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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Skate (SS-305)

Radio Call Sign: November - Yankee - India - Whiskey

Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 1 August 1942, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 4 March 1943; Commissioned USS Skate (SS-305), 15 April 1943; Decommissioned 11 December 1946, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Struck from the Naval Register, 21 October 1948; Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 5 October 1948, off San Clemente Island, CA. Skate earned eight battle starts for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 t.; Length 311' 10"; Beam 27' 4"; Draft 15' 2"; 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.

Size	Image Description	Source
111k	Mrs. George P. Shamer, sponsor of the Skate (SS-305), is seen prior to the submarine's launching at Mare Island on 4 Mar 1943.	U.S. Navy photo 1567-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
91k	The official christening party of the Skate (SS-305). RADM Friedell presents Mrs. Shamer the case containing the christening gage. Left to right: Mr. Chester F. Gannon (State Assembly Member from Sacramento) RADM W. L. Friedell (Shipyard Commandant), Mrs. T. B. Oakley (Matron of Honor), Mrs. George P. Shamer (Ships Sponsor), Mrs. Warren C. Hall, Jr. (Matron of Honor), and CAPT George P. Shamer (Shipyard Supply Officer.	U.S. Navy photo 1568-3-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
70k	Mrs. George P. Shamer (Ships Sponsor) christens the Skate (SS-305) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 3 March 1943. Others in the party are from left to right: Matrons of Honor Mrs. Warren C. Hall, Jr. and Mrs. T. B. Oakley, RADM W. L. Friedell (Shipyard Commandant), Mrs. Shamer and CAPT George P. Shamer (Shipyard Supply Officer).	U.S. Navy photo 1558-3-43,courtesy of Darryl Baker.
87k	The Skate (SS-305) is seen at the end of the building ways during her launching at Mare Island Navy Yard on 4 Mar 1943.	U.S. Navy photo 1548-43 courtesy of Darryl Baker.
77k	With her crew saluting the national ensign and bunting and signal flags flying in the slight breeze, the Skate (SS-305) starts to enter the Pacific at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA. 4 March 1943.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
147k	The Skate (SS-305) is being assisted to her outfitting berth after her launching at Mare Island on 4 Mar 1943.	U.S. Navy photo 1549-43,courtesy of Darryl Baker.
54k	Broadside view of the Skate (SS-305) shortly after her launching at Mare Island Navy Yard on 4 Mar 1943.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
55k	The officers of the newly commissioned Skate (SS-305) pictured on the submarines forward deck on 4/15/1943. Left to right: ENS Willis E. Maxson III, LT Quentin R. Thomson, LT Marion F.Ramirez de Arellano (Executive Officer), LCDR Eugene D. McKinney (Commanding Officer), LT William A. Overton, and ENS Frank Kay. Officers were identified by LCDR William P. Gruner, USN who was skipper of *Skate* on her 3rd, 4th and 5th war patrols.	U.S. Navy photo 2655-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
132k	The National Ensign raised aboard the Skate (SS-305) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 15 Apr 1943. The Seahorse (SS-304) is the submarine to the left and Sargo (SS-188) is the submarine between the barges forward of *Skate*.	U.S. Navy photo 2651-4-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
424k	Skate (SS-305) off Mare Island of 28 July 1943.	US Navy Photo # 5478-43, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
69k	Bow view of the Skate (SS-305) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 28 July 1943.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
16k	Stern view of the Skate (SS-305) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 28 July 1943.	US Navy photo courtesy of Mike Green.
36k	Port side view of the Skate (SS-305) at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA., 29 July 1943.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
16k	Skate (SS-305), broadside view, most likely a Bureau of Ships photo taken just after *Skate* completed an ovehaul at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.	US Navy photo courtesy of John Hummel.
97k	Looking at the starboard side of the Skate (SS-305) during completion at Mare Island in July 1943. Her bow planes are rigged in the down position and the Flooding / drain holes and ladder cutouts are seen in the superstructure. This is hidden when the planes are in the up position. Mare Island, being a government shipyard used the Portsmouth plan for building. Note the arrangement of the holes and the anchor is on the port side.	Mare Island photo # 4930-43 courtesy of Darryl Baker. Text courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
180k	The Skate (SS-305) during building at Mare Island in July 1943. During import periods, the boats were equipped with propeller guards. But, these were removable and were taken off before going on war patrol. The small holes in the after portion of the superstructure and stern are air vents.	Mare Island photo # 4929-43 courtesy of Darryl Baker. Text courtesy of The Floating Drydock,"Fleet Subs of WW II" by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
95k	160 miles N of Truk at 1644 on 16 February 1944...Skate (SS-305) commanded by LtCdr William P. Gruner, on his first war patrol as skipper, fires four Mark-14 torpedoes at the Japanese light crusier *Agano*. Two hit her starboard side and set her afire & in a shroud of smoke as the submarine submerged to evade heavy depth charging from the enemy escorts. She later returned to the scene of the attack, but before another torpedo could be launched, the cruiser rolled to port and sank.	Photo by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships" courtesy of combinedfleet.com. Partial text courtesy of DANFS & combinedfleet.com. PDF history of *Skate's* WWII patrols written by CDR William P. Gruner. He was Commanding Officer on her 3rd, 4th and 5th war patrols. Mare Island received the paper in Feb 1991. Photo & PDF added 12/27/09.
126k	Bottom portion of the Skate's (SS-305) main armament with it's operator at Guam.	Photo courtesy of Jim Savo, *Skate* Plankowner, who also served on the Flying Fish (SS-229) during WW II, submitted by Greg Krenzelok.
114k	Skate (SS-305), fully dressed for the Pacific war, 1944.	Photo courtesy of Jim Savo, *Skate* Plankowner, who also served on the Flying Fish (SS-229) during WW II, submitted by Greg Krenzelok.
217k	Battleflag of the Skate (SS-305) at Guam.	Photo courtesy of Jim Savo, *Skate* Plankowner, who also served on the Flying Fish (SS-229) during WW II, submitted by Greg Krenzelok.
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 (SS-287) 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 of Aryeh (Lee) Wetherhorn.
59k	The battleflag of the World War II submarine Skate (SS-305).	U.S. Navy photo 2651-4-43,courtesy of Darryl Baker.
70k	Skate (SS-305) 11 March 1946 at Pearl Harbor. On 21 May, she departed for Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, to be used as a target ship in Operation "Crossroads," the atomic bomb tests.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of USNI. Text courtesy of DANFS.
86k	A 1946 Watercolor by the artist Arthur Beaumont, entitled "Skate, July 5, 1946, Enyu Atoll." "Submarine Skate (SS-305) looked bad after test Able , with her masts and antennas hopelessly bent and her superstructure buckled and torn. Despite appearances, however, her pressure hull was intact and the boat able to maneuver under her own power. Heavily contaminated by both bombs, she was brought back to California for study and then scuttled in 1948."	Arthur Beaumont #6 Watercolor,88-169-F 1946. Gift of the artist via USNHC.
219k	The Skate (SS-305) after she appeared at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, to be used as a target ship in Operation "Crossroads," the atomic bomb tests.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of EMC(SW) Brian Kroenung.
114k	Operation "Crossroads," target ship Skate (SS-305) was one of the ships close to the detonation, which thoroughly mangled her superstructure. The hull, however, did not rupture."	National Archives Photo # 80G627489, courtesy of Robert Hurst. Photo added 02/12/10.
59k	The Skipjack (SS-184) (inboard) and Skate (SS-305) are seen at the Pacific Reserve Fleet Mare Island in Oct 1947.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
142k	Conning tower, periscope shears and other parts of the bow section of the Skate (SS-305) after she appeared at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, to be used as a target ship in Operation "Crossroads," the atomic bomb tests. Although considerably damaged by the first of the tests, the submarine survived and was towed back to Pearl Harbor, where she was moored in an isolated berth. Note the "Keep Clear Danger Very Radioactive" sign posted on the dock.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org. Text courtesy of DANFS.
192k	A photographer snaps a shot of a part of the bow section of the Skate (SS-305) that better resembles a junk heap than a submarine after she appeared at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, to be used as a target ship in Operation "Crossroads," the atomic bomb tests. Although considerably damaged by the first of the tests, the submarine survived and was towed back to Pearl Harbor, where she was moored in an isolated berth.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org. Text courtesy of DANFS.
84k	Skate (SS-305) lies on her starboard side after Operation "Crossroads," the atomic bomb tests. On 11 October, salvage vessel Clamp (ARS-33) took *Skate* in tow and headed for San Francisco, and then to Mare Island Naval Shipyard where the submarine was inspected and then decommissioned on 11 December. The submarine was destroyed on 5 October 1948, off the California coast, and struck from the Navy list on 21 October 1948.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org. Text courtesy of DANFS.
109k	The Operation "Crossroads," target ship Skate (SS-305) is seen in dry dock 1 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 28 Sep 1948 under going hull structural tests. She was in dock from 29 July until 1 Oct 1948.	U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.