Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster.
Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

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 Registration in 1965; Final Disposition; Sold to Nassco, Terminal Island, S. F., CA.
Partial data submitted by Ron Reeves (of blessed memory)

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.
Click On Image
For Full Size		Size Image Description Source
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. USN photo # 6217-50, courtesy of Darryl L. 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. USN photo # 6218-50, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 1.01k Keel laying ceremony of the Bonita (SSK-3) at Mare Island on 29 May 1950. Capt W. L. Turney (Production Officer) and CDR R. H. Hedgecock are on the platform and honorary keel layers Joe Brouss and John Nicol are standing on the hull section forward of the platform. USN photo # 6217-5-50 TH 05 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 188k Stern hull section of Bonita (SSK-3) in Mare Island's Structural Shop on 9 June 1950.
USN photo # 6366-6-50, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 239k Stern view of Bonita (SSK-3) on the building ways at Mare Island on 7 July 1950.
USN photo # 6569-7-50, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 231k Bow view of Bonita (SSK-3) on the building ways at Mare Island on 8 January 1951.
USN photo # 7953-1-51, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 263k Stern view of Bonita (SSK-3) on the building ways at Mare Island on 8 January 1951.
USN photo # 7954-1-51, courtesy of Darryl L. 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.
USN photo # 9091-5-51, courtesy of Darryl L. 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, (wife of James Seerley Clark, Commander (Commanding Officer) of the Golet (SS-361) at the time of her loss.) Sponsor; Miss Sara Clark, Maid of Honor; Mrs. Atherton Clark; and Mrs. J. A. Armstrong. USN photo # NY9 9621-6-51, courtesy of Darryl L. 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. USN photo # 9628-6-51, courtesy of Darryl L. 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). USN photo # 9626-6-51, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 1.33k Port side view of Bonita (SSK-3) ready for launching at Mare Island on 21 June 1951. USN photo # NY9-9623-6-51 from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 957k Launching of Bonita (SSK-3) by Mrs. J.S. Clark, widow of Commander James S. Clark (perished while commanding Golet (SS-361), June 1944) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California. USN photo # 80-G-433367 courtesy of National Museum of the U.S. Navy via flickr.com.
K-3 907k Launching of Bonita (SSK-3) by Mrs. J.S. Clark, widow of Commander James S. Clark (perished while commanding Golet (SS-361), June 1944) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California. USN photo # 80-G-433371 courtesy of National Museum of the U.S. Navy via flickr.com.
K-3 215k Bonita (SSK-3) is at the end of her building ways at Mare Island on 21 June 1951. USN photo # 9628-6-51, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 958k Port side view of Bonita (SSK-3) waterborne after her launching at Mare Island on 21 June 1951. USN photo # NY9-9625-6-51 from the files of the Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 83k Front cover of the launch program for the Bonita (SSK-3) at Mare Island on 21 June 1951. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 180k Pages 2 and 3 of the launch program for the Bonita (SSK-3) at Mare Island on 21 June 1951. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. 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 L. Baker.
K-3 1.70k RADM C. B. Momsen (COMSUBPAC) speaks at the commissioning of Bonita (SSK-3) at Mare Island on 11 January 1952. USN photo # 11559-1-52 TH 01 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 135k Photo of the commissioning ceremony of the Bonita (SSK-3) at Mare Island on 11 January 1952. USN photo # 11559, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 1.10k LCDR Eric E. Hopley, commanding officer, and Mrs. Hopley are seen with the sail of Bonita (SSK-3) in the background after the commissioning ceremony for the sub at Mare Island on 11 January 1952. USN photo # 11559-1-52 TH 03 courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum via Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 123k Commissioning cachet for the Bonita (SSK-3) on 11 January 1952. Photo courtesy of ussnewyork.com.
K-3 267k Bonita (SSK-3) is seen in the Mare Island channel on 11 February 1952. USN photo # NY9 11940-2-52, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 246k Bow view of the Bonita (SSK-3) going down the Mare Island channel on 11 February 1952. USN photo # NY9 11941-2-52, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 271k Stern view of the Bonita (SSK-3) going down the Mare Island channel on 11 February 1952. USN photo # NY9-11945-2-52, courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
K-3 437k The full length of Bonita (SSK-3) in view under way. Photo courtesy of ussnewyork.com.
K-3 169k Bonita (SSK-3) underway on May 15, 1952 when she joined Submarine Squadron 7 at Pearl Harbor. USN photo courtesy of Robert M. Cieri.
K-2 95k Bass (SSK-2) & Bonita (SSK-3) at Pearl Harbor, early 1950's. USN 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-2 359k Bonita (SSK-3) parked at Pearl, circa mid 1950's.Photo courtesy of Bill Tarnick.
K-3 72k Bonita (SSK-3) at Pearl Harbor, 1956. Courtesy of Dale C. Haskins.
Growler4.12kAerial photo of the Mare Island Reserve Fleet taken 25 November 1966 shown Growler (SSG-577), six old fleet boats, Bass (SSK-2), Bonita (SSK-3), Grayback (SSG-574) and another fleet boat. The Pelias (AS-14) is the sub tender located with the submarines. Photograph courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.
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 (SSK-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
SSK
US Navy Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, TH
HISTORIC SUBMARINE DOCUMENTARY AND TRAINING FILMS
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Submarine Index
Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster
This page is created by Michael Mohl, and maintained by Michael Mohl
All Pages © 1996 - 2024 NavSource History All rights reserved.