman (DE-416) at the Phila. Navy Yard, May 1968.Photo courtesy of Joe Garrett TMCM(SS) via Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
Angler213kAngled Angler (AGSS-240) & Hake (SS-256) & Melvin R. Nawman (DE-416) at the Phila. Navy Yard, May 1968.Photo courtesy of Joe Garrett TMCM(SS) via Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
Hake 28k The Hake (SS-256) as she wallows on the surface amidst pontoons, after being intentionally sunk and then raised in a 1969 salvage exercise off the Atlantic coast to evaluate new salvage techniques and train diving and salvage. Photo by Hal Stoelzle & taken from The American Submarine, by Norman Polmar & submitted by Robert Hurst.
Insert photos courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory)
Angler & Hake 72k John Hummel poses near the Angler's (SSK-240) door, with the & Hake (SS-256) moored nearby at the Phila. Navy Yard in the early 1970's. USN photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Fremantle 365k This plaque was unveiled 20 March 1995 by His Excellency Major General P.M. Jeffery OA MC, Governor of Western Australia to commemorate the sacrifices made by Allied submarines that operated out of Fremantle, Western Australia during WW II. Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
View the Hake (SS-256)
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
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
Historic Submarine Documentary & Training Films
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