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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches on left contributed by Mike Smolinski, second right by USS Cusk Web Site, patch on right contributed by Vern Maxson.

Cusk (SS-348) (SSG-348) (AGSS-348)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Echo - Victor

Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 25 May 1944, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 28 July 1945; Commissioned USS Cusk (SS-348), 5 February 1946; Redesignated Missile Submarine, (SSG-348), 20 January 1948; Reverted to (SS-348), 1 July 1954; Redesignated Auxiliary Research Submarine (AGSS-348) in September 1969; Decommissioned and simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 17 Jan. 1971; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 26 June 1972, to Zidell Exploration, Inc., Portland, OR., for $112,013.

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, one Loon missile (an Americanized version of the Nazi V-1) in its hangar, 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.

Size	Image Description	Source
18k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of the launching of the Cusk (SS-348), 28 July 1945.	Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle.
59k	Cusk (SS-348) slides down the ways at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT., 28 July 1945.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
150k	The Cusk (SS-348) at berth at Cristobal, C.Z., sometime between 24 April 1946, when she made an extended cruise through the Caribbean Sea, and before she arrived at San Diego 6 June 1946.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
55k	Starboard view of the Cusk (SS-348) dockside, with fore and aft mounted deckguns, 40MM on the fore and aft smoking decks. Location could be San Diego CA., or Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 1946.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman.
141k	Amidships looking forward plan view of Cusk (SS-348) showing LOON missile hanger at Mare Island on 29 Sep 1947. She was under conversion from 30 June to 7 Oct 1947.	US Navy photo # 1822-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
153k	Amidships looking aft plan view of Cusk (SS-348) showing LOON missile hanger at Mare Island on 29 Sep 1947. She was under conversion from 30 June to 7 Oct 1947. The decommissioned San Saba (APA-232) is in a nest of other decommissioned transports aft of *Cusk*.	US Navy photo # 1823-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
73k	Stern view of the Cusk (SS-348) showing LOON missile hanger at Mare Island on 29 Sep 1947.	USN photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
142k	This photo was taken just before Cusk (SS-348) fired the first Loon Missile in 1947. The launch ramp can be seen behind the crew.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman.
215k	The following are a series of 8 photos showing the Cusk (SS-348) on July 7, 1948 launching a Loon Missile with the attendant misadventures that result in unexpected occurences in this line of business.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman.
112k	On this occasion the missile exploded on the launch ramp.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman.
89k	Close up of above.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman.
139k	Fireball on back deck.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman.
88k	Close up of above.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman.
114k	Next sequence of fireball.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman.
93k	Close up of above.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman.
123k	Smoke on the water. Cusk (SS-348) had dove to extinguish the fire.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman.
201k	Bow on view of Cusk (SSG-348) in the fog off Mare Island on 7 Dec 1950.	US Navy photo # 7691-12-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
209k	Broadside view of Cusk (SSG-348) in the fog departing Mare Island on 7 Dec 1950. She was in overhaul at the yard from 18 Sep 1950 to 2 Jan 1951. Note Loon launcher and shelter.	US Navy photo # 7693-12-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
177k	Stern view of Cusk (SSG-348) in the fog departing Mare Island on 7 Dec 1950.	US Navy photo # 7695-12-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
106k	Cusk (SSG-348) firing a Loon missle, 1951.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
278k	Cusk (SS-348) crew photo 1953. The boat on the right of the picture (port side of *Cusk) is the Spinax* (SSR-489). The boat on the left of the photo (starboard side of *Cusk) is harder to identify, but it might be the Carbonero* (AGSS-337). The structure on the after deck looks a lot like a Loon missile launch ramp, and *Carbonero* was the only other boat equipped to fire this missile. However, other photos of *Carbonero* show the ramp mounted much closer to the conning tower fairwater; her installation was more temporary in nature than *Cusk's* and she lacked a water-tight hangar. The Destroyer Hall (DD-583) can be seen in the right rear of the photo.	Photo courtesy of Vern Maxson, LCDR,USNR-R-RETIRED (SS). Text courtesy of Dave Johnston (USNR).
313k	The Cusk (SSG-348) is seen returning from sea trials at Mare Island on 30 June 1954. She was under repair at the yard from 15 Feb to 12 July 1954.	USN photo # 21856-6-64, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 11/16/06.
97k	Cusk (SSG-348) is pictured here before reverting to (SS-348), 1 July 1954. See the Missile hanger and ramp of the after deck.	Courtesy of John Hummel.
51k	Broadside view of the Cusk (SS-348) underway, circa post mid 1950's.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
178k	Bow view of the Cusk (SS-348) underway, circa post mid 1950's, possibly off Hawaii.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
154k	Stern view of the Cusk (SS-348) underway, circa post mid 1950's, possibly off Hawaii.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
42k	Cusk (SS-348) underway, circa post mid 1950's.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
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.
45k	Cusk (SS-348) underway, with a tug alongside, probably at New London, circa 1960s.	Courtesy of Ric Hedman.
54k	Cusk (SS-348) underway, circa 1960's, place unknown. Note the unidentified submarine in the background.	Courtesy of George M. Arnold.
430k	Seven inactive submarines at Mare Island on 30 April 1971. Left to right: Cusk (SS-348), Rock (SS-274), Bashaw (SS-241), Spinax (SSR-489), Pomodon (SS-486), Medregal (SS-480), and Diodon (SS-349). Photo by Ted Stone and negative given to the shipyard in 1995.	USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
30k	Cusk (SS-348) alongside, 1974.	Photo contributed courtesy of Ron Gray.