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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Perch (SS-313)

Radio Call Sign: November - Zulu - Alpha - Quebec
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 5 January 1943, at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.; Launched, 12 September 1943; Commissioned USS Perch (SS-313), 7 January 1944; Decommissioned, 15 January 1947; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Converted to a Submarine Transport, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Recommissioned USS Perch (SSP-313), 20 May 1948; Redesignated Transport Submarine (ASSP-313), 31 January 1950; Redesignated Submarine Transport (APSS-313), 24 October 1956; Decommissioned, 31 March 1960, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Mare Island; Recommissioned, 11 November 1961; Reclassified Amphibious Transport Submarine, (LPSS-313), 22 August 1968; Reclassified Unclassified Miscellaneous Submarine (IXSS-313), 30 June 1971; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 1 December 1971; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping to Levin Metals Corp., San Jose, CA for $ 37,528.00 Scrapped in San Pedro, CA. 15 January 1973. Perch received four battle stars for her World War II service and one battle star for Korean War service.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves (of blessed memory)

As built to the specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,242 t.; Length 311' 9"; 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, 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, one 20mm gun, two .50 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear with four main generator engines, General Motors diesel engines, HP 5400, Fuel Capacity 118,000, four General Electric motors, HP 2,740, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
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Perch 30k Perch Perca fluviatilis. Courtesy of freshwater-fishing-guide.com.
Perch 19k Commemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of the keel laying of the Perch (SS-313), 5 January 1943, at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Perch 101k Postal cover marking the launching of the Perch (SS-313), in honor of Lt. Cmdr David A. Hurt, CO of the 1st Perch (SS-176), on 12 September 1943 at Electric Boat. The boat was sponsored by his 2nd wife. I believe his 1st wife, Katherine Burbidge Hurt, died in childbirth at 21. Courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
SS 313
0831339		 NR The newest Perch (SS-313) was sponsored by Lt. Cmdr David A. Hurt's wife, Mrs. Constance Wickham Hurt.
Capt. David A. Hurt, skipper of the submarine Perch (SS-176), who was killed yesterday while hunting in Russell County, Va., shown receiving shoulder boards designating his new rank from his wife after his arrival at National Airport, 12 September. 		Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 22 November 1945, Image 2, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Escolar 375k Millican's Marauders was composed of Escolar (SS-294), Croaker (SS-246) & Perch (SS-313). They set out together to conduct a coordinated patrol, on September 23rd. Croaker's & Perch's log for the dates 15 to 19 October appear here.
19 October 1944: Off Sasebo. At 1600, escort CD-34 detects an unknown submarine 45 degrees to starboard at 3280 yards (3000 m). CD-38 attacks and drops about 30 depth charges. A friendly aircraft collaborates with the kaibokan. The kill is confirmed by a heavy-oil slick and many interior ship fittings found floating on the sea. CD-38's crew paints a submarine "kill" mark on side wall of the bridge. 		Drawing by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships" & text courtesy of combinedfleet.com.
PDF & translation courtesy of Kiyotaka Asano via Yutaka Iwasaki, Bruce Abele & Brad Pearson.
Photo & PDF via Kiyotaka Asano & Yutaka Iwasaki.
Perch 304k A collage of photos and letter from former LT (JG) Alton Arrington, who served aboard the Perch (SS-313) during WW II. Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Perch 150k The crew of the Perch (SS-313) pose for an end of WW II picture in September 1945. Courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
SS 313
0831338		 666k 4 page PDF of Perch (SS-313) history. USN photos courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Mare Island Reserve Fleet137kReserve fleet at Mare Island, circa January 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 L. Baker.
Mare Island Reserve Fleet453kPhoto of the Reserve fleet at Mare Island, circa January 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:
Sand Lance (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 L. Baker.
Perch 1.05k Re-commissioning ceremony of Perch (SSP-313) at Mare Island on 20 May 1948. Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum photo # 875X-5-48 TH courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 127k Commissioning ceremonies of Perch (SS-313), at Mare Island on 20 May 1948. Officers are from left to right: LCDR J. R. Ragan (Executive Officer), LT D. T. Morse (Engineer Officer), LCDR O. H. Payne (Commanding Officer & speaker), ENS E. R. Ettner (Supply Officer) and Capt. H. C. Fish (Commander, Mare Island Group Reserve Fleet). USN photo # 872-5-48, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 210k Forward plan view of the Perch (SS-313) at Mare Island near the completion of conversion to a troop transport on 13 August 1948. Her conversion started on 20 May and was completed on 17 August 1948. USN photo # 1375-8-48, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 191k Aft plan view of the Perch (SS-313) at Mare Island near the completion of conversion to a troop transport on 13 August 1948. USN photo # 1376-8-48, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 79k Perch (ASSP-313) preparing to launch an LVT amphibious tractor during a 1949 exercise. The vehicle could be carried in the cargo hangar and launched by flooding down the submarine. USN photo and text from The American Submarine by Norman Polmar, courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Perch 507k Loading cargo in LVT from after deck, and from forward deck, 10 March 1949. USN photos # 80-G-422908, 422909 & 422912 by PFC William R. Keating, from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Perch 344k Troops of the 6th Marines board a DUKW from the Perch (ASSP-313) off Aliso beach, California on 10 March 1949. USN photos # 80-G-422911 by PFC William R. Keating, from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Perch 928k Perch (SSP-313) shown at Mare Island Naval Shipyard shortly after a collision with the Orleck (DD-886) on 23 March 1949. Both vessels were participating in maneuvers off San Diego when the collision occurred. No one was killed, but both ships required repairs at Mare Island. The Perch suffered damage to her periscope shears, snorkel, and hangar. A.P. Wirephoto and text courtesy of David Johnston & Tommy Trampp.
Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum photo # 34X2-4-49 courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 793k Perch (SSP-313) showing the topside damage due collision with Orleck (DD-886). Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum photo # 34X1-4-49 TH courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 1.60k Sailors from the Perch (APSS-313) chipping the ice from the deck of the boat in Bristol Bay, January 1950.
The Barbero (SS-317) left San Diego for Alaska with 4 other ships on 5 January 1950. The Ice Breaker Burton Island (AG-88), a destroyer (converted to a Marine Troop carrier), an LST for the Marine vehicles, and the Perch. We stopped for a couple of days in Kodiak for fresh supplies and went through Unimac pass into the Arctic Ocean. We anchored just off the peninsula in Bristol Bay. The Barbero had been converted into a cargo carrier (After torpedo room and part of the after battery was cargo space). The Perch was a troop carrier with a bubble on the back deck to hold a Marine landing craft (with Tank tracks). The Marines from the Perch and destroyer made their landing and we unloaded our WOODEN boxes for them to take ashore. That night a blizzard arrived and the marines were stranded on shore for three days. We went out and dived each day to melt the ice off our deck. The Perch didn't. The Perch captain refused to leave his cabin and the Exec sent a secret message to headquarters about the captain. They came and got him. The Perch couldn't dive because the ice kept it afloat. The sailors had to chip off enough ice so they could dive. The Marines were rescued and all boarded the destroyer. The Barbero had been rigged with a fathometer on the deck so it could detect how far the ice was above us when we went under the ice. The Burton Island and the Barbero headed North into a thicker ice bed. A PBY flew out over the ice and found a lake large enough for us to surface in about forty miles north. We dove and were the first sub to go that far under the ice. We surfaced in the lake and charged our batteries for about four hours and the Burton Island told the skipper a place he could surface at their end. Mission accomplished. Headed home. Went to Mare Island and decommissioned the Barbero. The Greenfish (SS-351) was there for overhaul and I transferred to her after decommissioning. The Korean war broke out on June 30 and the Greenfish headed for Pearl.		 Text courtesy of Paul Fowler.
USN photos # USN 427739 & 427740 courtesy of Arctic Submarine Laboratory & scanned by Ryan Crierie, via flickr, courtesy of Stephen Gower.
Perch 874k Perch (APSS-313) on 13 February 1950. She appears to be getting ready to pass a tow line. Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum photo # 52X1-1-50 TH courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 1.30k Perch (APSS-313) in Alaska - 3 July 1950. Photo # 80-G-427742 scanned by Ryan Crierie, via flickr, courtesy of Stephen Gower.
Perch 16k Deep freeze is given Perch (APSS-313), by a covering of ice off Cape Seniavin, Bristol Bay, Alaska. The ice was successfully removed by taking the submarine down. Circa 1951. Courtesy of All Hands Magazine, October 1951, submitted by Stan Svec.
Perch 117k Perch (SS-313), aft view in San Diego Harbor, circa 1953.
The Bang (SS-385) is perched outboard of the Perch.		 Courtesy of Phil Gulick, former 1st Amphib Recon Company member aboard the Perch.
Mare Island2.50kBowfin (SS-287) and Perch (APSS-313), docked together in Mare Island's dry dock #1 between 19 January 1954 and 29 March 1954. Also in the photo are YC-239 (at the foot of the dry dock) and YD-33 (inboard) and YD-72 (outboard) at the foot of Ways 2.Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 237k Bow on view of Perch (ASSP-313) departing Mare Island on 6 May 1954. USN photo # 21033-5-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 119k Broadside view of Perch (ASSP-313) off Mare Island on 6 May 1954. She was under going repairs at Mare Island from 8 December 1953 to 13 May 1954. USN photo # 21035-5-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 272k Stern view of Perch (ASSP-313) departing Mare Island on 6 May 1954. USN photo # 21037-5-54, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 258k Broadside view of Perch (ASSP-313) off Mare Island on 11 September 1956. She was under going repairs at Mare Island from 7 May to 26 September 1956. USN photo # 31053-9-56, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 62k Perch (ASSP-313), surface view, 45 degrees off center-line, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 11 September 1956. Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org.
Perch 71k Perch (ASSP-313), surface view, 135 degrees off center-line, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 11 September 1956. Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org.
Perch 81k Perch (ASSP-313), bow view, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 11 September 1956. Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org.
Perch 57k Perch (ASSP-313), stern view, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 11 September 1956. Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org.
Perch 421k Perch (ASSP-313), port view bow, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 11 September 1956. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Perch 130k Perch (ASSP-313), plan view amidships looking forward, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA., 11 September 1956. Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org.
Perch 86k Perch (ASSP-313),during exercises with reconnaissance troops from the 1st Marine Division off the coast of California. In addition to many internal changes, the Perch's conning tower structure had been extended and additional masts and shears added by January 1957, when this photo was taken. USN photo and text from The American Submarine by Norman Polmar, courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Point Loma 401k Submarine tender Nereus (AS-17) in a two point moor off Ballast Point at Point Loma, San Diego. Early 1960's. Submarines alongside include the Perch (ASSP-313), which is the outboard boat. The inboard boat is one of the former radar-picket submarines (SSR), Rasher (AGSS-269), Raton (AGSS-270), or Rock (AGSS-274). This picture was taken after Perch lost her cylindrical hangar from the after deck, and after the SSR's lost their radars in the late 1950's. The inboard boat is considerably longer than the Perch, and has an extended sail, both indicators of a former SSR. The radar's proved quite troublesome in service and the concept of the submarine radar-picket died once AEW aircraft on carriers entered service. Text courtesy of David Johnston
USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Perch 843k Perch (SS-313) is seen in Mare Island's dry dock #1 on 21 August 1961 during her recommissioning overhaul. Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum photo # 523X1-8-61 courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 1.07k Re-commissioning ceremony of Perch (APSS-313) at Mare Island on 11 November 1961. Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum photo # 53057-11-61 TH courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Perch 998k Perch (ASSP-313) recommissioned 11 November 1961, Lt. Comdr. C. H. Hedgepeth in command, trained on the West Coast and Hawaii through 1962 and arrived at her new homeport, Subic Bay, Philippine Islands in March 1963. Text courtesy of DANFS. USN photo courtesy of Wayne Buescher PH3 via Lonnie Whittaker Webmaster WWW.USS-BENNINGTON.ORG.
Perch 1.05k Perch (SS-313) underway in 1965. USN photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Perch 39k Perch (APSS-313), Subic Bay, PI, 27 June 1966. Note Annapolis (AGMR-1) in background.
Note: "During January 1966, Perch landed UDT personnel for beach survey work in South Vietnam as part of operation "Double Eagle." She then provided services at Legaspi, P.I. to train Filipino and American UDT personnel. Between local training operations in the Subic Bay area, Perch worked with Chinese Special Forces at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and with Army Special Forces at Keelung, Taiwan. In July, Perch participated in operation "Deck House II" on the coast of South Vietnam. Again in August, Perch conducted several independent beach surveys with UDT personnel along the coast of South Vietnam. For operation "Deck House IV" in September, Perch landed UDT personnel on five successive nights for preinvasion beach reconnaissance.		 Photo © Richard Leonhardt.
Submarine Base Pearl Harbor564kSubmarine are from left to right: Halibut (SSGN-587), Pickerel (SS-524), Perch (LPSS-313), Unidentified, Sterlet (SS-392) at Submarine Base Pearl Harbor on 12 April 1967. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel & David Johnston
Perch 97k Perch (ASSP-313), off Pearl Harbor, date unknown. Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org.
Perch 94k Perch (LPSS-313), moored at the San Diego Inactive Ship Facility in 1971. Photo courtesy of L. Cole. from Warship Boneyards, by Kit and Carolyn Bonner.
View the Perch (SS/SSP/ASSP/APSS/LPSS/IX-313)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
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Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
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