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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Dragonet (SS-293)

Radio Call Sign: November - Xray - Juliet - Victor
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 26 April 1942, at Cramp Shipbuilding Co., Philadelphia, PA.; Launched, 18 April 1943; Commissioned USS Dragonet (SS-293), 6 March 1944; Decommissioned, 14 April 1946, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Mare Island Group; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 June 1961; Final Disposition, sunk by explosive test in Chesapeake Bay. Target 8-14-68 by SS 565 in a MK16 mod 8 test off San Clemente island, CA at 37deg. 5' N x 124deg. 8' W Dragonet received two battle stars for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 t.; Length 311' 8"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10kts; Submerged Endurance, 48 hours at 2kts; Operating Depth Limit, 400 ft; Complement 6 Officers 60 Enlisted; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 5"/25 deck gun, one 40mm gun, two .50 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear with four Fairbanks-Morse main generator diesel engines, 5,400 hp, Fuel Capacity 116,000 gal., four Elliot Motor Co., main motors with 2,740 hp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
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Dragonet 105k Dragonet (SS-293) underway during her trials off the coast of New London CT., 6 September 1944, one month before sailing for the war zone.
U.S. Navy photo.
Dragonet 189k Broadside view of Dragonet (SS-293), off Mare Island on 9 March 1945. Dragonet was in overhaul at the yard from 4 Jan until 26 March 1945.
U.S. Navy photo # 1719-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Dragonet 208k Stern view of Dragonet (SS-293), departing Mare Island on 9 March 1945.
 U.S. Navy photo # 1722-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Dragonet 19k Dragonet (SS-293), port view underway off Mare Island, sometime between 4 Jan until 26 March 1945.
Courtesy of subnet.com
Dragonet 58k Crew of the Dragonet (SS-293) on the deck of the boat as we were tied up to the Proteus (AS-19) in June, 1945, just before we left on on the 3rd patrol.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Bill Pressnell.
Dragonet 64k Crew of the Dragonet (SS-293) in front of a JAP 2 man (suicide) sub that beached on Guam. Picture was taken at Camp Dealy rest camp in June 1945. XO J.A. Henry is on the left end of the back row. Bill Pressnell is in left front on the ground.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Bill Pressnell.
Mare Island Causeway 461k 6 Dec 45 photo appeared in the 14 Dec 45 issue of the Mare Island newspaper lists the following subs present at the dockyard:
Unknown, Dragonet (SS-293), Guavina (SS-362), Sunfish (SS-281), Sargo (SS-188), Spearfish (SS-190), Saury (SS-189).
First two ships in second row appear to be: Bashaw (SS-241) and Mingo (SS-261).
The Tiru (SS-416) is on the building ways on the left above the subs and surrounding by staging and cranes.
It is interesting to note that the boats have started the mothballing process, as evidenced by the preservative cocoons around the deck guns.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker. Partial text courtesy of David Johnston, USNR.
Dragonet 89k Dragonet (SS-293), port view underway, date and location unknown.
U.S. Navy photo, courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii web site.
Mare Island Reserve Fleet137kReserve 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.
Mare Island Reserve Fleet453kPhoto 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.
Mare Island Reserve Fleet 248k Dragonet (SS-293) in the Mare Island Group Reserve Fleet on 13 Oct 1948. Spadefish (SS-411) is the third submarine outboard of Dragonet. U.S. Navy photo # 1913-10-48, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 09/19/06.
Mare Island Reserve Fleet 173k Submarines aft of unidentifed submarine in foregroud at Mare Island Reserve Fleet on 28 September 1950 are:
Left to right: Dragonet (SS-293), Menhaden (SS-377), Mapiro (SS-376), Seahorse (SS-304), Sand Lance (SS-381), Batfish (SS-310), Capitaine (SS-336), Pipefish (SS-388) and Manta (SS-299).
U.S. Navy photo # 6988-9-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 09/19/06.
View the Dragonet (SS-293)
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
Full Fathom Five, U.S. Submarine War Against Japan
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