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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

SS-317 / SSA-317 / SSG-317 Barbero

Radio Call Sign: November - Zulu - Lima - Uniform

Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 25 March 1943, at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.; Launched, 12 December 1943; Commissioned USS Barbero (SS-317), 29 April 1944; Status changed to in commission in reserve, 25 April 1946; Converted to a cargo submarine (SSA-317), at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Recommissioned, 26 July 1948; Decommissioned, 30 June 1950; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Converted to a guided missile submarine SSG-317, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard between 1 February and 25 October 1955; Recommissioned, (SSG-317), 25 October 1955; Decommissioned, 30 June 1964; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1964; Final Disposition, sunk as a target by Greenfish (SS-351), 7 October 1964 off Pearl Harbor. Barbero received two battle stars for her World War II service.

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, could carry up to two Regulus I missiles, 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.

Size	Image Description	Source
70k	Postal cover marking the keel laying of the Barbero (SS-317) on 25 March 1943 at Electric boat.	Courtesy of Darryl Baker.
107k	The Barbero (SS-317) sliding down the launching ways at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT., 12 December 1943.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
13k	Commemorative post mark from the Barbero's (SS-317) commissioning on 29 April 1944.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
17k	Commemorative post mark from the Barbero's (SS-317) commissioning on 29 April 1944.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
137k	Reserve 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.
453k	Photo 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.
535k	Forward plan view of Besugo (SS-321) at Mare Island on 29 Jan 1946. The Spadefish (SS-411) and Barbero (SS-317) are aft of *Besugo*.	U.S. Navy photo # 325-46, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
52k	Barbero (SS-317) and Hardhead (SS-365) and nestled between them, (deduced from the larger photo), is Spadefish (SS-411). The other boats are unknown at this time. Date on photo is 3 May, 1946 at Mare Island Shipyard, Ca.	Photo courtesy of Ric Hedman.
276k	LCDR Samuel T. Bussey new commanding officer of Barbero (SS-317) reads his orders during *Barbero's* commissioning ceremonies in dry dock #1 at Mare Island on 26 July 1948.	US Navy photo # 1188-7-48, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
100k	Barbero (SS-317), superstructure view at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 21 Sept 1948.	Courtesy of John Hummel.
199k	Barbero (SS-317), port side view at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 21 Sept 1948.	Courtesy of John Hummel.
94k	Starboard broadside view of the Barbero (SS-317), at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 21 Sept 1948.	Source: NARA San Francisco, Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files. U.S. Navy photo # NY9-1769-9-48 courtesy of Tracy White.
99k	Stern view of the Barbero (SS-317), at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 21 Sept 1948.	Source: NARA San Francisco, Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files. U.S. Navy photo # NY9-1771-9-48 courtesy of Tracy White.
76k	Barbero (SS-317) sporting her new snorkel mast, San Diego, CA, 1949.	Photo courtesy of Ric Hedmen, & dedicated to the memory of Master Chief Petty Officer Charles (Monty) M. Montgomery (deceased). Thanks to Chief Petty Officer Joe Phoenix.
96k	Barbero (SS-317), pre 1950, place unknown.	Courtesy of US Navy.
148k	The crew at quarters for the decommissioning of the Barbero (SS-317) at Mare Island on 30 June 1950. CDR C. P. Callahan (Commanding Officer) is the the commander to the left and next to him is Capt. B. E. Bacon Jr. (Commander, Submarine Administration Mare Island). The Aspro (SS-309) is to the port side of the *Barbero*.	US Navy photo # 6523-6-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
148k	CDR C. P. Callahan (Commanding Officer) of the Barbero (SS-317) reads the decommissioning orders at Mare Island on 30 June 1950. Capt. B. E. Bacon Jr. (Commander, Submarine Administration Mare Island) is to the right of CDR Callahan.	US Navy photo # 6661-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
44k	RADM F. I. Entwistle, Area Commander Mare Island, speaks at the recommissioning ceremonies aborad Barbero (SS-317) at Mare Island on 28 Oct 1955.	USN photo # 27016-10-55, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
118k	Lieutenant Commander S. T. Bussey, USN, is shown accepting command of the Barbero (SS-317) during its recent commissioning ceremonies on 28 Oct 1955. Seated on the speakers stand are: Left to Right: LCDR M. D. Becker, USN, Aide to Shipyard Commander, Rear Admiral M. J. Lawrence, USN, Shipyard Commander, Vice Admiral C. Lockwood, USN (Ret.), Rear Admiral F. I. Entwistle, Commander U. S. Naval Base Mare Island, Captain H. Carpenter, USN, Administrative Officer, CDR T. Ustick, Aide to Naval Base Commander, and Chaplain W. Wolf.	Source: NARA San Francisco, Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files. U.S. Navy photo # NY9-27014-10-55 courtesy of Tracy White.
131k	Bow on view of Barbero (SS-317) departing Mare Island on 18 January 1956.	USN photo # 27725-1-56, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
69k	Port quarter view of Barbero (SS-317) at Mare Island on 18 January 1956.	Source: NARA San Francisco, Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files. U.S. Navy photo # NY9-27726-1-56 courtesy of Tracy White.
89k	Stern view of Barbero (SS-317) at Mare Island on 18 January 1956. Interesting how much lower she rode in the water as an SSG, compare the prop guards.	Source: NARA San Francisco, Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files. U.S. Navy photo # NY9-27729-1-56 & text courtesy of Tracy White.
111k	Barbero (SS-317) with crew lined up on deck to salute as cruiser passes at Norfolk VA, June 1957.	Photographer: Hank Walker, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
180k	Barbero (SS-317) showing a Regulus 1 missile being prepared for launching at Norfolk VA, June 1957.	Photographer: Frank Scherschel, courtesy of time.com. via / images.google.com & Life.
90k	Barbero (SS-317) showing a Regulus 1 missile being prepared for launching. This particular shot, on 7 June 1959, consisted of the missile being loaded with U.S. mail and flown ashore to be landed by radio control, as a demonstration of the potential of missiles for non-military uses.	US Navy photo courtesy of The American Submarine, by Norman Polmar & submitted by Robert Hurst.
71k	"Neither rain nor shine or threat of snow will keep the mailman from his appointed rounds." On 8 June 1959, the Barbero (SS-317) fired a Regulus missile mail container in a unique experiment to see that the mail would get through. No postage due stamps were reported on this delivery.	Courtesy of Nancy Pope, Historian, National Postal Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
26k	Souvenir commemorating of the first official Missle Mail, launched by the Barbero (SS-317) on 8 June 1959.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
37k	Point of Landing of the first official Missle Mail, launched by the Barbero (SS-317) on 8 June 1959.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
28k	Barbero (SS-317), with a Regulus missle exiting from launcher, 12 January 1960.	Courtesy of Nick Spark.
45k	Barbero (SS-317) surfacing in Hawaiian waters on 4 August 1960 for the 100th launch of a Regulus I guided missle.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
45k	Barbero (SS-317) with a Regulus missle exiting from launcher.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
724k	Barbero (SS-317) weathering a typhoon as seen through her periscope in western Pacific; December 1959.	Photograph courtesy of Ron Phillipi. Photo added 12/19/09.
482k	Barbero (SS-317) in dry dock following damage caused by a typhoon western Pacific; December 1959.	Photograph courtesy of Ron Phillipi. Photo added 12/19/09.
404k	1959 Xmas tree aboard the Barbero (SS-317).	Photograph courtesy of Ron Phillipi. Photo added 12/19/09.