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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Courtesy of US Sub Vets of World War II

Courtesy of BMCS Don McGrogan, USN (ret.)

Courtesy of naviosdeguerrabrasileiros.hpg.ig.com.br

Paddle (SS-263)

Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Quebec - Romeo

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 1 April 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 30 December 1942; Commissioned USS Paddle (SS-263), 29 March 1943; Decommissioned, 1 February 1946, at New London, CT.; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, New London; Recommissioned, 31 August 1956; Decommissioned, 18 January 1957; Transferred, on loan, under the Mutual Defense Assistance Program, to Brazil, 18 January 1957, renamed Riachuelo (S-15); Deleted from the Brazilian Navy in March 1968; Struck from the US Naval Register, 30 June 1968; Final Disposition, sunk as a target. Paddle received 8 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.

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
	17k	Commemorative postal cover marking Paddle's (SS-263) keel laying, 1 April 1942, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
	28k	Commemorative postal cover marking the Paddle's (SS-263) launching, 30 December 1942.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
	572k	Paddle (SS-263) crew commsioning photo probably at Polly's Inn off West Norwich Road, Montville, CT. on 29 March 1943.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	115k	Lt. Comdr. R. H. Rice in command of the Paddle (SS-263) with female accompaniment probably at the crew commsioning party on 29 March 1943.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	15k	Commemorative postal cover marking the commissioning of the Paddle (SS-263), 29 March 1943.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
	250k	Paddle (SS-263) crewman Gene Cilley FC/1 receives a commendation from Rear Admiral T.C. Kinkaid during the boat's 4th War Patrol, 5 June-29 July 1943.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	91k	A possible soon to be Paddle (SS-263) victim awaits the torpedo tubes on one of her 8 war patrols.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	75k	Starboard view of the Paddle (SS-263) while she was in overhaul at Mare Island from 18 Dec 43 until 26 Feb 44.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
	75k	Bow view of the Paddle (SS-263), underway off Mare Island, California, 13 February, 1944.	USN photo # 1014-44 courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
	207k	Paddle (SS-263), starboard view underway off Mare Island, California, 13 February, 1944.	USN photo # 1015-44 courtesy of John Hummel.
	103k	Stern view of the Paddle (SS-263), underway off Mare Island, California, 13 February, 1944.	USN photo # 1016-44 courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
	44k	Starboard view of the Paddle (SS-263), underway off Mare Island, California, 13 February, 1944.	USN photo # 1017-44 courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
	55k	Plaque dedicated to the survivors of the P.O.W. Hell Ship *Shinyo Maru, sunk by the Paddle* (SS-263) on 7 September 1944.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	43k	Plaque dedicated to the survivors of the P.O.W. Hell Ship *Shinyo Maru, sunk by the Paddle* (SS-263) on the 54 anniversary, 7 September 1998.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	40k	Unidentified boats (including the Paddle (SS-263) at some unknown forward base in the Pacific.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	54k	Loading supplies on unidentified boats (including the Paddle (SS-263) at some unknown forward base in the Pacific.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	165k	Explaining a day at the office in the rear torpedo room of the Paddle (SS-263).	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	110k	A band plays in the background for the homecoming of the crew of the Paddle (SS-263). (maybe)	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	112k	Paddle (SS-263) crew picture following her 8 war patrols.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	2.5m	A collection of 26 photos of the Paddle (SS-263) & crew during the boat's service time in PDF.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley.
	476k	Bow view of submarines post WW II at New London, Conn. From inboard to outboard are six boats, four identified by hull numbers: Drum (SS-228), Halibut (SS-232), Haddo (SS-255) and Paddle (SS-263). Outboard of her are two numberless boats. All the boats are decommissioned: none are flying colors or union jack. Date is after 16 Feb 1946 when *Drum* was decommissioned and before *Halibut* was sold for scrap on 10 January 1947. *Halibut* had suffered major damage by the Japanese and was considered beyond economical repair. She is the only one of the group not freshly painted, and has been stripped of deck guns and other gear, probably in preparation for sale. The outboard boat has a small pennant flying from her jackstaff. The boats in commission popped up with numbers right away soon after VJ Day, so the outboard boats may just be getting painted up in Haze Grey in preparation for mothballing, with the numbers to follow. These two boats are older EB-built boats. The inboard of the two numberless boats is likely the Gabilan (SS-252). It has a very distinct cutdown of the fairwater. The only similar picture I could find is the *Gabilan* (look at the last pic from the bottom of the Gabilan page). Same bridge cut down low like most other *Gatos* but the sides of the wagon train were not cut out so it is solid, not open like most other *Gatos* that were cut down that low. Also location of SJ and SD radar antennas is the same as the latest pic of *Gabilan* . Also venturi looks the same. *Gabilan* was decommissioned in 1946 and laid up at New London which would match the timing and location.	US Navy photo & text courtesy of David Buell. Photo i.d. & text courtesy of John Hart.
	380k	Stern view of submarines post WW II at New London, Conn. From inboard to outboard is the reverse of the above.	US Navy photo & text courtesy of David Buell. Photo i.d. & text courtesy of John Hart.
Riachuelo (S-15)
	56k	Humanita (S-14) in foreground & ex-Paddle (SS-263), now the Brazilian Riachuelo (S-15) operating together, circa 1959-60.	Brazilian Navy photo courtesy of Jane's Fighting Ships" 1959-1960. Photo submitted by Robert Hurst. Photo added 11/06/09.
	155k	Commemorative Centennial Pennant of the Braizilan Navy Flâmula comemorativa aos 100 anos da Batalha Naval do Riachuelo, 11 de junho de 1865 - 11 de junho de 1965.	Brazilian Navy photo from the collection of Rogério Cordeiro courtesy of naval.com.br.
	62k	ex-Paddle (SS-263) as the Riachuelo (S-15) circa 1960's.	Brazilian Navy photo courtesy of naviosdeguerrabrasileiros.hpg.ig.com.br, & submitted by Valdo Novaes.