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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Moray (SS-300) (AGSS-300)

Radio Call Sign: November - Xray - Uniform - Alpha
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 21 April 1943, at Cramp Shipbuilding Corp., Philadelphia, PA.; Launched, 14 May 1944; Commissioned USS Moray (SS-300), 26 January 1945; Decommissioned 12 April 1946, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Mare Island Group; Redesignated Auxiliary Research Submarine (AGSS-300), 1 December 1962; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 April 1967; Final Disposition, sunk as a torpedo target, 18 June 1970, off San Clemente, CA. in 1970 Moray received one battle star 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, 5,400hp, Fuel Capacity 94,000 gal., four Elliot Motor Co., main motors with 2,740 hp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
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Moray37kGreen moray Gymnothorax funebris. Photo by Carleton Ray, courtesy of answers.com.
Moray57kPreparing the Moray (SS-300) for launch at the head of the ways, 14 May 1944 at Cramp Shipbuilding Corp., Philadelphia, PA. Courtesy of Harry Kholer, son of Harry F Kholer, EM1c, Plankowner USS Moray SS-300.
Moray472kA tip of the hats from deck personnel aboard the Moray (SS-300), numbered 555 on her hull, moments before the boat starts down the ways, 14 May 1944 at Cramp Shipbuilding Corp., Philadelphia, PA.
The numbers on their side are undoubtedly an internal construction number used by Cramp. Simon Lake also used in-house numbers on his O & R class boats while they were still in his yard.
In the case of Cramp, the use of these numbers appears to be limited. Not all of the launch photos for their boats show the numbers. Being a late comer in the sub construction business, Cramp had tremendous problems in hiring skilled workers. Most of the good ones had already been hired by other firms in the rapidly expanding war economy. Putting these numbers on these boats may have been a way of keeping things from getting mixed up.
This was a very rare occurrence. To my knowledge, none of the other building yards (EB, Ports, MI, Man, or Boston) placed internal hull numbers on the boats during the war. I think it was just easier to use the hull number that was assigned by the Navy.		International News photo courtesy of David Buell. Photo I.d. & text courtesy of John Hart, Ric Hedman, & David Johnston (USNR).
Moray61k Bedecked with signal flags and bunting, the Moray (SS-300) slides down the ways into the Deleware River, 14 May 1944 at Cramp Shipbuilding Corp., Philadelphia, PA.
The inscription on the border of the photo says ""Best Regards" Fitz (Thomas A. F. Fitzpatrick, Principal Inspector) F.L. Barrows ( CO) J.R. Zullinger (XO) R.F. Stroup (LT) & R.E.M. Conwell (LT)".		Courtesy of Harry Kholer, son of Harry F Kholer, EM1c, Plankowner USS Moray SS-300.
Moray31k Moray (SS-300) is waterborne on the Deleware River, 14 May 1944 after her launching at Cramp Shipbuilding Corp., Philadelphia, PA. Courtesy of Harry Kholer, son of Harry F Kholer, EM1c, Plankowner USS Moray SS-300.
Moray18kBattle Emblem of the Moray (SS-300), designed by Phyllis Kholer Longley, November 4, 1944. Courtesy of Harry Kholer, son of Harry F Kholer, EM1c, Plankowner USS Moray SS-300.
Moray56k Port side view of the Moray (SS-300), fitting out in Philadelphia shortly after her launch, 1944.Courtesy of John Hummel.
Batfish266k Officers salute as the colors are lowered on Batfish (SS-310) at the end of her decomissioning ceremony at Mare Island on 16 April 1946. Moray (SS-300), is to the left; incomplete destroyer escorts Ely (DE-309) and D. W. Halsey (DE-310) are forward await scrapping; Euryal (AS-22) and Pelias (AS-14) are to the right.
US Navy Photo # 1504-46,, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Midway197kThe submarine tender Griffin (AS-13), at Midway with three of her charges between 26 August and 1 September 1945 The three boats are not identified, but boats at Midway at that time included Piranha (SS-389), Lionfish (SS-298), Moray (SS-300), Devilfish (SS-292),and Hackleback (SS-295).
The outboard boat is an EB boat, but none of the above boats are EB boats, all Cramp or Portsmouth-built, so they are unidentified for now.		USN photo from the collection of CWO 4 Benton E. Buell, USN, courtesy of David Buell. Photo added 07/08/10.
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 commemorating 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 commemorating 50 years, U. S. Submarine Veterans of WW II 1996 calendar, courtesy of Darryl Baker
View the Moray (SS-300)
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
USS MORAY SS-300 by Harry Kholer, son of Harry F Kholer, EM1c, Plankowner USS Moray SS-300.
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
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