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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski.

Stickleback (SS-415)
Recommissioning - Sinking

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Quebec - Oscar

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Keel Laying - Decommissioning

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.

Size	Image Description	Source
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).
49k	Stickleback (SS-415), moored at Yokosuka, Japan, 1952.	Courtesy of Grant Riddle's submarinebaseph.com
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
117k	LCDR R. H. Gumon assumes command of the Stickleback (SS-415) at her re-commissioning at Mare Island on 26 June 1953 following her Guppy IIA conversion. Officers in the background are (left to right): RADM L. S. Fiske (Mare Island Area Commander), RADM A. M. Morgan (shipyard Commander), Capt. E. S. Carmick (Director of Maintenance MSTS - Speaker) and Capt. W. T. Singer (Administrative Officer).	USN photo # 17911-6-53, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
403k	Forward port quarter view of Stickleback (SS-415) in Mare Island channel on 1 August 1953.	USN photo # 18287-8-53, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
123k	Bow on view of Stickleback (SS-415) departing Mare Island on 1 Aug 1953.	USN photo # 18286-8-53, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
141k	Stern view of Stickleback (SS-415) departing Mare Island on 1 Aug 1953.	USN photo # 18290-8-53, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
25k	Stickleback (SS-415), moored, Pearl Harbor, HI., date unknown.	Courtesy of George M. Arnold.
694k	Stickleback (SS-415) operating not too far from shore somewhere in the Pacific. No date photo was taken nor location, but is marked "Received 10 April 1957".	USN photo from Photo Lab, Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor. Photo release No. 159-P-55, courtesy of David Buell.
700k	The Sabalo (SS-302) comes to the aid of the Stickleback (SS-415), after being rammed by Silverstein (DE-534) off Honolulu, HI, 30 May 1958.	Courtesy of John Hummel. Photo added 09/09/09.
111k	Stickleback (SS-415), after being rammed by Silverstein (DE-534) off Honolulu, HI, 30 May 1958.	Courtesy of George M. Arnold.
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.
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.
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.
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.
62k	Commemorative photo in memory of the Stickleback (SS-415).	Photo courtesy of Tom Kermen.