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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch on left courtesy of Bill Hughes, secdond from left courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org. Other patches courtesy of Mike Smolinski.

Sterlet (SS-392)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Quebec - Lima

Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 14 July 1943, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.; Launched, 27 October 1943; Commissioned USS Sterlet (SS-392), 5 February 1944; Decommissioned 18 September 1948, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Recommissioned, 26 August 1950; Converted to a Fleet Snorkel Submarine in 1952; Decommissioned, 30 September 1968; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 October 1968; Final Disposition, sunk as a target by Sargo (SSN-583), 31 January 1969. Sterlet received four battle starts for World War II service.

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, Fairbanks Morse diesel engines, 5,400 HP, Fuel Capacity, 116,000 gal., four Elliot Motor Co. electric main motors with 2,740 shp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.

Size	Image Description	Source
21k	Commemorative post mark on the occasion of Sterlet's (SS-392) commissioning at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, 5 February 1944.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
21k	Sterlet (SS-392), in port, circa 1944-45.	US Navy photo courtesy of subnet.com.
49k	Sterlet (SS-392), in the tropics, circa 1944-45.	Photo by Bob Fedor, courtesy of John Prylzba, MMC(SS)(Ret) / dbfer.com.
93k	Photo of the re-commissioning ceremonies of the Sterlet (SS-392), at Mare Island on 26 Aug 1950. Lt. Comdr. George W. Kittredge in command.	US Navy photo # 6796-8-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
84k	Photo of the change of command of Sterlet (SS-392) at Mare Island on 1 December 1953. I'm unable to identify the officers.	US Navy photo # 19473-12-53, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 11/24/06.
50k	Sterlet (SS-392), and Ronquil (SS-396) moored outboard of the ASR in Yokosuka harbor, Japan, 1954.	Courtesy of Grant Riddle / submarinebaseph.com
41k	Sterlet (SS-392), moored outboard of the nest, Yokosuka harbor, Japan, 1954.	Courtesy of Grant Riddle / submarinebaseph.com
91k	Sterlet (SS-392), Yokosuka harbor, Japan, 1954.	Courtesy of Grant Riddle / submarinebaseph.com
46k	Sterlet (SS-392), in Kaoshung, Formosa, tied up alongside the dock and the Ronquil (SS-396) moored outboard. 1956.	Courtesy of Grant Riddle / submarinebaseph.com
39k	Crew in dress whites aboard the Sterlet (SS-392) at dockside, circa post mid 1950's.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
263k	Portside view of the Sterlet (SS-392), underway, circa post mid 1950's.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
44k	Sterlet (SS-392) entering Pearl Harbor, circa post mid 1950's.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
10k	Cutout of the Sterlet (SS-392), in her final configuration.	Courtesy of John Przybyla, ETC(SS)/ dbfer.net.
58k	A still from a 16mm movie clip shows the Sterlet (SS-392), possibly off Hawaii, circa post mid 1950's.	US Navy photo courtesy of periscopefilm.com.
14k	Sterlet (SS-392), underway, circa post mid 1950's.	US Navy photo courtesy of subnet.com.
22k	Sterlet (SS-392), underway outside Pearl Harbor just prior to being decommissioned, 30 September 1968.	Courtesy of John Przybyla, ETC(SS) dbfer.net. Submitted by Gary "Cowboy" McLaughlin, former crewmember, early 60's.
22k	First of three photos of the Sterlet (SS-392), sinking sinking by the stern after being hit as a target by Sargo (SSN-583), 31 January 1969.	Courtesy of John Przybyla, ETC(SS)/ dbfer.net.
21k	Second of three photos of the Sterlet (SS-392), sinking after being hit as a target by Sargo (SSN-583), 31 January 1969.	Courtesy of John Przybyla, ETC(SS)/ dbfer.net.
21k	Final of three photos of the Sterlet (SS-392), after being hit as a target by Sargo (SSN-583), 31 January 1969.	Courtesy of John Przybyla, ETC(SS)/ dbfer.net.