Lagarto (SS-371)
Verification - 2006

Launching - Sinking
Discovery - 2005
Crew Members
Dive Photos by Dr. Mike Gadd

If any members of the families of the crew wish to contact one another using this page as a bulletin board, please mail Nancy Kenney. Her father, SM1 William T. Mabin, was lost with the boat.

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Source
	262k	Senior Chief Master Navy Diver Michael Moser, of Camas, Wash., and British Diver Jamie MacLeod go over a chart of the World War II submarine Lagarto (SS-371) as 7th Fleet Diving Officer Cmdr. Tony San Jose watches aboard the rescue and salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52) in the Gulf of Thailand, June 11, 2006. Salvor divers are assisting the Naval Historical Center in attempting to positively identify the wreck.		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-3483C-002 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Robert Shawn Cole, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	234k	Chief Navy Diver Russell Ciardiello stands by to be called to the stage aboard the rescue and salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52) with the help of Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Rick Parizal and Quartermaster 2nd Class Jason Tangalin. He will be diving on the World War II-era submarine Lagarto (SS-371). Salvor divers are assisting the Naval Historical Center in attempting to positively identify the wreck. The diving operation is part of the Thailand phase of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2006 Exercise series. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the U.S. and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces.		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-3483C-002 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Robert S. Cole, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	212k	Chief Navy Diver Jon Sommers performs diving supervisor checks on Gunner's Mate 2nd Bryan Zenoni, who is preparing to dive from Salvor (ARS-52) om June 12, 2006 on the World War II-era Lagarto (SS-371).		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-0839W-009 by Lt. Erik Wells, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	59k	Ensign Shauna Egan, of Burlington, Vt., tends her diver aboard Salvor (ARS-52) as he prepares to dive and investigate the World War II-era Lagarto (SS-371).		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-3483C-007 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Robert Shawn Cole, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	321k	Chief Navy Diver Jon Sommers and Navy Diver 1st Class Kevin Parsons monitor the surface phase of the decompression chamber aboard the rescue and salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52) in the Gulf of Thailand, June 12, 2006. Salvor is moored over the World War II-era submarine Lagarto (SS-371).		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-3483C-003 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Robert S. Cole, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	158k	Mineman 2nd Class Simon S. Walters, assigned to the mine warfare ship Patriot (MCM-7), prepares to throw a line to his ship during mine-recovery operations as part of Western Pacific Mine Countermeasures Exercise (WP-MCMEX) in Malaysia, June 14, 2006. The 3rd annual WP-MCMEX focuses on enhancing cooperation among Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) navies and maritime safety by conduction detection, identification procedures that may be used in the future to keep important international waterways open.		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-4124C-020 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Robert S. Cole, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	593k	Chief Navy Diver Jon Sommers assigned to the salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52) searches for an identifying marker on the forward capstan of the submarine Lagarto (SS-371) on June 14, 2006.		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-0000S-001 by Chief Diver Jon Sommers, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	439k	Chief Navy Diver Jon Sommers assigned to the salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52) searches for an identifying marker on the forward capstan of the submarine Lagarto (SS-371)		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-0000S-002 by Chief Diver Jon Sommers, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	516k	U.S. Navy diver assigned to the salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52) cleans marine growth from a hatch of the submarine Lagarto (SS-371).		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-0000S-003 by Chief Diver Jon Sommers, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	324k	A wreath that will be placed in the ocean above the resting site of the World War II submarine Lagarto (SS-371) is displayed during a memorial at sea aboard the salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52) in the Gulf of Thailand on June 17, 2006. The ceremony was in remembrance of Lagarto's lost crew of 86 Sailors.		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-3483C-002 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Robert S. Cole, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	197k	Interior Communications Electrician 1st Class (SW) Anthony Marquez, of Prineville, Oregon, bows his head in prayer during a memorial at sea aboard Salvor (ARS-52) in the Gulf of Thailand June 17, 2006 remembering the 86 Sailors who were lost aboard submarine Lagarto (SS-371) during World War II.		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-3483C-001 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Robert S. Cole, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	255k	Sailors stationed aboard the salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52) stand at parade rest during a memorial at sea honoring the 86 Sailors, who were lost in the submarine Lagarto (SS-371) during World War II.		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-3483C-004 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Robert S. Cole, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	166k	Sailors of a firing squad aboard Salvor (ARS-52) stand at parade rest during a memorial at sea, honoring the 86 Sailors who were lost in the submarine Lagarto (SS-371) during World War II.		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-3483C-005 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Robert S. Cole, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	183k	During a memorial at sea aboard Salvor (ARS-52), Lt. (Chaplain) Alfred Pena, of Los Angeles, Calif., releases to the sea the names of Sailors lost aboard submarine Lagarto (SS-371) during World War II.		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-3483C-003 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Robert S. Cole, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	335k	U.S. Navy diver Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Brad O'Keefe shows Royal Lt.j.g. Mongkol Podang a drawing of Lagarto (SS-371) during a visit to rescue and salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52) at Sattahip, Thailand, June 21, 2006.		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-9851B-001 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class John L. Beeman, courtesy of news.navy.mil. Photo added 06/21/06.
	147k	The U.S. flag reflects off a plaque from the crew of the rescue and salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52) to the crew of Lagarto (SS-371). On June 16 the plaque was placed on the aft capstan of the wreckage in the Gulf of Thailand of the lost World War II submarine.		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-3483C-001 by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Robert Shawn Cole, courtesy of news.navy.mil.
	49k	A plaque placed on the aft capstan of the wreckage in the Gulf of Thailand believed to be that of World War II submarine Lagarto (SS-371) is seen in this screen grab of video on June 16, 2006. The divers' observations appear to confirm the discovery made in May 2005 by British wreck diver Jamie MacLeod. "Without a doubt, it's a U.S. submarine, a Balao-class," said U.S. 7th Fleet Diving Officer, Cmdr. Tony San Jose. San Jose and his fellow divers reported identifying twin 5-inch gun mounts both forward and aft, a feature believed to be unique to Lagarto. They also reported finding serial numbers and the word "Manitowoc" engraved on the submarine's propeller. Lagarto was one of 28 submarines built in Manitowoc, Wisc. The operations were conducted from the rescue and salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52) with embarked divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1, based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Japan-based mine countermeasures ship Patriot (MCM-7) assisted by first pinpointing the location of the wreckage with its SQQ-32 sonar and remotely-operated Mine Neutralization Vehicle. In Memorium: In the Second Book of Shmuel (Samuel), 22nd chapter, 5th through the 20th verses, translated from the original in Hebrew and published by the Koren Publishers of Jerusalem, Israel, 1982, can perhaps aptly describe the fate of the crew and all other U.S. submariners who died defending their county: "When the waves of death compassed me / the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; / the bonds of She'ol encircled me; / the snares of death took me by surprise; / in my distress I called upon the Lord, / and cried to my G-D: / and he heard my voice out of his temple, / and my cry entered into his ears. / Then the earth shook and trembled; /the foundations of heaven moved / and shook because of his anger /...the heavy mass of waters, and thick clouds of the skies /... And the channels of the sea appeared, / the foundations of the world were laid bare, / at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast at the breath of his nostrils. / He sent from above, he took me; / he drew me out of many waters; / he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. / They surprised me in the day of my calamity: / but the Lord was my stay / He brought me forth also into a large place: / he delivered me because he delighted in me./"		U.S. Navy photo & text of N-0000M-001 by Senior Chief Navy Diver Michael Moser, courtesy of news.navy.mil.