Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Contributed by Patrick Householder

Redfish (SS-395) (AGSS-395)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Oscar - Alpha

Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 9 September 1943, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.; Launched, 27 January 1944; Commissioned USS Redfish (SS-395), 12 April 1944; Designation changed to Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS-395), 1 July 1960; Decommissioned, 27 June 1968; Struck from the Naval Register, 30 June 1968; Final Disposition, sunk as a target, 6 February 1969, by Medegral (SS-480), off San Diego, CA. Redfish received two battle stars for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced 1,526 t., Submerged 2,391 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 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
93k	Early 1944 photo of the Razorback (SS-394), Redfish (SS-395), Ronquil (SS-396) under construction and soon to be launched, with prefabricated sections and other building parts for the soon to be constructed Piper (SS-409) & Threadfin (SS-410) in the foreground.	Photo courtesy of John D. Alden, author of The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy: A Design and Construction History.
123k	Commemorative postal cover marking the quadruple launching of the Razorback (SS-394), Redfish (SS-395), Ronquil (SS-396) & Scabbardfish (SS-397) launching, 27 January 1944 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
154k	Preparing for the Christening ceremony aboard the Redfish (SS-395) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME., 27 January 1944. Two of the submarines behind the *Redfish* are either the Razorback (SS-394), Ronquil (SS-396) & Scabbardfish (SS-397). All 4 boats were launched that day.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
178k	Miss Ruth Roper holds the bottle at the Christening ceremony aboard the Redfish (SS-395) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME., 27 January 1944. Two of the submarines behind the *Redfish* are either the Razorback (SS-394), Ronquil (SS-396) & Scabbardfish (SS-397). All 4 boats were launched that day.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
16k	Commemorative postal cover marking the Redfish's (SS-395) first day in commission, 12 April 1944.	Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
73k	Redfish (SS-395) starboard side view underway, circa 1944-45.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
20k	Redfish (SS-395), possibly taken during her trial runs, circa 1944-45.	Photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
52k	WW II battleflag of the Redfish (SS-395).	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
73k	Redfish (SS-395) starboard side view underway, after her deck guns had been removed, circa post late 1940's.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
67k	Redfish (SS-395) starboard side view underway, after her deck guns had been removed, circa post late 1940's.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
177k	Port side view of the Redfish (SS-395) underway, after her deck guns had been removed, circa post late 1940's.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
55k	Port side view of the Redfish (SS-395) underway, after her deck guns had been removed, circa post late 1940's.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
57k	Port side view of the Redfish (SS-395) underway, after her deck guns had been removed, circa post late 1940's.	US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
33k	Some of the crew of the Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle.	Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
35k	Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle dodging blocks of ice.	Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
27k	Desolate sceneery awaited the Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle.	Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
32k	Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle. The icebreaker is Burton Island (AG-88).	US Navy photo courtesy of the US Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory. Text courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
17k	Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle. The icebreaker is Burton Island (AG-88).	Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
31k	Redfish (SS-395) in 1953 in the Arctic ice pack.	US Navy photo courtesy of the US Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory.
73k	Run Silent, Run Deep is a war film released in 1958 based on the 1955 novel by then-Commander Edward L. Beach, Jr.. It was directed by Robert Wise and starred Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster; and featured the film debut of Don Rickles. World War II United States Navy submarine Commander P.J. Richardson, (Clark Gable) has an obsession with the Japanese destroyer that sank his previous boat and three others. He convinces the navy board to give him a new sub command with the provision that his exec be someone who has just returned from active sea patrol. He is single-mindedly training the crew of his new boat, the *Nerka, to return to the Bungo Straits and sink the destroyer, captained by the crafty ex-submariner, now destroyer captain, nicknamed Bungo Pete. The Executive Officer, Lieutenant Jim Bledsoe, is plaed by Burt Lancaster. The Redfish* (SS-395) was used for many of the exterior shots during the production of the movie.	Photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
138k	The Redfish (AGSS-395) arrives at Mare Island for overhaul on 21 June 1961. She was in overhaul at the yard until 27 Oct. 1961.	USN photo # 001-6-61, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
65k	The wardroom aboard Redfish (AGSS-395) after modification at Mare Island as seen on 30 Oct. 1961.	USN photo # 53076-10-61, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
75k	The wardroom aboard Redfish (AGSS-395) after modification at Mare Island as seen on 30 Oct. 1961.	USN photo # 53077-10-61, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
86k	The washroom aboard Redfish (AGSS-395) after modification at Mare Island as seen on 30 Oct. 1961.	USN photo # 53078A-10-61, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
74k	The washroom aboard Redfish (AGSS-395) after modification at Mare Island as seen on 30 Oct. 1961.	USN photo # 53078B-10-61, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
32k	Spinax (SS-489), Redfish (SS-395), and Volador (SS-490) nested alongside the Nereus (AS-17), at San Diego, circa 1964-66.	Photo by Patrick Householder.
81k	Ballast Point Nest 1967: Volador (SS-490), Redfish (SS-395), Salmon (SS-573) & Rock (SS-274).	Photo by J.D. Decrevel EM2(SS). Photo added 09/02/08.