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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches on left & center courtesy of George M. Arnold, on right by Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Ret),Turkish Navy.

Sea Fox (SS-402)
Decommissioning Ceremony

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Papa - Echo

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U.S. Service
Turkish Service

Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 2 November 1943, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.; Launched, 28 March 1944; Commissioned USS Sea Fox (SS-402), 13 June 1944; Decommissioned on 15 October 1952 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA for GUPPY IIA conversion. Re-Commissioned on 5 June 1953. After more than 25 years of alternating Western Pacific deployments with the U. S. Seventh Fleet and local operations and training, Sea Fox (SS-402) returned from her final deployment to her homeport of San Diego on 11 October 1970. In November, she embarked the prospective Turkish Navy crew for training and departed for Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard at San Francisco pursuant to the provisions of the Foreign Military Sales Act of 1968.

On 14 December 1970, (Sea Fox Decommissioned from the United States Navy; struck from the Naval Vessel Registry; transferred to the Republic of Turkey and concurrently Commissioned TCG Burakreis(S-335) (Note: Burak Reis was the 2nd submarine of the Turkish Navy to bear the name of the 15th century Commander of the Western Fleet of the Ottoman Empire Navy). On 1 July 1996, TCG Burak Reis, (ex-Sea Fox(SS-402) Decommissioned from Turkish Navy and reportedly acted as a "charging boat" for other GUPPY submarines at Golcuk Navy Yard, Turkey until cannibalized for parts and the hulk discarded for scrap in 2003.
Sea Fox (SS-402) was awarded four battle stars for WWII service and another four stars for service in Vietnam.
Researched by CTRC Donald J. Wagner, USN (Ret) for NavSource.

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
114k	Former commanding officers of the Sea Fox (SS-402).	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
114k	Decommissioning crew of the Sea Fox (SS-402).	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
226k	Decommissioning officers of the Sea Fox (SS-402), 14 December 1970.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
104k	Program of Events for the Decommissioning Ceremony.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
71k	The Official Party.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
110k	RADM Matter, Commandant of the 12th Naval District addresses the change over, 14 December 1970.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
142k	Turkish Amb. Inspects the Honor Guard.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
153k	After finishing the Decommissioning Ceremony, U.S. & Turkish Officers share a final salute.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy. Photo added 08/04/09.
89k	Preparing for turn over of Sea Fox (SS-402) to Turkey.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
142k	Decommissioning attendees.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
100k	CDR Sekiner and CDR Stammer exchange gifts.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
68k	Commissioning ceremonial saluting of the National colors.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
68k	Change over crew topside.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar, CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
125k	The Sea Fox (SS-402) still inservice as a US vessel sometime shortly before her transfer to Turkey as the Burakreis (S-335) passes by the federal prison at Alcatraz.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar,CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy. Photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel (as usual)!
71k	Aboard Sea Fox (SS-402) prepring for turnover to Turkey completing her transfer at Hunters Point, 14 December 1970.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar,CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.
189k	The final lowering of the flag of the ex-Sea Fox (SS-402) completing her transfer at Hunters Point, 14 December 1970.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar,CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.