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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch on left contributed by Mike Smolinski, patch on right by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)

Hammerhead (SS-364)
Active Service

Radio Call Sign: November - Juliet - Tango - Whiskey

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Keel Laying - Commissioning

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 5 May 1943, at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.; Launched, 24 October 1943; Commissioned USS Hammerhead (SS-364), 1 March 1944; After a month of training on Lake Michigan, Hammerhead was placed in a floating dry-dock and towed down the Illinois and Mississippi River system to Algiers Naval Station at New Orleans, LA for minor reassembled and provisioning for combat.
Decommissioned on 9 February 1946 and laid up at the Mare Island Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Recommissioned again on 6 February 1952 for overhaul and training exercise. Decommissioned on 21 August 1953 for Guppy (snorkel) configuration in preparation for loan under provisions of the Military Assistance Program. Commissioned on 16 July 1954 and departed for North Island, San Diego, CA. After training Turkish Naval personnel, Hammerhead Decommissioned on 23 October 1954 and transferred (on loan) to the Republic of Turkey. On the same day, she was Commissioned TCG Cerbe (S-03). In accordance with the NATO pendant system, Cerbe (S-03) was renumber Cerbe (S-341).
On 1 January 1972, she was officially sold to Turkey; struck from the Naval Vessel Registry (NVR) and the title transferred. Cerbe Decommissioned from the Turkish Navy on 4 May 1972 and was scrapped. Hammerhead was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation and seven battle stars for World War II service. Researched by CTRC Donald J. Wagner, USN (Ret.) for NavSource.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 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, 300 ft; Complement 6 Officers 54 Enlisted; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 3"/50 deck gun, two .30 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; ; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear with four General Motors main generator diesel engines, 5,400 hp, Fuel Capacity, 116,000 gals., four General Electric main motors with 2,740 hp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.

Size	Image Description	Source
46k	Big Christmas dinner on board the Hammerhead (SS-364), Dec. 25, 1944, while they were on their 3rd war patrol. They were off the cost of Luzon, P.I. about 60 to 100 miles at this time, patrolling about 20 miles each night. The captain wrote as his entry for that Christmas: "Had one of the best Xmas dinners I've ever had in the Navy. Comissary outfit certainly did themselves proud. Fancy hand painted menus and "all the fixins."	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
30k	The Hammerhead (SS-364) entering Freemantle harbor, Western Australia, after 5th War Patrol, 1944.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
27k	Hammerhead's (SS-364) Battle flags, entering Freemantle, Australia, after 5th War Patrol, 1944.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
30k	Crew of the Hammerhead (SS-364) enjoying Christmas Dinner, 1944, off Luzon, P.I. Note that two of the crewmen are wearing night glasses as they prepare for night lookout duty.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
35k	Crew of the Hammerhead (SS-364) in very cramped quarters enjoying Christmas Dinner, 1944, off Luzon, P.I.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
106k	Seaman James Royce "Red" Hatch, serving as a lookout in the Hammerhead's (SS-364) conning tower while in the South China Sea during her 5th War Patrol, 1944.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein. Photo i.d. courtesy of Mary Hatch Thiesen.
31k	Corrigan increases in grade and goes overboard, 1944.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
41k	Heron makes chief and goes overboard, 1944.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
33k	Spencer increases in grade and goes overboard, 1944.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
32k	Welcome band as Hammerhead (SS-364) pulls into Pearl Harbor, August 1945.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
50k	Hammerhead (SS-364) crew, Hunters Point, CA, August 1945.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
34k	Hammerhead (SS-364) docks at Hunters Point, CA, August 1945.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
39k	Some of the crew of the Hammerhead (SS-364) at Subic Bay, 1945: Philpot, Moore, Doerflein, Basset.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
25k	Seaman Weldon signaling from Hammerhead's (SS-364) conning tower in the South China Sea, during the 5th War Patrol, 1944.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
25k	Bow view of the Hammerhead (SS-364) with an endless and landless horizon in the South China Sea, during the 5th War Patrol, 1944.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
28k	Hammerhead (SS-364) pulls into Hunters Point, CA, August 1945. Chief Pharmacist Delarious in conning tower; Coxswain Roden in foreground.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
34k	Hammerhead (SS-364) pulls into Hunters Point, CA, August 1945. Captain Smith, left, Lt. Walters, right.	Photo taken by Seaman Shrimpton, submitted courtesy of Edward J. Doerflein & Carol Doerflein.
32k	A portion of the 19 Jap flags as seen in this news clipping when the Hammerhead (SS-364) arrived in San Francisco Bay in August 1945.	USN photo contributed by Darryl Baker.
23k	News clipping of the Hammerhead (SS-364) arriving at Mare Island on 30 Aug 1945.	USN photo contributed by Darryl Baker.
35k	News clipping of 1 Sep 1945 showing crew members hold the Hammerhead's (SS-364) battle flag.	USN photo contributed by Darryl Baker.
49k	Hammerhead (SS-364) WW II battleflag.	USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
112k	Hammerhead (SS-364) underway, circa WW II.	USN photo.
137k	Reserve fleet at Mare Island, circa Jan 1946. There are 52 submarines and 4 Sub Tenders in this photo. This photo is a Berthing list identifying the ships in the picture.	Photo commerating 50 years, U. S. Submarine Veterans of WW II 1996 calendar, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
453k	Photo of the Reserve fleet at Mare Island, circa Jan 1946. There are 52 submarines and 4 Sub Tenders in this photo. Whether coincidental or on purpose, the number of boats in the photo is the same as that which were lost in WW II. From back to front and left to right, first group of 12 boats: Sandlance (SS-381) Tunny (SS-282) Aspro (SS-309) Lionfish (SS-298) Guvania (SS-362) Sunfish (SS-281) Macabi (SS-375) Gurnard (SS-254) Pampanito (SS-383) Mingo (SS-261) Guitarro (SS-363) Bashaw (SS-241) From back to front and left to right, second group of 12 boats: Sealion (SS-315) Hammerhead (SS-364) Bream (SS-243) Seahorse (SS-304) Tinosa (SS-283) Pintado (SS-387) Mapiro (SS-376) Pipefish (SS-388) Moray (SS-300) Batfish (SS-310) Hackleback (SS-295) Bluegill (SS-242) From back to front and left to right, third group of 12 boats: Hawkbill (SS-366) Menhaden (SS-377) Perch (SS-313) Loggerhead (SS-374) Barbero (SS-317) Baya (SS-318) Hardhead (SS-365) Spadefish (SS-411) Springer (SS-414) Devilfish (SS-292) Kraken (SS-370) Dragonet (SS-293) From back to front and left to right, fourth group of 12 boats: Lamprey (SS-372) Piranha (SS-389) Manta (SS-299) Pargo (SS-264) Rancador (SS-301) Archerfish (SS-311) Mero (SS-378) Sawfish (SS-276) Spot (SS-413) Lizardfish (SS-373) Jallao (SS-368) Icefish (SS-367) From back to front and left to right, last group of 4 boats: Steelhead (SS-280) Puffer (SS-268) Stickleback (SS-415) Trepang (SS-412) From back to front, Submarine Tenders group of 4 ships: Pelias (AS-14) Aegir (AS-23) Euryale (AS-22) Griffin (AS-13)	Photo commerating 50 years, U. S. Submarine Veterans of WW II 1996 calendar, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
158k	Multiple submarine re-commissioning at Mare Island on 6 Feb 1952. Guitarro (SS-363) is submarine to the left, outboard of her is Hammerhead (SS-364), and Hardhead (SS-365).	USN photo # 11787-2-52, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 12/02/06.
20k	The ex-Hammerhead (SS-364) as the Turkish Cerbe (S-341), circa 1968.	USN photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.