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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Becuna (SS-319) (AGSS-319)

Radio Call Sign: November - Zulu - Quebec - Juliet

Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 29 April 1943, at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.; Launched, 30 January 1944; Commissioned USS Becuna (SS-319), 27 May 1944; Guppy II A conversion completed at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., November 1950 to August 1951; Reclassified Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS-319) in 1969; Decommissioned, 7 November 1969; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; Reverted to (SS-319) in 1971; Struck from the Naval Register, 15 August 1973; Final Disposition, placed on permanent display to Cruiser Olympia Assn. (now the Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA., 21 June 1976. 21 July 1978, Dedicated as Submarine Memorial. Becuna received four battle stars for her World War II service. Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.)

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.
Donated 6-21-76 to Cruiser Olympia Assn. (Seaport Museum was not established until 1978) 7-21.78 Dedicated as Submarine Memorial. The pix of the boat in drydock with the SS 417 was taken in 1970 not 1945. The Paint Shop X-71, and the Riggers X-72 are getting the boats ready for sandblasting in Drydock # 1. The sailors you see are from the INACSHIPS doing guard duty. You'll note the DH shelters abaft the conning towers painted yellow. The pix of the 324, 417 & 319 was taken at Pier "D" in the back channel of PNSY probably about the same time they are being prepared to be put on the marine railway which is on the left & out of the picture to be cl osed up.
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SizeImage DescriptionSource
Becuna21kCommemorative postal cover marking the keel laying of the Becuna (SS-319), 29 April 1943, at Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.Courtesy of petloveshack.com.
Becuna75kCommemorative postal cover marking Becuna's (SS-319) launching, 30 January 1944.Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Becuna24kCommemorative postal cover marking Becuna's (SS-319) commissioning, 27 May 1944.Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Becuna75kBecuna (SS-319), after commissioning in May 1944.USN Archives photo # USN-189867. Courtesy of The Floating Drydock, "Fleet Subs of WW II", by Thomas F. Walkowiak.
Becuna200kBecuna (SS-319), starboard view entering Pearl Harbor, circa 1944. Note the battleship cage mast in the background. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, all the U.S. battleships were subsequently refitted and modernized, their cage masts going to harbor defense and the like.Courtesy of John Hummel.
Becuna53kBecuna (SS-319) entering Pearl Harbor, circa 1944-45. Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org
Becuna116kBecuna (SS-319) portside view underway, circa 1944-45. Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org
Becuna69kBecuna (SS-319) starboard view underway, circa 1944-45. Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org
Becuna & Razorback59kBecuna (SS-319) & Razorback (SS-394) at Pearl Harbor, circa 1944-45.Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org.
Becuna103k Stern view of Becuna (SS-319) departing Mare Island on 25 Aug 1947. US Navy photo # 1603-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Becuna101k Broadside view of Becuna (SS-319) departing Mare Island on 25 Aug 1947. She was in overhaul at the yard from 6 May to 22 Sep 1947. US Navy photo # 1605-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Becuna239k Bow on view of Becuna (SS-319) departing Mare Island on 25 Aug 1947. US Navy photo # 1607-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Becuna134kBecuna (SS-319), starboard view underway, post 1951, location unknown.Courtesy of John Hummel.
Becuna66kBecuna (AGSS-319) starboard view underway, at New London, CT. Tender in the background in Fulton (AS-11) with the State Pier in the background, post 1951. Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org
Becuna47kPierside stern view of the Becuna (SS-319) at the Navy pier at Argentia, Newfoundland, circa 1953-54.Courtesy of James R. Madson.
Becuna52kView of the sail of the Becuna (SS-319) at the Navy pier at Argentia, Newfoundland, circa 1953-54.Courtesy of James R. Madson.
Becuna & Pompon 669kBecuna (SS-319) and Pompon (SS-267), possibly during September and October 1957, when they participated in the large scale NATO exercise "Strikeback," visiting Clyde River, Scotland; LeHavre, France; and Portland, England. Courtesy of Gil Miller, photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel, text courtesy of DANFS.
Becuna51kA watercolor by the artist Richard C. Moore entitled "USS Becuna".
The Becuna (SS-319) is pictured in her GUPPY configuration as she exercises with ships of the fleet.
Photo courtesy of ship-paintings.com. Courtesy of the artist Richard C. Moore.
Becuna113kBow on view of the Becuna (SS-319), circa early 1960's.Courtesy of John Hummel.
Becuna211kThe Becuna (SS-319) off Sub Base New London CT., 1963.Courtesy of John Hummel.
Becuna669kBecuna (SS-319) in April 1963 on a "Northern Run" in the Cabot Straits.Courtesy of Gil Miller.
Halfbeak49k 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.
Blenny24kBlenny (SS-324), in between the Tench (SS-417) (alongside pier)and Becuna (SS-319) at the Philadelphia Naval Yard. Boats are in for de-commissioning, 7 November 1969. Photo courtesy of John Hummel.
Becuna144kBecuna (SS-319), in drydock with the Tench (SS-417) in Phila., 1970.
The Paint Shop X-71, and the Riggers X-72 are getting the boats ready for sandblasting in Drydock # 1. The sailors you see are from the INACSHIPS doing guard duty. You'll note the DH shelters abaft the conning towers painted yellow.
Courtesy of John Hummel. Text I.d. submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.) on 02/14/08.
Becuna65kBecuna (SS-319), bow view, permanently moored at the Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA, 1989.Courtesy of Michael Mohl.
Becuna108kBecuna (SS-319), permanently moored at the Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA, January 1998. To her port side is the old cruiser Olympia (C-6).Courtesy and copyright of Richard Leonhardt.
Becuna27kCommemorative postal cover issued on the occasion of Sumbarine Day Station for the Becuna (SS-319) 11 April 2002.Courtesy of Jack Treutle.

View the Becuna (SS-319)
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
Welcome to the USS Becuna SS-319
Independence Seaport Museum - USS Becuna (SS-319) Exhibit
Guppy Submarines
Full Fathom Five, U.S. Submarine War Against Japan

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