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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Mingo (SS-261)
Keel Laying - WW II Service

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Echo - Mike

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Post WW II

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 21 March 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 30 November 1942; Commissioned USS Mingo (SS-261), 12 February 1943; Decommissioned, 1 January 1947, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Recommissioned, 20 May 1955; Decommissioned, 15 August 1955; Transferred, on loan, under the Military Assistance Program, to Japan, 8 August 1957, renamed Kuroshio (SS-501); Decommissioned by Japanese Navy, 31 March 1966; Struck from the US Naval Register, 8 August 1957; Final Disposition, sunk as a target in 1973. Mingo received 5 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 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.

Photo Submarine Force Museum and Library & submitted by Robert Hurst. Text courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman.Naval Institute Press. Photo added 06/11/09/

Size	Image Description	Source
16k	Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the keel laying of the Mingo (SS-261) at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 21 March 1942.	USN photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
57k	Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Mingo's (SS-261) launching at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 30 November 1942.	USN photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
155k	Lt. Commander Ralph Huntington Lockwood returned from the Pacific reporting to the Submarine Base, New London, where he had brief instruction as a prospective submarine commanding officer and after fitting out Mingo (SS-261) assumed command at its commissioning on 12 Feb. 1943. Under his command, *Mingo* made war patrols in the Caroline Islands, Ponape, Palau and Marianas areas. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and a gold star in lieu of a second Bronze Star for commanding *Mingo* during this period.	Image from the San Diego Navy Historical Association courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
17k	Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Mingo's (SS-261) commissioning, 12 February 1943.	USN photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
29k	Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Mingo's (SS-261) first day in commission, 12 February 1943.	USN photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
72k	Stern view of the Mingo (SS-261) while undergoing testing at Mare Island, CA., 3 Feb. 1944.	USN photo # 776-44 courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
81k	Bow view of the Mingo (SS-261) while undergoing testing at Mare Island, CA., 3 Feb. 1944.	USN photo # 770-44 courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
225k	By now, the length of the fairwater was reduced and by 1944 this was the basic shape of the fairwater. This view of the Mingo (SS-261),which is painted in overall black, was taken on 2 February 1944 during refit at Mare Island. Tripod legs have replaced the cast bases of the 20mm guns and the 4"/50 cal deck gun has been installed. The paint looks glossy but this is due to the rain. Forward of the *Mingo* are two Mk5 type LCT. The inboard vessel is *LCT 151. I can't identify the other LCT for sure but it is likely to be LCT 152*, since Mare Island launched these vessels in pairs.	US Navy Photo # 759-44 by Darryl Baker, text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
159k	The after portion of the Mingo (SS-261) during the 2 February 1944 refit. The after torpedo loading hatch is open with some access hatches in the main deck. Details can be seen of the after escape hatch and marker buoy. This EB designed boat has a full length wood deck.	US Navy photo # 760-44 by Darryl Baker, text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
77k	Broadside view of the Mingo (SS-261) off Mare Island on 3 Feb 1944. She was in overhaul at the yard from 29 Nov 1943 until 3 Feb 1944.	US Navy photo # 778-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
175k	Stern view of Mingo (SS-261) departing Mare Island on 20 July 1945.	US Navy photo # 5378-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
220k	Bow on view of Mingo (SS-261) departing Mare Island on 20 July 1945 with the Nereus (AS-17) to the left. *Mingo* was in overhaul at the yard from 4 May to 9 Aug 1945.	US Navy photo # 5382-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
69k	The lighter tone of the Measure 10 Grey System for submarines is evident in this photo of the Mingo (SS-261), underway, July 1945 off San Francisco.	USN photo and text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
172k	This close up view of the Mingo (SS-261) shows the newly added "SV" antenna to replace the "SD" and the latest mod of the "SJ" radar. Also added in this July 1945 overhaul are the two 40mm guns added to the gun decks and the 5"25 gun aft. A twin 20mm gun is installed on the forward gun base. The gun itself is installed in the pressure proof ready lockers mounted in the bridge superstructure.	USN Archives photo # 19-N-87825 courtesy of U.S. Submarines Through 1945, An Illustrated Design History by Norman Friedman. Naval Institute Press. Text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak. Photo added 06/11/09/.
89k	Most fleet-type boats finished the war outfitted similar to this 25 July 1945 shot of Mingo (SS-261), mounting a 5"/25 aft, 40mm on the bridge platforms and in many boats a 20mm was placed over the main gun foundation forward.	Text courtesy of Leeward Publications Ships Data #4, USS Bowfin, submitted by of Aryeh (Lee) Wetherhorn. US Navy photo courtesy of John Hummel.