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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Tinosa (SS-283)

Radio Call Sign: November - India - Tango - Uniform

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 21 February 1942, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 7 October 1942; Commissioned USS Tinosa (SS-283), 15 January 1943; Decommissioned, 23 June 1949; at San Francisco, CA.; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Mare Island Group; Recommissioned, 4 January 1952; Decommissioned, 2 December 1953; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Mare Island Group; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1958; Final Disposition, used as an ASW target then scuttled off Hawaii in November 1960. Tinosa was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and earned nine battle stars for service during World War II.

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, 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
489k	The Wahoo (SS-238) is ready for launching at Mare Island Navy Yard on 14 Feb 1942. The Whale (SS-239) is on the building ways on the left and a hull section for Tinosa (SS-283) is just visible on the lower left corner of the photo. Her keel would be laid on the same ways on 21 Feb 1942. The large building in the rear of the photo is the Naval Hospital. Note: RADM Richard O'Kane has autographed the photo in the upper left corner.	USN photo # 764-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
435k	Workmen are preparing the keel of the Tinosa (SS-283) for official laying on 21 Feb 1942 at Mare Island.	USN photo # 918-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
36k	An invitation and ticket for the launching of the Tinosa (SS-283) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 7 Oct 1942.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
74k	Mrs. William E. Molloy christens the Tinosa (SS-283) at Vallejo, Calif., at the Mare Island Navy Yard on 7 October 1942. Over the next three years, she completed twelve war patrols in the Pacific and was credited with sinking 16 enemy ships, totaling 64,655 tons.	Text courtesy of DANFS. USN photo courtesy of subvetsofwwii.org.
80k	Flags and bunting waving in the wake of her own breeze as she slides down south ways 3, the Tinosa (SS-283) is launched at Mare Island Navy Yard on 7 Oct 1942. Note the seawall on the right, the staffing shows between ways 3 & 4.	USN photo courtesy of tinosa283.com. & Darryl Baker. Partial text courtesy of Darryl Baker.
114k	The Tinosa (SS-283) shortly after her launching at Mare Island Navy Yard on 7 Oct 1942. The tug YMT 13 (ex YT117) stands by the *Tinosa* to assist. Note barrage balloons in the background.	USN photo # 6162-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
119k	The Tinosa (SS-283) is undergoing an inclining experiment at Mare Island after her refit on 27 Mar 1943.	USN photo # 2097-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
25k	Starboard side view of the Tinosa (SS-283) underway in 1943. Note that she is mounting a 4"/50 deck gun	USN photo courtesy of tinosa283.com.
62k	A watercolor by the artist Dwight Clark Shepler entitled "Diving By Day" depicts the control room of a submarine. This can be reminiscent of the morning of 22 November 1943, when Tinosa (SS-283) made a wild climb to 250 feet then dove to 380 feet, before her crew regained control.	Text courtesy of DANFS. Diving By Day Dwight Clark Shepler. #81 Watercolor, 1943. Courtesy of the USNHC, painting # 88-199-CE.
70k	Starboard view of the Tinosa (SS-283) underway off Hawaii, circa 1944.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
58k	Flying Fish (SS-229), Spadefish (SS-411), Tinosa (SS-283), Bowfin (SS-287), and Skate (SS-305) as they appeared from a photo taken at the top of training tower at Sail 9 in 1945.	US Navy photo courtesy of Grant Riddle & submarinebaseph.com from centerfold of Bowfin museum brochure.
74k	Flying Fish (SS-229), Spadefish (SS-411), Tinosa (SS-283), Bowfin (SS-287), and Skate (SS-305) as they appeared from a photo taken at the top of training tower at Sail 9 in 1945 after her 9th War Patrol.	Courtesy of Leeward Publications Ships Data #4, USS Bowfin, submitted by Aryeh (Lee) Wetherhorn.
57k	Photo taken from the pier above the Spadefish (SS-411) as the Tinosa (SS-283), all decked out with flags flying from her mast, returns after her 11th patrol, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 4 July 1945.	Text courtesy of DANFS. US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. & David Johnston (USNR).
69k	Photo taken from the pier above the Spadefish (SS-411) as the Tinosa (SS-283), all decked out with flags flying from her mast, returns after her 11th patrol, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 4 July 1945. This shot appears to have been taken moments after the first.	Text courtesy of DANFS. US Navy photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
79k	Tinosa (SS-283), broadside view, circa 1943-45, location unknown.	US Navy photo courtesy of John Hummel.
72k	The (Good Luck) Pinup girl that hung in the Tinosa's (SS-283) Wardroom. She would receive a pat just prior to going to "Battle Stations."	USN drawing by Jack Hinchey, text courtesy of tinosa283.com.
63k	WW II Battleflag of the Tinosa (SS-283).	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
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.
126k	Portside view of the Tinosa (SS-283), circa 1945.	USN photo.
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.
112k	LCDR L. H. Butt reads his orders as he assume command of Tinosa (SS-283) at Mare Island on 4 January 1952.	USN photo # 11434-1-52, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
245k	Photo of the decommissioning ceremonies of Scabbardfish (SS-397) at Mare Island on 27 November 1953. Tinosa (SS-283) is inboard of *Scabbardfish*.	US Navy Photo # 19449-11-53, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 11/24/06.
47k	Portside view of the Tinosa (SS-283), probably laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Mare Island Group, after she was decommissioned, 2 December 1953.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.