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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.
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Rasher87kHull 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.
Rasher71kPossibly 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.
Rasher71k Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. welders pose before the Rasher (SS-269) during her launching ceremony at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI., 20 December 1942.Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Rasher51kLaunching timbers make the boat look like a oar driven galley.
The Rasher (SS-269) is about to be launched into the icey waters at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI., 20 December 1942.		Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Rasher117kStarboard view of the Rasher (SS-269) moments before being side launched.Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI., courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Rasher54kOver 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.Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Rasher309kCommemorative postal cover for the Rasher (SS-269) with a very silent c on 20 December 1942.Photo courtesy of Paul Petosky.
Photo added 01/31/12.
Manitowoc55k Watercolor print by the artist Tom Denton of the side launching of a Manitowoc built boat. Courtesy of Submarine Art
submarineart.com
Rasher & Peto108kRasher (SS-269) has just been docked after launching, 20 December 1942. The sub in the background is the Peto (SS-265), which will be decommissioned on Christmas Day and taken to New Orleans for re-commissioning. Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Rasher14kCommemorative post mark on the occasion of Rasher's (SS-269) commissioning, 8 June 1943.Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Rasher40kRasher (SS-269) commissioning emblem, 8 June 1943.Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Rasher88kBroadside view of the Rasher (SS-269), undergoing sea trials in lake Michigan, 18 June 1943. Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Rasher82kStarboard view of the Rasher (SS-269) underway, possibly on trials on Lake Michigan.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Rasher193kPort side view of the Rasher (SS-269) underway, possibly on trials on Lake Michigan.USN photo # N-90946 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Harry Berns485kPhoto of Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
The photo of the Golet (SS-361) encased in snow appears on the wall above him on the upper right.
His obituary appears here. 		Photo courtesy of Susan Menk, Archives Assistant, Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Dee Anna Grimsrud,Reference Archivist, Wisconsin Historical Society, Steve Khail, CBC, Director of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, The Manitowoc Company, Inc. & William Young.
Fremantle 101k Busy pier scene at Fremantle Austraila, 19 December 1943. 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).
I believe the only time that photo could have been taken was 19 Dec. 1943. The Tinosa was in Fremantle only once, from 16 Dec. 1943 to 10 Jan. 1944. During that brief window, the Bonefish had not arrived until 19 Dec. and the Rasher departed 19 Dec. so that is the single date all three submarines were ever in Fremantle port at the same time. 		Photo i.d. courtesy of Dan Goodell.
US Navy photo courtesy of Ric Hedmen.
Rasher230kRasher (SS-269) crew receiving combat ribbons in Fremantle, July 1944, following their 4th war patrol. Photo courtesy of Dan Goodell.
Rasher218k Rasher (SS-269) arriving in Pearl 3 Sept. 1944. Photo courtesy of Dan Goodell.
Rasher328k Rasher (SS-269) arriving in Pearl 3 Sept. 1944. Note the battleflag.Photo courtesy of Dan Goodell.
Rasher328kA snapshot aboard the Rasher (SS-269) in late 1944, perhaps while she made her way back to California for refitting. (The crewman on the left is my father, S1c Paul R. Goodell.) Photo courtesy of Dan Goodell.
Rasher94kThis 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.
Rasher91kThis 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.
Rasher61kBattleflag of the Rasher (SS-269), 1945. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Rasher61kPresidential Unit Citation for the Rasher (SS-269). Photo courtesy of Dan Goodell.
Rasher227kChange of scenery finds the Rasher (SS-269) going upriver with her deck gun moved to the stern, possibly after arriving New York on 6 October 1945, via Pearl Harbor and the Panama Canal. Following deactivation overhaul, she was decommissioned 22 June 1946 and was placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at New London, Conn.Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Rasher107kChange 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.
Rasher86kThe Rasher (SSR-269) off Mare Island on 29 August 1955. US Navy photo # NY9-26348-8-55, courtesy of San Francisco NARA, "Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Ship Files" & submitted by Tracy White @ Researcher @ Large.
Rasher368kRasher (SSR-269) off Mare Island after conversion on 29 August 1955. US Navy photo # NY9-26350-55, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Rasher154kBow on view of Rasher (SSR-269) departing Mare Island on 29 August 1955.USN photo # 26347-8-55, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Rasher172kBroadside view of Rasher (SSR-269) off Mare Island on 29 August 1955. She was in overhaul at the yard from 2 March to 8 September 1955.USN photo # 26349-8-55, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Rasher238k Stern view of Rasher (SSR-269) departing Mare Island on 29 August 1955.USN photo # 26351-8-55, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Rasher315k14 September 1956 found the Rasher (SSR-269) off San Diego.Text courtesy of DANFS.
USN Photo # USN 698130 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Rasher142kKen 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.
Rasher55kDesert 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 @ Researcher @ Large.
Rasher131kRasher (AGSS-269) as an (AGSS) Auxiliary Research Submarine.USN photo courtesy of John Hummel.
Rasher400k13 January 1964 found the Rasher (AGSS-269) engaged in strike exercises involving other American and Canadian ships.Text courtesy of DANFS.
USN Photo # 1095729 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
View the Rasher (SS/SSR/AGSS/IXSS-269)
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
Manitowoc Built Submarines
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