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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch on left contributed by John Hummel. Other patches contributed by Mike Smolinski.

Redfin (SS-272) (SSR-272) (AGSS-272)
Construction - WW II Service

Radio Call Sign: November - Whiskey - Golf - Charlie
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Post WW II

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 3 September 1942, at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI.; Launched, 4 April 1943; Commissioned USS Redfin (SS-272), 13 August 1943; Decommissioned, 1 November 1946, at New London, CT.; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, New London Group; Towed to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA. for conversion to a Radar Picket Submarine; Recommissioned, USS Redfin (SSR-272), 9 January 1953; Reclassified Auxiliary Research Submarine, (AGSS-272), 28 June 1963; Decommissioned, 15 May 1967, and placed in service as a Naval Reserve Training Vessel at Baltimore, MD.; Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1970; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 3 March 1971, to North American Smelting Co., Wilmington, DE. Redfin received 6 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 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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Redfin262k Montage of commemorative post marks on the occasion of the Redfin's (SS-272) keel laying, launching & commissioning at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI.Photo courtesy of John Hummel, (USN) retired.
Redfin40kRedfin (SS-272) starboard side view just prior to being side launched on the building ways at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI., 4 April 1943.Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
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.
Redfin38kRedfin (SS-272) bow view prior to being side launched on the building ways at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI., 4 April 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)
Redfin47kRedfin (SS-272) starting to enter the water at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI., 4 April 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)
Redfin51kThe launching timbers are begining to feel Redfin's (SS-272) weight as she starts entering the water of the Manitowoc River at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI., 4 April 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)
Manitowoc55k Watercolor print by the artist Tom Denton of the side launching of a Manitowoc built boat. Courtesy of submarineart.com
Redfin265kRedfin (SS-272) underway during her sea trials on Lake Michigan shortly after launching at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI., 4 April 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)
Redfin238kStarboard side view of the Redfin (SS-272), probably during shakedown trials, April 1943 on Lake Michigan. USN Photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
Redfin133kRedfin (SS-272) as she looked during WW II.Photo courtesy of John Hummel, (USN) retired.
Photo added 07/15/11.
Redfin318kOfficers & gentelman of the Redfin (SS-272).Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Redfin55kRedfin (SS-272) plankowners pose at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI., circa April 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)
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.
Redfin209kRedfin (SS-272) underway, circa 1943-44.Contributed by John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Redfin242k Amidsips looking aft plan view of Redfin (SS-272) at Mare Island on 10 April 1945. She was in overhaul at the yard from 16 Jan to 12 April 1945. U.S. Navy Photo # 2560-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Redfin370kBroadside view of the Redfin (SS-272) off Mare Island on 12 April 1945.U.S. Navy Photo # 2681-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Redfin224k Bow on view of Redfin (SS-272) off Mare Island on 10 April 1945 U.S. Navy Photo # 2683-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Redfin39kA painted Redfin (SS-272) at Pearl Harbor with some unknown company; the colorful art would have to come off before they went out to sea again, circa 1945.Photo courtesy of George Alan Stephens, submitted by Michael Stephens.
Redfin42kA painted Redfin (SS-272) at Pearl Harbor with some unknown company; circa 1945. Ship's patch and score card seem to indicate that it is towards the end of the war.Photo courtesy of George Alan Stephens, submitted by Michael Stephens.
Redfin63k Redfin's (SS-272) logo and scorecard painted on her bridge at Pearl Harbor, circa 1945.
Photo courtesy of George Alan Stephens, submitted by Michael Stephens.
Redfin34k Redfin's (SS-272) logo, circa 1945.Photo courtesy of George Alan Stephens, submitted by Michael Stephens.
Redfin121k Redfin's (SS-272) battle flag & logo, circa 1945.Photo courtesy of George Alan Stephens, submitted by Michael Stephens.
Redfin30kRedfin (SS-272), off Mare Island during a refit where she received special mine detection gear, circa January 1945. Text from DANFS,US Navy photo courtesy of Hyperwar US Navy in WW II.
Redfin121kRedfin (SS-272) off Mare Island Naval Base, 12 April 1945 with cut down bridge. The forward 20mm gun has been replaced with a 40mm.US Navy photo contributed by John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Redfin92kWWII battleflag of the Redfin (SS-272). USN Photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
View the Redfin (SS/SSR/AGSS-272)
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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