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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Mike Smolinski
Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Sierra - Quebec

K-3 (SSK-3)
Bonita (SS-552)

Barracuda Class Hunter-Killer Submarine: Laid down, 29 May 1950, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.; Launched, 21 June 1951; Commissioned USS K-3 (SSK-3), 11 January 1952; Renamed USS Bonita (SSK-3), 15 December 1955; Decommissioned, 7 November 1958; Laid up in the Reserve Fleet; Hull number changed to (SS-552), 15 August 1959; Struck from the Naval Registion in 1965; Final Disposition; Sold to Nassco, Terminal Island, S. F., CA.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves, HTC, USNR (ret.)

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 765 t., Submerged: 1,160 t.; Length 196' 1"; Beam 24' 6"; Speed, Surfaced 13 kts, Submerged 8.5 kts; Test Depth, 400 ft; Complement 4 Officers, 33 Enlisted; Armament, four 21” torpedo tubes; Propulsion, diesel-electric, General Motors diesel engines, Fuel Capacity 54,000 gals., General Electric motors, 1,050hp, Battery cells 252, single propeller.
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K-3 45k The keel of Bonita (SSK-3) is being prepared for the official keel laying on 19 May 1950 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Workers with the number 72 on their hard hats are riggers and the one with 26 is a welder. The two workers with strips are supervisors. U.S. Navy photo # 6217-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 95k RADM F. E. Beatty, USN, Commander, Mare Island-Vallejo Area, US Naval Base, San Francisco delivers address at the keel laying of the Bonita (SSK-3) at Mare Island on 23 May 1950. U.S. Navy photo # 6218-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 188k Stern hull section of Bonita (SSK-3) in Mare Island's Structural Shop on 9 June 1950.
US Navy photo # 6366-6-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 239k Stern view of Bonita (SSK-3) on the building ways at Mare Island on 7 July 1950.
US Navy photo # 6569-7-50, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 231k Bow view of Bonita (SSK-3) on the building ways at Mare Island on 8 Jan 1951.
US Navy photo # 7953-1-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 263k Stern view of Bonita (SSK-3) on the building ways at Mare Island on 8 Jan 1951.
US Navy photo # 7954-1-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-2 236k Stern view of Bass (SSK-2) on the building ways on the day of her launching at Mare Island on 2 May 1951. The Bonita (SSK-3) is being built on the ways to the right.
US Navy photo # 9091-5-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 91k The sponsor and Maid of Honors of Bonita (SSK-3) are seen prior to her launching at Mare Island on 21 June 1951. Left to right: Miss Judith Clark (Maid of Honor), Mrs. James Seerley Clark (Sponsor) and Miss Sara Clark (Maid of Honor). US Navy photo # 9626-6-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 215k Bonita (SSK-3) is at the end of her building ways at Mare Island on 21 June 1951. US Navy photo # 9628-6-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 50k California Lt. Governor Goodwin J. Knight was the primary speaker at the launching of Bonita (SSK-3) at Mare Island on 21 June 1951. US Navy photo # 9628-6-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 83k Front cover of the launch program for the Bonita (SSK-3) at Mare Island on 21 June 1951. U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 180k Pages 2 and 3 of the launch program for the Bonita (SSK-3) at Mare Island on 21 June 1951. U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 83k Postal cover marking the launching of the Bonita (SSK-3) on 21 June, 1951 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 118k The Launching Party is seen at the Mare Island Officer’s Club prior to the launching of the Bonita (SSK-3), dated 6/21/1951. Standing from left to right: LCDR H. C. Embry (CHC); RADM T. R. Cooley, Deputy Commander, Western Sea Frontier; RADM B. J. Rodgers, Commandant 12th Naval District; Lt. Governor Goodwin J. Knight; Capt. B. E. Manseau, Shipyard Commander; State Senator Luther E. Gibson; Capt W. L. Turney, Production Officer; and J. Allan Armstrong. Seated from left to right: Mrs. B. E. Manseau; Mrs. T. R. Cooley; Mrs. B. J. Rodgers; Miss Judith Clark, Maid of Honor; Mrs. James Seerley Clark, Sponsor; Miss Sara Clark, Maid of Honor ; Mrs. Atherton Clark; and Mrs. J. A. Armstrong. U.S. Navy photo # NY9 9621-6-51, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 135k Photo of the commissioning ceremony of the Bonita (SSK-3) at Mare Island on 11 Jan 1952. U.S. Navy photo 11559, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 123k Commissioning cachet for the Bonita (SSK-3) on 11 January 1952. Photo courtesy of ussnewyork.com. Photo added 01/09/12.
K-3 267k Bonita (SSK-3) is seen in the Mare Island channel on 11 Feb 1952. U.S. Navy photo # NY9 11940-2-52, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 246k Bow view of the Bonita (SSK-3) going down the Mare Island channel on 11 Feb 52. U.S. Navy photo # NY9 11941-2-52, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 271k Stern view of the Bonita (SSK-3) going down the Mare Island channel on 11 Feb 52. U.S. Navy photo # NY9-11945-2-52, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
K-3 437k The full length of Bonita (SSK-3) in view under way. Photo courtesy of ussnewyork.com. Photo added 01/09/12.
K-3 169k Bonita (SSK-3) underway on May 15, 1952 when she joined Submarine Squadron 7 at Pearl Harbor. U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri. Text courtesy of DANFS.
K-2 95k Bass (SSK-2) & Bonita (SSK-3) at Pearl Harbor, early 1950's.
 US Navy photo courtesy of Grant Riddle / submarinebaseph.com
K-3 45k Bonita (SSK-3) at Pearl Harbor, early 1950's. Courtesy of Grant Riddle / submarinebaseph.com.
K-3 34k Bass (SSK-2), Bonita (SSK-3),Greenfish (SS-351) and Pickerel (SS-524) at Pearl Harbor, early 1950's. Courtesy of Grant Riddle / submarinebaseph.com.
K-3 24k Broadside view of the Bonita (SSK-3) cutting through Pacific waters in the mid 1950's. Photo courtesy of Jane's Fighting Ships, & submitted by Robert Hurst.
K-3 72k Bonita (SSK-3), at Pearl Harbor, 1956. Courtesy of Dale C. Haskins.
K-3 38k PDF of a Submarine Target for a Nuclear Test And Life Aboard A Diesel submarine In the 1950s.(Operation Hardtack). PDF courtesy of Dan Craw ETC/SS Ret. Tang SS563, 1968-71. Photo courtesy of nuclearweaponarchive.org.
Tirante387k Article from the Miami Herald, from sometime in September, or early October, 1973. A brief history of the Key West base, Amberjack (SS-522) and her last operation are mentioned in it. Tirante (SS-420) and Bonita (SST-3) with the Bushnell (AS-15) appear in the background. Photo & text courtesy of the Miami Herald, submitted by Mike Keating.
View the K-3 / Bonita (SSK-3)
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
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US Navy Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, TH
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