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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski

Spikefish (SS-404) (AGSS-404)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Quebec - Charlie
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 20 January 1944, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.; Launched, 26 April 1944; Commissioned USS Spikefish (SS-404), 30 June 1944; Redesignated Auxiliary Research Submarine (AGSS-404) in 1962; Decommissioned, 2 April 1963; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1963; Final Disposition, sunk as a target in August 1964 off Long Island, NY. Spikefish earned three battle stars during WWII.

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.
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For Full Size Image		SizeImage DescriptionSource
Spikefish62kCommemorative tag of Spikefish's (SS-404) launching, 26 April 1944 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME. Photo courtesy of Ron Toth, Jr.via Tom Kermen.
Spikefish16kCommemorative postal cover on the occasion of Spikefish's (SS-404) launching, 26 April 1944. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Spikefish12kCommemorative postal cover on the occasion of Spikefish's (SS-404) launching, 26 April 1944. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Spikefish72kSpikefish (SS-404) underway during her first trials off the Atlantic Coast, summer 1944. US Navy photo # 80-G-376776, from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), courtesy of Daniel Dunham.
Spikefish138kSpikefish (SS-404) underway during her first trials off the Atlantic Coast, summer 1944. US Navy photo # 80-G-376777, from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), courtesy of Daniel Dunham.
Spikefish31kVery high altitude view of the Spikefish (SS-404), underway during her first trials off the Atlantic Coast, summer 1944. US Navy photo # 80-G-376778, from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), courtesy of Daniel Dunham.
Spikefish47kVery high altitude view of the Spikefish(SS-404) underway during her first trials off the Atlantic Coast, summer 1944. US Navy photo # 80-G-376779, from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), courtesy of Daniel Dunham.
Spikefish91kSpikefish (SS-404) rescues Ens. Cullen (in raft, lower right), VC-83, off Ishigaki Jima, 7 June 1945. Courtesy of Jerry Wintermute.
Spikefish165kPort side view of the Spikefish (SS-404), 1950's. US Navy photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo added 05/20/10.
Spikefish19kCommemorative postal cover and photo of the Spikefish (SS-404), 1952. Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Spikefish276kSailors stand in the periscope shears of Spikefish (SS-404) on 5 June 1952 when she operated from New London making training cruises along the east coast from Bermuda to Nova Scotia. Text courtesy of DANFS. USN photo # 442833 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo added 05/20/10.
Spikefish412k "On 18 March 1960 Spikefish (SS-404) became the first United States submarine to record 10,000 dives. I was Officer of the Deck that day when the photo was taken. We were south of Key West, having just completed our historical 10,000th dive and on that day became "The divingest Submarine in the World". LCDR. Lee Bert Findly was Commanding Officer. On that day dignitaries from the State of Florida, and local Key West City officials, including dependants of the officers and crew were on board when the dive was made. As OD, I became the Diving Officer for the 10,000th Dive. Note that there was no one in the shears nor on the bridge since the helicopter radioed that all hands were to clear the area while the photo was made. Spikefish then was a member of Squadron 12 operating out of Key West." Photo & text i.d. courtesy of Mark M. Lenhart. US Navy photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Photo added 05/20/10.
Spikefish185k Spikefish (SS-404) at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, circa early 1960's. Courtesy of Jay Jones EM3, Roberts (DE-749).
View the Spikefish (SS-404)
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

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