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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive


Patch on left courtesy of the US Navy Historical Center, photo # NH 65258-KN, others courtesy of Mike Smolinski

Torsk (SS-423) (AGSS-423) (IXSS-423)

Radio Call Sign: November - Kilo - Sierra - Tango

Tench Class Submarine: Laid down, 7 June 1944, at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME.; Launched, 6 September 1944; Commissioned USS Torsk (SS-423), 16 December 1944; Snorkel conversion completed in 1952; Decommissioned, 4 March 1968; Placed in service as a Naval Reserve Training vessel at the Washington Navy Yard,; Redesignated Auxiliary Submarine (AGSS-423) in May 1968; Reclassified Miscellaneous Submarine (IXSS-423) in June 1971; Placed out of service and simultaneously struck for the Naval Register, 15 December 1971; Final Disposition, turned over to the state of Maryland to be used as a museum in the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, 26 September 1972. Torsk received two battle stars for World War II service.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,570 t., Submerged: 2,416 t.; Length 311' 8"; Beam 27' 2"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10kts; Submerged Endurance, 48 hours at 2kts; 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 40mm gun, one 20mm gun, two .50 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear with four Fairbanks Morse main generator diesel engines, 5,400 hp, Fuel Capacity, 113,510 gals, two General Electric main motors, 2,740 hp, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
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Torsk41k The Torsk (SS-423) slides into the Piscataqua River during her launching at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME., 6 September 1944.
Photo courtesy of usstorsk.net.
Torsk28k Commemorative launch day badge from Torsk's (SS-423) launching at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME., 6 September 1944.
Courtesy of James A Munroe in remembrance of his father Raymond L. Munroe Sr. who worked at the yard during WW II and the Korean wars as a chauffeur.
Torsk19k Commemorative post mark on the occasion of Torsk's (SS-423) launching at Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, ME., 6 September 1944.
Courtesy of Jack Treutle.
Torsk83k Torsk (SS-423) in Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, January 1945.
Courtesy of Erminio Bagnasco's book, "Submarines of WW II", submitted by Aryeh Wetherhorn.
Torsk150kTorsk (SS-423), underway off the U.S. east coast, en route from New England to Florida, 12 February 1945. Photographed from a blimp of squadron ZP-24.
US National Archives photo # 80-G-304559, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Torsk166kTorsk (SS-423), underway off the U.S. east coast, en route from New England to Florida, 16 February 1945. Photographed from a NAS Richmond, FL. aircraft.
US National Archives photo # 80-G-313790, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Torsk118kPort side view of the Torsk (SS-423) underway, 1945.
Courtesy of Erminio Bagnasco book, "Submarines of WW II", submitted by Aryeh Wetherhorn.
Torsk43kTorsk (SS-423), starboard bow view, circa 1945 photo.
Courtesy of Historic Naval Ships Association (hnsa.org)
Torsk99kTorsk (SS-423), maneuvering in line abreast formation during exercises off Block Island, Rhode Island, in April 1947. Nearest submarine is Sarda (SS-488). Torsk (SS-423) is next. Both are fitted with 5"/25 deck guns fore and aft.
US National Archives photo # 80-G-704269,from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Augusta Bay, Sicily55kThe destroyer tender Yellowstone (AD-27) at Augusta Bay, Sicily, 1950.
Ships alongside to starboard; Sea Robin (SS-407), Torsk (SS-423), Sea Leopard (SS-483), Burrfish (SS-312).
To port; John R Pierce (DD-753), Barton (DD-722), Shea (DM-30) , and in the background Bauer (DM-26).
Paul Roggeman
Sea Robin (SS-407) Web Site.
Billfish 42k Torsk (SS-423), Billfish (SS-286) & Carp (SS-338) moored together circa early 1950's. USN photo.
Torsk11kFirst of a series of 3 photos taken in 1953 of the Torsk (SS-423), coming alongside the New (DD-818) which became the first US navy destroyer to refuel a sub underway.
Photo by Tom Nau. Courtesy of Rick Palmer.
Torsk13kSecond of a series of 3 photos taken in 1953 of the Torsk (SS-423), coming alongside the New (DD-818) which became the first US navy destroyer to refuel a sub underway.
Photo by Tom Nau. Courtesy of Rick Palmer.
Torsk15kLast of a series of 3 photos taken in 1953 of the Torsk (SS-423), coming alongside the New (DD-818) which became the first US navy destroyer to refuel a sub underway.
Photo by Tom Nau. Courtesy of Rick Palmer.
Torsk96kTorsk (SS-423), underway in May 1952, shortly after her "fleet snorkel" conversion. She is still fitted with a 5"/25 deck gun, aft of her "sail".
US Navy photo # USN 1079481, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Torsk84kTorsk (SS-423), underway 30 July 1954.
US National Archives photo # 80-G-669954, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Torsk67kTorsk (SS-423), in Hampton Roads, circa 1950's.
US Navy photo. Photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel.
Torsk75kTorsk (SS-423), departing Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME., 16 August 1965.
US Navy photo # USN 1112857, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Torsk134kTorsk (SS-423), in Hampton Roads, 28 September 1965.
US Navy photo # KN 14050, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.
Torsk33k The Torsk (SS-423) moored in Baltimore Harbor, 1988. Photo courtesy of Larry Backus via Fred Willshaw.
Torsk47kTorsk (SS-423), ship's control panel.
Courtesy of John Hummel.
Torsk36kTorsk (SS-423), returning from drydock, date and place unknown.
Courtesy of Historic Naval Ships Association (hnsa.org)
Torsk51kSail of the Torsk (SS-423) at Baltimore.
Courtesy of Rick Palmer.
Torsk137kView of the Torsk (AGSS-423) across from the science museum at Baltimore, MD., im March, 2006. Photo courtesy of Wendell McLaughlin. Photo added 06/14/07.

View the Torsk (SS/AGSS/IXSS-423)
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
Tench Class Submarines
USSTorsk SS 423
Historic Naval Ships Visitors Guide - Torsk SS-423
Baltimore Maritime Museum
Guppy Submarines
Full Fathom Five, U.S. Submarine War Against Japan


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