NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski.
Stickleback (SS-415)
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 1 March 1944, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 1 January 1945; Commissioned USS Stickleback (SS-415), 29 March 1945; Decommissioned, 26 June 1946, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet; Recommissioned 6 September 1951; Guppy-IIA conversion, 6 November 1952 to 26 June 1953; Rammed by Silverstein (DE-534), 28 May 1958, of Hawaii, while conducting training operations; Final Disposition, sunk from damage sustained in collision: Struck from the Naval Register, 30 June 1958. 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, four Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, 5,400hp, Fuel Capacity, 116,000 gal., four Elliot Motor Co. electric main motors 2,740hp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
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350k | Stern view of the Stickleback (SS-415) on the building ways at Mare Island on 4 July 1944. A canceled destroyer escort is on the ways on the right side. | USN photo # 4167-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
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201k | Plaque honoring the citizens of Yakima County Washington for their sponsorship and war bond purchases of the Stickleback (SS-415), 27 December 1944. | USN photo # 7959-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
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235k | The Sponsor and Maid of Honor for the launching of the Stickleback (SS-415) are seen at the bow of the submarine just prior to her launching at Mare Island on 1 Jan 1945. Left to right: Mrs. John O. R. Coll (Sponsor) and Miss Elizabeth Canaga (Maid of honor). | USN photo # 10-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
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231k | Stickleback (SS-415) on the building ways prior to her launching at Mare Island on 1 Jan 1945. | USN photo # 12-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
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231k | Stickleback (SS-415) enters the water upon her launching at Mare Island on 1 Jan 1945. | USN photo # 21-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
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211k | Stickleback (SS-415) at her outfitting berth at Mare Island on 8 Jan 1945. Nereus (AS-17) is berthed aft of Stickleback at her outfitting berth. | USN photo # 285-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
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211k | Capt. Cook, Captain of the Yard, Mare Island, places the Stickleback (SS-415) into commission at the yard on 29 March 1945. Stickleback's first commanding officer, CDR Lawrence G. Bernard is to the far right. | USN photo # 2255-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
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57k | Stickleback (SS-415) sometime between her launching and commissioning, Jan - March 1945. | USN / USNI photo. | |
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196k | Stern view of Stickleback (SS-415) departing Mare Island on 25 May 1945. | USN photo # 4010-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
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188k | Broadside view of Stickleback (SS-415) departing Mare Island on 25 May 1945. | USN photo # 4012-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
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248k | Photo of diving control station aboard Stickleback (SS-415) at Mare Island on 13 June 1945. | USN photo # 4465-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
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295k | Photo of starboard side of main control cubicle aboard Stickleback (SS-415) at Mare Island on 13 June 1945. | USN photo # 4466-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
 | 97k | The Oakland (CL-95) docking in Oakland, California, her name sake city, on 20 Oct. 1945 returning home after World War Two. The three subs in the photo are (from left) - Unknown, Kraken (SS-370), and Stickleback (SS-415). | Courtesy of Mike Brock via Tom Bateman. | |
 | 137k | Reserve fleet at Mare Island, circa Jan 1946. There are 52 submarines and 4 Sub Tenders in this photo. This photo is a Berthing list identifying the ships in the picture. | Photo commerating 50 years, U. S. Submarine Veterans of WW II 1996 calendar, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
 | 453k | Photo of the Reserve fleet at Mare Island, circa Jan 1946. There are 52 submarines and 4 Sub Tenders in this photo. Whether coincidental or on purpose, the number of boats in the photo is the same as that which were lost in WW II. From back to front and left to right, first group of 12 boats: Sandlance (SS-381) Tunny (SS-282) Aspro (SS-309) Lionfish (SS-298) Guvania (SS-362) Sunfish (SS-281) Macabi (SS-375) Gurnard (SS-254) Pampanito (SS-383) Mingo (SS-261) Guitarro (SS-363) Bashaw (SS-241) From back to front and left to right, second group of 12 boats: Sealion (SS-315) Hammerhead (SS-364) Bream (SS-243) Seahorse (SS-304) Tinosa (SS-283) Pintado (SS-387) Mapiro (SS-376) Pipefish (SS-388) Moray (SS-300) Batfish (SS-310) Hackleback (SS-295) Bluegill (SS-242) From back to front and left to right, third group of 12 boats: Hawkbill (SS-366) Menhaden (SS-377) Perch (SS-313) Loggerhead (SS-374) Barbero (SS-317) Baya (SS-318) Hardhead (SS-365) Spadefish (SS-411) Springer (SS-414) Devilfish (SS-292) Kraken (SS-370) Dragonet (SS-293) From back to front and left to right, fourth group of 12 boats: Lamprey (SS-372) Piranha (SS-389) Manta (SS-299) Pargo (SS-264) Rancador (SS-301) Archerfish (SS-311) Mero (SS-378) Sawfish (SS-276) Spot (SS-413) Lizardfish (SS-373) Jallao (SS-368) Icefish (SS-367) From back to front and left to right, last group of 4 boats: Steelhead (SS-280) Puffer (SS-268) Stickleback (SS-415) Trepang (SS-412) From back to front, Submarine Tenders group of 4 ships: Pelias (AS-14) Aegir (AS-23) Euryale (AS-22) Griffin (AS-13) | Photo commerating 50 years, U. S. Submarine Veterans of WW II 1996 calendar, courtesy of Darryl Baker. | |
 | 227k | The Icefish (SS-367) in the Mare Island Reserve Fleet on 13 Oct 1948. The other subs outbaord of Icefish are Jallao (SS-368), Trepang (SS-412), Spot (SS-413) and Stickleback (SS-415). | US Navy photo # 1916-10-48, courtesy of Darryl Baker. Photo added 09/20/06. | |
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177k | 1951 photo of the Stickleback (SS-415) taken in San Diego before her 1952 Guppy Snorkle conversion. She was recommissioned in Mare Island on 9/6/51 and served with SubSqn 5 Nerus (AS-17) in San Diego before returning to Mare Island for her conversion in Nov 1952. | Photo and text courtesy of Forrest J. Watson ex- ET2(SS). | |
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49k | Stickleback (SS-415), moored at Yokosuka, Japan, 1952. | Courtesy of Grant Riddle's submarinebaseph.com | |
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34k | Stickleback (SS-415), (as seen from the Caiman (SS-323),while conducting torpedo tests) was specially outfitted to be a torpedo target for testing sonic torpedoes. The outer hull had been reinforced with 1" thick steel (the normal outer tank shell was only 1/4" thick). We conducted operations with the Stickleback off Lahaina to test the homing capabilities of the new electric sonic guided torpedoes. We actually shot unarmed torpedoes at her with the expectation they would impact her hull near the screws. Here she is seen surfacing off the west coast of Maui after serving as target for our torpedoes. We fired the torpedoes while on the surface in order to monitor the torpedo track. We had observers standing on the stern and fired out of the stern tubes. Circa 1953. | Courtesy of Grant Riddle's submarinebaseph.com | |
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25k | Stickleback (SS-415), moored, Pearl Harbor, HI., date unknown. | Courtesy of George M. Arnold. | |
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111k | Stickleback (SS-415), after being rammed by Silverstein (DE-534) off Honolulu, HI, 30 May 1958. | Courtesy of George M. Arnold. | |
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87k | The Stickleback (SS-415) with the bow of the Silverstein (DE-534) parked on her deck, off Honolulu, HI, 30 May 1958. | USN photo courtesy of oneternalpatrol.com. | |
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82k | Crew of the Stickleback (SS-415) making ready to secure lines alongside the Silverstein (DE-534), off Honolulu, HI, 30 May 1958. | USN photo courtesy of oneternalpatrol.com. | |
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118k | Newspaper article and photo describing the sinking of the Stickleback (SS-415), after being rammed by Silverstein (DE-534) off Honolulu, HI, 30 May 1958. | Courtesy of Cathy M. | |
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121k | Newspaper article and photo describing the sinking of the Stickleback (SS-415), after being rammed by Silverstein (DE-534) off Honolulu, HI, 30 May 1958. | Courtesy of Cathy M. | |
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62k | Commemorative photo in memory of the Stickleback (SS-415). | Photo courtesy of Tom Kermen. | |
View the Stickleback (SS-415)
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
ComSubPac Report of sinking of - USS Stickleback (SS 415)t
Guppy Submarines
Victory at Sea: Full Fathom Five 2 of 3
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