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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski.

Sablefish (SS-303) (AGSS-303)

Radio Call Sign: November - Yankee - Golf - Yankee

Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 5 June 1943, at Cramp Shipbuilding Corp., Philadelphia, PA.; Launched, 4 June 1944; Commissioned USS Sablefish (SS-303), 18 December 1945; Converted to a snorkel submarine during the first half of 1951; Redesignated Miscellaneous Submarine (AGSS-303), 30 June 1969; Decommissioned, 1 November 1969, at Sub Base New London, CT.; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 29 July 1971, to Union Mineral and Alloys Corp., New York City, NY. for $ 90.274.00 & scrapped in Kearny, NJ.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.)

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 t.; Length 311' 6"; 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 engines, 5,400 hp, Fuel Capacity 94,400 gal., four Elliot Motor Co., main motors with 2,740 hp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.

Size	Image Description	Source
230k	Pierside photo of the Sablefish (SS-303) taken in 1946. Following a shakedown cruise from New London, Conn., to Balboa, Canal Zone, the new submarine conducted type training in the Panama area until mid-May 1946. She then returned to her home port, New London, and spent the remainder of the year supporting ASW exercises off the east coast, participating in fleet exercises off Bermuda, and making a three week cruise off Greenland.	Photo courtesy of LT Mitchell, Redfin(SS-272). Photo submitted by John Hummel. Text courtesy of DANFS.
93k	Pierside photo of LT Mitchell next to the Sablefish (SS-303) taken in 1946.	Photo courtesy of LT Mitchell, Redfin(SS-272). Photo submitted by John Hummel.
68k	Inspection aboard the Sablefish (SS-303) as the Diablo (SS-479) comes alongside, April 1946.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley. Photo added 08/10/09.
50k	Sablefish (SS-303) in need of a paint job, April 1946.	Photo courtesy of R. Storm Cilley. Photo added 08/10/09.
173k	The Sablefish (SS-303) in her original configuration, circa late 1940's.	Photo courtesy of Richard Garrison via members.cox.net.
41k	A 1950's Casein painting by the artist Richard A. Genders entitled "Sablefish (SS-303) and Cables."	Painting # 62/88-190-BJ, courtesy of the USNHC.
112k	Sablefish (SS-303) bow view off Phila Navy Yard, 8t June 1951.	US Navy photo, courtesy of John Hummel.
114k	Sablefish (SS-303) post 1951 photo, port side view with a look at the "bubble" on the lower part of her conning tower.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
49k	Sablefish (SS-303) post 1951 photo, port side view underway.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
11k	Commemorative postal cover featuring an inset of the Sablefish (SS-303), May 1952.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
54k	In June 1959, she was one of the Navy's representatives at the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, and she operated in the Great Lakes until mid-August. Sablefish (SS-303) is pictured here at New London CT., in October, 1959.	Photo courtesy of John Hummel. Text courtesy of DANFS.
80k	Sablefish (SS-303) in a 1961 photo possibly taken while on a second cruise up the St. Lawrence river to the Great Lakes.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
71k	Sablefish (SS-303), a Fleet Snorkel modernization of a *Balao class* submarine. She retains her original angular hull shape, but her larger sail is like that fitted to some Guppy conversions. Streamlining, with removal of deck guns, was designed to give these submarines better underwater performance.	US Navy Photo from DANFS, courtesy of Joe Radigan MACM, USN, Ret.
48k	Sablefish (SS-303) post 1961 photo, port side view underway with a more streamlined sail.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
45k	Sablefish (SS-303) at Naval Submarine Base New London Groton, Connecticut.	Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
49k	From left to right, Sea Robin (SS-407), Tusk (SS-426), Sea Owl (SS-405), Sablefish (SS-303) , Halfbeak (SS-352) , Blenny (SS-324) & Becuna (SS-319) at New London CT., in 1968 during change of command.	Courtesy of John Hummel.