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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patches contributed by Mike Smolinski

Tiru (SS-416)
Keel Laying - Launching

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Sierra - November
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Commissioning - Active Service

Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 17 April 1944, at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 16 September 1947; Completed as a Guppy type submarine; Commissioned USS Tiru (SS-416), 1 September 1948; FRAM conversion to a Guppy III submarine, 4 May 1959 to 31 December 1959, at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Honolulu, HI.; Decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1975; Final Disposition, sunk as a target 19 July 1979. Sunk at 36deg 53' N x 71deg. 15.3' W By MK 48 ADCAP from Silversides (SSN-679) East of Cape Hatteras, NC.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.)

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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Tiru 210k The honorary welders as shown during the keel laying ceremonies for the Tiru (SS-416) on 17 April 1944. USN photo # 2378-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru & Wahoo 324k Stern view of the Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways at Mare Island on 4 July 1944. Several hull sections for the Wahoo (SS-516) are seen on the right. USN photo # 4164-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Wahoo & Tiru 325k Stern view of the Wahoo (SS-516) is on the building ways to the right and the hull of the Tiru (SS-416) is on the left at Mare Island on 4 July 1944. USN photo # 4161-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru & Wahoo 280k Bow view of the Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways at Mare Island on 4 July 1944. Several hull sections for the Wahoo (SS-516) are seen on the left. USN photo # 4166-44, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Wahoo 335k Stern view of Wahoo (SS-516) of the building ways at Mare Island on 2 Jan 1945. Tiru (SS-416) is on the ways to the left. USN photo # 147-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Wahoo, Tiru & 517 326k Bow view of Wahoo (SS-516) of the building ways at Mare Island on 2 Jan 1945. Tiru (SS-416) is on the ways to the right. The unnamed canceled Tench class submarine (SS-517) lies on the ways to the left. She was canceled on 29 July 1944, along with 74 other Tench class boats on that date. USN photo # 148-45, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Mare Island Causeway 461k 6 Dec 45 photo appeared in the 14 Dec 45 issue of the Mare Island newspaper lists the following subs present at the dockyard:
Unknown, Dragonet (SS-293), Guavina (SS-362), Sunfish (SS-281), Sargo (SS-188), Spearfish (SS-190), Saury (SS-189).
First two ships in second row appear to be: Bashaw (SS-241) and Mingo (SS-261).
The Tiru (SS-416) is on the building ways on the left above the subs and surrounding by staging and cranes.
It is interesting to note that the boats have started the mothballing process, as evidenced by the preservative cocoons around the deck guns.
U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker. Partial text courtesy of David Johnston, USNR.
Wahoo, Tiru 505k Bow view of Wahoo (SS-516) under construction at Mare Island on 3 Jan 1946. Tiru (SS-416) is under construction to the right. The yard containing the unnamed canceled Tench class submarine (SS-517) lies on the ways to the left and appears to have been cleaned up following her cancellation on 29 July 1944. USN photo # 20-46, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Wahoo, Tiru 594k Stern view of Wahoo (SS-516) under construction at Mare Island on 3 Jan 1946. Tiru (SS-416) is under construction to the left. USN photo # 21-46, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 308k Bow view of the Tiru (SS-416) under construction at Mare Island on 3 Jan 1946. Submarines in the background are decommissioned or will soon be: from front to rear are Bashaw (SS-241), Pampanito (SS-383), Mingo (SS-261), Gurnard (SS-254), Macabi (SS-375), Tunny (SS-282), Guavina (SS-362) and Sand Lance (SS-381). USN photo # 18-46, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 352k Stern views of the Wahoo (SS-516) & Tiru (SS-416) under construction at Mare Island on 3 Jan 1946. Tiru is under construction to the left. USN photo # 19-46, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Who Am I?289kInactivated submarines at Mare Island on 9 February 1946.
Front row left to right: Sand Lance (SS-381), next two could be Sealion (SS-315) and Seahorse (SS-304), Searaven (SS-196), Pampanito (SS-383), Gurnard (SS-254), Mingo (SS-261), Guitarro (SS-363), Bashaw (SS-241).
Back row left to right: Unknown, Tunny (SS-282), next three could be Sargo (SS-188), Spearfish (SS-190), and Saury (SS-189), Macabi (SS-375), Sunfish (SS-281), Guavina (SS-362), Lionfish (SS-298),Piranha (SS-389).
The Scabbardfish (SS-397) is docked in ARD-11 on the other side of the causeway.
Tiru (SS-416) is on the ways in upper left hand side of photo. Two ferry boats (to the right of Tiru's ways) are YHB-2 / [ex-Post of Stockton] and YHB-21 / [ex-Tamalpais].		Photo i.d. courtesy of Darryl Baker.
US Navy photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Tiru 189k Stern view of Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways at Mare Island on 3 Jan 1947. Note that the hull of Wahoo (SS-516) that was to the right of Tiru has been scrapped by this date. USN photo # 25-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 186k Bow view of Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways at Mare Island on 27 June 1947. USN photo # 1235-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 222k Stern view of Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways at Mare Island on 27 June 1947. USN photo # 1236-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 168k Bow view of Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways at Mare Island on 28 July 1947. USN photo # 1442-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 31k Cover of the 1947 Navy Day Souvenir Program & Guide showing the Tiru (SS-416) on the building ways shortly before she was launched at Mare Island Naval Shipyard on 16 Sep 1947. USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 100k Tiru (SS-416) was named for a member of the lizarship family, Voracious and carnivorous, this fish is found in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic - especially in the Bermuda area and Caribbean. USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 100k Front cover of the Launching Schedule of the Tiru (SS-416), Sept 16,1947. The boat's sponsor was Mrs. John P. Cromwell, whose husband Captain John P. Cromwell, was lost with Sculpin (SS-191) on 19 November 1943 and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at that time.
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Commander of a Submarine Coordinated Attack Group with Flag in the Sculpin, during the Ninth War Patrol of that vessel in enemy-controlled waters off Truk Island, 19 November 1943.
Undertaking this patrol prior to the launching of our first large-scale offensive in the Pacific, Captain Cromwell, alone of the entire Task Group, possessed secret intelligence information of our submarine strategy and tactics, scheduled Fleet movements and specific attack plans. Constantly vigilant and precise in carrying out his secret orders, he moved his underseas flotilla inexorably forward despite savage opposition and established a line of submarines to southeastward of the main Japanese stronghold at Truk.
Cool and undaunted as the submarine, rocked and battered by Japanese depth-charges, sustained terrific battle damage and sank to an excessive depth, he authorized the Sculpin to surface and engage the enemy in a gun-fight, thereby providing an opportunity for the crew to abandon ship. Determined to sacrifice himself rather than risk capture and subsequent danger of revealing plans under Japanese torture or use of drugs, he stoically remained aboard the mortally wounded vessel as she plunged to her death. Preserving the security of his mission at the cost of his own life, he had served his country as he had served the Navy, with deep integrity and an uncompromising devotion to duty. His great moral courage in the face of certain death adds new luster to the traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country." 		USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Drawing by Lt. Cmdr. Fred Freemen, courtesy of Theodore Roscoe, from his book "U.S. Submarine Operations of WW II", published by USNI.
Tiru 156k Launching Schedule of the Tiru (SS-416), second and last pages, Sept 16,1947. USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 112k Mrs. W. J. Holmes (Matron of Honor) left and Mrs. J. P. Cromwell (Sponsor) are ready to launch Tiru (SS-416) at Mare Island on 16 Sep 1947. USN photo # 1708-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 176k Bow of the Tiru (SS-416) on her launch date at Mare Island on 16 Sep 1947. USN photo # 1969-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 185k Tiru (SS-416) is ready for launching at Mare Island on 16 Sep 1947. USN photo # 1712-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 128k Mrs. J. P. Cromwell (Sponsor) christens the Tiru (SS-416) at Mare Island on 16 Sep 1947. From left to right: Mrs. W. J. Holmes (Matron of Honor), Capt. W. R. Dowd (Shipyard Commandant) and Mrs. J. P. Cromwell. USN photo # 1723-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 228k The christening of the Tiru (SS-416) at Mare Island on 16 Sep 1947. USN photo # 1923-47, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
Tiru 222k Stern view prior to launching of the Tiru (SS-416) on 16 Sep 1947. USN photo # 1726-47 courtesy of John Hummel.
Photo added 09/25/11.
View the Tiru (SS-416)
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
Guppy Submarines
USSTIRU.COM
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
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