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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch at left contributed by Mike Smolinski, middle by Patrick Householder, Decal on right by unlimiteddetails.com

Chopper (SS-342) (AGSS-342) (IXSS-242)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Delta - Oscar
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 2 March 1944, at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 4 February 1945; Commissioned USS Chopper (SS-342), 25 May 1945; Reclassified Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS-342) in 1969; Decommissioned, 27 August 1969; Reclassified Miscellaneous Submarine (IXSS-342) in 1971; Struck from the Naval Register, 10 October 1971; Assigned as salvage and rescue hulk at ServRon 8, 1971 to 1976; Final Disposition, sunk off Florida coast in 2400 fathoms on July 21 1976 while being rigged as an underwater target.
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 General Motors main generator engines, 5,400hp, Fuel Capacity 118,000, four General Electric main motors, 2,740hp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
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For Full Size Image		Size Image Description Source
Chopper 19k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the keel laying of the Chopper (SS-342), 2 March 1944, at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.
Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Chopper 18k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the Chopper's (SS-342) launching on 4 February 1945.
Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Chopper 66k Portside view of the Chopper (SS-342),underway, circa 1945.
 US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Chopper 53k Chopper (SS-342), WW II patch. Courtesy of Patrick Householder.
Pomodon 224k Forward plan view of Pomodon (SS-486) during her Guppy conversion at Mare Island on 16 May 1947. Chivo (SS-341) and Chopper (SS-342) are aft of Pomodon. USN Photo # 988-47, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Chopper 53k Portside view of the Chopper (SS-342),underway, circa post 1951 modernization at Electric Boat Co.
 US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Subron 12 49k Chopper (SS-342) departed Key West 7 January 1952 for a tour of duty in the Mediterranean until 20 May. Photo courtesy of Robert Hurst. Text courtesy of DANFS.
Chopper 47k The Chopper (SS-342) during 1958 off Key West Fla. The two gents on top the snorkel exhaust are going to be a bit wet if they stay where they are. Photo courtesy of John Hummel, (USN) retired.
Grenadier 215k Sail away, 1950's version: Three different types appear in this photo:
Archerfish (SS-311), Grenadier (SS-525) & Chopper (SS-342) in Key West, Fla, during the 1950's. 		Photo courtesy of John Hummel, (USN) retired.
Chopper 83k The Chopper (SS-342) and Lockheed P-3 Orion overhead in undated anti-sub warfare exercise possibly on 20 June 1960. Photo from The World Encyclopedia of Submarines by John Parker courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Darter712kChopper (SS-342) and Darter (SS-576) exercise together with other elements of the fleet in the Atlantic on 20 June 1960.USN photo # 701727 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Chopper 249k Change of command at Subron 12 Key West Fla.in the 1960's aboard the Bushnell (AS-15). Barracuda (SST-3) upper right. Other boats there are Sea Cat (SS-399), Picuda (SS-382), Atule (SS-403), Sea Fox (SS-402), Threadfin (SS-410) & Chopper (SS-342). Photo courtesy of John Hummel, (USN) retired.
Chopper 72k Chopper (SS-342), at Key West, FL., 1966. © Richard Leonhardt.
Chopper 200k The Chopper (SS-342) decommissioned after her deep dive...no jack flying, no topside watch...decommissioned Fletcher destroyers behind her. Photo courtesy of John Hummel, (USN) retired.
Chopper 27k The Chopper (SS-342), decomissioned after deep dive, at destroyer and submarine piers Norfolk Va. Kittywake (ASR-13) in background, date unknown.
 Photo courtesy of John Hummel, (USN) retired.
Chopper 288k Service Weapons Test 76-1 (Ex-Chopper Sinkex).
The Chopper (SS-342) was rigged from bridge pontoons at 300 ft. Merchant ships ignored the Notice to Mariners about the explosive ordnance testing. Chopper stayed at 300 ft for several hours, while we waited on Spadefish (SSN-668) for the merchants to clear the area. Suddenly the pontoons disappeared and we heard the sounds of Chopper breaking up. The sinkex was conducted ~ 200 miles off the North Carolina coast. 		Photo courtesy of Bill Wilson.
Photos added 11/07/11.
View the Chopper (SS-342)
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 Chopper (SS-342) Association
Guppy Submarines
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
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