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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch contributed by Mike Keating.

Amberjack (SS-522)

Radio Call Sign: November - Yankee - Juliet - Tango

Tench Class Submarine: Laid down, 8 February 1944, at Boston Navy Yard, Boston, MA.; Launched, 15 December 1944; Commissioned USS Amberjack (SS-522), 4 March 1946; Underwent "Guppy" Modernization in 1947-48; Decommissioned, simultaneously struck from the Naval Register, 17 October 1973, at US Naval Submarine Base, Key West FL.; Transferred (sold) under the Security Assistance Program to Brazil, renamed Ceara (S-12); Final Disposition, fate unknown.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,570 t., Submerged: 2,414 t.; Length 311' 8"; Beam 27' 4"; 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 7 Officers, 69 Enlisted; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 5"/25 deck gun, two single 20mm guns; two /30 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear with four main generator motors, Fairbanks-Morse diesel engines, HP 5,400. Fuel Capacity, 113,510 gal., Elliot electric motors, HP 2,740, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.

Size	Image Description	Source
141k	Front and back pages of the Christening & Commissioning program for the Amberjack (SS-522) at Boston Mass, 4 March 1946.	Photo courtesy of Dr. Everett (Bud) Burchell (Plankowner) USN (Retired).
189k	Second & third pages of the Christening & Commissioning program for the Amberjack (SS-522) at Boston Mass, 4 March 1946.	Photo courtesy of Dr. Everett (Bud) Burchell (Plankowner) USN (Retired).
91k	Port side view of the Amberjack (SS-522) in original configuration, circa 1946.	Photo courtesy of Dr. Everett (Bud) Burchell (Plankowner) USN (Retired).
84k	Looking aft from the Amberjack's (SS-522) conning tower (before modernization). An ice berg is seen in the distance (circled), November 1946.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Partial text courtesy of DANFS. Photo added 01/27/06.
213k	Newspaper clipping showing the Amberjack (SS-522) coming up for an emergency surface from a depth of 150 feet at a 48 degree angle during her trials off Key West, Florida. The caption reads "The normal surfacing angle is 5 degrees".	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Photo added 01/27/06.
101k	Early (original) photo of the Amberjack (SS-522) with a Portsmouth step sail, starboard view, circa 1947-48.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Photo added 01/27/06.
146k	The Amberjack (SS-522) with a Portsmouth step sail, circa 1947-48, portside view.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Photo added 01/27/06.
61k	A bearded Jim Carroll in the Amberjack's (SS-522) maneuvering room, circa 1947-48.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Photo added 01/27/06.
75k	The Amberjack's (SS-522) Guppy(Gun Deck). It appears to be part of the conning tower deck, after it was removed, circa 1947-48.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Photo added 01/27/06.
73k	This shows the forward escape trunk of the Amberjack (SS-522) with the superstructure removed, circa 1947-48.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Photo added 01/27/06.
63k	Rear view of the old conning tower and shears, after removal, circa 1947-48.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Photo added 01/27/06.
67k	Bow on view of the Amberjack (SS-522) on blocks after modernization, before the sonar dome was installed, circa 1947-48.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Photo added 01/27/06.
95k	Looking forward, over the after engine room hatch. The exhaust piping has been removed and part of the after engine room air induction piping. The new clamshell superstructure, just aft of the sail is already in place, circa 1947-48.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Photo added 01/27/06.
70k	Looking forward with the superstructure aft of the bow buoyancy tank removed. The upper end of the forward escape trunk is visible at the bottom of the picture, circa 1947-48.	Photo courtesy of Jim Carroll and submitted by Mike Keating. Photo added 01/27/06.
74k	Amberjack (SS-522), after initial Guppy modification, first Guppy sail, a stepped, Portsmouth style sail, with flaired top, for the radar, circa 1948.	USN photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
71k	Amberjack (SS-522), after initial Guppy modification and showing upper rudder. She has a Portsmouth style sail, circa 1952.	USN photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
64k	Amberjack (SS-522), during emergency blow maneuver in 1949, possibly off New York.	Courtesy of George M. Arnold.
53k	Amberjack (SS-522) en route to Key West, FL after a daily exercise. Circa 1951/1952. I am visible on the starboard side of the bridge and wearing a white hat - I was the starboard lookout on maneuvering watch.	Photo courtesy of Robert E. Straub, RM2SS USS Guavina SS-362 (Aug. 1944 to Aug. 1946).
22k	Amberjack (SS-522) & Grenadier (SS-525), at Key West, FL., circa mid-50's?	Photo courtesy of ussgrenadier.com.
71k	Amberjack (SS-522), in the Med 1961, with the Manley (DD-940). Photo was taken from the Goodrich(DDR-831).	Courtesy of Leslie Levins SM2 (Retired)
36k	Amberjack (SS-522) doing high line transfer.	Courtesy of John Hummel.
318k	Amberjack (SS-522) surfacing after overhaul at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, circa Jan - May 1961.	Photo courtesy of Jack R. Bertram EM1 (SS), USN.
430k	Port side view of the Amberjack (SS-522) underway after overhaul at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, circa Jan - May 1961.	Photo courtesy of Jack R. Bertram EM1 (SS), USN.
144k	This overhead view of the Amberjack (SS-522) underway on two engines and showing a piece of plywood on the forward deck was taken in early 1963 sea trial after overhaul in Charleston, South Carolina. The photo was taken from the Cooper River bridge as the boat was exiting the harbor.	Text courtesy of Bill Roup, USN (Retired) Photo courtesy of George M. Arnold.
91k	Howard W. Gilmore (AS-16) with Amberjack (SS-522) and an unidentified submarine along side, December 1966, Charleston, SC.	© Richard Leonhardt
50k	Amberjack (SS-522), This series of pictures (3) were taken by my wife in 1973 while Amberjack dove alongside the pier in Key West, in preparation to ride out an expected hurricane. LCDR Stuart Merriken was commanding at the time. He was Amberjack's last C.O., prior to her transfer to the Brazilian navy.	Photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
53k	Amberjack (SS-522), Starting to dive.	Photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
57k	Amberjack (SS-522), just the sail is visible.	Photo courtesy of Mike Keating.
78k	Amberjack (SS-522), portside picture from *Amberjack's* Welcome Aboard journal.	Courtesy of Mike Keating.
377k	Newspaper clipping of Amberjack's (SS-522) transfer to the Brazilian Navy, October 18, 1973 from the Key West Citizen.	Courtesy of Mike Keating.
89k	Petty Officer Cassidy (left) and Petty Officer Doggett (US crew) folding Amberjack's (SS-522) colors for the last time.	Photo from the Key West Citizen, courtesy of Mike Keating.
34k	Petty Officers Doggett and Cassidy lowering Amberjack's (SS-522) colors, ending her service in the United States Navy.	Photo from the Key West Citizen, courtesy of Mike Keating.
59k	Some of Amberjack's (SS-522) crew and Officers mustered for the last time, (as her crew) preparing to leave the boat. I believe that's Petty Officer Wilson, carrying *Amberjack's* name board.	Photo from the Key West Citizen, courtesy of Mike Keating.
275k	Key West Citizen newspaper article and photo of the Amberjack (SS-522) and detailing the closing of the base there.	Photo from the Key West Citizen, courtesy of Mike Keating.
95k	This picture was originally published in the Key West Citizen on 29 March 1973 Key West Citizen newspaper article and photo of the Amberjack (SS-522) on her return from her last deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.	Photo from the Key West Citizen, courtesy of Mike Keating.
93k	Petty Officer St.Clair was the last man to retire from Amberjack (SS-522), prior to her transfer to the Brazilian Navy.	Photo from the Key West Citizen, courtesy of Mike Keating.
218k	Amberjack's (SS-522) flag is folded for the last time. The sailor in the picture is a Petty Officer second class, his name is Doggett. The article also contains additional history of the Key West base. It was published in the Miami Herald on 18 October 1973	Photo from the Miami Herald, courtesy of Mike Keating.
656k	History of the Amberjack (SS-522). The article also contains additional history of the Key West base. It was published in the Miami Herald on 18 October 1973	Photo from the Miami Herald, courtesy of Mike Keating.
110k	This picture was originally published in the Outpost (Base Paper) on 23 May 1973. The caption explains that she's flying the Dolphin Pennant, which indicates that all crew members of the Amberjack (SS-522) have qualified in Submarines.	Photo courtesy of Mike Keating.