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


Patch on left courtesy of Cully Middleton & submitted by Gary Carlson, others by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.)


Segundo (SS-398)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Papa - Quebec

Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 14 October 1943, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, on Seavey Island in Kittery, Maine. Launched, 5 February 1944; Commissioned USS Segundo (SS-398), 9 May 1944; Converted to a Fleet Snorkel Submarine in 1951, at San Francisco Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point; Decommissioned, 1 August 1970; Struck from the Naval Register, 8 August 1970; Final Disposition, sunk as a target by Salmon (SS-573). Segundo received four battle stars for World War II service and one for the Korean War.

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, 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.
Click On Image
For Full Size
SizeImage DescriptionSource
Segundo112kSegundo (SS-398) was sponsored by the wife of the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Mrs. John L. Sullivan on 5 February 1944.
Sullivan was appointed Secretary of the Navy upon James Forrestal's installation as the first Secretary of Defense. Sullivan's major contributions to the Navy's future directions include the advent of naval nuclear propulsion. In 1947, then-Captain Hyman G. Rickover went around his chain-of-command and directly to the Chief of Naval Operations, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, by chance also a former submariner, to pitch his ideas for creating a nuclear-powered warship. Nimitz immediately understood the potential of nuclear propulsion and recommended the project to Sullivan, whose endorsement to build the world's first nuclear-powered vessel, Nautilus (SSN-571), later caused Rickover to state that Sullivan was "the true father of the Nuclear Navy."
Vice Admiral John S. McCain, Sr., Commander, Task Force 38, (left) with John L. Sullivan, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air, on board Shangri-La (CV-38), during Sullivan's visit to combat force in the western Pacific, July 1945.
Text courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
Official U.S. Navy Photograph (# 80-G-343854), now in the collections of the National Archives.
Segundo17kCommemorative post mark on the occasion of Segundo's (SS-398) launching at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 5 February 1944. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Segundo50kCommemorative launching tag of the Segundo (SS-398) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 5 February 1944. Photo courtesy of Ron Toth, Jr. via Tom Kermen.
Segundo234k Officers and crew salute the colors as the Segundo (SS-398), slides down the launching ramp at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 5 February 1944.USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Segundo960k10 photo PDF of history & article of boarding & capture of Japanese submarine I-401 by the Segundo (SS-398). Photos of courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Archerfish 95k Proteus (AS-19) with submarines of Submarine Squadron 20 alongside in Tokyo Bay, on VJ-Day, 2 September 1945. Names of the submarines present, their commanding officers and the commanding officers of SubRon20 and Proteus are printed at the bottom of the image: Archerfish (SS-311), Cavalla (SS-244), Gato (SS-212), Haddo (SS-255), Muskallunge (SS-262), Pilotfish (SS-386), Razorback (SS-394), Runner (SS-476), Segundo (SS-398), Sea Cat (SS-399), and Tigrone (SS-419).
Courtesy of Captain Joseph F. Enright, USN(Retired), 1979. USN photo # NH 95019, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Segundo64k WW II battleflag of the Segundo (SS-398).USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
Subron 5 181k Subron 5 family photo fall/winter (1945) in Guam, from left to right, Segundo (SS-398), Sea Cat (SS-399), Blenny (SS-324), Blower (SS-325), Blueback (SS-326) & Charr (SS-328). Photo by Lt. Herb Hanson, courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Segundo 2.72k The crew of the Segundo (SS-398) on 29 January 1946 as she arrives at Mare Island for an overhaul. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo168k Stern view of Segundo (SS-398) departing Mare Island on 24 April 1946. USN photo # 1621-46,courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo234kBroadside view of Segundo (SS-398) off Mare Island on 24 April 1946. She was in overhaul at the yard from 29 January to 10 May 1946. USN photo # 1623-46,courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo222kBow on view of Segundo (SS-398) departing Mare Island on 24 April 1946. USN photo # 1625-46, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo161kBroadside view of the Segundo (SS-398) on 24 April 1946.
After WW II she was assigned to Submarine Squadron (SubRon) 3 in San Diego and began operations from there. The submarine made a three-month cruise to Australia and China in 1946 and a four-month cruise to China in 1948.
Text courtesy of DANFS. USN photo # 1624-46, courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Segundo345k1947 photo from GMC Bill Wise of Segundo's (SS-398) after 40 mm with blimp overhead.Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Segundo112kSegundo's (SS-398) crew photo at San Diego, CA, 1949, as part of Submarine Squadron 3. Photo courtesy of Ric Hedman, & dedicated to the memory of Master Chief Petty Officer Charles (Monty) M. Montgomery. Thanks to Chief Petty Officer Joe Phoenix.
Segundo169k Segundo (SS-398) underway in the Mare Island channel on 8 August 1949. She was in overhaul at Mare Island from 16 May to 24 August 1949. USN photo # 4154-8-49, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Carbonero208kAft plan view looking forward of Carbonero (AGSS-337) at Mare Island on 18 February 1952. She is outboard of Diodon (SS-349) and Segundo (SS-398) is forward. Note Loon launcher on the after deck.
USN photo # 12023-2-52, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo775kLCDR H. S. Howard (right) relieves LCDR H. G. Johns, Jr. as Commanding Officer of the Segundo (SS-398) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 6 July 1953.Photo from the files of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo146kThe crew of Segundo (SS-398) are inspected during her change of command at Mare Island on 6 July 1953. USN photo # 18022-7-53, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Menhaden 99k Segundo (SS-398), Razorback (SS-394), and Menhaden (SS-377), in San Diego Harbor, circa 1953. Courtesy of Phil Gulick, former 1st Amphib Recon Company member aboard the Perch (SS-313).
Bashaw 111k Bashaw (SSK-241), with Bream (SSK-243),Segundo (SS-398), Razorback (SS-394), and Menhaden (SS-377), in San Diego Harbor, circa 1953. Courtesy of Phil Gulick, former 1st Amphib Recon Company member aboard the Perch (SS-313).
Segundo683kReal Photo Post Card of the Segundo (SS-398) postmarked San Diego 31 March 1953. Photo courtesy of David Wright.
Segundo1.19kSegundo (SS-398) with Charr (SS-328) to the right of Segundo in Mare Island's dry dock 4 on 8 August 1955.Photo # 261X1-8-55 TH from the files of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo968kCDR James C. Gibson (CO of Segundo (SS-398)) talks with two Mare Island marine machinists (Shop 38) repairing main ballast tank vent valves on 8 August 1955. Left to right: Arthur Buckley and W. M. Joseph.Photo # 261X2-8-55 TH from the files of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo742kNavy PAO photo of Segundo (SS-398). Date and place not listed but she looks like she in Subic Bay?Photo # 261X3-8-55 TH from the files of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo177k The crew of Segundo (SS-398) is being addressed during her change of command at Mare Island on 18 October 1955.USN photo # 26848-10-55, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo459kSegundo (SS-398) off Mare Island on 28 November 1955. USN photo # 272828-55, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo691kSegundo (SS-398) is under the covering for outer hull sandblasting on 14 February 1962 at berth 18. It is not clear to me how the yard keep the sandblasting grit out of the river. Photo # 277X1-1-46 TH, courtesy of Mare Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo 358k Segundo's (SS-398) Commanding Officer LCDR J. K. McConeghy; Commanded May 1961 to July 1963. Photo # 99514-8-70 TH, courtesy of Mare Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo301k Segundo's (SS-398) after battery and mouldering laundry room in the early 1960's.Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Segundo288k Segundo (SS-398) at sea in 1964.Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Segundo90kIn 2000, Russ Noragon, a machinist's mate aboard the Segundo (SS-398), mentioned his failed mission to rescue the Pueblo (AGER-2) after its capture by North Korea on 23 January 1968.Photograph & PDF courtesy of Bill Streifer.
Pomodon 361k View of the decommissioning of the three submarines at Mare Island on 1 August 1970.
Left to right: Pomodon (SS-486), and Medregal (SS-480) outboard of Segundo (SS-398).
Photo # 99510-8-70 TH, courtesy of Mare Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo 426k The colors are lowered for the final time aboard Segundo (SS-398) with Medregal (SS-480) outboard. Photo # 99514-8-70 TH, courtesy of Mare Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
Segundo267kThe end (literally) of the Segundo (SS-398) after being struck by a torpedo from the Salmon (SS-573) on 8 August 1970.USN photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).

View the Segundo (SS-398)
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
I-401 & its capture by the USS Segundo

Back To The Main Photo IndexBack To the Submarine Index
Problems and site related matters, E-mail Webmaster.
This page is created by Gary Priolo, and maintained by Michael Mohl
All Pages © 1996 - 2024 NavSource History All rights reserved.