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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Catfish (SS-339)

Radio Call Sign: November - Juliet - Romeo - Victor
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 1 January 1944, at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT.; Launched, 19 November 1944; Commissioned USS Catfish (SS-339), 19 March 1945; Decommissioned, 10 December 1948 for Guppy II conversion; Recommissioned 24 October 1950; Decommissioned, struck from the Naval Register, and transferred (sold) to Argentina, 1 July 1971, renamed Santa Fe; Final Disposition, in 1982 during the Falklands War Santa-Fe was hit by British forces. Deemed too costly to economically repair as a war prize she was sunk in Grytvyken Sound, South Georgia. Catfish was awarded 1 battle star for 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, 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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Catfish 17k Catfish Silurus glanis.
Courtesy of freshwater-fishing-guide.com.
Catfish 16k Commemorative postal cover marking the launching of Catfish (SS-339) at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, CT., 19 November 1944.
 Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Catfish 239k Catfish's (SS-339) WW II plaque.
 U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
Catfish 22k Catfish (SS-339), port side view underway. Circa 1945, location unknown.
Courtesy of subnet.com.
Catfish 22k Catfish (SS-339), port side view underway, circa 1945, off Portland Oregon.
Courtesy of Larry Derouin.
Catfish 157k Bow view of the Catfish (SS-339) post WW II taking on fuel from a tender.
Courtesy of Ric Hedmen.
Catfish 110k Stern view of Catfish (SS-339) off Mare Island on 9 June 1947.
USN photo # 1102-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Catfish 129k Broadside view of Catfish (SS-339) off Mare Island on 9 June 1947. She was in overhaul at the yard from 17 Feb to 17 June 1947.
USN photo # 1110-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Catfish 121k Bow on view of Catfish (SS-339) departing Mare Island on 9 June 1947. The submarine in the background to the left is either Chivo (SS-341) or Chopper (SS-342). They were nested together forward of the decommissioned APAs and logs are unclear who was outboard.
USN photo # 1106-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Catfish 158k Bow on view of Catfish (SS-339) off Mare Island on trails during her Guppy II conversion on 19 April 1949.
USN photo # 3421-4-49, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Catfish 135k Stern view of Catfish (SS-339) off Mare Island on trails during her Guppy II conversion on 19 April 1949.
USN photo # 3425-4-49, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Catfish 239k Amidships looking aft plan view of Catfish (SS-339) at Mare Island on 28 April 1949. The tanks aft of fariwater are battery water tanks.
USN photo # 3510-4-49, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Catfish 85k Catfish (SS-339) starboard view, underway, during her visit to the Far East, 1956.
 U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
Catfish 68k Catfish (SS-339) starboard view, underway, probably in Pearl Harbor, HI.
 U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
Catfish253k Catfish (SS-339), port side view underway, circa sometime after 10 December 1948-60 following Guppy II conversion, location unknown.
Photo courtesy of John Hummel.
Catfish 203k Catfish (SS-339) port side view underway, circa sometime after 10 December 1948-1960 following Guppy II conversion, location unknown.
 U.S. Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofworldwarii.org.
Nereus 63k Nereus (AS-17) with nine submarines;
Tunny (SSG-282),
Cusk (SS-348),
Carbonero(SS-337),
Tilefish (SS-307),
Spinax (SSR-489),
Rock (SSR-274),
Remora (SS-487),
Catfish (SS-339),
Volador (SS-490)
and the Submarine Rescue Vessel Florikan (ASR-9) moored alongside at San Diego for Subron Five's Change of Command, date unknown.		 US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, November 1955, courtesy of Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
Catfish 35k In San Diego Bay 1958/59, Catfish (SS-339) is in front.
 Courtesy of Larry Derouin.
Catfish 17k Catfish (SS-339) after 1960 overhaul showing large superstructure.
 Courtesy of subnet.com.
Catfish 114k A helicopter hovers over the Santa Fe, ex-Catfish (SS-339) after she was beached and abandoned by her crew at the British Antarctic Survey base, Grytvyken, South Georgia, April 1982, after being attacked by Royal Navy helicopters in Cumberland Sound.
 Photo & text courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Catfish 130k View of the sail following the British-Argentine war of Spring 1982. Deemed too costly to economically repair as a war prize, Santa Fe, ex-Catfish (SS-339) was sunk in Grytvyken Sound, South Georgia. Courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Catfish 104k Bow on view of the Santa Fe, ex-Catfish (SS-339) lying wrecked in the harbor before she was sunk in Grytvyken Sound, South Georgia.
 Courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Catfish 41k View of the sail following the British-Argentine war of Spring 1982. Note the inscription on the sail by the crew of the HMS Endurance (which sank her) warning all to stay clear.
 Courtesy of Larry Derouin.
Catfish 49k Abandoned trawlers and the Catfish (SS-339) lie askew in the harbor following the British-Argentine war of Spring 1982.
Courtesy of Larry Derouin.
Catfish 37k Just the sail of the Santa Fe, ex-Catfish (SS-339) is visible above water following the British-Argentine war of Spring 1982. Note the holes in the conning tower.
Photo & partial text courtesy of ambuscade.org.uk.
Catfish 25k Santa Fe, ex-Catfish (SS-339) being raised by the salvage vessel Salvageman circa 1985. This was Salvageman's last and only successful attempt of raising the Santa Fe, after which the submarine was towed into deep water and scuttled. Ministry of Defence photo taken from "Admiralty Salvage: In Peace and War 1906-2006," by Tony Booth, courtesy of Robert Hurst. Photo added 08/24/07.
View the Catfish (SS-339)
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
USS Catfish SS-339
USS Catfish SS339 Home Page
Full Fathom Five, U.S. Submarine War Against Japan
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Submarine Index

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