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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch on left by Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.), on right by Sait Kucuk CPOS (Ret.) Turkish Navy

Blueback (SS-326)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Bravo - Hotel
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 29 July 1943, at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.; Launched, 7 May 1944; Commissioned USS Blueback (SS-326), 28 August 1944. Under terms of the Security Assistance Program (Grant-in-Aid), Blueback was Decommissioned at Ismir, Republic of Turkey on 23 May 1948; struck from the Naval Vessel Registry (NVR) and transferred to Turkish Navy. Commissioned as TCG 2 Inonu (D-2) on 25 May 1948. Renumbered (S-18) 1955 and on 1959 accordance with the NATO pendant system, renumberd TCG 2 Inonu (S-331).
Inonu received Guppy I interior modifications at Golcuk Naval Yard in Turkey and remaining snorkel modification was conducted at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1953. Decommission from Turkish Navy on 30 November 1973 and returned to U.S. custody for disposition - fate unknown. Blueback received two battle stars for her WWII service.
Researched by CTRC Donald J. Wagner, USN (Ret.) & Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired), Turkish Navy for NavSource.

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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For Full Size		Size Image Description Source
Blueback 78k Commemorative postal cover marking the keel laying of the Blueback (SS-326) on 29 July 1943 at Electric boat. Contributed by Darryl L. Baker.
326
0832644a		86kThe Blueback (SS-326) was sponsored by Mrs. William Brent Young, wife of Rear Admiral Young. Photo courtesy of findagrave.com
Blueback 75k Launching day for the Blueback (SS-326) at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT., 7 May 1944. Electric Boat / USN photo.
Blueback 18k Commemorative postal cover marking the launching of the Blueback (SS-326), 7 May 1944.
Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Blueback 18k Commemorative postal cover marking the launching of the Blueback (SS-326), 7 May 1944.
Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Blueback 25k Commemorative postal cover marking the commissioning of the Blueback (SS-326), 28 August 1944.
Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Blueback 75k WW II Battleflag of the Blueback (SS-326). USN photo courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org.
Subron 5 181k Subron 5 family photo fall/winter (1945)in Guam, from left to right, Segundo (SS-398), Sea Cat (SS-399), Blenny (SS-324), Blower (SS-325), Blueback (SS-326) & Charr (SS-328).
 Photo by Lt. Herb Hanson, courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Blueback & Boarfish 421k Boarfish (SS-327) and Blueback (SS-326) are in dry dock at Mare Island on 12 June 1946. USN photo # 2057-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Blueback 272k Broadside view of Blueback (SS-326) off Mare Island on 8 August 1946. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 30 April to 11 August 1946. USN photo # 2856-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Blueback 185k Stern view of Blueback (SS-326) departing Mare Island on 8 August 1946. USN photo # 2858-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Blueback 170k Blueback (SS-326) approaching shore, starboard view, circa 1946-48. USN photo contributed by John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Blueback 13.0k 188 PDF history of Blueback's (SS-326) WW II patrols. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Fremantle 365k This plaque was unveiled 20 March 1995 by His Excellency Major General P.M. Jeffery OA MC, Governor of Western Australia to commemorate the sacrifices made by Allied submarines that operated out of Fremantle, Western Australia during WW II. Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
TCG II Inonu (S-331)
Blueback 205k What looks to be a harbor scene in Malta during the Blueback's (SS-326) journey from the west coast to the Mediterranean, via New London, Conn. She arrived at Izmir, Turkey, 11 May 1948 and on 23 May 1948 was decommissioned and transferred to Turkey. USN photo courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org. Text courtesy of DANFS.
Blueback 259k The Inonu (D-2), 1952. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Blueback 167k The Inonu (D-2) after Fleet Snorkel modification Phila. PA., 8 May 1953. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Blueback 136k The Inonu (D-2) as marked, 1954. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
The Family 136k Turkish Family photo of Snorkeled Submarines June 1955. The boats were originally numbered with the letter D-#. After all the subs underwent snorkel conversion at Phila. Naval Ship Yard, their numerical was changed to S-#, which was still occurring when this photo was taken.
Submarines pictured from left to right outboard of their tender TCG Erkin:
Gur (S-20) ,
Cerbe (S-23) ,
I I.nönü (D-1) (1 or 2 days later (S-17),
Canakkale (S-21),
Sakarya (S-19),
Preveze (S-22) &
Inonu (S-17).

In the background are two floating drydocks and in the far right are 4 Ellyson Class Destroyers:
Gaziantep (D-344), {ex-Landsdowne (DD-486)}
Giresun (D-345), {ex-McCalla (DD-488)}
Gelibolu (D-346), {ex-Buchanan (DD-484)}
Gemlik (D-347), {ex-Lardner (DD-487)} and the Yavuz (C-11), ex-German Battlecruiser Goeben. 		Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Blueback 86k Inonu (S-18) leaving the pier, 1957. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Blueback 135k Training on Marmarean Sea. 1958. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Blueback 541k Inonu (S-331) at the overhaul Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. 1961 at Pier "D" North side. YRBM (19) is alongside.
This type of ship is a Berthing Barge. YRBM and YRBM(L) are non-self-propelled barges used to provide living accommodations for a submarine or surface ship crew during a submarine or surface ship construction or repair. They contain limited shop facilities to permit ship's force repair work. It is fitted with a storeroom and workshops. All utilities are supplied from the pier. It has a reinforced bow for ocean towing. The YRBM is 110 foot by 34 foot, and the YRBM(L) is 146 foot by 46 foot. The crafts are reinforced at the bow for ocean towing.
Among the moth-balled DD's in the right background is what appears to be the Smalley (DD-565). 		Text & photo i.d. courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory) & globalsecurity.org. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Blueback 215k Inonu (S-331) after overhaul change silhouette, 1962. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Blueback 101k Inonu (S-18) saluting position in front of the Golcuk Naval Base, 1964. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Family 67k Turkish submarine family photo shows the following six boats from pier to outboard:
Cerbe (S-341), ex-Hammerhead (SS-364),
Inonu (S-331), ex-Blueback (SS-326),
Gur (S-334), ex-Chub (SS-329),
Preveze (S-340), ex-Guitarro (SS-363),
Sakarya (S-332), ex-Boarfish (SS-327),
with Pirireis (Y-1242) as Facility charging boat, the ex-Mapiro (SS-376). 		Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar,CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
Photo i.d. & text courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
View the Blueback (SS-326)
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
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
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