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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch on right by Sait Kucuk CPOS (Ret.),Turkish Navy. Other patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Threadfin (SS-410)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Sierra - Echo

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Balao Class Submarine: Originally named Sole, the name was changed on 24 September 1942. Laid down, 18 March 1944 at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; Launched 26 June 1944; Commissioned Threadfin (SS-410) on 30 August 1944. Decommissioned at Portsmouth again on 10 December 1952 for GUPPY IIA (snorkel) conversion. Re-Commissioned 7 August 1953.
In the fall of 1959, Threadfin was rammed in the stern area while transiting the Suez Canal by the Greek merchant freighter Nickolas Michalis III. With damaged propeller, propeller shaft and a dented pressure hull, she required extensive repairs which were conducted in Malta.
During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, Threadfin was a participant in the quarantine and blockade. After successive years of operations in the Atlantic, Caribbean and deployments to the U. S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, she sailed for Izmir, Republic of Turkey and was Decommissioned on 18 August 1972 and transferred to Turkey the same day.
Renamed and renumbered to TCG1 Inonu (S-346), she was Commissioned into the Turkish Submarine Forces.(Note: Turkish submarines named Inonu are after one of the battles of the Turkish War of Independence (1919 -1922). The Turkish Navy does not use the names of the the commanders, (Birinci or Ikindci), preceding Inonu - preferring TCG1 or TCG2).
On 1 August 1953, Threadfin was struck from the U. S. Vessel Registry (NVR) and on the 18th, was permanently transferred to Turkey (sold). The submarine continued to serve in the Turkish Navy until Decommissioned on 11 August 1998 after 54 years of total service. Final Disposition and Fate are unknown. Threadfin was awarded three battle stars for World War II service.
Researched by CTRC Donald J. Wagner, USN (Ret) for NavSource.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced 1,526 t., Submerged 2,401 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, four 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 Image	Size	Image Description	Source
	47k	S-14 (SS-119) all covered with snow at New London, CT, 1944. The Threadfin's (SS-410) crew trained on her before going to war.	Courtesy of John Mitchell.
	46k	S-14's (SS-119) crew trying to make an impression on the ice covered deck gun at New London, CT, 1944.	Courtesy of John Mitchell.
	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.
	131k	Commemorative launch tag on the occasion of Threadfin's (SS-410) launch at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME., 26 June 1944.	Photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo. Photo added 07/22/11.
	389k	Piper (SS-409) & Threadfin (SS-410) double launching at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; 26 June 1944.	USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
	43k	Commemorative postal cover marking the double launching of the Piper (SS-409) & Threadfin (SS-410) at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME; 26 June 1944.	Courtesy of Obediah Hill via webpages.charter.net.
	53k	Threadfin's (SS-410) Party, Comdr. John J. Foote about to cut the cake in New London during the boat's commissioning party on 30 August 1944.	Courtesy of John Mitchell.
	47k	Threadfin's (SS-410) in 1944 before going off the Pacific.	Courtesy of Jim Rolle.
	46k	Threadfin's (SS-410) crew receiving their combat pins at the end of the 3rd patrol at Guam, 1945.	Courtesy of John Mitchell.
	21k	Threadfin's (SS-410) WW II battleflag.	Courtesy of Jim Rolle.
	65k	Threadfin's (SS-410) sailors dressed in whites line the deck as the boat pulls into port, possibly at the naval base at Staten Island, N.Y., 22 Sept. 1945.	USN photo, text courtesy of DANFS.
	152k	Dockside view at New London, CT., shows the Amberjack (SS-522) possibly being supplied with stocks for her shakedown cruise & Threadfin (SS-410), which served as a training platform for the officers and men learning the ropes at the Submarine School. Spring / early Summer 1946.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Partial text courtesy of DANFS.
	189k	Starboard side view of the Threadfin (SS-410), underway, probably 1946-48.	Courtesy of Erminio Bagnasco book, "Submarines of WW II", submitted by Aryeh Wetherhorn.
	56k	LCDR William Austin Kiehl was the Commanding Officer of the Threadfin (SS-410) from 1962 to 1964.	Photo courtesy of the United States Naval Academy submitted by Bill Gonyo.
	56k	Sailors aboard the Threadfin (SS-410) prepare for a swim on the steel beach between 1962 and 1964.	Courtesy of John Hummel.
	53k	Back in the good old days when ships bows were adorned with a bow spirit it was usually with a beautiful member of the fairer sex.	Courtesy of John Hummel.
	316k	Threadfin (SS-410) underway on 15 January 1963.	Photo from the Ida Woodward Baron Collection in the Florida Keys Public Library via flickr.com courtesy of Steven Gower.
	249k	Change of command at Subron 12 Key West Fla. in the 1960's aboard the Bushnell (AS-15). Barracuda (SST-3) upper right. Other boats there are Sea Cat (SS-399), Picuda (SS-382), Atule (SS-403), Sea Fox (SS-402), Threadfin (SS-410) & Chopper (SS-342).	Photo courtesy of John Hummel.
	135k	Transfer Roster Plaque and history of the Threadfin (SS-410), 18 August 1972.	Photo courtesy of Tommy D. Sawyer CAPT, USN (Ret.) Photo & PDF added 01/23/10.
TCG I Inonu (S-346)
	125k	Double Commissioning Ceremony with the Dumlupinar (S-339) & Inonu (S-346), 24 Aug. 1972.	Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Ret),Turkish Navy.
	156k	Double Commissioning Ceremony with the Dumlupinar (S-339) & Inonu (S-346), 24 Aug. 1972.	Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Ret),Turkish Navy.
	135k	The Inonu (S-346) surfacing.	Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Ret),Turkish Navy.
	77k	The Inonu (S-346) leaving harbor for a patrol.	Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Ret),Turkish Navy.
	141k	Inonu (S-346) dockside with small boats for company.	Photo courtesy of Cüneyt Demir.
	104k	Port broadside view of the Inonu (S-346) underway with crew on deck.	Photo courtesy of Y.M.Umar,CPO (Ret.),Turkish Navy.

View the Threadfin (SS-410)
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
USS Threadfin (SS 410) Association
Guppy Submarines
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
Inonu

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