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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Pipefish (SS-388) (AGSS-388)

Call sign: November - Juliet - Whiskey - Juliet
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 31 May 1943, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, on Seavey Island in Kittery, Maine. Launched, 12 October 1943; Commissioned USS Pipefish (SS-388), 22 January 1944; Decommissioned 19 March 1946; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Reclassified Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS-388), 1 December 1962; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 March 1967; Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 4 February 1969, to Zidell Explorations, Inc., Portland, OR. for $ 55,459.00, removed 19 February 1969. Pipefish received six battle stars for World War II service.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves (of blessed memory) & Yves Hubert.

As built to the specifications: Displacement, Surfaced 1,526 t., Submerged 2,391 t.; Length 311' 8"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10 kts; Submerged Endurance, 48 hours at 2 kts; Operating Depth, 400 ft; Complement 6 Officers 60 Enlisted; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 5"/25 deck gun, one single 40mm gun mount, one single 20mm gun mount, two .50 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear, four Fairbanks Morse main engines, 5,400hp, Fuel Capacity, 116,000 gal., four Elliot Motor Co. electric main motors with 2,740hp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
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For Full Size		Size Image Description Source
Sand Lance1.57kBow view of the Sand Lance (SS-381) prior to launching at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. 25 June 1943.
Note the keel of the Pipefish (SS-388) rising up from the ways on the left. 		National Archives Identifier: 38329865
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
Pipefish 171k Commemorative launching tag of the Pipefish (SS-388) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 12 October 1943. Photo courtesy of Ron Toth, Jr. via Tom Kermen.
Pipefish 171k Mrs. George J. Bates, at left, sponsor of the Pipefish (SS-388), poses with 2 others at the boat's launching at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 12 October 1943. USN photo courtesy of Grover A. Kiick, MM1, (USN Ret).
Pipefish 128k The crew salutes the national ensign as the Pipefish (SS-388), slides down the building ways at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 12 October 1943. USN photo courtesy of Grover A. Kiick, MM1, (USN Ret).
Pipefish 145k The Pipefish (SS-388), is now waterborne at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 12 October 1943. USN photo courtesy of Grover A. Kiick, MM1, (USN Ret).
Pipefish 608k Launching of the Pipefish (SS-388), in stream prior to docking at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 12 October 1943. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Sand Lance121kCommemorative commissioning stamp of the Pipefish (SS-388) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 22 January 1944.USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com
Pipefish 98k Officers of the Pipefish (SS-388): From left to right - Mr. Carlson, Gunnery officer; Supply Officer; XO, Lt. Joe McDowell; Captain Deregan; ships 1st Lt.;Engineering Officer. USN photo courtesy of Grover A. Kiick, MM1, (USN Ret).
Pipefish 207k Officers from left to right, standing is the Pipefish's (SS-388) 1st Lt.; seated is the Engineering Officer; XO Joe McDowell; Captain Deregan; unknown, not a ships officer; Gunnery Officer Carlson; Supply Officer. USN photo courtesy of Grover A. Kiick, MM1, (USN Ret).
Pipefish 92k Pipefish's (SS-388) crew dance the night away prior to embarking for the war zone. USN photo courtesy of Grover A. Kiick, MM1, (USN Ret).
Pipefish 94k Pipefish's (SS-388) crew dance the night away prior to embarking for the war zone. USN photo courtesy of Grover A. Kiick, MM1, (USN Ret).
Pipefish 139k Pipefish (SS-388), crew photo, 3rd row, forth in from the right with his white hat cocked on the back of his head is Grover A. Kiick, MM1. He identified the place where the photo was taken as Midway and the date to be June-July 1945. Text courtesy of Grover A. Kiick, MM1, (USN Ret). Photo from the collection of Marshall Y. Colley, crew member.
Submitted by Rich "Doc" Colley.
Pipefish 276k Pipefish (SS-388) crew photo Midway Island, 1945. From the Collection of Marshall Y. Colley, crew member.
Submitted by Rich "Doc" Colley.
Pipefish532kHer sixth war patrol, 15 July to 28 August 1945, called for lifeguard duty in the Nanpo Shoto area and off the east coast of Kyushu Island, Japan. On patrol she destroyed eight mines. Following termination of hostilities with Japan Pipefish (SS-388) arrived at Pearl Harbor 28 August, and then proceeded to the west coast.
She is pictured here returning from her sixth war patrol. Fred Lester		Text courtesy of DANFS.
USN photo courtesy of Fred Lester, Secretary/Editor for Ozark-Runner Base.
Pipefish 17k Pipefish (SS-388) at sea VJ Day. From the Collection of Marshall Y. Colley, crew member.
Submitted by Rich "Doc" Colley.
Pipefish 39k Pipefish (SS-388), Marshall Y. Colley and other crew members, date unknown. From the collection of Marshall Y. Colley, crew member.
Submitted by Rich "Doc" Colley.
Pipefish 11k Marshall Y. Colley on the bridge of the Pipefish (SS-388) on VJ day. From the collection of Marshall Y. Colley, crew member.
Submitted by Rich "Doc" Colley.
Pipefish 137k Pipefish (SS-388), crew photo on VJ day. From the collection of Marshall Y. Colley, crew member.
Submitted by Fred Lester.
Pipefish 73k Pipefish (SS-388), crew photo, place and date unknown. From the collection of Marshall Y. Colley, crew member.
Submitted by Rich "Doc" Colley.
Pipefish467kDate line: 28 August 1945 or later. This is berth S-21, Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T. H. From L-R; Barb (SS-220), Pipefish (SS-388) & Pompon (SS-267). They entered Pearl Harbor on the same date.USN photo courtesy of Fred Lester, Secretary/Editor for Ozark-Runner Base.
Sunfish511kPicture taken from the Pipefish (SS-388) on 29 August 1945 as Sunfish (SS-281) was leaving P.H. In the foreground is the crew on the Pompon (SS-267). Sunfish was in P.H. from 9 August 1945 to 29 August 1945. The Pipefish arrived on morning of 28 August 1945. From Pipefish sixth war patrol report, "28 August 1945". Made morning rendezvous with surface escort and proceeded to Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor in company with Barb (SS-220), Silversides (SS-236), Springer (SS-414), Skate (SS-305) and Pompon .”USN photo courtesy of Fred Lester, Secretary/Editor for Ozark-Runner Base.
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.,
Who Am I 946k Submarine passing the Quincy (CA-71) at Navy Yard, Mare Island. 1946.
This boat is a Government built Balao class boat. Unfortunately, the photo resolution is not good enough to get a positive ID. It looks like the boat's logo is painted on the side of the fairwater, but it is not clear enough to make out. The boat's hull number reappeared on the fairwater almost immediately at the cessation of hostilities but is curiously absent here. I would speculate that given the date of the photo she is probably headed to Mare Island to be laid up in reserve. Notice what appears to be piles of garbage on the forward and aft decks, and the temporary inport watchstander's shelter on deck near the forward 5 inch gun.

After 6 weeks of research, Darryl L. Baker. was has thoughtfully provided the following info:
The submarine is off the south end of Mare Island in the Carquinez Straits. The bridge to the left is the Carquinez Bridge and the tall stack to the left belongs to the American Smelting & Refining Company (AKA Selby Smelting).
  There are no shipyard records that I have indicating that Quincy entered Mare Island in February 1946 or any time in WWII. She could have come up from San Francisco to drop off ammo at the NAD.
I reviewed all the local newspapers for February 1946 and there was no mention of any of the submarines nor the Quincy.
There were 93 ships berthed at Mare Island on 15 February 1946 (includes 24 subs).
  The only government built Balao boat entering Mare Island in February 1946 was Pipefish (SS-388) on 11 February 1946. She departed 12 February 1946 and returned the same day. Repairs were completed on 11 May 1946. This could be the reason for the temporary watchstander's shelter as pointed out by Dave. Other Balao class submarines entering the yard in February 1946 were Monitowoc's Loggerhead (SS-374) & Kraken (SS-370); EB's Sealion (SS-315) & Cramp's Hackleback (SS-295).		 Photo & text i.d. courtesy of David Johnston (USN, retired) & Darryl L. Baker.
Photo # 80-G-367902 from NARA, College Park, Maryland, courtesy of Sean Hert.
Mare Island Reserve Fleet 173k Submarines aft of unidentifed submarine in foregroud at Mare Island Reserve Fleet on 28 September 1950 are:
Left to right: Dragonet (SS-293), Menhaden (SS-377), Mapiro (SS-376), Seahorse (SS-304), Sand Lance (SS-381), Batfish (SS-310), Capitaine (SS-336), Pipefish (SS-388) and Manta (SS-299). 		USN photo # 6988-9-50, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
View the Pipefish (SS-388)
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
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