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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.
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Drydock93kEarly 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.
Quintuplets123kCommemorative 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.
Redfish 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.
Redfish 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.
Redfish 16k Commemorative postal cover marking the Redfish's (SS-395) first day in commission, 12 April 1944. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Redfish 73k Redfish (SS-395) starboard side view underway, circa 1944-45. US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Redfish 20k Redfish (SS-395), possibly taken during her trial runs, circa 1944-45. Photo courtesy of Robert Hurst.
Redfish 52k WW II battleflag of the Redfish (SS-395). US Navy photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Redfish 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.
Redfish 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.
Redfish 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.
Redfish 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.
Redfish 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.
Redfish 33k Some of the crew of the Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle.
Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
Redfish 35k Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle dodging blocks of ice.
Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
Redfish 27k Desolate sceneery awaited the Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle.
Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
Redfish 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).
Redfish 17k Redfish (SS-395) in 1952 above the Arctic Circle. The icebreaker is Burton Island (AG-88).
Photo courtesy of Robert Crow (USN retired).
Redfish 31k Redfish (SS-395) in 1953 in the Arctic ice pack.
US Navy photo courtesy of the US Navy Arctic Submarine Laboratory.
Redfish 52k Redfish (SS-395), off Nawiliwili, Kauai, 1950s. Photo by Patrick Householder.
Redfish 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. Photo added 04/22/07.
Redfish 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. Photo added 04/22/07.
Redfish 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. Photo added 04/22/07.
Redfish 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. Photo added 04/22/07.
Redfish 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. Photo added 04/22/07.
Redfish 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.

View the Redfish (SS-395)
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
Redfish (SS 395)
Full Fathom Five, U.S. Submarine War Against Japan


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