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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Jack (SS-259)

Radio Call Sign: November - Bravo - Papa - Juliet

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 2 February 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 16 October 1942; Commissioned USS Jack (SS-259), 6 January 1943;
After shakedown, sailed from New London, CT and received pre-deployment outfitting at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, CA before departing for duty at Pearl Harbor on 2 May 1943. Participated in the submarine offensive and, after 9 patrols in the Pacific war, Jack returned to New York, NY on 3 October 1945. On 8 June 1946, she was decommissioned at New London and held in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.
In 1958, Jack was briefly re-commissioned to receive snorkel and sail modifications before being transferred (on loan) to the Hellenic Republic of Greece under terms of the Security Assistance Program.
On 21 April 1958, she was commissioned HS Amfitriti (also transliterated as Amphitriti). She was the second submarine of the Hellenic Navy to bear the name of the sea nymph and goddess of the Mediterranean. Amfitriti also bore three different pendant numbers ( S-09, Y-17 and S-17) while in Greek service.
After being returned to the custody of the United States, the submarine was used as a target for the U. S. Navy's 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean on 5 September 1967 and sunk at approx 32 degrees 16' N x 132 degrees 05' East and struck from the Naval Vessel Registry.
Jack was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and received 7 battle stars for World War II service.
Researched by CTRC Donald J. Wagner, USN (Ret.) for NavSource.
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 Allis Chalmers Manufacturing Co. main motors, 2,740HP, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws.

Size	Image Description	Source
22k	Commemorative postal cover marking the keel laying of the Jack (SS-259) at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 2 February 1942.	Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
158k	Jack (SS-259) starts her slide into the waters at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 16 October 1942.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
29k	Commemorative postal cover marking the launching of the Jack (SS-259),16 October 1942.	Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
17k	Commemorative postal cover marking the commissioning of the Jack (SS-259), 6 January 1943.	Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
107k	Port broadside view of the Jack (SS-259) at Mare Island on 17 December 1943.	Photo courtesy of Richard Moore & submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.) Photo # 8327-43 Photo added 02/06/08.
107k	Plan view forward of the Jack (SS-259) at Mare Island on 17 December 1943.	Photo courtesy of Richard Moore & submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.) Photo # 8330-43 Photo added 02/06/08.
85k	Bow on view of the Jack (SS-259) in Mare Island channel on 17 Dec 1943.	US Navy photo # 8324-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
99k	Stern view of the Jack (SS-259) departing Mare Island on 17 Dec 1943.	US Navy photo # 8325-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
99k	Broadside view of the Jack (SS-259) off Mare Island on 17 Dec 1943. She was in overhaul at the yard from 18 Oct. until 26 Dec. 1943.	US Navy photo # 8326-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
90k	Starboard side view of the Jack (SS-259) underway, circa 1943-45.	USN photo.
115k	Jack (SS-259) underway in the North Pacific, 24 October 1945.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
49k	The Jack's (SS-259) WW II battleflag.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
318k	The Jack's (SS-259) WW II battleflag & patches.	Photo courtesy of Richard Moore & submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.) Photo #'s CSF226-1-57 thru 228. Photo added 02/06/08.
302k	Jack (SS-259) at Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard sometime between Dec 1957 & Feb. 1958. Note all the bedding and supplies on her deck. She decommissioned at New London 8 June 1946, and was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She recommissioned briefly 20 December 1957, to prepare for transfer to the government of Greece and after training operations was loaned to the Royal Hellenic Navy 21 April 1958.	Photo courtesy of Richard Moore & submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.) Photo #'s CSF226-1-57 thru 228. Partial text courtesy of DANFS. Photo added 02/06/08.
179k	Jack (SS-259) at Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard sometime between Dec 1957 & Feb. 1958. Note the deck gun still on her bow.	Photo courtesy of Richard Moore & submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.) Photo #'s CSF226-1-57 thru 228. Photo added 02/06/08.
314k	Jack (SS-259) at Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard sometime between Dec 1957 & Feb. 1958. Note the trash recepticles on the pier awaiting everything on her deck.	Photo courtesy of Richard Moore & submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.) Photo #'s CSF226-1-57 thru 228. Photo added 02/06/08.
149k	Starboard broadside view of the Jack (SS-259) on the Deleware River off Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard on 4 March 1958 after undergoing GUPPY conversion prior to transfer to Greece.	Photo courtesy of Richard Moore & submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.) Photo # CSF-597-3-58. Photo added 02/06/08.
66k	The Jack (SS-259) as HHMS Amfitriti (S-17) in August 1961.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
35k	The Jack (SS-259) as HHMS Amfitriti (S-17) in August 1961.	USN photo courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org.
30k	Jack (SS-259) in Greek Navy hands as HHMS Amfitriti (S-17). Picture taken in Malta, 1961.	Contributed by Tony Vrailas.
50k	Jack (SS-259) laying on her port side after being used as a target and shortly before sinking, 5 September 1967, in the Mediterranean Sea.	Contributed by Tony Vrailas.
82k	Comdr. T. M. Dykers obituary that appeared in the Houston Post 23 Sept. 1975. He was the Jack's (SS-259) initial CO.	Photo courtesy of Richard Moore & submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.) Photo # 8327-43 Photo added 02/06/08.
380k	First page of Comdr. Arthur P. Krapf naval career. He was the Jack's (SS-259) second CO.	Photo courtesy of Richard Moore & submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.) Photo # 8327-43 Photo added 02/06/08.
287k	Second page of Comdr. Arthur P. Krapf naval career. He was the Jack's (SS-259) second CO.	Photo courtesy of Richard Moore & submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.) Photo # 8327-43 Photo added 02/06/08.