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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch on left created by Ray Young, in center by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.),on right by Y.M.Umar,CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.

Mero (SS-378)

Radio Call Sign: November - Juliet - Victor - Papa
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 22 July 1944, at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.; Launched, 17 January 1945; Commissioned USS Mero (SS-378), 17 August 1945; Conducted shakedown on Lake Michigan from 6 September to 17 November 1945 before transiting the Illinois and Mississippi River systems in a towed floating dry dock to Algiers Naval Station, New Orleans, LA. for minor re-assembly and provisioning.
Decommissioned at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA on 15 June 1946 and laid up at the Mare Island Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet and partly received there in 1960 GUPPY (snorkel) configuration. The Mero did not complete the snorkel process and remained a Fleet boat.
Afterwards the Mero was transferred (leased) to the Republic of Turkey under provisions of the Military Assistance Program on 20 April 1960 at San Francisco, CA.
Commissioned Hizirreis (S-344) on 23 August 1960 at Golcuk Navy Yard, Turkey. (note: named after Ottoman Empire Grand Admiral from 1534 - 46. The ending "reis" roughly translates to a person in charge; leader; head; chief; chairman or skipper of a small fishing boat).
On 1 August 1973, ex-Mero was struck from the U. S. Naval Vessel Registry (NVR) and permanently transferred (cash sale) to Turkey.
Hizirreis (S-344) was disposed of by the Turkish Navy on 9 October 1980 after being cannibalized for parts. Fate; Sold as scrap.
Researched by CTRC Donald J. Wagner, USN (Ret.) & Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy for NavSource.

As built to the 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.
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For Full Size		SizeImage DescriptionSource
Mero294kInsignia of the Mero (SS-378) designed for the submarine by Ray Young, circa 1944.
 Photo by Ray Young, courtesy of his son, William Young.
Mero13kCommemorative post card on the occasion of the keel laying of the Mero (SS-378), 22 July 1944, at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Mero56kLaunching timbers looking like oars protruding from a ancient Galley, the Mero (SS-378) sits on the building ways, bow decorated with bunting and signal flags waving from stem to stern, getting ready for launching at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI., 17 January 1945.Editors Note: There are over 200 images submitted on these pages covering the following submarines that were constructed at the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc, WI,: SS-265 through SS-274, and SS-361 through SS-380.
None of them would have seen the light of day if it were not for the efforts of Curator, Asst. Director, Bill Thiesen of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Larry Bohn, who sent them to NavSource for publication.
A special debt of gratitude is owed to these two men and the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, Wisconsin home of the Cobia (SS-245), for allowing these photographs to be seen by the lovers of naval history worldwide.
Mero50kThe Mero (SS-378) inclining into the icy waters of the Manitowoc River at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI., 17 January 1945.Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Mero333kThe last of the 28 subs that the yard at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co. will turn out, the Mero (SS-378), goes to water with a great splash, 17 January 1945.Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Turner 121k Commemorative post card on the occasion of the Mero (SS-378) launching, 17 January 1945. Photo courtesy of Tommy Trampp.
Manitowoc55k Watercolor print by the artist Tom Denton of the side launching of a Manitowoc built boat. Courtesy of submarineart.com
Mero74kMero (SS-378) is buoyant after her launch, with an ore freighter for company in the background at Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI., 17 January 1945.Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Mero71kMero (SS-378), conning tower and 40mm mounts, September 1945. Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Mero43kThe Mero's (SS-378) bow starts to protrude as she starts to surface from Lake Michigan during her sea trials, September 1945. Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Mero58kMero (SS-378), surfacing from Lake Michigan during her sea trials, September 1945. Both her 40mm gun mounts are now visible.Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Mero52kA fully surfaced Mero (SS-378) lies on Lake Michigan during her sea trials, September 1945. Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
Mero112kMero (SS-378), underway, during her trials in Lake Michigan, September 1945.Courtesy of usssubvetsofwwii.org.
Photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Mero337k Mero (SS-378) possibly on sea trials in Lake Michigan.Photo by Gen Dyn, # P639-145, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Mero92k In order to deliver the subs to New Orleans, the equipment above the conning tower had to be removed and secured on deck to enable the sub to pass under a bridge in the Chicago River. Here, the Mero (SS-378) like all the other subs, was then mounted on a floating drydock to get it through the shallow areas in the Mississippi River. A book has been published on the trials and tribulations of the moves and is available at the museum.The covering around the conning tower of the Mero is to cut the wind while the upper works are being removed.Photo by Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
Submitted by Larry Bohn, courtesy of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, home of the Cobia (SS-245)
378 247k Mero (SS-378) entering Racine Wisconsin harbor with the Coast Guard Station in view. Photo courtesy of James DeBoer via Gary Priolo.
Harry Berns485kPhoto of Harry Berns, Official photographer of the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co., Manitowoc, WI.
The photo of the Golet (SS-361) encased in snow appears on the wall above him on the upper right.
His obituary appears here. 		Photo courtesy of Susan Menk, Archives Assistant, Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Dee Anna Grimsrud,Reference Archivist, Wisconsin Historical Society, Steve Khail, CBC, Director of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, The Manitowoc Company, Inc. & William Young.
Turner 99k Commander John Henderson Turner was the commanding officer of the Mero (SS-378) from 1945 to 1946. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker. via Bill Gonyo.
Mero94kMero (APSS-378), underway, port side view, circa mid-late 40's.Courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Mare Island Reserve Fleet137kReserve fleet at Mare Island, circa January 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 commemorating 50 years, U. S. Submarine Veterans of WW II 1996 calendar, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Mare Island Reserve Fleet453kPhoto of the Reserve fleet at Mare Island, circa January 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:
Sand Lance (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 commemorating 50 years, U. S. Submarine Veterans of WW II 1996 calendar, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
TCG Hizirreis (S-344)
Mapiro296k Mapiro (SS-376) and Mero (SS-378) transfer to Turkey San Francisco CA. 18 March 1960.
In the background the ex-Tilefish (SS-307) soon to be the ARV Carite (S-11) is being overhauled near a destroyer. She joined the Venezuelan Navy 4 May 1960. 		Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Mero195kHizirreis (S-344) circa 1961. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Mero85kHizirreis (S-344) on diving training at Marmeran sea with deck 5 inch gun, circa 1961.Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Mero138kHizirreis (S-344) on sea trials. Deck gun removed in 1962. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Mero200kThree subs moored together:
First boat outboard is the ex-Guitarro (SS-363) as the Turkish Preveze (S-340),
Middle boat is the ex-Mapiro (SS-376), as the Pirireis (S-343),
The ex-Mero (SS-378) is now the Hizirreis (S-344) & is flagdrapped by the Turkish national ensign on the 77 th Submarine reunion day ceremony on the Subbase pier, 23 June 1963. 		Photo courtesy of Cu"neyt Demir. Photo i.d. courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Guitarro254kThe Hizirreis (S-344) rises from the depths, 1964. Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar,CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy. Photo i.d. courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Mero38kOfficers of the Hizirreis (S-344) with the mountains of Turkey in the backdrop. Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar,CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
Mero91k Hizirreis (S-344) along way from Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar,CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
Mero81k Hizirreis (S-344) all dressed up with flags. Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar,CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
View the Mero (SS-378)
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
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
Manitowoc Built Submarines
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