NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski
Lagarto (SS-371)
Crew Members
To Additional Pages
Launching - Sinking
Discovery - 2005
Verification - 2006
Dive Photos by Dr. Mike Gadd
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 12 January 1944, at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.; Launched, 28 May 1944; Commissioned USS Lagarto (SS-371), 14 October 1944; Sunk on 2nd patrol by Japanese netlayer Hatsutaka on 3 May 1945, in the Gulf of Siam, all hands lost. Struck from the Naval Register, 1 September 1945. Lagarto received one battle star for World War II service. 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, 400 ft; Complement 6 Officers 54 Enlisted; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 5"/25 deck gun, one 40mm, one 20mm, two .50 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.
| Click On Image For Full Size Image | Size | Image Description | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 51k | CPHMA(SS) R.B. "Bob" Spalding, lost with the Lagarto (SS-371). | Courtesy of dbfnetwork.info & Kelan Spalding. | |
 | 47k | One of the crew of the Lagarto (SS-371), Walter E. Hinken, TM3. He is standing by South High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, shortly before he left for the service where his life was cut short when the Lagarto met the Hatsutaka on May 4, 1945. | Courtesy of his neice, Cindy Root. | |
 | 58k | Clark Richard Byrer (C. R. Byrer) Fireman. First Class. This picture was taken during his basic training on Lake Erie Ohio. The Lagarto (SS-371) was his first appointment. He was 19 year old at the time the submarine was lost. | Courtesy of his nephew, Bill Noll. | |
 | 11k | Lagarto (SS-371) crewman George Clark Harrington, MOMM3, lost with the boat on May 4, 1945. | Courtesy of his nephew, Clark Acton. | |
 | 49k | Lagarto (SS-371) crewman Raymond E. Reichert, Fireman First Class, lost with the boat on May 4, 1945. | Courtesy of his nephew and neice-in-law, Carl & Heather Reichert. | |
 | 88k | One of the crew of the Lagarto (SS-371), SM1 William T. Mabin, who was lost with the boat when it was sunk by the Hatsutaka on May 4, 1945. The photo was taken in San Diego, when he was 24. | Courtesy of his daughter, Nancy Kenney. | |
 | 37k | Lagarto (SS-371) crewman Seaman Second Class Aaron Brock, lost with the boat on May 4, 1945, he was 19 years old. | Courtesy of his brother, Walter Brock, submitted by Mark A. Owens. Photo added 06/16/06. | |
View the Lagarto (SS-371)
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
On Eternal Patrol
ComSubPac Report on the loss of LAGARTO (SS 371) May 3, 1945 - 85 Men Lost
Full Fathom Five, U.S. Submarine War Against Japan
usslagarto.org
Lagarto Model
Found After 60 Years at Sea - CBS Video on the Discovery of the Lagarto - (Courtesy of Harvey Moshman)
World War II Sailor Remains On Eternal Patrol - CBS Video on the Discovery of the Lagarto - (Courtesy of Harvey Moshman)
USN Video from Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2006 Exercise on the Discovery of the Lagarto.
Experts confirm sunken sub is USS Lagarto
| Back To The Main Photo Index | Back To the Submarine Index |
| Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster. |
| This page is created by Gary Priolo and maintained by Michael Mohl © 2008 Michael Mohl © 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved. |