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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski.

Rasher (SS-269) (SSR-269) (AGSS-269) (IXSS-269)

Radio Call Sign: November - Whiskey - Bravo - Golf

Unit Awards, Campaign and Service Medals and Ribbons

Presidential Unit Citation

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 4 May 1942, at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI.; Launched, 20 December 1942; Commissioned USS Rasher (SS-269), 8 June 1943; Decommissioned and towed to New Orleans; Recommissioned at New Orleans in July 1943; Decommissioned, 22 June 1946, at New London, CT; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, New London Group; Redesignated a Radar Picket Submarine, and converted at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA.; Recommissioned, USS Rasher (SSR-269), 22 July 1953; Reclassified Auxiliary Research Submarine (AGSS-269), 1 July 1960; Decommissioned, 27 May 1967; Reclassified Unclassified Miscellaneous Submarine (IXSS-271), towed to Portland, OR. to train Naval Reservists; Struck from the Naval Register, 20 December 1971; Final Disposition, sold for scraping 8/2/74 to American Ship Dismantlers Corp., Portland, OR for $ 36,128.00. Removed 8/7/74. Rasher was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, received 7 battle stars for World War II service, and 2 battle stars for Vietnam 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 General Motors main generator engines, 5,400HP, Fuel Capacity, 116,000 gal., four General Electric main motors, 2,740HP, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin propellers.

Size	Image Description	Source
87k	Hull sections of the Rasher (SS-269), under construction, 3 May 1942.	*Editors Note: There are over 200 images submitted on these pages covering the following submarines that were constructed at the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI,: SS-265 through SS-274, and SS-361 through SS-380. None of them would have seen the light of day if it were not for the efforts of Curator, Asst. Director, Bill Thiesen of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Larry Bohn,* who sent them to NavSource for publication. A special debt of gratitude is owed to these two men and the *Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia* (SS-245) for allowing these photographs to be seen by the lovers of naval history worldwide.
71k	Possibly the Rasher (SS-269) due to its state of construction if the date cited is correct. "August 1942: Construction of the hull section of a submarine at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. These sections will be assembled in a small bay, and when completely installed will be sent through the Saint Lawrence Canal to the sea." The subs were in fact barged to New Orleans.	Photo # 8b07456r by Ann Rosener, & text courtesy of memory.loc.gov.
71k	Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. welders pose before the Rasher (SS-269) during her launching ceremony at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI., 20 December 1942.	Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245) .
51k	The Rasher (SS-269) is about to be launched into the icey waters at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI., 20 December 1942.	Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245) .
54k	Over three hundred feet of steel goes spalshing into the Manitowoc River as what was a lot of unfinished raw material on the ways becomes the submarine Rasher (SS-269) at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI., 20 December 1942.	Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245) .
55k	Watercolor print by the artist Tom Denton of the side launching of a Manitowoc built boat.	Courtesy of Submarine Art submarineart.com
108k	Rasher (SS-269) has just been docked after launching, 20 December 1942. The sub in the background is the Peto (SS-265), which will be decomissioned on Christmas Day and taken to New Orleans for re-comissioning.	Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245) .
14k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of Rasher's (SS-269) commissioning, 8 June 1943.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
40k	Rasher (SS-269) commissioning emblem, 8 June 1943.	Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245) .
88k	Broadside view of the Rasher (SS-269), undergoing sea trials in lake Michigan, 18 June 1943.	Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245) .
94k	This drydock view of the stern of the Rasher (SS-269), was taken in December 1944. The detail of the stern plates and propellers are clear however, the rudder which is located on the center line is in the shadow.	USN Archives photo # 19-N-79604. Photo and text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
91k	This closeup view of the Rasher (SS-269), was taken in December 1944. She had a new "SD" mast installed along with a new periscope on which the tops have been camouflaged. A new pressure proof ready service locker has been added for the 20mm ammo drums just forward of the 20mm gun. To the far left of this picture the hoist from the after battery compartment can be seen This was for passing 5" ammo up to the after gun.	USN Archives photo # 19-N-79604. Photo and text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
101k	Busy pier scene at Fremantle Austraila, circa late 1944 and before June 1945. From left to right, stern view to the camera are the Bonefish (SS-223), Rasher (SS-269), Bowfin (SS-287), Bluefish (SS-222), Narwhal (SS-167) and the sub tender Pelias (AS-14). Second row, bow view are the Cod (SS-224), Tinosa (SS-283) and Crevalle (SS-291).	US Navy photo courtesy of Ric Hedmen.
61k	Battleflag of the Rasher (SS-269), 1945.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
131k	Rasher (SS-269), port view underway, circa post 1953.	USN photo courtesy of John Hummel.
68k	Rasher (SSR-269), as a radar picket, port sideview underway, circa post 1953.	Courtesy of John Hummel.
107k	Change of command ceremonies aboard Rasher (SSR-269) at Mare Island on 28 July 1955. I have been unable to identify the officers.	USN photo # 26127-7-55, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
86k	The Rasher (SSR-269) off Mare Island on 29 Aug 1955.	US Navy photo # NY9-26348-8-55, courtesy of San Francisco NARA, "Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Ship Files" & submitted by Tracy White. Photo added 06/27/08.
154k	Bow on view of Rasher (SSR-269) departing Mare Island on 29 Aug 1955.	USN photo # 26347-8-55, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
172k	Broadside view of Rasher (SSR-269) off Mare Island on 29 Aug 1955. She was in overhaul at the yard from 2 March to 8 September 1955.	USN photo # 26349-8-55, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
238k	Stern view of Rasher (SSR-269) departing Mare Island on 29 Aug 1955.	USN photo # 26351-8-55, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
142k	Ken McIntosh, design engineer, checks the completed renovation of the crews washroom aboard Rasher (SSR-269) at Mare Island on 15 January 1958. He was 37 at the time of this work.	USN photo # 38043-1-58, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
55k	Desert is being served in Rasher's (SSR-269) wardroom.	US Navy photo # NY9-38054-1-58, courtesy of San Francisco NARA, "Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Ship Files" & submitted by Tracy White. Photo added 06/27/08.
61k	Prior to and following a second WestPac deployment from 4 March to 4 September 1958, Rasher (SSR-269) served in Fleet exercises as an early warning ship, and in ASW training operations.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. Text courtesy of DANFS.