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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch on left contributed by Mike Smolinski, patch on right contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Tullibee (SS-284)

Radio Call Sign: November - India - Xray - Delta
Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 1 April 1942, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 7 October 1942; Commissioned USS Tullibee (SS-284), 15 February 1943; Sunk on 4th patrol by own torpedo, 26 March 1944, in the Palaus area, one survivor; Struck from the Naval Register, 29 July 1944; Tullibee received three 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.
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Tullibee 55k The Tullibee (SS-284) sliding down south ways 4, 7 October 1942, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. Note the seawall on the left, the staffing shows between ways 3 & 4. U.S. Navy photo, partial text courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tullibee 428k The Tullibee (SS-284) is at the end of the ways during her launching at Mare Island on 7 October 1942. U.S. Navy photo # 6986-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tullibee 438k The Tullibee (SS-284) is being moved to her outfitting berth at Mare Island after her launching on 11 Nov 1942. U.S. Navy photo # 6976-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tullibee 183k View of the commissioning ceremonies aboard the Tullibee (SS-284) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 15 Feb 1943. The submarines aft of Tullibee on the right, Seahorse (SS-304) and on the left, Spearfish (SS-190). U.S. Navy photo # 1170-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo I.D. courtesy of David Johnston, USNR.
Tullibee 210k The flag is raised aboard the Tullibee (SS-284) for the first time during her commissioning ceremonies at Mare Island Navy Yard on 15 Feb 1943. U.S. Navy photo # 1174-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tullibee 227k The Tullibee (SS-284) takes her place in the ranks of the U.S. Navy during the conclusion of her commissioning ceremonies at Mare Island Navy Yard on 15 Feb 1943.
The band on deck is most likely playing "The Star Spangled Banner" as her skipper, Cmdr. Charles F. Brindupke salutes the Stars & Stripes. He would later be lost with her when she was sunk on her 4th patrol by her own torpedo, 26 March 1944. Note the lighter YF-239 on her starboard side. 		U.S. Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.
Tullibee 86k Bow view of the Tullibee (SS-284) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 April 1943. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 98408, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Tullibee 84k Broadside view of Tullibee (SS-284) off Mare Island on 2 April 1943. U.S. Navy photo # 2234-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tullibee 55k Port side view of the Tullibee (SS-284) underway off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 April 1943. U.S. Navy photo # 2235-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tullibee 14k Charles Frederic Brindupke, Commander (Commanding Officer)of the Tullibee (SS-284) at the time of her loss. USN photo courtesy of oneternalpatrol.com.
Tullibee 53k In memory of the Tullibee (SS-284) as she departed for eternity. Photo courtesy of Tom Kermen.
Tullibee 25k Google Earth satellite photo of Tullibee's (SS-284) last approximate position based during post-war debriefings. This position is thought to be the final resting place of the Tullibee and her crew.
View courtesy of Google Earth.
Tullibee 30k Map area showing the general location where the Tullibee (SS-284) was lost in the Palaus area. Photo courtesy of sailwx.info.
Tolling the Boats 117k The wife of a World War II U.S. submarine veteran, tosses a flower into a reflecting pool to honor the memory of one of the 52 submarines lost during World War II at the National Submarine Memorial-West on board Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif. On this Veterans Day, the Submarine Veterans of World War II transferred ownership of the memorial to the U.S. Navy.

The following text is from The Coming Fury by Bruce Catton., pg. 478.
"Major Sullivan Bullen of Illinois was killed in the battle, and just before it he had written to his wife, Sarah, to tell her that he believed he was going to be killed and to express a tremulous faith that could see a gleam of light in the dark:
"But O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and float unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you in the gladdest days and in the gloomiest nights, always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your chest it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait, for we shall meet again!"		 U.S. Navy photo # N-1159B-021 by Journalist 2nd Class Brian Brannon, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
Tullibee 81k Stern view of the Tullibee (SS-284) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 2 April 1943. Note the diving planes.
In a little less than a year from the date of this photo, the boat and all but one of her crew would be M.I.A.

In Memorium:

In the Second Book of Shmuel (Samuel), 22nd chapter, 5th through the 20th verses, translated from the original in Hebrew and published by the Koren Publishers of Jerusalem, Israel, 1982, can perhaps aptly describe the fate of the crew and all other U.S. submariners who died defending their county:

"When the waves of death compassed me / the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; / the bonds of She'ol encircled me; / the snares of death took me by surprise; / in my distress I called upon the Lord, / and cried to my G-D: / and he heard my voice out of his temple, / and my cry entered into his ears. / Then the earth shook and trembled; /the foundations of heaven moved / and shook because of his anger /...the heavy mass of waters, and thick clouds of the skies /... And the channels of the sea appeared, / the foundations of the world were laid bare, / at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast at the breath of his nostrils. / He sent from above, he took me; / he drew me out of many waters; / he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. / They surprised me in the day of my calamity: / but the Lord was my stay / He brought me forth also into a large place: / he delivered me because he delighted in me./" 		Official U.S. Navy Photograph, USNHC # NH 98409, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
View the Tullibee (SS-284)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway .
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and s of Interest
On Eternal Patrol
Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet USS TULLIBEE (SS 284) March 26 1944 - 79 Men Lost
Full Fathom Five, U.S. Submarine War Against Japan
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Submarine Index

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