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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Tunny (SS-282)
1941 - 1952

Radio Call Sign: November - Charlie - Delta - India

To Additional Pages

1953 - 1970

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 10 November 1941, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 30 June 1942; Commissioned USS Tunny (SS-282), 1 September 1942; Decommissioned, 13 December 1945; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Recommission, in reserve, 28 February 1952; Decommissioned in April 1952; Recommissioned, 6 March 1953, converted to Guided Missile Submarine (SSG-282); Redesignated (SS-282) in May 1965; Converted to a Troop-carrying Submarine in 1966 and redesignated (APSS-282); Reclassified Amphibious Transport Submarine (LPSS-282), 1 January 1968; Decommissioned, 28 June 1969; Struck from the Naval Register, 30 June 1969, and designated as a mobile target; Final Disposition, sunk as a target by Volador (SS-490), 19 June 1970. Tunny received nine battle stars and two Presidential Unit Citations for her World War II service, and five battle stars for her operations during the Vietnam War.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 t.; Length 311' 10"; Beam 27' 4"; Draft 16' 10"; 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, could carry up to two Regulus I missiles, 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 Fairbanks Morse main generator diesel engines, HP 5400, Fuel Capacity, 116,000 gals., four General Electric main motors, HP 2740, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin propellers.

Size	Image Description	Source
18k	Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the Tunny's (SS-282) keel being laid at Mare Island on 10 Nov 1941.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
22k	Commemorative postal cover on the occasionof the Tunny's (SS-282) keel being laid at Mare Island on 10 Nov 1941.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
163k	The honorary keel layers for the Tunny (SS-282) are pictured at Mare Island on 10 Nov 1941. Left to right: W. N. Simons, Chief Quarterman, Electric Shop & Robert F. Cooke, Foreman, Electric Shop.	USN photo # 3017-41, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
238k	Detailed Operating Schedule for Launching of the Tunny (SS-282) at Mare Island on 30 Jun 1942.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
238k	The Official Commandant's Order No. 25-42 for the launching of the Tunny (SS-282) on 30 Jun 42.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
133k	Stern view of the Tunny (SS-282) on the building ways at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 30 June 1942.	USN photo courtesy of subvetsofwwii.org.
171k	Mrs. Frederick G. Crisp (Sponsor) christens the Tunny (SS-282), at Mare Island on 30 Jun 1942. CDR Lemuel P. Padget (left) and RADM W. L. Friedell (right) assist Mrs. Crisp.	USN photo # 3624-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
148k	Mrs. Frederick G. Crisp (Sponsor) is pictured after Tunny's (SS-282) launching at Mare Island on 30 Jun 1942.	USN photo # 3650-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
208k	Tunny (SS-282) is about to slide down the building ways at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 30 June 1942.	USN photo courtesy of subvetsofwwii.org.
256k	The Tunny (SS-282) is at the end of the ways during her launching at Mare Island on 30 Jun 1942.	USN photo # 3637-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
114k	The Tunny (SS-282) is seen being moved to her outfitting berth after her launching at Mare Island on 30 Jun 1942.	USN photo # 3647-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
115k	The scene at the commissioning ceremony of the Sunfish (SS-281) at Mare Island on 15 July 1942. The Tunny (SS-282) is alongside.	Official USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
243k	Commissioning ceremonies aboard Tunny (SS-282) at Mare Island on 1 Sep 42. Sunfish (SS-281) is to the right and Whale (SS-239) is in front of the *Tunny* .	USN photo # 5215-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
135k	The officers of the newly commissioned Tunny (SS-282) at Mare Island on 1 Sep 42.	USN photo # 5217-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
140k	Commissioning ceremonies aboard Tunny (SS-282) at Mare Island on 1 Sep 42.	USN photo 5220-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
121k	The Tunny (SS-282) seen off Mare Island on 1 Sep 1942.	USN photo # 6840-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
132k	The Tunny (SS-282) seen off San Francisco on 6 Nov 42.	USN photo # 6904-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
150k	The Tunny (SS-282) is seen off Mare Island on 6 Nov 1942.	USN photo # 6903-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
65k	Aft port quarter view of Tunny (SS-282) off Mare Island on 5 Dec 1942.	USN photo # 7524-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 04/02/07.
115k	Photo from the Tunny (SS-282) commissioning book, circa 1945.	USN photo courtesy of subvetsofwwii.org.
73k	Port side view of the Tunny (SS-282) underway, circa 1945.	USN photo courtesy of subvetsofwwii.org.
39k	WWII battleflag of the Tunny (SS-282) 1945.	USN photo courtesy of subvetsofwwii.org.
308k	Bow view of the Tiru (SS-416) under construction at Mare Island on 3 Jan 1946. Submarines in the background are decommisioned or will soon be: from front to rear are Bashaw (SS-241), Pampanito (SS-383), Mingo (SS-261), Gurnard (SS-254), Macabi (SS-375), Tunny (SS-282), Guavina (SS-362) and Sand Lance (SS-381).	USN photo # 18-46, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
137k	Reserve fleet at Mare Island, circa Jan 1946. There are 52 submarines and 4 Sub Tenders in this photo. This photo is a Berthing list identifying the ships in the picture.	Photo commerating 50 years, U. S. Submarine Veterans of WW II 1996 calendar, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
453k	Photo of the Reserve fleet at Mare Island, circa Jan 1946. There are 52 submarines and 4 Sub Tenders in this photo. Whether coincidental or on purpose, the number of boats in the photo is the same as that which were lost in WW II. From back to front and left to right, first group of 12 boats: Sandlance (SS-381) Tunny (SS-282) Aspro (SS-309) Lionfish (SS-298) Guvania (SS-362) Sunfish (SS-281) Macabi (SS-375) Gurnard (SS-254) Pampanito (SS-383) Mingo (SS-261) Guitarro (SS-363) Bashaw (SS-241) From back to front and left to right, second group of 12 boats: Sealion (SS-315) Hammerhead (SS-364) Bream (SS-243) Seahorse (SS-304) Tinosa (SS-283) Pintado (SS-387) Mapiro (SS-376) Pipefish (SS-388) Moray (SS-300) Batfish (SS-310) Hackleback (SS-295) Bluegill (SS-242) From back to front and left to right, third group of 12 boats: Hawkbill (SS-366) Menhaden (SS-377) Perch (SS-313) Loggerhead (SS-374) Barbero (SS-317) Baya (SS-318) Hardhead (SS-365) Spadefish (SS-411) Springer (SS-414) Devilfish (SS-292) Kraken (SS-370) Dragonet (SS-293) From back to front and left to right, fourth group of 12 boats: Lamprey (SS-372) Piranha (SS-389) Manta (SS-299) Pargo (SS-264) Rancador (SS-301) Archerfish (SS-311) Mero (SS-378) Sawfish (SS-276) Spot (SS-413) Lizardfish (SS-373) Jallao (SS-368) Icefish (SS-367) From back to front and left to right, last group of 4 boats: Steelhead (SS-280) Puffer (SS-268) Stickleback (SS-415) Trepang (SS-412) From back to front, Submarine Tenders group of 4 ships: Pelias (AS-14) Aegir (AS-23) Euryale (AS-22) Griffin (AS-13)	Photo commerating 50 years, U. S. Submarine Veterans of WW II 1996 calendar, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
900k	Inactivated submarines at Mare Island on 3 January 1946. Front row left to right: Sand Lance (SS-381), next two could be Sealion (SS-315) and Seahorse (SS-304), Searaven (SS-196), Pampanito (SS-383), Gurnard (SS-254), Mingo (SS-261), Guitarro (SS-363), Bashaw (SS-241). Back row left to right: Unknown, Tunny (SS-282), next three could be Sargo (SS-188), Spearfish (SS-190), and Saury (SS-189), Macabi (SS-375), Sunfish (SS-281), Guavina (SS-362), Lionfish (SS-298),Piranha (SS-389). The Scabbardfish (SS-397) is docked in *ARD-11* on the other side of the causeway. The mixture of boats from the *Salmon/Sargo, Gato, and Balao classes* illustrate the clear differences in the conning tower fairwaters and the periscope shears that can be used to identify boats. The high bridges with the uncovered support frames (the "covered wagon" look) of the *Gatos* and *Salmon/Sargo's* contrast with the low and sleek look of the *Balao's. The fatter, more robust periscope shears of the Balao's* are markedly different from the thinner shears with more supporting structure of the *Gatos* and *Salmon/Sargo's. The differences in the pattern of the superstructure limber holes can also be used for identification purposes. The single row of large semi-circular holes indentify Electric Boat or Manitowoc boats. A dual row of smaller rectangular holes mark the government built boats. Also note that the EB/Manitowoc boats have the deck mounted, T-shaped JP sonar head on the starboard side of the forward deck, while the government boats have it on the port side. EB/Manitowoc boats had the anchor on the starboard side, the government boats on the port side. A close look will show that some of the boats have had the anchor removed and the hawsepipe plated over as part of the mothball process. Most of the boats have the late war radar outfit of the SJ surface search (small dish) and SV air search (large dish). The Balao's* and some of the *Gatos* have the SS dish mounted on a separate large mast aft of the periscopes. The older *Salmon/Sargo's* and *Gatos* have a much smaller mast. *Searaven* appears to have had her radars already removed. *Searaven* is actually sporting a late war SJ surface search antennae mounted to starboard of the periscopes. This is a rare installation. Most often it was mounted forward (early war) or aft (late war) of the 'scopes shears. Her air search set is a late war SD antennae mounted on a stub mast directly aft of the 'scopes. *Searaven* never received the much more capable SV air search set. Having been assigned to training duties after November, 1944 it was probably felt that the SV set was not necessary. One strange thing: almost all of the boats appear to have the outer doors of the forward torpedo tubes open. Even though the boats have an interlock system that prevents the breech and outer doors from being opened at the same time, this is an unusual thing to do and a potential source of catastrophic flooding.	U.S. Navy photo # 17-46, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Text courtesy of David Johnston, USNR.
115k	Admiral Edwards reads the Presidential Unit Citatition for Tunny's (SS-282) service during World War II on 26 Apr 1946. The *Tunny* was in decommissioned status and part of the 19th Fleet at Mare Island Navy Yard.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.