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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

SS-317 / SSA-317 Barbero

Radio Call Sign: November - Zulu - Lima - Uniform
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Guided Missile Submarine

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.
Click On Image
For Full Size Image		SizeImage DescriptionSource
Barbero70k Postal cover marking the keel laying of the Barbero (SS-317) on 25 March 1943 at Electric boat.
Courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Barbero107k The Barbero (SS-317) sliding down the launching ways at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT., 12 December 1943.
USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Barbero13k Commemorative post mark from the Barbero's (SS-317) commissioning on 29 April 1944.
Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Barbero17k Commemorative post mark from the Barbero's (SS-317) commissioning on 29 April 1944.
Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
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.
Besugo535k 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.
Mare Island52kBarbero (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.
Barbero276k 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.
Barbero100kBarbero (SS-317), superstructure view at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 21 Sept 1948.
Photo fix by Jim Kelling.
Courtesy of John Hummel.
Barbero199kBarbero (SS-317), port side view at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 21 Sept 1948.
Courtesy of John Hummel.
Barbero94kStarboard 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 @ Researcher @ Large.
Barbero99kStern 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 @ Researcher @ Large.
Barbero76kBarbero (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.
Barbero96kBarbero (SS-317), pre 1950, place unknown.
Courtesy of US Navy.
Barbero148k 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 commander to the left and next to him is Capt. B. E. Bacon Jr. (Commander, Submarine Administration Mare Island). The Aspro (SS-309) lies to the port side of the Barbero.
US Navy photo # 6523-6-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Barbero148k 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.
View the Barbero (SS/SSA/SSG-317)
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

Regulus; U.S. Navy's first nuclear missile submarines.
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
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