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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

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. Recommissioned 7 August 1953.
In thefall 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 1973, 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 (Retired) & Yves Hubert for NavSource.

As built to the 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.
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S-14 550k S-14 (SS-119) all covered with snow at New London, CT, 22 February 1943. The Threadfin's (SS-410) crew trained on her before going to war. The craft’s officers said the ice load caused a starboard list and a 20-inch increase in draft. Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
Image and text provided by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC.
Photo & text by The Wilmington Morning Star. (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 09 March 1943, FINAL EDITION, Image 1, courtesy of chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
S-14 46k S-14's (SS-119) crew trying to make an impression on the ice covered deck gun at New London, CT, 22 February 1943. Courtesy of John Mitchell.
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.
Twin 263k Lt. Cdr. Chester L. Hults, U.S.N.R. Chaplain, Offering up of Prayers for the Piper (SS-409) & Threadfin (SS-410) at Twin Launching at Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H. 26 June 1944. National Archives Identifier: 7450332
Photo courtesy of catalog.archives.gov
Threadfin131kCommemorative launch tag on the occasion of Threadfin's (SS-410) launch at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 26 June 1944. Photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
2 launched 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.
Piper43kCommemorative 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.
Threadfin 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.
Foote, John Joseph, CDR 1 30.08.1944 00.00.1945 FDC
Brown, Charles Donald, CDR 2 00.00.1945 00.00.1947
Warren, Harry Sanford, LCDR 3 00.00.1947
Worcester II, Benjamin F., LCDR 4 00.00.1951 10.12.1952 decommissioned: 10.12.1952 - 07.08.1953
Bailey, Daniel G., LCDR 5 07.08.1953 00.00.1954 reFDC
Ashcroft Jr., Jerome L., CDR 6 00.00.1954 00.00.1955
Millar, Donald Bush, LCDR 7 00.00.1957 00.00.1958
Johnson, John R. (Blackie), LCDR 8 00.00.1958 00.00.1960
Griffin, James W., LCDR 9 00.00.1960 00.00.1962
Kiehl, William Austin, LCDR 10 00.00.1962 00.00.1964
Blackadar, Paul Frederick, CDR 11 00.00.1964 00.00.1966
Beaumont, Eugene A. G., CDR 12 00.00.1966 00.00.1968
Scott Jr., George W., LCDR 13 00.00.1968 14.03.1970
King, Charles Calvin (Chuck), CDR 14 14.03.1970 00.00.1971
Sawyer, Tommy Don, CDR 15 00.00.1971 18.08.1972 LDC
Photo courtesy of John Mitchell.
Insert photo courtesy of the United States Naval Academy & submitted by Bill Gonyo.
List of CO's courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
Threadfin 47k Threadfin's (SS-410) in 1944 before going off to the Pacific. Courtesy of Jim Rolle.
Threadfin 46k Threadfin's (SS-410) crew receiving their combat pins at the end of the 3rd patrol at Guam, 1945. Courtesy of John Mitchell.
Threadfin 21k Threadfin's (SS-410) WW II battleflag. Courtesy of Jim Rolle.
Threadfin 679k Threadfin (SS-410) flying flags. USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Threadfin 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 September 1945. USN photo.
Text courtesy of DANFS.
Amberjack & Threadfin 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.
Threadfin 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.
410 240k Threadfin (SS-410) still sports a deck gun on 23 April 1952. USN photo # USN 441507 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Thornback 1.27k Baltimore, Maryland (20 May 1962) - Hundreds of persons lined up along the dock at Pier 4, Pratt Street yesterday to inspect the submarine Threadfin (SS-410) which was on display. The submarine, together with the Mullinix (DD-944), a destroyer, was open to public inspection as part of the celebration of Armed Forces Day. The Mullinix took 120 Gold Star mothers on a cruise. A parade of boats at 2 P.M. climaxed the festivities honoring the armed services.Photo courtesy of the Guardian News Service via Bill Gonyo.
Threadfin 56k Sailors aboard the Threadfin (SS-410) prepare for a swim on the steel beach between 1962 and 1964. Courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Threadfin 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.
Chopper 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, USN (Retired).
Threadfin 625k Early 1960's view of the Threadfin (SS-410). USN photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Threadfin 261k Does Santa slide down periscope shears?
The crews of the Threadfin (SS-410) & Odax (SS-484) wait to find out; Xmas 1959 in Charleston, S.C.
Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
Photo i.d. courtesy of Steven Reith.
410 708k Port quarter view of the Threadfin (SS-410) on 16 March 1967. USN photo # NPC 1126028 courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Threadfin 135k Transfer Roster Plaque and history of the Threadfin (SS-410), 18 August 1972.Photo courtesy of Tommy D. Sawyer, CAPT, USN (Ret.)
TCG I Inonu (S-346)
Caiman 125k Double Commissioning Ceremony with the Dumlupinar (S-339) & Inonu (S-346), 24 August 1972. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Caiman 156k Double Commissioning Ceremony with the Dumlupinar (S-339) & Inonu (S-346), 24 August 1972. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Threadfin 135k The Inonu (S-346) surfacing. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Threadfin 77k The Inonu (S-346) leaving harbor for a patrol. Photo courtesy of Sait Kucuk, CPOS (Retired),Turkish Navy.
Threadfin 141k Inonu (S-346) dockside with small boats for company. Photo courtesy of Cüneyt Demir.
Threadfin 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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